Analysis Blog

The mosque/community center planned to be built in Manhattan has been called many names. It has been called the Ground Zero Terror Mosque, to Obama’s mosque, or the Ground Zero Mosque. All of these names have been used by a great number of people to characterize their position in this heated debate. I have come to call this debate the “extremists” debate, people’s opinion of building of the mosque/community center is never in the middle. They are either strongly for it or strongly against it. In order to develop a good stance on this issue one must analyze both sides of this argument, and make a choice as to which side they believe.

First, we must have a small history lesson. Nine years ago, on September 11, 2001a group of extremist Muslims pledging loyalty to Al-Qaeda hijacked four American planes and set out to cause death and destruction. Two of the four planes were flown into the World Trade Centers in New York City, one was flown into the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and the fourth plane crash landed in Pennsylvania due to a passenger revolt. At the end of the day approximately three thousand lives we lost. Almost immediately after finding out who had done this horrible act President Bush initiated the War on Terror which eventually engulfed Afghanistan, Iraq, and countless other countries providing troops to help us. This also led to a drastic increase in anti-Muslim feelings in this country, which has then become the underlying issue in the New York City Mosque debate. During those nine years it was proposed that America should build a mosque two blocks away from Ground Zero. This sparked a huge debate that is still raging today, even though the building plans have been approved.

The side of the debate I am in agreement with says that we should in fact build the Ground Zero mosque. People have called the first amendmentin order to defend the building of the Ground Zero mosque. The first amendment clearly states that the American people have the freedom of religion.  They argue that because the first amendment says there is freedom of religion then there should be no question as to whether or not the mosque should be built. This camp also says that the building of the Ground Zero Mosque will truly defeat terrorism. It is said that in order to destroy radical Islam, is when a moderate, mainstream version of Islam triumphs over the world view of Osama bin Laden. This moderate view of Islam follows the teachings of the Five Pillarsand does not condone merciless acts of violence against people that do not believe that they do. The first step in allowing this moderate view of Islam to triumph is he building and completion of the Ground-Zero Mosque. This side of the debate also says that the building of the mosque/community center will be a victory for American ideals. These ideals include: recognition of the rights of others, tolerance and freedom of worship (to allude back to the amendment argument). With all this serious banter going back and forth there is always room for a little comedy. While John Stewart is presenting it in a funny way, what he is defending rings true. America should allow the building of the Ground Zero Mosque.  Why should America appear to have the same religious standards as Saudi Arabia? I know that I do not want that. Supporters of the Ground Zero Mosque say that the building of the Ground Zero Mosque will show the terrorists they will not destroy what America stands up for. It will be a statement proving to the world that no matter what happens America will always be the better person and forgive.  It should also be observed that there are more than ten religious centersfound in Manhattan all belonging to different religions. The only major religion not included in this list is Islam. So, the building of an Islam center would only add to the already rich religious diversity of Manhattan. The final argument that this side makes is that this site will be so much more than a Mosque. It will havea YMCA, restaurants, and memorials commemorating the ones lost during the September 11^th attacks. This extra stuff should overshadow the fact that a mosque maybe build two blocks from ground zero, and win over nay-Sayers on the other side.

On the flip side of this debate, are all the people who want to stop the building of the Ground Zero Mosque. This clip from the Glenn Beckshow provides a pretty good summary of their position. The supporters of this position say that if the ground Zero Mosque is built it will be a spit in the faceto the people who lost loved ones during the September 11^th attacks. They say that if a Mosque/community center is built it will open up old wounds from the day they lost their loved ones. That he building of the Mosque/community center will only cause more pain to those who suffered at the hands of terrorists on September 11, 2010. However, as Glenn Beck pointed out his video more people would not be opposed to the Mosque if it were not being funded by shady real estate practices.  It is shown that there are possible links between terrorist groups and the groups helping to fund the building of this Mosque/community center. For the in depth analyses of the connections of the groups see this Glenn Beck clip. The oposers of the Ground Zero Mosque have also said that the planned building site is too close to Ground Zero. At two blocks away it does not give a respectable area for the memory of what had happened there nine years ago. In order for the Mosque/community center to be built it must be further away, but no real right answer to that question exists. There are simply too many different opinions to make an accurate decision as to how far the Mosque should be. In the same vein as the last argument, some people believe that Ground Zero is sacred ground and that the build ing of a Mosque on or near it would be sacrilege that the building of the Mosque/community center would just be a spitting on the graves of those who died during 9/11.  This camp believes that any sort of homage to the Islam faith will be a terrorist victory. Opening the door to more violent acts against America and any other country where freedom and unity are central values.

However, what both camps can agree on is that we should never forget what happened on the fateful day on September 11, 2001. They both can agree that we should always remember those victims and heroes of 9/11.