Where it all began:
On the morning of September 11, 2001 two gloriously tall twin towers stood strong filled with workers of many different ethnicities and backgrounds. The day was going normal just like any other, until 19 al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial jet airliners crashing two of them into the twin towers of the world trade center. Over 3,000 people lost their lives that day including more than 400 police officers and firefighters. (http://www.history.com/topics/9-11-attacks)
This day will forever remain a tragic one in the history of America. Although 9 years have already past since that dreadful morning, there is still much controversy and heated issues revolving around this tragic event. Today, the spot where the towers once stood is known as ground zero, it holds only the memories of what once was. For many people this is a memorial of that dark day, used to remember the large amount of civilians who lost their lives and families.
So what’s causing the very heated debate today? The proposal of building a community center not on, but near the memorial site (ground zero). (http://www.cracked.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/map2.jpg)
So why are people getting so upset? It’s because this community center is planned to have a small portion containing a built-in mosque, where people can go to pray. Surprisingly people have been getting so heated about the issue that protests, acts of violence, and public Koran burnings have all been taking place. The protestors are arguing that building this mosque in the community center is insensitive to the victims of 9/11.
Video – (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WaB2GH88js)
Me me me me me, don’t forget about me:
The debate has gained so much attention, that even Sarah Palin has been making comments about it directed toward President Obama. She stated via her facebook,
Mr. President, should they or should they not build a mosque steps away from where radical Islamists killed 3000 people? Please tell us your position. We all know that they have the right to do it, but should they? And, no, this is not above your pay grade. If those who wish to build this Ground Zero mosque are sincerely interested in encouraging positive “cross-cultural engagement” and dialogue to show a moderate and tolerant face of Islam, then why haven’t they recognized that the decision to build a mosque at this particular location is doing just the opposite? Mr. President, why aren’t you encouraging the mosque developers to accept Governor Paterson’s generous offer of assistance in finding a new location for the mosque on state land if they move it away from Ground Zero? Why haven’t they jumped at this offer? Why are they apparently so set on building a mosque steps from what you have described, in agreement with me, as “hallowed ground”? I believe these are legitimate questions to ask.
– Sarah Palin
(http://www.facebook.com/notes/sarah-palin/legitimate-questions-for-the-president/418811008434)
The response:
To answer Sarah Palin’s letter, president Obama stated on August 14, 2010,
“As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country”(http://abcnews.go.com/WN/president-obama-supports-building-mosque-ground/story?id=11401964)
Don’t worry big guy she’s stressing us all out too.
Although I don’t believe that president Obama should have to comment on this issue due to separation of church and state, I respect his response and highly agree with his position on the debate.
Video link to Obama’s statement (http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/obama-mosque-ground-11400781)
When in doubt buy your way out:
Many of those who are against the community center are hoping that someone will step in and buy it so that the center cannot be built. Many republicans have been looking toward the very rich and powerful Donald Trump to buy the site. (http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/09/09/2010-09-09_ground_zero_mosque_opponents_hope_wealthy_ally_will_stop_the_project_donald_trum.html)
According to the business insider, Mr. Trump did in fact try to buy the site of the proposed project, but Hisham Elzanty, wouldn’t take less than 20 billion dollars, turning down Mr. Trump’s 6 billion dollar offer. Mr. Trump stated in a CNBC interview, “He’s (Elzanty) a low level real estate guy without money, and he’s looking to flip it.” “The market’s flat and he bought a property less than a year ago and he think it’s gone up four-to-five times as much as it was… I said the guys who sold it to you must have been stupid or something worse.” Do to the state of where the economy is at the moment Mr. Trump refuses to make a higher offer. For now the community center is saved, as long as the community can continue to raise enough money to build it. (http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-explains-why-the-ground-zero-mosque-developer-is-a-low-level-loser-2010-9)
Final thoughts:
At the end of the day, like it or not, America is and always will be a melting pot filled with many different ethnicities, cultures, and religions. It’s one of the core pillars that make this country so amazing. The day the twin towers burst into a blaze, collapsing and killing many people, it wasn’t just filled with white Christian protestants, it was filled with people of many different backgrounds and ethnicities including those of the Muslim faith. Many of the people who are fighting against those terrorists, protecting our nation, our rights, and our freedoms are in fact American Muslim soldiers themselves. If we don’t allow for this community center to be built we are only fighting against what the terrorist were trying to take from us in the first place, our freedom of religion, of speech, and to simply be who we choose to be.
