Construction of an Islamic Center near Ground Zero

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The approval by the authorities in the United States to build an Islamic cultural center at a location near the spot of the September the eleventh attacks in America resulted in a controversy that touched on the basic rights of Americans protected by the first amendment of the American constitution. The Commission for Landmark Preservation in New York approved the construction of the Islamic center just two blocks away from the site of the World Trade Center because the two buildings torn apart to give way for the construction of the Islamic center were not very distinctive landmarks in Manhattan (Aljazeera). This decision proved to be divisive to the American public because it degenerated quickly into a national debate and a political issue. The perpetuation of lies, half-truths and truths by the opponents and the proponents of the construction of the Islamic center characterized the debate about the issue raising the tensions between the opponents and the proponents of the construction of the Islamic center. The approval of the construction of the mosque was a setback to the opponents of its construction because they equated it to the insolence of the memories of the people killed in the September eleventh attacks (McFarland). However, for the proponents of the construction of the mosque, the decision represented a commitment by the America to respect the freedom of exercise of religion protected by the fourth amendment of constitution of the United States. Sixty eight percent of all Americans were opposed to the constriction of the mosque .A complacent and polarized media helped perpetuate some false ideas about the construction of the mosque in lower Manhattan at the height of the debate (Gladstone). The controversy ... ... middle of paper ... ...04 August, 2010 .Web 1st April, 2011< http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/08/20108323348309300.html Gladstone. 3 reasons why the ground zero mosque debate makes no sense. 20 August, 2010 .Web, 1st April, 2011.> http://www.cracked.com/blog/3-reasons-the-ground-zero-mosque-debate-makes-no-sense/ McFarland. 3 fundamental questions about the ground zero mosque.17th August, 2010 .Web. 1st April 2011.> http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/08/17/kt-mcfarland-ground-zero-mosque-god-september-obama-imam-feisal/ BBC. Obama defends the right to build mosque near the 9 /11 site. 14 August, 2010. Web. 1st April, 2011.> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10973459 Ratbesar, Romesh .Ground zero: Exaggerating the jihadist threat. August 18th, 2010.Web.1st April, 2011.> http://pastorbobcornwall.blogspot.com/2010/08/ground-zero-exaggerating-jihadist.html

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