The misleading case against a mosque

Zero tolerance
The misleading case against a mosque
Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune
July 26, 2010
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-mosque2-20100726,0,1604010.story


Newt Gingrich came out against the so-called Ground Zero mosque the other day. "There should be no mosque near Ground Zero in New York so long as there are no churches or synagogues in Saudi Arabia," said the former Republican House speaker and possible presidential candidate.

It's an interesting innovation to suggest that American freedoms should be no greater than those of repressive nations. What's next? No political protests in Washington until political protests are allowed in Pyongyang?

The project has caused other Republicans to take leave of their better judgment. Sarah Palin urged New Yorkers to stop it. Carl Paladino, a candidate for governor of New York, says he would use the power of eminent domain to take over the property.

But let's not overreact. Much of what we've heard about the building is not quite true. It's not a mosque: It's a 13-story, YMCA-style community center, with a gym, pool, lecture hall, performing arts venue and library, all of which will be open to the public — and it will have a mosque occupying one floor.

It's not at or next to Ground Zero: It's two blocks away, in an area of tall commercial buildings and at least one gentleman's club. It won't tower over the site where the World Trade Center towers stood: It will be one of the shorter structures around, and it will have only an obstructed view of the 1,776-foot skyscraper going up at the site.

The proposal hasn't aroused much opposition among residents of the neighborhood. The local community board approved the center by a 29-1 vote, partly because it will provide amenities the area sorely lacks.

Critics say Muslims are building a monument to terrorism. But it's grossly unfair to think that all or even many Muslims support violent extremism. The congregation behind it has a reputation for moderation. And it's hard to imagine hard-core militants wanting to create a space that will be used by a lot of non-Muslims.

As a legal matter, the opponents don't have a leg to stand on. The First Amendment, which guarantees religious freedom, doesn't allow local government bodies to discriminate against religious organizations out of distaste for their beliefs.

Some people think it would be an affront to the victims of the 9/11 attacks to allow an Islamic space so close to where nearly 3,000 people died. That's a dubious point, unless you assume all Muslims are supporters of al-Qaida.

The imam of the mosque says the purpose is to promote interfaith understanding. But if critics think the result will be just the opposite, they might try sitting down with the sponsors and discussing the matter calmly, with a due regard for freedom of religion.

That may not be the practice in Saudi Arabia. But in America, thankfully, we do things differently.