Mosque near Ground Zero
I almost posted this on WBIR.com, but I refrained. I couldn't just delete it, though, so here we go with my random thoughts on the issue!
Critics will be critics, no matter what side. They just don't like the President and will do whatever they can to discredit him because of that fact.
However, I think the President's remarks were quite clear, any high schooler could see that he was not supporting or condoning the construction of the mosque, but he was upholding the Muslim's constitutional right to worship as they chose on their private property. He can't (and should not!) comment on the wisdom of their choice of real estate--it's not in his jurisdiction. I don't want the President's approval to build churches in the middle of Montana or my backyard in East TN, thanks!
Personally, I think it's a bit insensitive to build the mosque so close to Ground Zero. However, I think it would be insensitive to those who died that day to build ANY house of worship within a 3 block radius of Ground Zero. That includes a Catholic parish, Protestant Church, or Buddhist Temple.
Why does it matter that the 9/11 terrorists were Muslim? They easily could have been from another religious background/practice (oh, the horror). That's what no one wants to talk about--that it easily could have been Radical Hindus, Ba'hai, Buddhists, and yes, even Christians like me that carried out acts of plane terrorism in, say, Dubai or Sydney or Helsinki.
I think everyone is forgetting that the 9/11 attacks weren't carried out by Muslims. They were planned and executed by Radical Terrorists that happen to be Muslims. It's like those crazy Right-wing Tea Partiers that give Christians a bad name. I think that 99% of the Muslim world is saddened by the fact that there are crazy people practicing their religion, just like 80% of us Christians. I think Christians have more problems with hypocrisy than other religions, is that even possible?
Other than this, it was a great weekend in America--wish it wasn't nearly as hot, but I loved jumping in the pool yesterday afternoon. :)