Doing The Right Thing

By: Matt Skabelund

Americans hold many things in high regard; apple pie, baseball and freedom of religion? Okay, maybe apple pie and freedom of religion weren’t held in the same respect in 1787, when the Constitution was adopted. It’s true that the way that Americans thought in 1787 and the way they think now are extremely different, nevertheless a document held and revered by most Americans is under attack by people opposed to fellow citizens, neighbors and friends practicing their religion.

                The cultural center proposed near Ground Zero has been a topic of debate for politicians and common citizens alike. Many reasons have been provided on both sides some reasonable and some rational. This article proposes the idea that the Ground Zero Cultural Center is constitutional, good for the community and good for the nation.

                Anyone who looks through the Constitution doesn’t have to look very hard to find the reason why the Ground Zero Cultural Center is constitutional because free exercise of religion is in the 1^st amendment. There were no stipulations or hidden clauses in this amendment. Free exercise of religion was granted to any and all United States citizens. Interesting how a country founded on the principles of freedom, emphasis on religious freedom, now wish to revoke that same privilege by not allowing a religious group to build a place of worship.

                The cultural center would benefit many more than just members of the Islamic faith, it would benefit the entire community of Lower Manhattan. Some of the activities that members would be able to participate in cooking classes, recreational activities and community events to name just a few. In the end this is much more than a mosque, it’s a community center or better yet, a cultural center.

                Nothing will ever repair the hurt that Americans felt on September 11, 2001, when a radical sect of Islamic terrorists hijacked and crashed American airplanes into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. Since that date a disease entered into the hearts of Americans, a disease of hate, fear and prejudice. As facts were released about the attacks and time went on, some Americans didn’t allow this disease to take control of their thoughts others did. This country needs to be healed not only from the Twin Towers attack but also from their racist thoughts. This cultural center won’t be the only thing to cure them but it would be a good start.

                In conclusion, the cultural center proposed near Ground Zero is a good thing for many reasons but everyone has to live with the decisions that they make both good and bad. Americans shouldn’t need reasons to do the right thing, at the end of the day before making any decisions, one should remember the Golden Rule, do unto others as you would have others do to you. Nobody likes their freedoms taken from them so why take do it to someone else?