RALEIGH — Much debate and controversy have swirled around the proposed mosque near the site of ground zero.
Passions, tempers, and protests have flared up and the usual suspects and talking heads all have pontificated and given the public their views on the issue.
Also weighing in have been President Barack Obama, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York Gov. David Paterson, Donald Trump, and many other national figures.
Before moving forward, I think it needs to be said that the United States is the most religiously tolerant nation on earth. Not many rational souls would argue with that.
America cherishes freedom of religion and we welcome all faiths and creeds.
But in my view, this isn’t a question about religious tolerance.
No one questions the constitutional right of the Imam and his followers to build the mosque at that particular site.
But let’s be clear: Simply because you have the right to do something doesn’t mean it is the right thing to do.
Thus, I think the campaign to build the mosque is more about being provocative. It’s also about symbolism.
Let us not forget that on Sept. 11, 2001, our nation was attacked viciously by radical Islamic extremists and almost 3,000 innocent people lost their lives.
Now, fast-forward to the present — nine years after that attack — the worst terrorist attack on American soil in our history.
A radical Imam wants to construct this 13-story, $100 million super mosque and Islamic center and build it 600 feet from “ground zero.”
Sometimes lost in the tolerance debate are the families of the victims of 9/11.
Many of those families were understandably stunned as they consider ground zero sacred ground.
Imagine the outrage of Americans if the Japanese government had tried to put a shrine dedicated to the emperor in Pearl Harbor next to the USS Arizona. It never would have been allowed.
It is also worth exploring the thoughts, intentions, and past statements of Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf — the driving force behind the mosque at ground zero.
Immediately after 9/11, Rauf condemned the United States for being an “accessory” to the attacks. More recently he would not condemn Hamas as terrorist organization.
Imam Rauf also has been quoted as saying:
“We tend to forget, in the West, that the United States has more Muslim blood on its hands than al-Qaida has on its hands of innocent non-Muslims. You may remember that the U.S.-led sanctions against Iraq led to the death of over half a million Iraqi children. This has been documented by the United Nations.”
I believe most Americans would take an exception to the aforementioned statements by Rauf.
As I previously mentioned, this is not about religious tolerance. It’s about doing the right thing and being respectful to families who lost loved ones on that tragic day of Sept. 11.
The radical Islamists understand symbolism. This mosque sends the wrong message to terrorists. And, therefore, this mosque should not be built.
Marc Rotterman worked on the national campaign of Reagan for President in 1980, served on the presidential transition team in 1980, worked in the Reagan administration from 1981-84, is a senior fellow at the John Locke Foundation, and a former member of the board of the American Conservative Union.