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The mosque at Ground Zero: have we been here before?

When in history have we been here before? For many people, what Obama said seems right, but then again, what Harry Reid said feels right to them.

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Posted by nmclaughlin on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at 11:00 am

What do you think?

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retiree

August 17, 2010 - 11:56 am EDT

What Obama said was correct "legally," but what Harry Reid said was correct from a discretionary and judgment standpoint. Just as people have a legal right to use the N word when referring to African Americans, it is more than better judgment and discretion to never use it in any circumstance.

The question now is will Obama have the judgment, and leadership credentials, to ask the mosque proponents to choose a different site.

nemo0037

August 17, 2010 - 2:12 pm EDT

It was pointed out in a letter to the editor today that the address in question in New York has had a Muslim community center and prayer room for years. All this group of people wants is to expand this place into a full-fledged mosque. What harm that might do in real terms is beyond me.

Myself, I'm tired of seeing people complain about how extremists will see this as a victory monument. So what if it is? Go to Spain sometime. Check out all the Christian churches that were built on the ruins of destroyed mosques, and tell me that one is more "correct" than the other.

retiree

August 18, 2010 - 5:31 am EDT

And I suppose we could go back further to see the ruins of other churches before the mosques were built too. The Romans were especially harsh to the Christians, but wars of one people against the other with a religious front has gone on for years and it didn't start with the Christians nor the Moslems.

An old adage is a manager does things right, but a leader does the right things. In this case, I believe Obama has done things right according to law, but not what is right. If a segment of the Muslim population, as evidenced by their protests in front of the proposed center, want the mosque to be built in another location, that shows you the protests for relocating the mosque is not limited to Christians.

nemo0037

August 18, 2010 - 9:24 am EDT

In this case, I don't think there is anything that Obama has done wrong, nor has the city of New York. The president's job description is to uphold the Constitution, which includes freedom of religion. He has done his job, which is what he was elected to do and is paid for.

Now, many religions don't hold that value in them, including both Christianity and Islam. At some point, people need to realize that squabbling over religion is a waste of time. Don't bother yourself over what other people think. Pay attention to what you can control, which is what YOU think. If you think that everyone should have religious freedom, limited only by the civil laws of the country, then stand by that. If you think the First Amendment was a mistake, go ahead and try to get it repealed.