by Paul Wylie

Created on: August 17, 2010

Ground Zero Mosque Is Not At Ground Zero

Ginned up for political uproar, the so called 'controversy' over the building of an Islamic Center two full blocks away from the site of the 2001 attack that brought down the World Trade Center's three largest buildings is nothing more than yet another reason for the extremist elements that are permeating the landscape to launch into another of their non-sensical tirades.

One may even be inclined to agree that it appears to be in bad taste to build a mosque anywhere near the site that was destroyed, but the inescapable fact is that the United States Constitution demands that no one interfere with the free expression of any religion.

The extremists would have us believe that there is unanimous consent among the people against the building of that center, a center that would not be just a place of worship, but a location that would hold a community center, a school, a meeting hall, as well as a traditional mosque. Also planned are a basketball court, a spa, and even (gasp) a memorial for the victims of the 9/11 attacks. But the naysayers are wrong about just who is condemning this place of worship. Included in the chorus of voices that support the building of the mosque are some of the family members of the victims of that horrific day back in 2001. Some first responders have also voiced support.

One interesting note that does not garner attention from the media (or the politicians hoping to score political points by creating a false controversy) is that there are already not one, but two Islamic mosques in downtown Manhattan. One is the Masjid-Manhattan, which is situated near City Hall on Warren Street, four blocks away from Ground Zero. It has been there since 1970. Conservative viewed, but a mosque nonetheless, where is the outcry to move that building? Or we can point to the more liberal viewed Masjid al-Farah, twelve blocks from Ground Zero, which has been in existence since 1985. Neither of these two mosques have been singled out for the hate speech emanating from those who would love nothing more than to trample our Constitution into the very Ground Zero they proclaim to love so much.

Most of those screaming the loudest don't know the first thing about life in New York City, or the fact that two blocks in between locations there may as well be on another planet. You can live your entire life one street, never knowing what is around the corner. New York is not like many other smaller cities. There is way too much there

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