Throughout this experience blogging on the subject of the Ground Zero Mosque, I definitely have gained some knowledge. At the beginning of the project I initially believed the mosque should be built because our Constitution says it should be. Although my stance still remains that the center should be built, I am aware of so much more dealing with this issue. I started off by learning where the problem came about and how it started with the initial proposal, and what exactly was being proposed and how the building actually is not just a mosque and it is an Islamic Center. Also, I found out at this time that the building is not actually at Ground Zero, which so many people believe. As I dove further into the subject I learned more about the two sides and their arguments. I learned that those who support the mosque do not only support it because of the freedom of religion which is what I had first thought. I found out that supporters want the center to be built from more of a moral standpoint, and to try to put Anti-Muslim feelings down the drain. I even found out that some of the families of the victims of 9/11 support the mosque. On the other hand, I also learned some things that the people who oppose the center believe. I found out that they think the construction of the center would be a victory for the terrorists and it should not be done. Some of their arguments put some new thoughts and perspectives in my mind I must admit. Finally, I learned a lot more on the political aspect of this debate. I learned how there will be some implications politically with the elections coming up. I learned different views of many politicians such as Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, and even Barrack Obama. This blog definitely has made me expand my knowledge and raise my awareness.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Americans Polled on the Issue
The debate over the Islamic Center has sparked some polls to be taken and here are some of the main results:
· 23% of people surveyed believe the mosque would serve as a symbol of religious tolerance that America has
· 44% of people surveyed think the mosque would be an insult to those who died from the attacks on September 11, 2001
· 27% of people surveyed believe that both sides present valid arguments
· 6% of people surveyed had no response or was not sure what they thought on the issue
I think these stats show that more Americans are against the construction of the Islamic Center than for it. They do have valid reasons to believe that the mosque should not be built because honoring those who died in the attacks is very important. However, a later poll taken had startled me a little when Americans where surveyed on their view of Muslim religion…
· 22% of Americans surveyed find the Muslim religion somewhat unfavorable
· 21% of Americans surveyed find the Muslim religion very unfavorable
This poll I find to be upsetting. 43% of people surveyed find the Muslim religion at least somewhat unfavorable, and almost half of those find it very unfavorable. I think this poll shows that Americans still are against the Muslims and I fear that there truly is discrimination against them due to these feelings. Furthermore, I am afraid that these feelings will lead all the protest of the Islamic Center and it will be more about getting rid of the Muslims than honoring the 9/11 victims. I believe this country need to work on their religious tolerance because it is one of the building blocks of what America is, and allowing the center to be built would be a good example of this.
Families of Victims' Growing Support
The honor of those who suffered and still are affected from September 11, 2001 is definitely something Americans want to do. Nobody wants to seem like they do not care about what happened almost ten years ago on that tragic day. In response to these feelings, much of the protest for the building of the Islamic Center has come about. There is much feeling that the construction of the center would not be what the victims would want and what the families deserve. However, that is not entirely the case.
As it turns out, there is a lot of growing support from the families of 9/11 victims. They want the center to be built and believe people have every right to build it. Although those families in support of the center are still the minority, their numbers are growing. Many groups have started from the families along with civil rights and religious groups to support the mosque.
Personally, I find this remarkable. This is an example where I am proud to be an American. The families have gone through so much and have withstood tragic occurrences that I could hardly imagine and they still have it in them to stand up for a religion that the terrorists had followed. In my mind, this is what America is all about and those families should be applauded. Everyone has a right to freedom of religion and the families do not want this event to make our country stray from what it stands for.
Is This Not Honorable?
The tragedy that occurred on September 11, 2001 is one that will never be forgotten. The horror, chaos, and lasting scar that was left on our nation is quite dramatic and still affects us to this day, almost a decade later. There were so many miserable deaths that we should only see in movies. All of the victims on 9/11 and those that were affected by it in some way should be felt for.
