Build the mosque

[babylonsister]

Editorial: Build the mosque


The plan to build an Islamic cultural center and mosque near ground zero in New York has unleashed some of the worst religious bigotry in memory from so-called political leaders.

Newt Gingrich, desperate to revive his presidential ambitions, views the proposed mosque as part of a campaign to "destroy our civilization." Sarah Palin is whipping up sentiment against the plan by arguing it is insensitive to the families of victims of 9/11. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Republican candidates, who smelled opportunity in the midterm elections when President Obama spoke in favor of the mosque, have denounced the project and the imam behind it.

Exploiting anti-Muslim bias for political gain is beyond shameful. Those on the far right purport to be passionate defenders of religious freedom - apparently only as it applies to Christianity.

For them, two blocks is too close to ground zero for a mosque. Well, then, how far away is tolerable for the intolerant? Six blocks? Ten? And don't forget to shutter the other mosques that have existed in the neighborhood surrounding the former World Trade Center site prior to the terrorist attacks.

Some 9/11 families do find the proposal to be a slap in the face. But other victims' families say it demonstrates the kind of liberty that their loved ones believed in. They cannot all be lumped into one side of the debate, with Palin as their opportunistic, self-appointed spokeswoman.

The airing of different opinions is one of the things that makes America great. But disregarding one of the founding principles of our nation would do more lasting damage to the country than the harm of offending families of those who died on 9/11.

more...

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20100818_Editorial__Build_the_mosque.html

[bluedave]

1. ok

Time to move on--no news here

[babylonsister]

You are in editorials where articles are posted

concerning other people's opinions, among other things. This is not LBN (latest breaking news).

And welcome to DU.

[pinboy3niner]

2. Might that be because it's an editorial, not a news story?

[dccrossman]

3. It isn't a mosque

I don't personally think it should matter if it is, but I think removing the word 'mosque' helps tone down the conversation.

The Olbermann Special Comment from the 16th is excellent, IMO.

At the end of the day, if you see this center (or a mosque) as offensive, then that means you believe that we were attacked by Islam on 9/11. We weren't. We were attacked by Al Queda. If a militant fringe group attack is sufficient to ban anything related, we're going to have to start watching where churches are built if someone crazy does something in the name of the Christian god.