Mosque 2 blocks from Ground Zero

[Browning151]

Regarding the Imam, the reason why we can assume he doesn't want to move the Mosque is because he doesn't have to. If they choose to build a mosque on private property, with private funds, then the letter of the law says they can and there is little to nothing the state government can do about. The moment that he isn't allowed to, we have rewritten law(s) illegal, thus setting a precedent for future instances wherein if the public disagrees with something, the government can step in nullify any such action.

I think pretty much everyone here agrees that gov't should not be involved in the decision, whether you think it should be built or not they have a constitutional right to do so and the gov't needs to stay out of it.

In all honesty, if it would make a difference to move it down, how much further down would it have to move to be ok? Is there any distance far enough? Can we honestly lie to ourselves and say that their is a distance which would make the mosque favorable?

A building that wasn't damaged during the attack would be less inflammatory to some people, but as you said, there are some people who will simply never be satisfied in any case. I chalk that up to blind ignorance.

Because of the events of 9/11, there will continue to be a stigma aimed at Muslims merely because they are Muslims who are perceived as violent, mindless terrorists, hell bent on world domination, and for no other reasons. As long this perception continues, IMHO, it wouldn't matter where the mosque would be built, someone is going to have a problem with it as seen in Murfeesboro, TN. There were no violent acts committed in the area, no bombings, no Islamic fanatics marching the streets voicing to people to convert or face annihilation, but what it was was good ole American ignorance and fear directed at a group who wanted to build a mosque there and because of a now embedded stigma branded onto all Muslims, fear and ignorance prevailed in this instance. Until the day that changes, the stigma will remain.

It's not just 9/11 that has attached a stigma to Islam, and Muslims in general. The majority, if not nearly all, of large scale terror attacks or attempts over the past decade have been carried out by Islamic extremists. That is what has attached a stigma and instilled a fear of Islam in many people, especially those who follow mainstream media and do nothing more that regurgitate talking points.