Ground Zero Mosque

It's been in the news for weeks - That Muslims are intent on building a mosque at the site of the fallen WTC.

Picture Courtesy of Google Maps Street View

There are a few fallacies in the coverage by the widespread media. Firstly, the "mosque" is not really a mosque at all. The American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy defines the word "mosque" as "A Muslim house of worship with at least one minaret, a tall, slender tower with balconies, used for calling the faithful to prayer." The proposed use of the building is actually as an Islamic community center. One part of the building will be dedicated to prayer and worship, but that is not the solitary function of the community center. In addition to the mosque portion, there will be a performing arts center, a swimming pool, a gym, and various other public spaces. The finished product will even offer a public memorial to the victims of 9/11. (Even if it was a mosque, what happened to freedom of religion?)

Secondly, the community center is not located AT ground zero. It is located a little over two blocks away from the former site of the twin towers. This is an interesting page on what else in NYC is located the same distance from ground zero. If we can allow people to stick singles in a stripper's thong within two blocks from a sacred site, then why can't we let them honor a deity and support the lower Manhattan community?
  
For accurate information on this project, visit the PARK51 website.