English Paper

Islamic Community Center being Built Near Ground Zero Debate: Pro
By: Megan N. Tierney


An Islamic community center including a mosque is said to be built two blocks away from the Ground Zero memorial site in New York City, New York. Many controversies have flared up in this topic and it's an extremely difficult choice on which way to think about this incident. After pondering everything as much as I could, I came to conclude that I accept this idea in America, however I find it only necessary to put myself in both positions and then give the reason of my acceptance for this community center.

I can completely understand the reason people are upset about this project being built where it is planned, about two blocks away from Ground Zero. The radical-Islamic terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11th, 2001 caused a surge of the most negative frenzy in America that we only see in the movies. Sadly, many parents, daughters, sisters, brothers, dear friends, grandparents, aunts and uncles, excreta, all had to face the harshest reality that a dearly loved one is dead. Not only dead, but murdered out of an act of violence, hatred, and pure unjust from another human being. It is a touchy subject for many families to this day and the years to come. So, why then build an Islamic community center two blocks away from the site?

Charles Wolf has called it “an example of American tolerance”. I do understand his words and it certainly would basically show America “being the bigger man” but I don't think that's the entire reasoning for going through with this community center. I first thought of how many Muslims were against these terrorist attacks in the name of their religion. How ashamed we all felt, including Muslims. Islamic religion is a peaceful, loving religion whose followers are to be a person of deep faith, following the script of the Holy Qur’an. Certainly, 9/11 was not something that many Muslims held their head high over. I believe if people go about their business and handle the reality of the community center in an adult-like manor, people wouldn't make such a big fuss over a basic American right. Although, how likely is it that we as opinionated people in America will stay quiet about it. There are almost inevitably will be protesting problems in the area, which is very unfortunate because I believe there to be nothing wrong with the location of the community center. The victims of 9/11 will be commemorated in the hearts and minds of many families in there own memorial site (it's not as if they're building the community center directly on Ground Zero). To those who deem the Islamic community center a disrespectful jeer to the memorial site of 9/11, I couldn't very well say your opinion is wrong. I simply find myself in the position of being a pro in this subject. From all my research, I also feel I'm standing a bit out-numbered.

I believe that the Muslim community has the same right as any Americans to build a place for worship, community, and play. It is, after all, a community center. It's just a place for having fun for the Muslim community. I don't think the Muslims should be automatically judged because of circumstances in the past that they might not have been agreeing to.