People are up in arms over the idea of a mosque being built near ground zero? How do you feel about this? Should, shouldn't, indifferent?

While many may have bought into the false premise that there is a war between Islam and the US, or Islam and the West, this is playing into the hands of Al Qaeda. These terrorists would like nothing more than to have us affirm that the US, the West, and by extension any free democracy, are against Islam. They are seeking to establish a world-wide caliphate in which an extreme brand of Islam is practiced, and such extreme interpretations of sharia (Muslim law) is enforced, as it was by the Taliban in Afghanistan years back.

Since the US is at war against terror, which currently is mostly extreme Islamic terror, but not against Islam or all Muslims, there is no reason not to allow a mosque to be built near ground zero. As long as the structure is built outside the perimeter of the memorial there, or, if inside, is part of an interfaith center, this can actually be a very positive thing on several counts. 1.It affirms our commitment to freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

2. It affirms our commitment to diversity and acceptance.3.It will bring those who pray at the mosque face to face with the impact of what their extreme co-religionists have done, and perhaps encourage them to speak out in the Muslim world against such militant extremism and terrorist attacks on innocent civilians. 4.

It will afford non-Muslims who come to ground zero the opportunity to see that American Muslims are Americans, just like all of us, and that they share the repugnance we feel at such cowardly attacks on civilians perpetrated supposedly in the name of Allah, or God. All this assumes that the religious leadership of this mosque will not be the sort of extremists that teach their congregation members to hate the US and to become terrorists themselves. If the leadership is such an extremist set, they should not be allowed to preach their poison at all, let alone near ground zero.

I am torn. We are all granted the right to practice our religion of choice and the freedom of speech in the same amendment. The 1st Amendment of the US Constitution is arguably the most important of all the amendments in the Constitution.

However although we are afforded these freedoms we cannot infringe upon the safety of others while expressing these freedoms. So on its face the building of this Mosque by Ground Zero is 100% fine and a protected right of the people but like the freedom of speech and screaming "FIRE! " falsely in a crowded theater or "BOMB!" falsely in an airport the expression of these granted freedoms sometimes crosses a line into criminal acts.

So a good question is, Does the building of a Mosque near Ground Zero effectively equal screaming BOMB! In an airport of screaming FIRE! In a theater?

If we say yes because of the likelihood that building this Mosque will create an environment of danger at Ground Zero then no I feel the building should be prevented from being built, it might be a danger to everyone involved. More dangerous still? If we do say "No you cannot build that Mosque *near* Ground Zero because of the danger it might create to everyone involved" then at what distance from Ground Zero would be safe to build a Mosque?

50 yards? 100 yards? A mile?

2 Miles? The vagueness and subjectivity here is treacherous ground. What is "Near Ground Zero"?

I say that we should allow the building of the Mosque but outside a constructively considered and determined perimeter to the Ground Zero area. This allows for the freedom of religion to be expressed without putting anyone in danger.

It sounds like a good idea. It would be an excellent symbol of America's faith in freedom.

For me, building a mosque near ground zero is more of a political statement more than giving respect to our Muslim brothers. It may possible appear as an insult to them since it will be a constant reminder that people died because of terrorists who belong to the Muslim religion. I think building a mosque is good but putting it near ground zero is more of a political move.

This should be a non-issue. In general, the terrorists that destroyed the WTC are to Islam as the Westboro Baptist Church members are to Christianity. The views of a few extremists do not define the religion.

I think they should, 9/11 was an act of which a FEW BAD muslims were involved, just as there are bad christians , bad catholics, bad jews etc. It was NOT all of the muslims in the world , so we are WRONG to be sterotyping ALL muslims into categories such as "terrorists" and things like this . It is not their religion telling them to do so,so why should ALL muslims be punished for this mistake a few bad seeds have committed? I think if they are thinking of building a mosque near it , than they should do so.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.