That is the case why the proposed Islamic Center is causing so much debate. Many Americans feel that building such an establishment would be a disgrace to all those that suffered from the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Americans want the victims to be honored and respected and they believe that building the center would do quite the opposite. Although there is suppose to be a freedom of religion, everyone has to ask themselves if this is the right thing to do. It is a tough question to say the least, because nobody wants to insult those who had the tragedy strike them directly.
There is some outrage going on and much protest. People are arguing that the mosque will be a victory for the terrorists and we should not give in. They believe the mosque would be disrespect and it would almost be like choosing the terrorists over our own people. So the real questions are, is the building of the center what the terrorists would have wanted? Would all the victims appreciate the center or would they feel lack of respect if we built it?
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Where did it all start?
The mosque debate is one that is very heated and one that is regularly discussed, seen on television, and read in newspapers. However, it is a debate that people seem to just “jump” in the middle of. So where did it all start? It started with a real estate partnership purchasing an old, vacant clothing store. It was lead by a 51 year old man named Hisham Elzanaty who helped pay the 4.8 million dollars to acquire the lot. They had proposed the Islamic center as they were working on purchasing the lot. The partnership was supported by many donors and has also contributed to charities for Palestinians.
This information probably does not swing a person one way or another but it definitely is good to be informed on the situation before making a decision or coming to a conclusion. This will keep people from making an uninformed decision. The more information a person knows on the subject, the better decision they can make.
Class Links Post
I started reading these blogs in our class all for the same basic reason: I could relate and I am affected by the issues they delve into.
This blog should be no surprise that I followed it because it was on the same topic I chose for my blog. It was nice to hear another person’s point of view on all the commotion that is going on in society about the mosque being built near ground zero. This blog gave me some new thoughts and insight that I had not been able to think of on my own. I found this blog to be personally helpful and enjoyable.
This blog I kept up with because sugar sweetened beverages are a part of my everyday life. I consume them every day (mostly in the form of Gatorade) whether it is in my room, during class, or in the baseball stadium. I was particularly interested in the implications post that was put on the blog because I’m curious as to how the current debate over a tax would affect consumers.
What college student wouldn’t be interesting in reading a blog about the legalization of marijuana? I found this blog interesting because I have heard so much about the issue in California and I finally got the opportunity to hear what is actually going on and what the real debate is. I found this blog to be very informative and intriguing. It discusses the prepositions and effects that this debate contains.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Links Post
These links should set the stage for readers to understand why the Ground Zero Mosque is such a big controversy still. They provide the background of the issue, and they show polarized sides and their reasons as to why the mosque should or should not be constructed.
This article discusses the beginning of the mosque debate and explains the purchase of the space by Ground Zero. This article helps because it shows how it all started and gives a good foundation to start understanding fully what the issue occurring in New York is all about.
Although a pretty goofy character giving the information, I find this link to be one that can be very useful. It provides the audience with good information that can further the knowledge one knows before deciding what their view is on the issue. I think it would be especially helpful to people that are being very extreme about the problem because this link explains how the mosque is not right at Ground Zero and how it is not exclusively religious; it gives a calmer approach that some people might need to understand the problem fully.
This link is very helpful because it simply spells out what the debate is between: freedom of religion and honoring those who suffered and still suffer from 9/11
This link provides the idea that most Americans are proposing, still build the mosque just move it further away from Ground Zero.
This link has the First Amendment in The Constitution. It spells out the freedom of religion that every American has the right to. Most supporters of the mosque use this as the backbone of their argument to allow the mosque to be built.
This link provides factual information on what Americans think of the issue. It has the results of polls that were conducted, and they show that about 71% of the Americans surveyed think that the mosque would be an insult to the 9/11 victims.
This link shows that the construction of the mosque might not be such an insult. It describes families of 9/11 victims who support the mosque. This shows that even those who were directly affected by the terrorist attacks still think the mosque should be able to be built.