U.S. Army specialist Zia Ulahaq, a Muslim, offers prayers during anti-Taliban operations in the Karky valley in Afghanistan’s Zabul province (http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1936560,00.html)
UCD on Election 2010 
Tony Robinson
September 17, 2010
Max: You made real effort in this post to write with some panache and emotion, even as you took on issues in a serious and scholarly way, and I really appreciate that. You worked hard thinking through your points and its shows in your clever writing. Also, your balanced and level-headed tone throughout is appreciated–you seem reasonable and persuasive throughout, and your final conclusion is persuasive and really driven home well by the good choice of a concluding image. Seeing the Muslim U.S. soldier praying says a lot. Your opening images are also pretty powerful, shocking even, to see the towers and explosions again.
The Palin-Obama exchange section was the weakest part of the post, mainly because the large and dramatic images that you chose undermine the seriousness of the rest of the post–they just don’t fit your overall tone or purpose well, seeming too flippant. Also the header “me, me, me, me, me…” doesn’t relate that well to what you are saying in this section and could be better crafted.
maxszollosi
September 17, 2010
Tony thank you for your response to my blog post. I agree with you on the Palin-Obama section. I too had wondered if taking a stab at Palin would take away from my post and it clearly did. For the next post I will certainly keep in mind holding a strait/steady tone thought out on serious issues.
aroch25
September 21, 2010
Wow, I am constantly surprised how many people get behind Palin especially after making xenophobic remarks like that. I just find it really upsetting to hear a person make bigoted and thoughtless remarks like that and have a public baking saying she’s folksy. This kind of back woods racism, intolerance, and general bigotry must not be allowed to continue if we are to accomplish a nation of true equality among all members.
A note on the blog, you mention the separation of church and state, (I don’t want to sound like a jerk) but there isn’t a clause in the constitution saying “separation of church and state”. People use this quote all the time and it isn’t entirely accurate. The section people are referring to reads “congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”. I think if you would have used the specific words your argument would have remained stronger. With your quote the reader would say government shouldn’t step in. With the actual constitution it makes it seem like any effort (such as Patterson’s proposal) to prohibit this cultural center from being built would be a direct violation of the 1st Amendment.
maxszollosi
September 22, 2010
Thanks for your response and input on my blog post.
Your point is interesting about the separation of church and state and perhaps it would make my argument stronger, however it seems that your point is merely an argument of semantics. My only point regarding Obama was that this issue doesn’t require his opinion and the government shouldn’t be allowed to dictate what the majority of a state’s people choose to do. My understanding of the phrase separation of church and state is that the state/government shouldn’t have to or be able to dictate what to do on issues of this matter. The term separation of church and state isn’t a constitutional amendment, it’s a political principle derived from several documents and arguments. When I think of this political principle, I think of John Locke, Tomas Jefferson, and of course the 1st amendment. So I’m not sure why changing my words to that of the 1st amendment, would make my argument any stronger unless I was to bring all three of these aspects into the argument.
maxszollosi
September 22, 2010
Sorry, my response was cut short, I just wanted to end that statement by saying that, in general people connect all of these ideas together when they hear the phrase “separation of church and state.”
aroch25
September 23, 2010
It is definitely only semantics. I often find that in any scenario an argument can be made stronger by a concrete quote from a reputable source, in this specific case the source being arguably the most important document written for the protection of the American citizen. I agree that your point is well made in either case and truly did not mean to insinuate anything to the contrary.
maxszollosi
September 23, 2010
That’s a valid point as well. I see where your coming from and will try to keep that in mind for my next post, thanks for the input, and have a good weekend.