Pro and Con: A Mosque Near Ground Zero?
If our intelligence community was able to isolate all terrorist sleeper cells and export the members of those cells or charge them with conspiracy to commit a terrorist act, then perhaps the people would be able to rise above their biases and stand by the first amendment of the US Constitution.
If the Mosque was not being built near ground zero in New York, then it would be much easier to stand by the first amendment of the US Constitution. If you only consider the first amendment to the US Constitution, then you would agree with Obama.
There are mitigating factors. It's near the site of a terrorist attack on the US. That terrorist attack was performed by Muslims. We are still at war with the terrorists (Al Qaida) who participated in planning the 9/11 attack. The majority of the Muslims have not waged war against Al Qaida. The building where the Mosque is being built was damaged by the landing gear of one of the planes involved in the attack.
Of course, the politicians stand by popular opinion. But is the real issue the Mosque? Or is the real issue safety and security? Is the real issue a bias against all Islamic people? Or is the real issue the Mosque becoming a refuge for terrorist sleeper cells?
All these questions are very disturbing. I credit PBS News Hour for defining the debate in practical terms.
I can't refute the fact that the Mosque can be built on private property. But I question why that particular site was chosen for the Mosque. I question why those who are building the Mosque there won't chose another site and avoid the controversy. Is it a protest against the growing bias against all Islamic people? I mean, lets face it. What is the first word that comes to your mind when you see an Muslim? Obviously, the fear of terrorism is coloring our thoughts.
If lawful, I'd like to see the state of New York impose conditions which must be met in order for the Mosque to be built and to remain there. One condition should definitely be transparency. PBS News Hour stated the Attorney General of New York should be involved in an investigation uncovering the source of the funds for building the Mosque. Terrorist groups like Hamas making statements that the Mosque must be built only raise more questions about funding.
I guess this controversy is not exactly a vote of confidence in our Department of Homeland Security.
Published by John Mario
As a child, I wrote short stories and read them to my friends. I studied interior house wiring in a vocational high school. I majored in electrical engineering in college. I worked for 8 years as an electon... View profile
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6 Comments
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Only those who are racist and sterotypical would say the first word that comes to thought when seeing a muslim is 'terrorist'. The mosque is more than just a place for worship, it's a community center too. The bombings of 9/11 weren't Islamic attacks, they were terrorist attacks, people need to acknowledge there is no law against building a mosque on private property. You can't even see the mosque from Ground Zero, it's a good two blocks away from it.
I don't think being against the Mosque is a bias against all Muslims...I know a few Muslims and have read articles by a few that are against it themselves, saying it's aggravating relations, not helping things. Whether this group has the right to build it is a secondary question to something you mentioned...are there any ulterior motives that risk the safety of our country? And, why there, when they knew it would be sensitive?
that mosque site is in very poor taste, however if poor taste was illegal most of us would be in prison. They have a right, it is as simple as that. It might not be want most of us would want but it is their right as Americans to build there. I as a Canadian also think it was in poor taste, that they should have realized how upsetting it would be for the people of New York but Obama is right, it is their right, just not a good choice for a location.
Okay, this one went right over my head. I guess I need a rest. I'll read it again later and maybe have something intelligent to say!
I'm sorry, but there are no mitigating factors. The first amendment is the first amendment. Being against the mosque (not really a mosque, but OK) because some Muslims blew up the WTC is like being against the Catholic church running schools because some priests abused students.