"A mosque that rejects radicalism is not a symbol of the enemy's victory;

[elleng]

it is a prerequisite for our own.") Right now, Rauf is on another goodwill tour in the Middle East sponsored by the State Department, where he will talk about religious tolerance in the United States.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20100818/pl_yblog_upshot/imam-at-center-of-ground-zero-controversy-helped-bush-administration

[LAGC]

1. I agree.

If we are ever going to promote more tolerance and acceptance of other religions in the closed-off Islamic Middle East, we have to set and lead by example here. The more the West resists Islamic influence, the more it will make them double-down against Western influences themselves.

I believe Islam is on the verge of a Great Awakening, just like how the West had its Enlightenment after its Dark Ages 500 years ago. Islam is 500 years newer than Christianity, it only makes sense that its development and evolution is 500 years behind us as well.

By proving that tolerance works, we have the opportunity to really change minds in the Middle East, and promote greater peace and understanding throughout the whole world.

[applegrove]

3. I agree that being open to a mosque near ground zero is really an opportunity

for the USA to build bridges.

[stray cat]

2. The liberal group justified the murders of 9-11 - at least thats the record

I guess thats liberal - some DUers say the same