President Obama has just weighed in on the controversy in Lower Manhattan over the building of a mosque two blocks from Ground Zero, the site of the former World Trade Center that was destroyed by Muslim terrorists on September 11, 2001.
The project was approved by the appropriate agencies in New York City, and has been supported by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Obama issued a statement tonight calling for the understanding that religious freedom allows the building of houses of worship, whether they are churches, synagogues, or mosques. America’s values require the right for all people to worship freely at buildings constructed for promotion of their faith, the President asserted.
The author totally agrees with the sentiments of the President, as to the right to worship freely, no matter what religion is involved. The whole concept that some right wing nuts have made, that would refuse to allow the building of ANY mosques on American territory, is totally outrageous and discriminatory!
No one should associate themselves with such despicable evidence of hate and prejudice! It is amazing how so called believers in the Constitution are so easy at destroying that document, and the Bill of Rights, if it is convenient for them to do so!
However, having made clear my agreement with the President, and my denunciation of those who would ban the building of all mosques, I will still, without any pause, make clear my view about the Ground Zero mosque!
My thoughts remain the same: It is NOT a good idea to build a mosque two blocks from Ground Zero, as it fails to consider the sensitivities and emotions of the families of those who died on September 11!
Why is it that there is such insistence that the site must be that close to Ground Zero? There are many other sites further away, not as easily associated with Ground Zero, where such a mosque could be built!
There are already many mosques elsewhere in New York City, but this particular site, so close to the horrible event, should be given up in respect to those who died! Good will would be promoted if the proposed building was moved further away to another site!
Tolerance and good will would be promoted better if this particular project took into account the broader public opinion, which clearly, in New York City and nationally, opposes this project!
Religious freedom does not mean that a particular site MUST be a place for a mosque, considering the history of the area! It is time for reconciliation, and it can be done in a decent manner, with the backing the President has just given to religious freedom!
I think it’s safe to say, regardless of one’s political affiliation, that the majority of Americans are against the building of a mosque on ground zero. It has nothing to do with discrimination; Muslims should recognize the tension that would arise by building such a holy structure on the very site America was attacked by that same religion’s fundamentalist jihadists. If they seek tolerance and acceptance, why spark such outrage and ambivalence?
Let’s build a Baptist Church there. What about a synagogue? I’m against building any religious building (surprise!) but aren’t there other religious buildings close to ground zero? If so, then why not a mosque?