OPEN LETTER TO MY LISTENERS - THINK BEFORE YOU FEAR

Careful thought is needed in the discussion about muslims near ground zero

I do not publicly support any political party or point of view. I try to encourage thought.  I try and stick with the facts and I try to be well informed. I also use the law as the starting point for most – if not all – of my analysis.  Especially on big social and political issues, such as the new dilemma involving muslims near Ground Zero.  So, in response to many, many e-mailsI I received this week about my praise for President Obama's stand in support of the prayer center two blocks away from Ground Zero, I thought I'd write a letter for all to read.

LET'S BE HONEST WITH EACH OTHER

C’mon, everyone.  Prior to 9-11, very few of us cared about – let alone thought about – where muslims would be building a prayer center.  Now, many of us stand firmly opposed to it. Why? Because we are afraid.  We are very afraid. So now, let's face the fear with information and thought. Let's think before we fear.

THE MUSLIM FAITH DOES NOT EXIST TO DESTROY AMERICA

It is frightening to imagine that there might be a faith that teaches violence and a plan to destroy America. And it would be frightening -- if it were true. But it's not. Fact: the muslim faith does not advocate the violent destruction of our country. Most of the billion-or-so followers of Mohammed are not interested in ruining America. In fact the religious leader, or Imam, who is heading the project to build a prayer center near ground zero had this to say about the 9-11 terrorists:

“Fanaticism and terrorism have no place in Islam. That's just as absurd as associating Hitler with Christianity, or David Koresh with Christianity. There are always people who will do peculiar things, and think that they are doing things in the name of their religion. But the Koran is... God says in the Koran that they think that they are doing right, but they are doing wrong.”

THERE IS NO MOSQUE BEING BUILT ON THE SITE WHERE THE TOWERS FELL

Fact: there is no mosque being built on the former foundations of the Twin Towers. The prayer center -- not a mosque -- is being built two blocks away. As noted in the New York Times, it will have a board composed of Muslim, Christian and Jewish leaders, like a Y.M.C.A., and is intended to create a national model of moderate Islam. Please stop repeating the false idea that a mosque will be built on the "hallowed ground" of Ground Zero. Unless by "hallowed ground" you mean Manhattan.

STOP FOCUSING ON "DECENCY" AND "BEING OFFENDED" - WHAT ABOUT HEALING PREJUDICE?

The New York Daily News published an aritcle that echoes the most curious complaint in this whole debate. The writer spoke of common sense and decency. And she said "If Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf had either, he and his group would reconsider the location out of respect for the hordes of Americans, many of them 9/11 family members themselves, who think that this idea just plain stinks."

Think about that for a second. Why do Americans think that building a place of prayer near Ground Zero stinks? Answer: It's not our kind of prayer. It's Islam. Don't you see, the prayer center is a symbol of what we fear. We, in fact, believe that the prayer center represents the terrorists who plotted the 9-11 high jackings. We equate a place of muslim worship as a home to terrorists or, at the very least, a symbol of their evil actions. But what a wonderful thing it would be if those "hordes" walked to the prayer center and simply prayed with the people who practiced a faith they feared. What better way is there to defy terror, than building a place of community and discourse close to (but not on) the place that violence made its statement?

A FINAL QUESTION: IF NOT TWO BLOCKS AWAY THEN HOW FAR?

Ultimately, it comes down to this: If not two blocks away, then how far away should Muslims legally be from Ground Zero – 2 blocks, 10 blocks, 10 miles, 100 miles . . .  a different state, two states – where does that boundary end? The practical effect of our fear would push the prayer center into a constitutional debate: who can we legally exclude from a neighborhood on the basis of their faith? And this begs a bigger question: Would we be offended if the Catholic Church was intent on putting a prayer center two blocks away from Ground Zero? Would we call that "indecent" or lacking in "common sense." Stop draping the American flag around American bias against Islam. Let the constitution be your guide. And seriously, investigate the Muslim faith.  Go to a mosque. Pray with a Muslim.  Do something to learn about the one billion or so people outside of the United States who adhere to another faith and who want peace. Think before you fear.