I Support the Muslim Center Near WTC

I keep hearing of this mosque that will supposedly be built on the World Trade Center site. Those bringing this to the forefront of attention usually are vehemently opposed and even outraged, claiming that since it was Muslims who committed the acts bringing down the World Trade Center buildings on 9/11, Islam itself is responsible with its presence somehow desecrating the "sacred" site where so many died.

Well, it's true that God has been conveniently used by different parties throughout history to justify their atrocities, whatever religion their usurped "God" happened to be fronting. But the proposed mosque and Muslim cultural center will neither be on the World Trade Center site nor on public land. It will go on private property nearby. And as far as I know, we still live in a country that does not establish a state religion. Nor does it favor one religion over another, or least it isn't supposed to!

If the Muslim center is prevented from being established in its proposed Lower Manhattan location, then we need to go across our country and uproot the myriad Christian churches that had been built on the heels of ethnic cleansing of native Americans during the 18th and 19th centuries. Otherwise, let's show some social maturity and celebrate the spirit of diversity and tolerance that is the true antidote for the narrow-minded and intolerant mindset that beset the 9/11 terrorists and led to their unspeakable acts of inhumanity.

Not surprisingly, Sarah Palin, who seems determined to demagogue any issue that she feels she can gain political leverage out of, has come down strongly against the mosque being built. Palin, who quit her one position of elected government responsibility in Alaska to go to other parts of the country and tell others how to run their own business, has managed to get Zondervan, a Christian publisher, to publish and promote her memoirs. Christian bookstore chains prominently stock and advertise her political book Going Rogue. Palin is part of the "Christians are of God and are the good guys, Muslims are of the devil and are the bad guys" simplistic worldview that appeals to so many in the Christian right. The 9/11 terrorists, for their part, were part of the group saying "Muslims are of God and are the good guys, Christians are of the devil and are the bad guys". I don't know about you, but there is too much similarity between the two for me to feel comfortable following "Sister Sarah"!