There's been a lot of talk lately about the Islamic cultural center and mosque being proposed near Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan. Despite the First Amendment right to practice religion, opponents to the development are seeking to prevent that right, claiming that the misleadingly named "Ground Zero Mosque" is insensitive to the victims of 9/11.Watch the video commentary:
The truth is, many relatives of victims of the 9/11 attacks have expressed support for the project.
Judith Keane, whose husband was killed on 9/11, says "To punish a group of Americans who live in peace for the acts of a few is wrong. The worst atrocities in history found their base in fear of those who were different."
Colleen Kelley, who lost her brother William on 9/11, says, the "irony in the debate over the section of the building that would house a mosque is that one might assume that God (the same God to Jews-Christians-Muslims) would be pleased with any type of effort that involves prayer and service to others."
Orlando Rodriguez and Phyllis Schaefer Rodriguez, whose son died in the attack, say they "support the building of the Islamic community center in lower Manhattan" and "feel that it would honor our son and other victims".
Herb Ouida, whose son Todd died, said: "To say that we're going to condemn a religion and castigate a billion people in the world because they're Muslims, to say that they shouldn't have the ability to pray near the World Trade Center—I don't think that's going to bring people together and cross the divide."
Marvin Bethea, a former EMS worker who was forced to retire in 2004 because of breathing problems caused by working at the 9/11 site, believes racism is a factor in the controversy, He said "even though my life has changed, I don't hate the Muslims. Especially being a black man, I know what it's like to be discriminated against. I've lived with that."
Donna O'Connor, whose pregnant daughter died on 9/11, expressed the opinion that "This building will serve as an emblem for the rest of the world that Americans ... recognize that the evil acts of a few must never damn the innocent."
Even Ted Olson, former Solicitor General in the George W. Bush administration, whose wife, Barbara, died in the plane that crashed into the Pentagon, has said "we don't want to turn an act of hate against us by extremists into an act of intolerance for people of religious faith."
Bruce Wallace, whose nephew died as he rushed in to help the victims, says "the media seems eager to trumpet the feelings of those hurt by the idea of the center. They mostly ignore my feelings and those, like me, who feel the center is an important step for Americans."
Talat Hamdani, whose son was a first responder in the rescue effort and died in 9/11, said "You know, if it’s one faith today, it’s going to be another faith tomorrow. That is scary. And to scapegoat the Muslims for the acts of a foreign terrorist, that is — that is hatred." She added "... if that argument is valid, then, by that token, Timothy McVeigh’s actions also makes all Christians terrorists. So, that is wrong."
Terry Rockefeller, whose sister was killed, said: "this doesn't insult her at all. This celebrates the city she loved living in. It is what makes America what we are."
Sue Rosenblum, of Coral Springs, Florida, whose son Josh was killed in the WTC attacks on 9/11, said in reference to the planned Mosque: "What are we teaching if we say you can't build here? That it's OK to hate? This is a country based on freedom of religion."
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has strongly endorsed the project, said: "To cave to popular sentiment would be to hand a victory to the terrorists. We should not stand for that." Responding to a question about the pain the mosque plan is causing some family members, he said, "I don't see an enormous number of people. I was at a fundraiser ... maybe 50 ... people who had lost [family] members. 100% in that room kept saying, 'please keep it up, keep it up'.... our relatives would have wanted this country, and this city, to follow and actually practice what we preach."
Mark McKinnon, a former advisor to Republican President George W. Bush, criticized opposition to the project: "And here we are, reinforcing al Qaeda's message that we're at war with Muslims."
In response to those who oppose the mosque, on August 30 a Salem News editorial stated:
"This argument implicity accepts the notion that Islam itself - and not extrememists who distort Islam - is at the root of the evil perpetrated on 9/11.The best way to counter the al-Qaida version of Islam is not to move the Islamic center, but to build it as a representation of authentic Islam - and a symbol of the American commitment to full religious freedom and interfaith understanding. Rather than banning mosques - or moving them elsewhere - American communities should be welcoming them as allies in the campaign against extremism."
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