Mosque near Ground Zero?
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The Cleveland Plain Dealer published a story today about the
proposed mosque near Ground Zero in New York City. Here is
what I shared with the paper: "I question the necessity of
the proposed location and think this is more an issue of
sensitivity. There must be other venues in New York City that won't
trigger such tension and anxiety and are better suited to promote
healing." Here is the entire article:
Mosque issue is for NYC officials to decide, Ohio
Democrats say
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Democrats in Ohio want no part of the
partisan brouhaha that has erupted over a plan to build an Islamic
center near the site of the destroyed World Trade Center.
"This is a sensitive issue, especially for those most directly
affected by the attack at Ground Zero, and I trust that those in
the area are in the best position to find a solution," Copley
Township Democratic Rep. Betty Sutton said on Tuesday.
"It is up to the people of New York City and their elected
representatives to decide the disposition of properties in their
city," said Toledo Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur. "I might add that
any person or group that uses tragedy for political gamesmanship
two months before an election is not worthy of the term 'American.'
"
Ohio Republicans including House GOP Leader John Boehner and
congressional candidates Tom Ganley of Brecksville and James
Renacci of Wadsworth blasted President Barack Obama for making
remarks they construed as supportive of the mosque's construction
and as insensitive to victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks.
"As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the
same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this
country," Obama said Friday at a White House event to mark the
Islamic Ramadan holiday. "And that includes the right to build a
place of worship and a community center on private property in
Lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances. This
is America. And our commitment to religious freedom must be
unshakeable."
Obama appeared to shift his stance slightly by Saturday, saying
he was not commenting "on the wisdom of making a decision to put a
mosque there. I was commenting very specifically on the right that
people have that dates back to our founding."
Ganley said "Obama and liberal leaders" have "acted in a way
that is insensitive to families and friends of those victims we
lost almost nine years ago." He said he supports New York Gov.
David Patterson's effort to move the proposed mosque and Islamic
cultural center to another location.
"It's not a question of whether or not they have a right to
build it, it's a question of whether or not they should," added
U.S. Senate candidate Rob Portman, a Cincinnati Republican, who
also backs Patterson's proposal.
"There must be other venues in New York City that won't trigger
such tension and anxiety and are better suited to promote healing,"
agreed Rep. Steve LaTourette, a Bainbridge Township Republican.
Spokeswomen for Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Lee Fisher said their bosses think
local officials in New York should be responsible for the decision.
Brown believes that "political operatives who seek to divide the
country with this issue and others are attempting to distract from
our most important priority -- creating jobs and getting the
economy back on track," said his spokeswoman, Meghan Dubyak.
Lynne Bowman, Fisher's campaign manager, said the candidate
believes "that given the awful nature of the 9/11 attacks, that
that decision should be made by the people of New York. But he's
also conscious of the constitutional issue -- that we need to
protect people's freedom of religion."
Warrensville Heights Democratic Rep. Marcia Fudge declined
comment on the issue, and spokesmen for Democratic Congress members
Tim Ryan of Niles, Dennis Kucinich of Cleveland and John Boccieri
of Alliance were unable to obtain their bosses' views. Attempts to
reach Republican Sen. George Voinovich's staff were
unsuccessful.
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