Thursday, February 17, 2011
Mosque Controversy at Ground Zero
Although this specific issue of the mosque center being built near ground zero reached its height during the summer and early fall of 2010, I think it's still important to discuss as far as why it was controversial and if it was right or wrong to oppose it. This article from July summarizes the controversy surrounding the issue. I am curious to see what you guys think about this issue.
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I have heard this issue being discussed on the news and I always thought that both sides' argument held some weight. While it is easy for me to say that those who oppose the mosque are being outlandish, I didn't know anyone or have a family member that was directly affected by the September 11 attacks. If I were to take a second and attempt to put myself in their position, I don't think I would want a mosque built in such close proximity. I am sure it seems as a slap in the face to those who lost someone. At the same time though, it is a place of worship and its unfair to punish a religious community as a whole for something and someone that was out of their control. I think our newest reading assignment really addresses the issues in Sahar's article. "A Common Word," talks about and supports the idea that Muslims and Christians are similar in the sense that they work towards a common goal. I am not sure what my opinion would have been had I read this article a week ago, but now I think the mosque should be built. It would be a sign of peace between the two religions in addition to the religious tolerance on which America has been founded.
ReplyDeleteClaire, I'm with you on this. When I heard the debates regarding this last summer, I was very against the idea. To me, it just wasn't right. Like the article said, it seemed insensitive to build a "monument to terroism." Our reading assignment for tomorrow has made me rethink this, though. Love is at the root of Islam. Love for God. Love for your neighbor. There is no violence in that. The attacks were done by a radical group, and the entire islamic faith should not be condemned for them. I'm still not entirely comfortable with the idea of the center, but I see both sides better now and look forward to the day when religioius tolerance is at such a level that this is not even cause for debate.
ReplyDeleteI think the Islamic community center needs to be built. In my opinion, the commentary from the New York Post is proof of the disgusting hatred that people cling to out of ignorance: "where there are mosques, there are Muslims, and where there are Muslims, there are problems."
ReplyDeleteIm going to go out on a limb here and say this person has never spoken to a Muslim in his/her entire life. He is stupidly stuck in the idea that the unknown is the enemy, and the only way to fix this incorrect way of thinking is to get to know some of the people he has classified as "degenerates." There is no hope for a better future if we are not willing to take the necessary steps toward progress through knowledge and understanding.