"The people who say there should be no mosque at ground zero are some of the same ones who say the pastor in Florida has the right to burn as many Korans as he wants."
Now lest you think I think something other than what I actually think, let's make two things very clear:
- I think they can put a mosque wherever they dang well please, and no, I don't find it inappropriate or insensitive for a mosque to be built on or near ground zero (because it's actually 2 blocks away AND there was a Muslim prayer room in one of the towers for years). I think it would actually be quite nice. America is not at at war with Islam. We're at war with terrorists who, yes, are Muslim, but that doesn't condemn an entire faith.
- OBVIOUSLY it's rotten to burn Korans. Rotten, horrible, insensitive, exceedingly disrespectful, etc. But do people have a right to do so if they feel like it? Sure. Is it stupid? Very. But not illegal.
4 comments:
Fautie Says:
Oooooo, A highly controversial subject!
First, I agree that Muslims should be able to build a mosque. Should they be able to build wherever they please? I guess so, as long as they go through the local zoning and approval process.
Second, yes the dork in Florida has a right to burn the Koran. I am not sure who says the Muslims should not build a mosque but the dork is a Ok burning the Koran. But sure, he has a right to do it and be stupid.
Next is it insensitive for a Muslim group to want to put their Mosque near ground zero? I think it is and I think it is foolish and makes themselves a target for ridicule. No we are not at war with Islam. But a faction of Islam was responsible for the tragedy of 9/11.
Think about it this way. The Mountain Meadows Massacre was committed by Mormons. Did the Mormon Church commit this atrocity? Well certainly the radical rhetoric by Mormon leaders and some of the things they were teaching at the time did. Whether top leaders ordered it is still debated. I think not. But never the less the act had its roots in some of the teaching of the day as well as the political tensions of the time.
So should the Mormon Church build a temple or meeting house next too or near Mountain Meadows? Would the descendants of those slaughtered there have a right to be upset about that?
Anyway it is a difficult issues but honestly it seems to me that those who want to build where they are building knew this would be a lightening rod issue. I wonder at times what their motivation is.
France disagrees with you:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/14/world/europe/14burqa.html
Great points. I like your view about how the First Amendment protects things which one may find unpleasant or pleasant (although another may disagree on what he/she defines as pleasant and unpleasant). I think that the most forgiving attitude, which would result in pleasantries on both sides, is to allow a mosque to be built. (That being said, I think it would also be most forgiving and Christ-like to not burn Korans, but not all Christians seem to think so.)
P.S. I laughed at your "rights of pyromaniac Americans" bit.
Agree with both points.
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