As a private property advocate, I say the owners can put what ever they want on that site, as long as it submits to zoning laws. I also love the freedom of religion regardless of which God you believe in. There should never be discrimination based on religious beliefs.
If common sense is applied, however, this is the dumbest idea of the week. This is like a murderer’s family moving next door to the victim’s family. It is insensitive and political correctness run amuk. I could not believe the statement from Mayor Bloomberg that somehow this is going to help us with the terrorists. He thinks this makes some kind of positive statement to the world.
I do think some statements should be made. A statement coming from the Mayor or city council is meaningless. There are some statements that could be made, but they would all come from the Muslem community that will be using this facility. I would like to hear these statements:
Statement One: We are citizens of the United States and support the freedoms espoused by this country and will fight any agressor trying to destroy those freedoms.
Statement Two: We abhor the events of 9/11. We fully reject the teaching and violence of Al Quaeda and all other Islamic extremist groups. None of those teachings will be tolerated in this building.
Statement Three: We will gladly submit any evidence to the authorities, that show these facilities as being used to recruit people to terrorist causes.
Statement Four: We love America and desire to use these facilities to make our community and the world a better place through the peaceful teachings of the Koran.
If I heard these statements I would feel better. One of the issues for me is not hearing the condemnation of Muslim extremists from other Muslims.