We're American, We Don't Discriminate

Mazoon Mosque by jhongdizon.comThe top story on Drudge today is the approval by a community board of a planned $100 million mosque in the neighborhood of Ground Zero.  Understand, despite Drudge's usual hyperbole, that it isn't a mosque on the site of the World Trade center, just in the vicinity.  While I appreciate the emotions provoked by 9/11, this isn't controversial.  Of course a mosque should be allowed in that neighborhood.  While the 9/11 terrorists were Muslims, there is no reason or right to censor, discriminate or restrict Muslim groups in lower Manhattan, or anywhere else for that matter.  We are American, we have inalienable rights and punitive reactions borne of fear or anger are beneath our principles. 

A father of a slain firefighter disagreed:

"I do have a problem with having a mosque on top of the site where [terrorists] can gloat about what they did," said Santora, with his wife, Maureen, by his side.

Or another appeal to visceral outrage:

"That is a burial ground," said retired FDNY Deputy Chief Al Santora, referring to the fact that victims' remains were scattered for blocks

I can appreciate the survivors and their families feeling that the proposed mosque is in poor taste.  9/11 is a potent reminder of the very worst impulses of fundamentalist Islam, and the juxtaposition of a mosque against that background does not stir happy feelings for anyone.  However, more positive interactions with mainstream Muslim groups may help to heal the wounds of that day.  Either way, America does not prevent the free assembly of groups, period.  Drudge's disgusting exploitation of a 29-1 in favor of the project by a neighborhood community board with no binding power is another low for a man who owes his success to a semen stain.

As a counterpoint to the outsized publicity for a non-event, Matthew Yglesias points out that a mosque in Jacksonville, Florida was suffered a terrorist attack to no response whatsoever.  The mosque was bombed during morning prayers in a possible hate crime that is every bit as disgusting and reprehensible as Islamic terrorism.  To paraphrase Bill Maher, our civilization is better than theirs.  So be better Americans!