The Cordoba House with its planned mosque are at the center of a national debate. As such it attracts irresponsible politician, Newt and Palin, who constantly are for a look out for fire on which they can throw more fuel. Ignore these enemies of the people. There are two camps opposing each other in this debate. Had we had a full public airing of the House way before the first decisions took place, there was a reasonable expectation that the House wouldn't have become a major bone of contention.
Liberals see the location of the house as an issue of religious tolerance, while many people look more at the distance from the 9/11 twin tower as the major issue. The demand to move the House ten blocks doesn't lower or increase tolerance. Recently an interfaith organization was pushing the House with the promise of the House being a place for all religions, Christians, Jews and Muslims. If that is the promise, I am sure that a House with a Mosque, a church and a synagogue would have been very acceptable to all, but the House is only a mosque. The organization didn't even mention the Asian religions as if they just don't count.
The refusal of the people who are sensitive to the distance from the twin towers have not engaged the Muslim community in a wide discussion on the House.
The organizers of the House effort are substantially opaque about the details. No one know who is behind the effort, where the money comes from and other important elements.
More than anything, this fiasco is a show of pigheadedness of the parties involved and the deterioration of the public discourse.
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