On a different note, I've been debating a lot about the righteousness of the Ground Zero Mosque lately. It's a touchy topic but I think I'm getting in tune with my more conservative side on this one.
Abridged, I disagree with its construction. Why? Let's get some factual information before we continue.
The actual mosque was in the works prior to the September 11th attack and isn't planned to be built at Ground Zero itself but roughly two blocks away from the hallowed ground. It will not solely be a mosque but also a pretty lavish community gathering place for Muslims complete with all things community-friendly and for this, I will refer to it as a cultural center. The CC is intended to be a Muslim institution but will instead be run by a board of members of all different religions. Imam Faisal Abdul Rauf, the founder and brains behind this project, believes the center will "amplify the nature of [their] work."
Seems harmless, so why oppose it?
I'm going with a different route. I have NO problem with Muslims wanting to celebrate their religion and culture with a center dedicated for people in New York City to utilize. I do, however, have an issue with the nature of the project. This is purely opinion here, but I don't think the true essence of this center is really there anymore. As an idea, I believe it STARTED as a plan for the Muslim people to have a place to exercise their Islamic beliefs safely, but as radical (and even non-radical) Americans learned of this project, the controversy took away from the original meaning. As expected, many Americans do not want to see a mosque be put up just mere feet from the ground where thousand of innocent civilians died from an alleged Muslim terrorist attack. (I say alleged because to this day, we have not received any actual proof of Muslims being behind it and so I will remain politically correct.) They see it as a slap in the face, as almost a surrender to terrorists and Muslims alike (because half this nation sees them as the same thing anyway.) And honestly, it almost is. You wouldn't put a swastika near a historical concentration camp, would you? This is rowing in the same boat.
But that's not why I oppose the center. Like I said before, some people are absolutely radical. They are so politically hard-headed that they will go to great lengths to get their point across. Hitler, bin Laden, Stalin, Castro, all radical political leaders who led nations to do carry out the things they believed. I understand there are not many like that, but there are enough to put an entire community in danger. If this center is built, every Muslim who attends is in severe danger of being victimized by a radical. It only takes one to cause destruction. Just one.
If this center is built, it will only be done to be politically correct. It's less about the betterment of the Muslim community and more about making a point that America is "friendly to all peoples". It just doesn't seem worth it, to be honest. I'd rather not put millions of people in danger just to preserve the caliber of the constitution.
Obama seems to agree with me. I'm not trying to defend the guy in everything he does, but this particular situation I will. One speech, he seemed to favor the project and the next speech, he didn't. Sounds very John Kerry-esque, no? What many people seemed to miss was that in the first speech, Obama agreed with the RIGHT of the Muslims to build the center, yet in the next, he did not agree with the morality. His first speech's point was about their political and constitutional right to built a religious prayer ground, which I will agree is a little redundant and unnecessary because that wasn't really the issue. His next speech questioned the saintliness of building a religious prayer ground next to a sacred area which I think is most definitely something to think about. I don't think Obama handled this in the best possible way, but give the guy a break. He knows what he's talking about.
In conclusion, my dear Muslims, New York City is a large and vast metropolis. You will find another place for your beloved center.
References (I only trust the Brits):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8913000/8913937.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/8931657.stm?ls
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