Funny Video (Break Post)
http://www.blip.tv/file/4168013
Click on the link to see a video on the Ground Zero Mosque courtesy of SNL
Click on the link to see a video on the Ground Zero Mosque courtesy of SNL
Implications
The debate over the mosque in New York is completely polarized due to the absence of a possible compromise, as I stated in my theory post. If the approval of the mosque does not happen relatively soon, it could carry some fairly serious implications. If the issue isn’t resolved, then I believe the arguing that is occurring now will only become more and more heated resulting in more drastic protests that might even end in violence. Suspense would be built up too, only letting the side that ends up losing the battle to become bitterer. I also feel that if there is no resolution in a reasonable amount of time, there will be a big uproar from all Americans who follow the Islamic religion. They will use the conflict as a perfect example of the hatred that Muslim-Americans deal with. Also, I believe there will be some implications in politics added to the existing ones. Especially with the upcoming elections, I think that politicians’ stance towards the proposed mosque could go as far as determining who will be voted into office. Voters could possibly change their votes depending on the politicians’ ideas for balancing honor for the 9/11 victims with the freedom of religion that is promised to all Americans.
Theory
If the mosque and center is built then obviously those who oppose it will be upset. And if the center is not built then those who support it will not be happy. How is this debate going to end? What could be done to put it to an end? Those questions are particularly tough on this subject because I do not believe there is a possible compromise that could satisfy both sides of the debate. I say this because I don’t know many ways in which a compromise could be made on this matter. The only option I can think of, which has been proposed by many already, is to just move the location of the center further away from Ground Zero. However, I don’t think it would be enough to satisfy the side supporting the mosque being built. I believe most of the supporters of the mosque would not be content because they are arguing not for the concrete location, but for the concept. I think most supporters of the mosque want it to be at the location it has been proposed because it will be a quintessential example of America and what it stands for. If the location is moved at all, I think many of the supporters of the mosque will not be happy.
There is only one thing that I think can be done to put an end to this debate, and that is to legally deem rejection of the mosque unconstitutional. If that were to happen, the arguing would definitely be put to an end. However, it would not end in the satisfaction of both sides it would just be a victory for those who support the mosque. This might result in some implications that could have prominent affects.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Analysis Post
This controversy over a mosque being built in New York City has really evolved into something big over the past year. It has grown into such an issue that it is now found in politics regularly. It started from the purchase of an old clothing store by a real estate partnership and a plan to construct a cultural center and mosque; now it has turned into an issue where even foreigners are posting videos to voice their opinions. Not only is the issue growing, the momentum is shifting frequently.
Before I discuss the different arguments everyone is making, there are some points that people might not be aware of. The mosque is not on ground zero, it is two blocks away. Also, it is not strictly a religious building. There is a place for religion, but it is a community center including a basketball court and such. I’m not sure if everyone is aware of these two things before they decide their stance, but they should be.
The controversy seems, for the most part, to be split into two distinct sides. There are some neutral people who, for the most part, just want the location of the center to be moved further away from Ground Zero. However, the debate seems to be very polarized; many people find the mosque to be a terrible proposal and others support the ability to build the mosque.
The supporters of the mosque mainly use the freedom of religion to defend their stance, using the First Amendment as their source of power. This side believes that the building should be built and nobody can stop them. Many people believe that building the mosque would define America’s religious tolerance, and it would be the right way to honor those who died in 9/11 because it would show that America will not change due to the terrorists. Many also believe that building the mosque will help “heal” the United States and it will help jump start Americans’ forgiveness for the happenings on September 11, 2001. This side also does not agree with restricting those who follow the Islamic religion from having the mosque because they feel that they should not be punished, for they did not partake in the attacks.
