A Mosque at Ground Zero: Why Not?
Religious Freedom in America
Obama is currently defending his comments, clarifying that Muslims have a right to build this Mosque but he refuses to comment on whether or not he believes this to be a wise decision. A lot of people are of the opinion that it's disrespectful to the memory of those lost in the 9-11 attacks for this Mosque to be built on such "hallowed ground." I disagree.
What a lot of people seem to forget is that "Muslim" is not a synonym for "Terrorist." Those responsible for the 9-11 attacks may have been Islamic extremists but their beliefs and violent actions are not representative of Islam as a whole. As a nation that, in theory, embraces all sorts of races and religions, we must not judge an entire demographic by the actions of a few of its members. To associate all Muslims with the 9-11 terrorists would be like associating all Christians with the extremists who bomb abortion clinics. In my opinion, constructing a Mosque near Ground Zero should be considered no more offensive than if a Church, Synagogue, or any other religious center were constructed in the same location.
Besides that, as the President noted, followers of Islam have the same rights as the rest of us. Even if an argument could successfully be made to convince me that building a Mosque so close to Ground Zero is somehow wrong, those who wish to construct it still have the constitutional rights to do so. As Americans, we must not forget that our country is supposed to be founded on freedom and that includes the freedom of others to say or do things we may not necessarily agree with.
Sources:
Sheryl Gay Stolberg
With Remarks on Mosque, Obama Enters Risky Debate
www.nytimes.com
Published by Don Peysum
Don Peysum is a fan of reading, writing, and twelve word biographies View profile
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6 Comments
Post a CommentI saw that, Cassandra. She really is pathetic!
Oh and the AC writer who's hate-ridden comments were on a Muslim woman's article yesterday that you commented on has now migrated to one of my articles where she's leaving her hate-filled bigoted comments. Some 'Christians' eh? :)
Don, absolutely correct. These hate-ridden right-wing bigots are acting like the people who want to build this Islamic Community Center are aliens and terrorists. They're AMERICANS for chrissake. I'm surprised that though that more American Christians who DON'T' believe what these bigots are spewing aren't standing up and saying "Enough!". How cowardly of them. Great article!
There's no doubt at all that the mosque planners have the legal and constitutional right to build there. That right is a fact. Whether deciding to build there was a good idea is debatable. The issue's unfortunately become a huge political football.
Exactly. Thanks for reading.
Well reasoned indeed. A truly fair and free nation can't pick and choose which of its citizen to apply its law to.