Building of Mosque in Ground Zero: Obama was Right After all

For most Americans, the site of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center or most famously called “Ground Zero” is a very sacred place which commemorates the thousands of Americans who died during that fateful day. It is a special place that is very relevant most especially to the families who lost their love ones during one of the most brutal terrorist attack in the history of mainland America. Up until today, the sorrow and mourning is still felt by a lot of families unable to accept the grim reality and continuously blame the government for its failure to defend and protect its citizens against unlawful acts most specifically terrorism.

But then again, a newer controversy has again surfaced questioning how much sense of patriotism is left from the government. More particularly, the remarks of Pres. Obama at the White House which was celebrating the holy month of Ramadan stirred negative criticisms. Pres. Obama mentioned that despite of the traumatic event that has stained the grounds of the 9/11 site, Muslims still has freedom to build a Mosque nearby as everyone in America has the ultimate right to religion. The proposed Islamic center will be 15-storeys high amounting to over $100 million.

Republicans were quick to question the remarks of the President tagging it as an unacceptable view. New York Representative Peter King called the Muslim community as insensitive to the feelings of the families who lost their love ones during the attacks. He also added that the building of the Mosque nearby was very offending especially that a lot of people suffered on that very site. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich made similar the building of the Mosque near Ground Zero to putting a Nazi billboard right next to the Holocaust Museum.

On the other hand, Boston Globe Columnist Derrick Z. Jackson opposes all the ideas of Republicans tagging them as ignorant. He believes that Pres. Obama is right to put religious freedom into outmost importance as it is after all one of the integral parts of the U.S. bill of rights. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg ultimately defended the building of the Mosque stating that the government doesn’t have any power to deny that right. He also added the Muslim people also grieved during the attacks as some of their relatives also feel victim to it.

Mayor Bloomberg is quoted saying “We do not honor their lives by denying the very constitutional rights they died protecting. We honor their lives by defending those rights.” As what your political standpoint will be, one thing is certain. Instead of uniting for a common goal which is to achieve the American dream, U.S. political groups have been creating issues in order to destroy the other. Let us set aside our difference and instead work together for a better tomorrow. America was created to be the land of freedom and the President should continue to protect religious freedom regardless of the controversies he is facing.