When I heard the news of a mosque to be built on the 9/11 sight, honestly I was shocked. I have watched many interviews and debates and read many newspaper articles to gather all the facts. Why do they want to put it there? I wanted to see it from these people's point of view.
Feisal Abdul Rauf, the Imam behind the Park 51 center, was in a TV interview, where he said that he wants the building to be an interfaith center, and a place for Muslims to branch out and be less shy. He also said that, since all this controversy has gone on in the national media, he feels if he builds the mosque the American people are going to revolt against it. However, if he doesn't, Muslim extremists in the international community are going to use this as ammunition against us; not only risking the deaths of more American soldiers, but also creating more resistance against America worldwide. To the Muslim extremist, it would seem that we are against Islam.
I know that I am not against any religion. The real reason why everyone is so shocked about where the mosque is to be built is that, to Americans, Ground Zero is a sacred site.
Why is this site so sacred to us? Well, obviously, not only did one of worst tragedies in history happen there, and not only was one of the worlds largest financial centers brought down to a million pieces, but, in those final moments, so were our families.
The world watched in horror that day as each plane hit the towers. The world cried as people jumped from windows to escape the flames. The towers fell with our loved ones trapped inside. Ground Zero may be just a piece of property to this particular independent company, but to us Americans, it is a sacred place for those reasons.
I personally do not believe a mosque should be built on Ground Zero. Too many people of too many different religions died there. They all had their unique beliefs and thoughts, and placing only one religion on that ground is like favoring one person's memory over another. I honestly feel that is wrong; no ones memory should be disgraced. No religion should be more important than another.
America has built its' foundation on trying to be a democracy; a country where everyone is equal -- where no race or religion is favored over another -- why should this be any different?
I understand Feisal Abdul Rauf's concern over what might happen if he doesn't build the community center, but he should have thought about all of this before he decided to build a mosque on such a sacred space.
On another note, the company that is selling the property has had multiple offers. Most recently, Donald Trump offered to buy this undesirable location, just to put an end to the controversy. He said he could see nothing good coming from this situation. The offer was declined.
So, what is it that this company wants? War and bloodshed? We will never know but in this instance, it makes them look one-sided and shady. I believe in freedom of religion, but building a mosque on one of the holiest and most sacred sites in America sickens me.
I am not against it because the ones who bombed it considered themselves Muslims. Not everyone is the same, and their religion has nothing to do with such a case to me. The attacks on September 11 were decisions made by those individuals. I am against the mosque because everyone I know, everyone my friends and family know, even people I don't know lost someone in the towers that day. They should not be forgotten, and their voices should not be left unheard. Just because they are no longer here with us in this life doesn't mean that they should be forgotten, or that their individuality shouldn't be respected.
The day that everyone died in those towers, it wasn't just one of the most powerful financial centers in the world being destroyed. It was the meaning of the act. Radical terrorists intended to destroy our economy and dishearten us, and they only made us stronger. Our economy is still suffering from that blow, but we will keep pushing through it all.
Not only do our fears run high, but emotions run strong in every New Yorker, especially towards those who were there helping that day. The impact of 9/11 was felt across the whole world. Putting a mosque on Ground Zero after all that can only be more of a tragedy. This is truly a lose/lose situation; whatever they decide to do will have bad consequences. I do not look forward to what any of those may be.
I believe that Muslims have a right to practice their religion, to worship in their mosques. But, honestly, to build one on that site -- such a holy site to us, a site of memories and so many deaths of different people -- is just wrong.
A memorial should go up to honor everyone, but it should be a secular memorial; a place for every American to come and remember all those people who were lost. We are a great and unified country, full of many privileges, but just like in Jerusalem -- where their holy land is revered, and is one of their sacred places -- they protect them.
I honestly believe we should have every right to protect ourselves as well.