First, it should be clarified that the project will NOT result in a mosque. The project will result in a community center, of which, 2 out 13 floors will be used for prayers.
Second, the project is two blocks away from ground zero.
Hence, the description 'ground-zero mosque' is inaccurate.
Now on to the arguments.
Note: The opposition arguments are in bold and my counter arguments follow in normal font.
Argument A: The community center will hurt the sentiments, the feelings, the sensitivities of Americans.
Counter Argument A: Muslims also asked the Americans to do the same when Prophet Muhammad cartoons were being drawn. Yet freedom of speech prevailed in the US. Accordingly, to be consistent, freedom of religion should prevail this time.
Counter Argument 1 to counter argument A: The Prophet Muhammad is man that has been dead for over 1400 years. 9/11 was less then ten years ago where 3,000 people died in horrific violence.
Counter argument: The argument is an oversimplification. The Prophet may have been dead for 1,400 years and may mean little to non-muslims but he is held dearly by Muslims.
Counter Argument 2 to the counter argument A: There have been no Muslims killed due to this issue but a lot of people died due to drawing of the cartoons.
Counter Argument: The argument is a red herring. In the context, it is irrelevant.
Argument B: It's like building a Nazi community center at Auschwitz.
Counter Argument: The analogy is logically flawed. The Nazis carried out the holocaust and were against Jews. The whole ideology was against Jews. In this case, Islam did not carry out 9/11 and Muslims are not against all Americans.
Argument C: It's like building an American community center at epic-center of Hiroshima nuclear blast.
Counter Argument: Same as above. The analogy is logically flawed. It was America who attacked Japan and dropped the bomb. Islam did not attack the US.
Argument D: The Imam supports Hamas.
Counter Argument: He said on Larry King live that he condemns Hamas. Regardless, it is hypocritical to support Israel - which has killed civilians in tens of thousands - and then question someone supporting Hamas.
Argument E: The Imam said that American was a facilitator to 9/11
Counter Argument: When asked to elaborate on the statement, he stated that US created the Mujhahideen (now known as Taliban) and Osama Bin Laden. Anyone knowing the full history of the Mujhahideen struggle in Afghanistan and the 70s and 80s will know that what he is saying is true.
Notes about Argument D and E: The Imams beliefs about certain issues are being questioned. Never, ever, however, are the beliefs of pastors and priests regarding similar certain issues are questioned.
Argument F: 70% of Americans disapprove of it.
Counter Argument: It is a Majoritarianism argument and it will not stand the US constitution.
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Any further arguments are welcome. Please note that they should be constructive and not troll-like.
Second, the project is two blocks away from ground zero.
Hence, the description 'ground-zero mosque' is inaccurate.
Now on to the arguments.
Note: The opposition arguments are in bold and my counter arguments follow in normal font.
Argument A: The community center will hurt the sentiments, the feelings, the sensitivities of Americans.
Counter Argument A: Muslims also asked the Americans to do the same when Prophet Muhammad cartoons were being drawn. Yet freedom of speech prevailed in the US. Accordingly, to be consistent, freedom of religion should prevail this time.
Counter Argument 1 to counter argument A: The Prophet Muhammad is man that has been dead for over 1400 years. 9/11 was less then ten years ago where 3,000 people died in horrific violence.
Counter argument: The argument is an oversimplification. The Prophet may have been dead for 1,400 years and may mean little to non-muslims but he is held dearly by Muslims.
Counter Argument 2 to the counter argument A: There have been no Muslims killed due to this issue but a lot of people died due to drawing of the cartoons.
Counter Argument: The argument is a red herring. In the context, it is irrelevant.
Argument B: It's like building a Nazi community center at Auschwitz.
Counter Argument: The analogy is logically flawed. The Nazis carried out the holocaust and were against Jews. The whole ideology was against Jews. In this case, Islam did not carry out 9/11 and Muslims are not against all Americans.
Argument C: It's like building an American community center at epic-center of Hiroshima nuclear blast.
Counter Argument: Same as above. The analogy is logically flawed. It was America who attacked Japan and dropped the bomb. Islam did not attack the US.
Argument D: The Imam supports Hamas.
Counter Argument: He said on Larry King live that he condemns Hamas. Regardless, it is hypocritical to support Israel - which has killed civilians in tens of thousands - and then question someone supporting Hamas.
Argument E: The Imam said that American was a facilitator to 9/11
Counter Argument: When asked to elaborate on the statement, he stated that US created the Mujhahideen (now known as Taliban) and Osama Bin Laden. Anyone knowing the full history of the Mujhahideen struggle in Afghanistan and the 70s and 80s will know that what he is saying is true.
Notes about Argument D and E: The Imams beliefs about certain issues are being questioned. Never, ever, however, are the beliefs of pastors and priests regarding similar certain issues are questioned.
Argument F: 70% of Americans disapprove of it.
Counter Argument: It is a Majoritarianism argument and it will not stand the US constitution.
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Any further arguments are welcome. Please note that they should be constructive and not troll-like.
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