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.
September 11th was one of the most frightening days in the twenty-first century for Americans. It left not only people’s bodies and hearts wounded, but our nationalism as well. Surprisingly, an astounding amount of Americans to this day still do not understand exactly what the conflict was and is. Lack of understanding has led us to be ignorant- ignorant towards a whole group of people, ignorant towards a whole religion. With the conception that Muslims were the criminals, we make hasty generalizations and hold all Muslims guilty. I have observed this discrimination. Islamic friends of mine are no longer proud to admit their religious beliefs are contingent with those of the terrorists. Their faith should not be held accountable for the actions of a few Muslims. It is not the religion we should be focused on. The friction should be with the terrorist groups that plotted the attacks. Americans cannot and should not hold an entire religion at fault any longer.
ReplyDeleteThe cultural center being built at Ground Zero would be the ultimate gesture of forgiveness and understanding. The United States is a powerful nation and we should show our maturity. The construction would be a healing process and a step forward for our country.
September 11 is our generations Pearl Harbor. The terrorist attacks and the people that were killed on our nation’s soil will be remembered forever. However, just because a small group of Islamic people were behind the attacks does not mean an entire culture should be disrespected. Focusing in on the radical Muslims and tagging their characteristics to the rest of the Islamic culture is not right.
ReplyDeleteThere will always be prejudice people that refuse to accept other cultures, but that should not stop America from being a free nation. Ever since 911 a majority of those prejudice people hold judgment against Muslim Americans. Isn’t America supposed to be a “free” country? Aren’t we supposed to be some sort of “melting pot” of cultures? If so, Americans should accept Muslim-Americans as one of their own and not judge where Muslim-Americans want to construct a Mosque.
I am quite disappointed in the large percentages of people that had a negative view of Muslim-Americans. Although a group of people from this race did kill about three thousand of innocent Americans in New York, but that is not enough reason to request the mosque to be built south of downtown Manhattan. It would be difficult to accept the devastation that happened nine years ago, but you cannot blame the entire race of people for what a group did. As a culture, we easily categorize people by race, but it is unethical to prevent the Muslims from building a mosque wherever they want. The Muslim people have endured judgment and hatred, and they need to be accepted without question. Just because people are nervous that the terrorist attacks might reoccur in the future, does not give anyone the right to deprive people a place to worship. After all, the first Amendment to the Constitution was to give all Americans the right to free speech, religion, assembly, petition, and press. By forcing the Muslims to move their mosque elsewhere, people are violating their rights as Americans. As a country, it is necessary to address the issue of national safety and security in regards to Al Qaeda, but everyone, no matter what religion or race, deserve a place to worship in the way they choose.
ReplyDelete@ lurb..
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. Many Americans just jump to conclusions and need to be more educated before making an "ignorant" decision
@ techspeckk...
ReplyDeleteYes, the whole Islamic religion should not be profiled by the small group who performed the terrorist attacks. It is unfair to all the others who support the religion and would never consider doing such an awful thing
@fighting for immigration reform...
ReplyDeleteThe large percentage is quite alarming indeed. I think our country needs to change and our views on their religion needs to be more educated!