The never-ending debate over the proposed Islamic cultural center to be built near Ground Zero in New York City is getting out of control.
Opponents of the potential building, which is being referred to as a "mosque" because it will contain an area for prayer, claim that the real estate is too close to the site where thousands were killed in terrorist attacks by Muslim extremists nine years ago. The detractors say the mosque shouldn't be built out of respect for the families of the victims.
The logic of those opponents makes two troubling assumptions.
First, if truly respecting all of the families of the victims is disallowing an Islamic community center, none of the victims could possibly have been Muslim. In reality, however, hundreds of the victims on September 11 were Muslim.
Second, to suggest that building a Muslim community center near Ground Zero has anything to do with the 9/11 attacks is to make a clear connection between Muslims and terrorists. That connection is unfair and more hurtful to Muslims across the world than a community center would ever be to a victim's family.
If we truly want to show the world that America is a place that accepts and tolerates all religions, creeds, races and nationalities, we must allow the Muslim group build their mosque.
The fact that we are even having this debate, in addition to the disgusting actions of those who have vandalized other mosques across the country and proposed such ideas as "International Burn a Koran Day," shows that this nation still has problems with prejudice.
Yes, the cowardly terrorists who attacked us on September 11 were Muslim. Those Muslims, however, were extremists who distorted a religion that is truly peaceful.
Many Americans profess to be Christian. Should these people also be held accountable for the countless times throughout history that others have been killed in the name of Christianity? Of course not.
After all, the proposed "mosque" will be a multifaith community center with separate prayer spaces for Muslims, Christians and Jews alike. It will also contain a memorial dedicated to those who were affected by the September 11 attacks.
How could a true American oppose a center (officially to be named Cordoba House) that could potentially foster a better understanding and unity with the American Muslim community?
Many opponents have acknowledged that, in spite of their own objections, Cordoba House's planners have the constitutional right to build it. We feel that this fact trumps all others.
After all, if we are abandoning our own constitutional values as a reaction to the attacks of nine years ago, than the terrorists have secured another victory.
