In reality no one is suggesting it SHOULD NOT be built only dithering over the location.

Quote Originally Posted by Thorne View Post
Well said, Lion. In principal, at least, I agree with what you've said. People shouldn't all be tarred with the same brush. We are all individuals, each capable of making our own decisions.

Truth be told, though, it's not only moderate Muslims who are ignored. Almost anyone who does something good, something for the community, is relegated to the back pages of the news, or 4 in the morning television. Good news doesn't sell.

The other problem as I see it, both among Muslims and among Catholics, is the profound silence coming from the moderate ranks. Why aren't the moderate Muslims up in arms about the death sentence for a woman convicted based solely upon the whim of a Sharia Judge? Why aren't moderate Muslims protesting the virtual enslavement of women? Why aren't Catholics howling at the Vatican over pedophile priests? Why aren't they protesting the excommunication of those who saved the life of a 9 year old rape victim while embracing her rapist?

The Islamic center in New York should not be prevented from being built, and it should be embraced by all Americans, of whatever creed, as a sign of peace. But this country was badly wounded, emotionally, by the events of 9-11. There is still a lot of anger, and a lot of fear. More rational discourse by moderate Muslims, more condemnation of the fanatics by the moderates, would go a long way towards healing those wounds.