TO THE EDITOR:
The spread of misinformation concerning the proposed “mosque” two blocks from the World Trade Center is extremely concerning. What is being proposed is not a mosque. It is a community center.
It will contain a gym, a swimming pool, basketball courts, classrooms and an auditorium. Oh, and it will also include a small prayer space. A mosque is completely unnecessary since one already exists practically just as close to where the WTC once stood.
This isn’t even a question of religion, although it is quickly being warped into one due to the hate-filled rhetoric of the extreme opponents of the proposed community center. This fear mongering has already tragically resulted in violence directed toward Muslims.
The fact is, the Cordoba Initiative (a progressive Islamic organization which preaches moderate Islam and improving Islamic/Western perceptions) bought the property, has completed all the necessary paperwork and therefore has the right to use the abandoned coat factory for whatever purpose it sees fit.
As Americans, we should respect that right.
Alex Jackson
Graduate Student
Computer Science
