SHOULD A MOSQUE BE BUILT AT GROUND ZERO?

Should a mosque be built at ground zero?

Should a mosque be built at ground zero?

Introduction

America is considered to be a country which believes in freedom, its people are tolerant and the basis on which America was found was that every individual had the right to be free in voicing their opinion. America is known to be a free land. Tolerance is derived from a Latin word “tolerate” which means to bear. In the American dictionary we define it as the “freedom from bigotry and prejudice.” (Cohen, 1985)

This paper will argue whether a mosque or an Islamic centre should be built two blocks away from ground zero, where the twin towers were destroyed. 70% of the people oppose to this idea saying that this would be an insult to those who lost their lives in that horrible event. America is supposed to be a free nation which means that every person of every race or religion has the right to live freely. People of the United States need to be tolerant and respect other races even if the hate them, this is derived from the statement mentioned above.

Concession and Refutation

This issue has always been with us, from the time of Puritan rigidity and the infamous Salem witch trials the founding father of America has made sure that the concept and the fabric of tolerance was woven in the young American republic.

There are many arguments made against building a mosque near ground zero but most of them are based on emotions and not on real facts of figures which makes it senseless.

On the other hand the arguments for letting the project go on are far more convincing and compelling.

In Cordoba, a high-rise building where the center will be the Muslim community, which will include a mosque, was a clarified procedural hurdle in the last few days, when New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission voted against granting historic status of building a small building would be demolished.

A large number of people have lined up against this project, protesting that building a mosque near ground zero is an insult to the United States and an insult to those died at the hands of the terrorists on 9/11.

This argument is considered to be a shameful and an undisguised attack on all Muslim nations which want religious freedom. (Hobbes, 1996)

Why this project should go ahead? This is the argument as many people believe that this is the landmark of those people who died at the hands of the terrorists. This mosque or Islamic centre which is being build is not being constructed at ground zero; it is being constructed two blocks away from it. One should wonder how much distance does the protestors need from the ground zero. On the basis of the arguments of the protestors, a mosque shouldn't be built anywhere near Manhattan. This doesn't sound logical at all. We talk about freedom and yet we are stopping an American community to act ...