Build an Islamic Cultural Center and Mosque two blocks from Ground Zero?

On September 11, 2001 I was sitting looking out my 28^th floor office window at the World Trade Center when I saw a smoke start to rise from one of the towers, the first plane had just hit.  For the next 102 minutes I stood there with my coworkers watching the towers burn and ultimately disappear forever from the NY skyline.  I lost friends and colleagues that day – my employer at the time had offices at One World Trade Center and lost a total of 355 employees.

Over the past several weeks there has been an ugly debate about the opening of a cultural center and mosque in lower Manhattan.  I share this brief account of my experience that day not because I think I have a greater right to an opinion than anyone else, but because I want you to know some of the experiences that forged my opinion on this issue. 

In the days after the attacks I resumed my commute – I would take a bus into the Port Authority Terminal and walk across town through Times Square.  All around me were police and National Guard Troops, many in body armor carrying automatic weapons.  I was scared but glad they were there.

As the days passed, out of the black cloud of smoke and debris, I started to see the glimmer of a silver lining.  While nothing was worth the price paid that day, it was encouraging to see the world rally around us.  People of all faiths and nationalities agreed that the actions of those few madmen were horrific.  It seemed there was a real opportunity to forge a world of increased understanding, tolerance and cooperation out of the ashes 9/11.

Fast forward almost nine years – my optimism is gone, an opportunity was squandered.  Today an ugly debate rages on whether an Islamic Mosque and Community Center should be built near ground zero.  We are being divided as a nation by hate-filled people stirring up debate and emotions for their own political gain.

I can give logical arguments for why I am in favor of the proposed construction:

• there is already a Mosque four blocks away from ground zero
• in the two blocks between ground zero and the proposed site there are strip clubs and fast food joints, hardly hallowed ground
• there are Islamic services every Friday IN the Pentagon at an interfaith chapel, another location attached that day
• the people most vocal about their opposition seem to be using the issue for their own gains

I could go on and on, but the bottom line is these are not the reasons I am in favor of the construction.  Instead I want to quote the current Mayor of NY, Michael Bloomberg who said recently:

"We would undercut the values and principles that so many heroes died protecting,"

Those stirring up this debate have forgotten what we stand for as a nation.  The freedom of religion and speech are at the heart of what we are.  Yes, there are those who oppose us and will try to exploit our ideals to their own ends.  However, if we stoop to the level of hate filled speech they will have won without hijacking a plane, exploding a bomb or firing a gun.  They will have won my making us guilty of the hate and intolerance we accuse them of, they will have won by making us less than we can be as a nation.