Before you all whip out your poison pens (or poison keyboards for that matter), let me make this perfectly clear: building a mosque at Ground Zero is a really, REALLY bad idea. Not only is it insensitive to millions of Americans, it will causes even more division in our already deeply divided nation.
That being said: building a mosque at ground zero is 1) perfectly legal and 2) much in keeping with the principles on which this country was founded. Just as freedom of speech gives people the right for repugnant speech (think KKK rally), freedom of religion give people the right to build places of worship pretty much anywhere they want.
Newt Gingrich recently stated on his blog: “There should be no mosque near Ground Zero in New York so long as there are no churches or synagogues in Saudi Arabia.”
The logic behind this statement is not only flawed, but also somewhat nonsensical. It is not logical to compare the USA with Saudi Arabia. In my opinion, we are BETTER than they are precisely because we do offer freedom of religion (and all sorts of other freedoms as well—for example, our women can drive cars). Saudi Arabia is a sovereign nation; they can make whatever rules they want for their own country—even offensive rules. We are also a sovereign nation—one that prides itself on fairness and freedoms and leading the way in Democracy. We make BETTER rules—that’s why people will risk their lives for a chance at living here.
To be precise: the proposed Islamic center is not to be located exactly at ground zero. Even liberal commentator George Stephanolous agrees that this is “sacred ground” when discussing the issue with conservative pundit Laura Ingraham. The center is to be located about two blocks from ground zero. As a matter of fact, a person outside the center would not even be able to see ground zero.
Still, majorly bad idea. It’s just . . . tacky and in poor taste. However, unless the US government declares the entire area a national park, there is nothing legal to stop it from being built. And—if the entire are is declared a park—then NO ONE can build on it, Muslim or otherwise.
With New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg behind the mosque, it looks like it’ll be built—and Bloomberg will probably never get elected again. Even the Anti-Defamation League says building a mosque so close to the site of the 9-11 tragedy is a bad idea.
But there are LOTS of bad ideas out there. A church in Gainesville, Florida sponsored a “International Burn a Koran” day September 11. The pastor of Dove World Outreach Center (not exactly a major denomination) said he would go through with the event, even after General David Petraeus said it was a really bad idea and would probably cause even more Americans to be killed. "Once in awhile, you see that in the Bible, there are instances where enough is enough and you stand up," Terry Jones said.
Just as I want to shake the Iman who wants to build the Cordoba Center at Ground Zero, I want to shout to this pastor: “Hey—Terry—do you understand that doves are the symbol of peace and your idea for a “rally” is exactly the opposite of that? Maybe change the name of your church to Moron World or Intolerance World or Bubba World.” The “Burn a Koran” day even has a Facebook presence—seriously. Their profile photo is a blood-red sign that reads: “Islam is of the Devil.” However, because of that silly Freedom of Speech, they have the right to this page—and the right to host their offensive rally. That’s the way it works, folks. The knife cuts both ways.
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