Save Ground Zero

By Jackson Cozzens
*This article has been written in the mindset of those opposed to building a Mosque neat Ground Zero. My words in no way reflect my actual sentiments towards the cultural center.

Many Americans have voiced their opinions about the proposed Park 51 Mosque. The general census among conservatives is that a Mosque does not belong so close to Ground Zero. A building so large would be hard to avoid given the location. It may instill negative thoughts and emotions in people when coming to pay their respects to the victims of 9-11 and have to be constantly reminded who did it. Not saying that all Muslims are bad, nor that it was their religion that made the savage attack. But those responsible for the lives taken on 9-11, did profess to do so in the name on the same God and the same Religion that will be worshiped in the proposed Mosque.

Attempts have been made by those affected by 9-11 to stop the construction of the Mosque. The proposed building is over 150 years old and “should have been declared an official landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.” It wasn’t the Muslim Religion that made the attack against the U.S., but the terrorists that did, did so in the name of that same religion. People are concerned that the Muslim Religion is one of hate and fear that allowing them to build a mosque would be a “slap in the face.”

These cartoons show the ideas of many people regarding the mosque. Many believe that by allowing Muslims to walk all over us, we are opening up the door to being taken advantage of. Americans believe in our morals and in our duty to uphold the Constitution. We believe that all religions have the right to practice freely. However, are we allowing all people freedom if at times those who want to be free from religion, can’t be? Ground Zero is sacred ground devoted to the God that this country was founded on. Ask yourself if it seems right to build one church right on top of another?

See for yourself in this group of cartoons. Go through our research and decide for yourself what is right and what is wrong.

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?

Is It Too Late for the Pro-Mosque Movement?

Betwa Sharma 

(Aug 25) -- Groups supporting the Park51 Islamic Cultural Center, which most Americans say shouldn't be built as planned some 300 yards from ground zero, announced today an initiative to better make their case, but admitted they face an uphill battle to eclipse the mosque opponents who dominate the debate.

"Maybe we're too late, maybe we're slow and democratic, but we're definitely changing things around," said the Rev. Donna Schaper, senior minister at Judson Memorial Church in Manhattan's Greenwich Village. "People who are creating this mass hysteria and manipulating the American people have power and money, but I think we can change their minds because the American people are not mean."

According to a CBS poll released today, 71 percent of Americans think "building a mosque near ground zero" is not appropriate. A more recent survey by the Siena College Research Institute (SRI) found that 63 percent of New York voters oppose the Muslim community center and mosque, which was supposed to bear the name Cordoba House.

Even in New York, said Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg, "the level of opposition to building Cordoba House remains very strong."

On Wednesday, a new coalition group called "New York Neighbors for American Values," which consists of more than 30 civil society organizations and groups from different faiths, asked people to join them in rallies and processions planned for the ninth anniversary of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Many prominent people have come out in favor of the construction of Park51, most notably New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. If it is not built at its intended site, he said Tuesday at the annual Ramadan celebration at Gracie Mansion, "we would send a signal around the world that Muslim Americans may be equal in the eyes of the law, but separate in the eyes of their countrymen.

"And we would hand a valuable propaganda tool to terrorist recruiters, who spread the fallacy that America is at war with Islam," he continued.

But popular grassroots support for that position has been lacking. Last weekend's demonstrations in lower Manhattan drew only about 200 pro-mosque demonstrators, compared with an estimated 500 people who gathered to protest against it.

Supporters of the project say one reason for their late entry into the quarrel is that they never really expected that an organized movement would be needed.

"I think New Yorkers thought it wouldn't be necessary because the mayor had done the job and he has spoken for many of us," said Donna Lieberman of the New York Civil Liberties Union. "But now that it's clear that this issue seems to have many more legs than anyone thought it would have had or it should have ... so we have more work to do."

The pro-mosque groups say they plan to steal the show on 9/11 by organizing bigger events than those of their opponents, who plan anti-mosque rallies and, in the case of one church in Florida, an "International Burn a Koran Day."

"We will be talking, we will be sending out e-mails, we will be marching, we'll do whatever we need to do to turn the tide on this dangerous rhetoric," said Faiza Ali of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "Unfortunately our voices have been drowned out by voices on the extreme. We are hoping to to create an impetus and provide an alternative voice."

Rabbi Arthur Waskow, director of the Shalom Center, a Jewish peace advocacy center in Philadelphia, said supporters like him weren't alone in misjudging the reaction. "I think the Cordoba people themselves didn't make too much about it and thought this is normal America," he said.

"It was no big deal -- then Rupert Murdoch and his people began calling this the '9/11 mosque' and everything exploded," he said. "I don't think they were ready."

While suggesting that a well-oiled machine backed by money and Fox News will be difficult to beat, Waskow said that smart thinking can beat out funds.

"It didn't take a lot of money for us to organize this event; a lot of people chipped in and brought their expertise for free," he said. "I'm not worried about the money." 

 

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