Ground Zero Mosque

The furor over the Ground Zero mosque that rages on in New York and across the country got me thinking again about me earlier post on the matter. I think anyone's original gut reaction to it is a resounding no. It brings back the fear and terror of 9/11 and along with it, the extreme hatred and anger directed as Muslims in general. We as a country gathered information after the attack and found these hijackers were extremists belonging to a terror organization called Al-Qaeda, headed by Osama Bin Laden. We were told that every religion has its extremists that lie and distort the truth in order to serve whatever malevolent goals they are striving for. This brings us to the main point I want to communicate here. To simply blame the entire religion on the attacks and prohibit a community building for worship and prayer is inherently wrong. It just feels so wrong to me now, that I actually find it hard to believe how I thought otherwise before.

One could argue that the imam and developers are partially to blame here for choosing a location close to Ground Zero that I'm sure they would realize might cause some resentful feelings. But this whole thing has really brought out the worst in Americans and that makes me really sad. Yesterday I saw a video on youtube where an angry mob shouted at this black guy in a skull cap, mistaking him for a Muslim. This is the same type of religious prosecution that our founding fathers escaped from England from to found this country for crying out loud! This is America where we have freedom of religion! Its right there in the first amendment of the constitution!

I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances

I can't believe that the talking heads of Fox News are somehow portraying this in being a terrorist training center. What about Christian community centers? Are they Terrorist training centers for Abortion clinic bombers? Are Jewish community centers really Zionist New World Order breeding grounds? You can't characterize a majority by the actions of a few. This is the main point I am trying to make.

So yes, it might seem hurtful to some to see this center built there. It might bring back the horrible memories of that day etched in our minds. (Remember this also, many Muslims working in the Towers dies that day as well) But we have to remind ourselves that the actions of a few do not dictate the beliefs of all.