A Judicious and Fair Stand
By Anila Ali
Irvine , CA
As a citizen of the US, I welcome the stand taken by President Obama on the building of a mosque by the Muslims in NYC. I consider the stand of the President as judicious and fair to Muslims and all other non-Muslim communities who live in America.
The news has received copious publicity throughout the world and many Muslims in different parts of the world have welcomed the mosque initiative. The President's comments the next day affirm his stand on protecting the rights of the citizens of the United States, the wisdom of which rightfully lies with the cleric and supporters who launch the project.
The state of NY will be a gainer if the Muslim community builds a new mosque in NY though close to a very sensitive area - Ground Zero. What must be remembered here is that Muslim Americans also lost their lives during that heinous attack. A new mosque will serve as a reminder that Muslim Americans stand together with their fellow Americans in the face of adversity and would not hesitate to surrender their lives in the service of this great nation. For the American Muslims of NY, the mosque is symbolic of religious tolerance that America practices and symbolizes as leader of the Free World.
The religious leaders of the Muslim community in NY should impress upon non-Muslims that the building of a new house of prayer by the Muslims in NY is not a violation of the American Constitution but indeed a rightful extension of the religious freedom for all citizens as enshrined in the Constitution of the United States.
I appeal to all Muslims and others not to breach the peace on this issue but to join together to build a new house of God of Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, for all in the great city of NY to show the new spirit of tolerance which is growing in the United States of America.
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