It's no secret that there has been a lot of people in favor of moving the mosque site further than two blocks from Ground Zero, but the idea of putting a mosque on Ground Zero is starting to gain some momentum too. This idea really gained publicity by Michael Moore, who is a strong proponent of a mosque on Ground Zero. Michael Moore says in an interview with Wolf Blitzer, "The America I believe in is an America that is generous in spirit and not one that wants to attack people because of their religious faith." He also says that building a mosque on Ground Zero will help Muslims "restore the good name of their faith," a faith that was "hijacked" on September 11. In a post on MichaelMoore.com, Michael is quoted as asking people to donate to the current location's building fund, and he also says that he will match those donations with $10,000 of his own money.
Steven Prothero, a religion scholar at Boston University, shares Moore's view by also supporting a mosque on Ground Zero. In his blog post on CNN.com, Prothero says,
"I believe a small mosque ought to be integrated into the redesign of the World Trade Center site itself — a reminder in steel and stone that the United States is not at war either with Islam or with our core values."
He also says, "... New York City is a place where people are free to be their own idiosyncratic selves, to do their own idiosyncratic things and to hallow whatever they find holy, even in a space as public as a Fifth Avenue Sidewalk."
As much as I agree with Moore and Prothero, I think supporters of the mosque are missing the point a bit. Yes, muslims have a right to practice their religion freely. Yes, they should have a place of worship in the new Word Trade Center site. Yes, they have a right to reclaim the good name their religion once had. But it's not just about their religion and their rights. It's about all of our rights as citizens of this country. I know my blog is titled, "Investigating the Ground Zero Mosque Debate," and maybe I am being hypocritical for including "Ground Zero Mosque" in the title because the site of the proposed mosque, is much more than just a proposed mosque, it's a proposed community center. It's a community center with plans to welcome those from other religions with open arms. It's a place for recreation, worship, meeting, and learning from people who are different from ourselves. I think that we as citizens have a right to integrate all religions, races, and cultural values together. That's what makes us grow as people, and America grow in cultural wealth.
While Moore and Prothero make great points about Muslims having the right to practice their religion freely and wherevery they choose, I think the flawed "us verus them" mentality is prevalent amongst supporters and opponents of the mosque site. Many Islamic supporters of the mosque are Muslim Americans. Essentially, It is our right as Americans to practice the religion we choose, it is not their right to practice what they choose. The people behind Park 51 got it right- to make a place for all citizens to come together no matter what they believe. I think that's what truly makes a place hallowed ground because, sadly, it's a rareity in this country anymore.
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