A possible solution

Submitted by David S (United States), Aug 28, 2010 at 02:40

If I were Mayor Bloomberg, I would absolutely support their legal right to build it. But I would urge the group to alter their plans. For many of those who have studied Islamic history the plan to build a $100 million dollar 15 story structure on the site of the Burlington coat factory that was damaged by landing gear on 9/11 seems disturbingly similar to the historic practice of tearing down churches and replacing them with mosques in territory that had been conquered by the Muslim empires. My solution, to avoid any appearance of Triumphalism would be to instead build a two to three story memorial to the muslims who had been killed on 9/11 and also to the muslims who have been killed by Radical Islamists all over the world. Don't try to promote the historical achievements of Islam or any kind of political advocacy because this is not the place for that. Instead, simply include verses from the Quran that forbid the killing of innocents, compulsory religion, that encourage mercy and tolerance along with photos and facts of Muslim victims of terrorism. That to me would be a beautiful and simple expression that all freedom loving people are on the same side. That would go a long way to demonstrating a genuine desire to "build bridges". I would gladly stand by them for that.

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