Ground Zero: Instead of a Mosque, an Interfaith Building

A proposed plan to build a mosque near the Ground Zero site in Manhattan has caused heated arguments between people for and against the site. The sting of the 9/11 attacks are still burning and groups like the Anti-Defamation League and politicians like Sarah Palin are against the plans to build the mosque in the area near the attacks. Supporters for the mosque argue that by building the mosque near ground zero, it will show the world that America has tolerance and certain values. They also argue that it will bridge the gap between Muslims and non Muslims.

For many American's, the ground zero site represents a place of mourning those who were lost in a senseless attack. A radical Muslim group ordering the attacks has caused the Muslim community to be held in a bad light for most non Muslims. Education of Muslim practices and religious views is needed to help build the bridge and restore trust again, but is that place needed near such a large wound for this country?

Instead of a mosque, there should be a building built with the thought of religious education; if a religious building needs to be built at all. This building could hold information, worshiper centers, and religious educators from every acknowledged religion in American. The building would be a place where people of all religions could get inhabit peacefully and learn about each other.

At the present time, a building that is so clearly Muslim like mosque, would not be as welcome as a building that is more neutral to all religions. For some surviving family members of the 9/11 attacks, a mosque would be a slap in a face and a insensitive reminder of why their family members are forever gone.

Even though building a mosque near the ground zero site is not the most sensitive thing to do, the right to worship and the ability to build a religious facility where you please is part of the American right to religious freedom. By denying one structure, would that start a landslide to other religious buildings being built in areas they may not be entirely welcome?

The question of what should be done will not be an easy one to answer. It will take the planners looking at what is sensitive for the country and the surviving family members and what is in our rights as American citizens to worship as we please.

Sources:

Jeff Glor. "Proposed Mosque Near Ground Zero Stokes Debate." CBS News