On the other side of the debate, most people oppose the mosque being built. Polls have shown that 44% of Americans find the mosque an insult while only 23% find it to be a symbol of religious tolerance. This shows us that the majority are on the side of opposing the mosque. Many people on this side think the mosque would be like a victory to the terrorists from 9/11. They believe that it would be similar to giving in, and it would not be the correct way to honor the victims. Those who stand on this side of the argument believe that not having the mosque would be the right way to honor the victims because it will show that we have not forgotten about them and still want to make strides in stopping more attacks. They protest the center and believe that it should not be constructed; they find the mosque being so close to ground zero to be almost disgraceful.
The issue in politics seems to be a accurate reflection of most Americans because many oppose the idea of the center. Sarah Palin, Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney, Pamela Geller, and Newt Gingrich are some of the famous names that do not believe the mosque is a good idea. They do not believe it is the right thing to do. Even so, there are some politicians who support the mosque. Obama is one of them. Ron Paul is another that sticks to the freedom of religion. Even the mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, supports the building of the center despite all of the uproar he has had to deal with on the issue. Along with him, many civil rights groups as well as religious groups have joined the side supporting the mosque.
Which side are you on?
Important Background Information
There is some background information that I believe is important that everyone knows about before they decide where they stand in the ground zero mosque debate. I feel that some people decide to be against the mosque before they know all of the facts. I fear that many people will instantly jump to conclusions that may be brought on by lack of knowledge. Here are two important points that I think that everyone should know before they voice their opinions.
1. The mosque is not AT the site where The World Trade Center once stood. It is proposed to be built a little over two blocks away. Yes, it is still relatively close to ground zero, but it might be far enough for some people to accept the building of it. I believe everyone should know this because I don’t want anyone having some strong feelings or thinking it is such disrespect to 9/11 victims because it is at the site when it is not. I’m not sure whether or not this will make people lean more way than the other or not, but it is something everyone should be aware of.
2. The building is not just a mosque. It is an Islamic Center. I think many people believe it is strictly a religious building so it is completely absurd to put it near ground zero when it is far from that. The building does have a place to worship, but it has a lot of other parts to it. If the building is constructed, there will be things like a basketball court, a swimming pool, and even a place for people to try and sing. The building is a center not a mosque, and I believe that is another piece of information that everybody should be aware of.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Constitutional?
The Constitution of the United States of America is the absolute law of United States. It is the backbone of our government. Also, it will be the backbone of my argument that the mosque being built in New York is acceptable. In the Constitution, there is a Bill of Rights which states the essential liberties and rights to all Americans. At the beginning of the Bill of Rights the first amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”As it clearly states in the beginning, there is a freedom of religion to all Americans and there is no prohibiting of exercising it. I believe that single statement alone should end the dispute of whether or not building the mosque is suitable.
A great aspect of the Constitution is that it cannot be argued with. It is definite, concrete, and something that really has no exceptions. So why is there a possibility of rejecting a mosque in New York? That’s a question I have been asking myself this whole time. The Muslim-Americas have a clear right to religion spelled out to them in our Constitution and should not be denied the right to build a mosque, regardless of the location.
Friday, October 1, 2010
The Introduction
Do you remember September 11, 2001? Many people probably find it offensive that I even asked that question. That tragic day will always be remembered by our generation of Americans. Having that day always in our memory is causing quite a controversy in New York City. The controversy: the proposal of having an Islamic cultural center and mosque near the site where the planes crashed into the World Trade Center. The issue of the mosque is something that can be found regularly in the news; many people have been voicing their opinions on the issue.
The people that believe there should be no mosque have caused something that is not too far from an uproar. Many people have their own reasons for opposing the mosque. Some believe having the mosque is disrespectful to the ones that we lost during the 9/11 attacks. Others say building the cultural center would give the 9/11 terrorists a “victory.” Finally, there are some people who don’t want the mosque due to the distrust they have towards Muslims. These people don’t really care about the location; they just don’t want a mosque in general.
There are some who back the idea of having a mosque as well. These people mainly use the first amendment as their basis of argument. They believe there is a right to have the mosque due to the freedom of religion that is clearly spelled out for Americans in the Constitution. They oppose and disagree with all of the infuriation that so many are feeling.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)