Wow! Thanks Rev! This video pretty much sums it up for me, too.
Chernobyl brought up a great topic regarding terrorism in another thread which I now carry to this one. My concern is that the cultural center will be plagued with trouble from those of the opposition who are willing to turn it into a physical battle. I would be surprised if the Center hasn't received any death threats, and I know there have been groups picketing. All of this is par for the course, but what happens if it goes farther? What happens if violence at the Center occurs, or if some radical tries to bomb it? Do we all just say, "well you should have known? You shouldn't have build your center there?" Would that not mean we were supporting terror tactics? Would the painful irony of the situation be lost, or would we all get it?
Changing the world means facing situations like this with an open mind, and an open heart. I, for one, don't want to be ruled by fear, ignorance, or hate. I understand some points of the opposition, such as distance, but its all about letting go of the hatred and fear to get to a place of healing. Healing is not going to happen by turning ones back, and carrying around anger. If the center is not built there, then where? Far enough away where people won't know about it, or won't even go to? Part of me understands the distance argument, but then the other part says its being built right where it needs to be. Its close enough where people who visit ground zero can visit the cultural center, too, to get a better understanding of the Muslim community, instead of being afraid all of the time.
http://www.cordobainitiative.org/