Minarets In Berkeley?

OK, you got me, that's not a minaret. It's Sather Tower on the UC Berkeley campus. The tower is commonly called "The Campanile" because of its resemblance to the famous tower in Venice, Italy, which collapsed in 1902 but later was rebuilt. But a true minaret, and all it implies, is not far behind. Plans continue apace to build the first official Muslim institution of higher learning in America, in the shadow of Sather Tower. The Campanile is a landmark in Berkeley, clearly visible from the waterfront across the Bay in San Francisco. Let's hope the minaret doesn't replace it in the East Bay skyline.

A lot of hype and nonsense has gone on about the "religion of peace," and "moderate Muslims," beginning almost immediately after September 11, 2001. George Bush was no less guilty of it than Barack Obama. I know there is such a thing as a moderate Muslim. I've actually met one or two. They're like "jack" Mormons or lapsed Catholics, or RINOs. They don't really ascribe to the underlying theology/philosophy at all, but they feel a need to call themselves something. Nothing I've seen since 9-11 has convinced me that there's a very large segment of those moderate Muslims, here or abroad.

Nevertheless, the moderate Muslims are working on finalizing their lovely college, which will be named Zaytuna College, and have apparently succeeded in obtaining academic accreditation (or are working on it, I'm a little unclear on this). It's supposed to open next fall. Their goal, they claim, is to "blend traditional Islam and American culture and establish a permanent place for the religion in American society." That will be a neat trick if they can pull it off. The last time I looked, traditional Islam as currently practiced throughout the largest part of the Middle East and pre-Obama American society are not a particularly good mix.

So let's take a brief look at the moderate Muslim founders of the school. One is Zaid Shakir. Shakir has real trouble remembering to be moderate. He occasionally, and publicly, slips and lets out what he really believes (sort of like Joe Biden). On the website New Islamic Directions, Shakir said: "9-11 occurred under dubious circumstances that have yet to be thoroughly investigated." I'm sure the 9-11 Commission will consider itself properly chastened. And the Troofers clearly have an ally.

In October of 2007, he stated that president Bush's agenda was cut from the same cloth as the fascist movements of the 20th century, and then made the great segue into referring to Bush as Hitler. Of course Hitler murdered Jews, not Muslims, but you get the idea. Shakir in 2006 told the New York Times: "Every Muslim who is honest would say, I would like to see America become a Muslim country." But Shakir is only second banana to the real moderate Muslim behind the plans.

In the number one spot, we have moderate Hamza Yusuf Hanson. And Hanson is big-time. He has been lauded by National Public Radio and the New York Times as a "moderate Muslim who takes the middle ground (as in Ground Zero?) who has built a following with his inspirational lectures and willingness to take a critical look at Islam." I'm guessing his criticism includes using bigger jumbo jets next time. Is there anything worse than an "ex" anything? Hamza Yusuf Hanson was formerly Mark Hanson, and he has said he is a citizen of the United States by birth and not by choice. To demonstrate his bona fides, Hanson has called democracy and the American Bill of Rights "false gods." He called Judaism "a most racist religion." And mysteriously, on September 9, 2001, he said "America has a great tribulation coming to it." Now that may be pure coincidence, but it has more substance than any speculation the Troofers can come up with.

For those two or three actual moderate Muslims that I mentioned earlier, the first and quickest test of their moderation is how strongly they will speak out against the well-funded intrusions of Saudi Wahhabism into American life as well as its perversion of religion for purposes of control within Saudi Arabia itself. Hanson and Shakir have notably refused to answer any questions whatsoever about their opinion of Wahhabism. Little wonder, since most of the elementary and high school level education at Muslim institutions in America is straight-up Wahabbism. Wouldn't want to confuse the little devils when they get to college, now would we?

Granted, my opinion of moderates of any kind is not very high. I prefer the term "wishy-washy." But the concept of "moderation in everything" is not an entirely bad one. Even some of the ancient Greeks liked that idea, and they were the leaders in bringing western civilization to a barbarian world. So putting my prejudices about moderates aside for a minute, let's take a look at the new college's curriculum.

There will be two majors, "Islamic Legal and Technological Studies," and "Arabic." They wanted to call the school a university, but that curriculum hardly qualifies for a mere college. The classes will be segregated by sex of course, and if the women are allowed in at all, the big debate is whether they will be put on one side of the room while the men sit on the other, or whether they will have separate classes entirely. Mathematics and the hard sciences are not in the plans. Who needs them when you have the Koran?

I'm not sure if the curriculum is "moderate" or merely inadequate. But a curriculum is only as good as the instructors teaching it. Considering the founders, I don't really think you're going to get a whole lotta moderate instructors. Over at the Weekly Standard, Mahmoud Ayoub, professor of Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim relations at the Hartford Seminary and a serious critic of the plans for Zaytuna is quoted as saying: "Any attempt like Zaytuna College should be studied very carefully so we do not ruin the future of young people who, out of religious enthusiasm, would study at such a place and probably get a worthless degrees." Professor, I agree with both the tone and content of your comment, but I should point out that non-Muslim universities are doing a pretty good job of printing worthless degrees themselves.

My son's home in the Berkeley Hills has a panoramic view of the UC Campus, as well as the entire San Francisco Bay. I'm going to be sure to ask him at Christmas dinner what his opinion of minarets is. As for the rest of the Berkeley residents, I don't think there's one with "Swiss-courage" enough to demand that no minarets and calls to prayer break up the Berkeley skyline. That would be intolerant, you know.