Trinity Church is no more entitled to be 'near' ground zero than a mosque. The Islamic Cultural Center is at 96th Street in Manhattan.
I haven't heard any good reason to insist that building a Mosque invites another attack on Lower Manhattan.
Former Governor Pataki does not have a good argument. He attacked the Imam. If there is an issue with an Imam that has nothing to do with a building where worship takes place.
A Mosque is not an Imam and an Imam is not a Mosque. Nor should words of hate of any kind that advocates actions of murder of others be tolerated.
Quite frankly, Palin's religious bigotry is nothing more than hate mongering and an expression of cowards. It is important the 'culture of fear' remain a viable part of their rhetoric.
Fear works. And as noted with the Tea Party Group it moves them to tote guns as well. There is no reason for any words of hate surrounding religion in the USA.
I believe the 'statement' New York City has made in providing 'room' for a Mosque/Community Center near Ground Zero is a remarkable expression of forgiveness and inclusion in seeking a 'common peace' between all religions.
While the attacks on Ground Zero will never be erased from the memory or history of the country, in generations from now, with the inclusion of a Muslim community on 'tainted ground,' it will be a total mystery why extremists could ever establish the 'hate' necessary to carry out terrorist attacks against innocent people.
Now, looking down the road to our childrens' futures, do you want to view this building as an expression of peace and inclusion or an act of fear in not being able to contain the hate of extremists. Who, then, wins? How long is the 'fear' suppose to continue to victimize all Americans and the global community?
I believe the answers are simple and an insult not to realize.
There should be no confusion to realize there are 'issues of gender discimination' within many religious doctrines. The building of a Mosque near Ground Zero should not be overshadowed by political agenda or dogma. It may be that this Mosque will be the one that ends the 'stereotype,' so why risk the opportunity to provide a venue for the change the future demands? Clouding construction of a Mosque with other agendas will not solve them nor settle them because concrete was poured.
