The Ground Zero Mosque

A group of moderate Muslims want to build a mosque near Ground Zero in New York. It is one of the most truly gut wrenching events we have faced in the aftermath of 9/11. Naturally, of course, politicians want to make hay of it.

Conservatives oppose it vehemently, and not without good reason. Say what you want about moderate Islam being true Islam, it is still Muslim extremists who perpetuated the attacks on the World Trade Center on that fateful September day. Still, the argument that we need to reach out somehow and show religious tolerance has merit. What is one to do?

Part of the trouble is that Islam itself appears so very slow to distance itself from its more radical elements. Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, one of the leaders working for the mosque in question recently refused to label the Hamas organization as terrorists. Such reluctance makes it easy for Americans to question how moderate moderate Muslims may actually be.

The feeling that putting a mosque so close to what has become hallowed ground is an insult to those who died on 9/11 must be seen as a legitimate expression of American grief. Saying as much does not make mosque opponents intolerant. Indeed, the idea that those who favor the mosque ought to back down out of consideration for that emotion is perhaps the most relevant being put forward. The interfaith gestures many say they want are surely possible, if that's what all parties, Muslims included, really want, without having a mosque so nearby such a bittersweet area. It would seem that tolerance might instruct the Islamic leaders involved to be a bit more considerate of American angst over the whole ordeal.

That said, the Ground Zero Mosque is a bad idea. Perhaps in a generation of two, but not now. To demand it now rather even reeks of patronization towards Islam itself; is that how we truly display tolerance of other creeds? But more than that, it really is too soon. Any reasonable observer of any stripe should be able to see that.