Mosque at the 9/11 Site: Metal from TheTwin Towers 2 for a Dollar, Today and Today Only. Don't Forget Your Ground Zero T-Shirt!

Sometimes I'm just dang brilliant. You know those moments when you clearly see the events of the past and put the puzzle together. Today is one of those days. After reading Tony Jingo's article opposing the "activity center" that included a mosque being built at Ground Zero, not on the location of the Twin Towers but on the site where a building was destroyed by the attack that day, and Nik Minor's article supporting the mosque, I've reached a conclusion as to the real reason the location is important.

While everyone is diverting their attention to the insensitivity of the mosque, me included, or the right of the group to build the "activity center that just happens to contain a mosque," we are overlooking one huge fact. While the Cordoba Initiative may call itself a not for profit group, one has to wonder whether that's true or not. I went to the website and read the FAQ, amongst other things. From that, and past experience, I drew MY conclusions.

What first bothered me was the refusal of them to consider other properties offered by the Governor. In fact, according to reports they were offended. The website offers a reason:

"But, why not build it a little bit farther away? Let's say a mile away?

No one should be driven out of his or her own neighborhood - especially for religious reasons. It is unconstitutional and un-American. Our congregation has been peacefully worshipping in this area for almost three decades. Our neighbors have encouraged us to remain here and the City and the Community Board have encouraged our continued presence here. The community has backed up their support by approving every resolution and challenge in the community center's favor."

Is requesting the center be built elsewhere driving them out? Not according to the website.

Why did you choose this site so close to Ground Zero?

We were always close to the World Trade Center. Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf has been the Imam of a mosque twelve blocks from the Twin Towers for the last 27 years.

Okay, I'm still not convinced. There's something stinky about this whole deal. The site seems harmless and inane. The people seem peaceful and very American. AHHHHH! That's the key. They're indeed very American.

I am well versed in business. Whenever there's a question of why someone does something, my first reaction is always to look for a trail that leads to profit or money. That indeed is the American way. So, how can anyone profit from a mosque? Heck, Televangelists profit in the name of religion all the time. So, that's one answer.
There will be more than a mosque built there so let's look at the other things the community center will contain. Here's the list from the website.

So what will happen at this community center?

The community center will meet the needs of all New Yorkers with six programmatic areas:
1. Culture and Arts - 500-seat auditorium, exhibition)
2. Education - Lecture hall, conference rooms, library, classrooms,)
3. Social Cohesion,(cooking classes, senior citizens space, child care, banquet hall)
4. Religion + Healing - Muslim prayer space, Contemplation and reflection area, 9/11 victims memorial
5. Global Engagement - Mapping studies on trends in the Muslim world, resources on good governance and principles of liberal democracy, women's empowerment issues, youth development, countering religious extremism.
6. Recreation - pool, gym, medical education and wellness programs

I'm guessing that the wellness program, recreational area and healing center will not be free. Neither will the rent on the rooms be free either. I'm also guessing there will be commercial enterprises housed in the activity center. Commercial enterprises that will benefit from the huge traffic that comes from thousands of visitors to Ground Zero. Why not build a mile away? Because you can't get the tourist trade, pure and simple.

Call me jaded if you must but it is my belief that the site was chosen for its commercial value. When asked about the center, you'll note they say it will have six programmatic areas. They do not say specifically that there will be no commercial enterprise or whether there will be. I'll wager there will be plenty of snack shops and souvenir shops located there too. "Come buy a piece of the Twin Towers. Two for a dollar, today and today only. Oh, and don't forget your Ground Zero t-shirt." Can you imagine the amount of money the builders of the center can charge for rent?

I'll bet that if someone said, "Go ahead and build it at that site, but there can be no commercial enterprises in the activity center," you'd see an immediate reaction and not a positive one. This would leave no room for argument of religious freedom. If, however, the intention were simply to provide a place for all people to worship, there would be no problem.

We are looking at the Muslim group building it as though they're foreign. These are Americans. American business people at that. There is a profit to be made and they're going to make it, pure and simple. It's all rather ironic but nothing new. People have profited from tragedy before and they won't stop now. The group that is building the "Community Center" probably had nothing to do with the bombing but my guess is that they're sure to profit from it because of the tourism the tragedy brings to the area.

Amendment made August 25, 2010

Ruth Cox aka abitosunshine made an excellent point in the comment section supporting this hypothesis that I felt needed to be included. The creation of the activity center, as opposed to a business venture and the inclusion of the mosque created a tax-free income for the "supporters" of the building. Had they had it a business venture alone, they would pay thousands of dollars in state and federal taxes.

Thanks Ruth. That's an excellent point.