I have no doubt that many Muslims that support the mosque near Ground Zero intend the mosque to symbolize peace. I also know that mosques are often located to designate a conquest of Islam over what was there previously i.e. the Al Asqa Mosque in Jerusalem sits atop the Jew’s Temple.
The meaning of the Ground Zero mosque will not really be known for generations; only history will judge.
What bothers me is the seeming lack of concern over the possibility that We the People, through our government, should have any influence on the decision over the use of a parcel of land in Manhattan. Yes, I know New York city has strict zoning and building codes and that these are the rules of the game. My concern is over my doubts that so many people have a say in what the property owners wish to do with their property. The mosque will be a building amidst buildings. If the people utilizing the property break no laws, should others really have a say in how the land is used?
I know this is a tiny part of much bigger issues around property rights, but to me it stands out. Do we really want government, via the desire of the masses, to have a say in this issue?
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Since it’s the site of a national tragedy that will be remembered for generations, I think it’s an appropriate place for the government to step in and give expression to the people’s wishes. Mosques are just one type of inappropriate building and I can see this kind of general disapproval happening for other reasons as well. People would probably be upset to see a strip club or a Halloween party store, for instance. The site needs to reflect the seriousness of what happened and reflect a sense of tragedy and loss. It should be like a Holocaust memorial.
The general problem is the surroundings are still economically active, so we can’t just confiscate a square mile and preserve it forever. A stop-gap measure is to let things be and step in when there are obviously provocative things or obviously tacky things.
This bit of real estate is distinguishable from any other arbitrary bit of real estate in the country. Making arguments about general principles like religious freedom or limited government power doesn’t make sense in these circumstances.
How do we know that no laws will be broken? How do we know that no laws will be implemeted is a better question, in my opinion.
The only way they would know how America feels about a mosque at ground zero is if they built the mosque and someone flew a plane into it. I still doubt they would get it. There shouldn’t be ANY mosques in the U.S. after what happened. We know their agenda and it is not peace.
*Islam’s main objective is to destroy western civilization.
*They build on the ashes of their enemies.
*We are an enemy of Islam. Infidels.
*They are using our freedom of religion against us to suit their purposes.
*Islam is NOT TOLERANT of any other religion.
*The mosque IS NOT a symbol of peace.
*Radical Muslims have NO COMPUNCTION about lying, because it serves their purposes to do so.
*The mosque is a symbol of conquest.
* I have no doubt that the real motivation behind this mosque is to establish Mecca in the United States.
We simply MUST STOP THIS!
I agree w/ “loyal american” above, that the mosque, if built, will be a constant target of terrorism from christian radicals; THIS point is the missing element in the discussion.
I can tell you exactly what will happen if this Mosque is built because I have seen first hand what happens when new mosques are built in areas in London.Firstly the Mosque will make its presence felt and seen,then the local non-Muslim businesses and people close down or move out,whether they be Hindu,Jewish,Christian or Agnostic it does’nt matter business goes down unless your Muslim.Other Muslim businesses and people move in.Once that happens Islamic political groups lobby to push forward their agenda in the area because the majority of people their are Muslim,and before you know it local Islamic groups are dictating local policy.If you Americans are happy to risk this happening in Manhatton then go for it.
I am experiencing this kind of “arabification” of the street that I live on. More and more middle eastern businesses have moved in and now they want to call the street that I grew up on “Little Arabia” offering to pay for improvements to sway the county supervisors. Middle eastern countries rail against “westernization”, yet we in the U.S. would be designated as racist for railing against “arabification”.
Every thing I know about islam, I learned on 9/11, the attack on the Cole, the Pan-Am flight over Lockerbe & a few more. I am not tolerant of the turban/sheet heads.
Robert,
This is an interesting point of view. The Mohamadist have destroyed all that do not subscribe to their religion. Islam, Muslim, or the latest fashionable term, they still are murderers. I do not believe that the folks that are building it upon the location of a great slaughter of infidels are peaceful in their intent. They are rubbing it in our face. This Imam needs to be run out of the country. The big issue is that the socialist swine in the white house won’t back up the true American sentiment. He ran on an illusion so his destruction of the America that we are is not what the liberal idiots wanted, was it? If it were, they should move to a place like Russia, China or Iran to be with their brothers. I agree with the countless, voiceless millions that believe that those racist bigots need to go back to their land of origin, they are not welcome in my United States. )=*
If a crime is committed in raising money for the mosque, we have laws to deal with it; if people at the mosque incite violence, again, they’re breaking the law. The government doesn’t get to judge law enforcement based on the religion of the person or group, thank goodness, but on behavior. Freedom of religion is one of the things that makes us great as a nation.