The controversy over the proposed mosque near ground zero offers an opportunity to see the protections of our Constitution, but perhaps more important, to see that the people believe in these protections.
Our system is by no means perfect; indeed a recent stabbing attack on a New York City cab driver who answered in the affirmative when asked if he was Muslim shows that hate is very much a part of our society.
The mosque issue is a very emotional one, stirring memories of the 9/11 attacks that killed 2,752 people.
"A very tragic thing happened there," said the Rev. Stephen Fournier, pastor of Milford Center Community Bible Church. "Part of the reason it's galvanizing is, first of all, it didn't happen that long ago."
Unfortunately, many people associate those behind the attacks with all of Islam, instead of with an extremist group.
Al-Qaida is no more representative of Islam than the man who stabbed the cab driver is of American society, but politicians have been conflating the two; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich even suggested that building the mosque is akin to putting a Nazi sign next to the Holocaust Museum.
A recent Siena College poll showed that although 63 percent of New York state voters oppose the building of the mosque two blocks away from the World Trade Center site, 64 percent of those surveyed said developers have the constitutional right to build it.
About half of those who opposed the project said developers have the right to build it.
Those numbers go right to the heart of our constitutional protections, which guard the rights of the minority from oppression by the majority.
A coalition of supporters of the mosque that included families of 9/11 victims rallied Wednesday at a municipal building near ground zero.
"I lost a 23-year-old son, a paramedic who gave his life saving Americans and their values," Talat Hamdani said, adding that supporting the Islamic center "has nothing to do with religion. It has to do with standing up for our human rights, including freedom of religion."
It says something important and wonderful about our country that people who are so strongly opposed to building the mosque still believe that the developers have the right to go ahead with the project.
It is yet more amazing that some of the families of 9/11 victims support the project.
As Susan Lerner, executive director of the New York office of the watchdog group Common Cause, said, "This is not just about Muslims; this is about who we are as Americans."
Editorials
Mosque debate shows good of our country's Constitution
- Editorials
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Cheers
To new school lunch standards, the All County Band Festival, and welcoming home Army Spec. Michael Dow.
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Have a heartfelt Valentine's Day
"I love you." "Be mine." "You're cute when you're spending money."
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Embargo no longer serves a purpose
Fifty years ago this week, President John F. Kennedy signed executive order 3447, banning trade with Cuba "in light of the subversive offensive of Sino-Soviet Communism." As this anniversary passes, it's worth asking whether this policy has had its desired effects and how much longer it should remain in place.
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Women must win fight for opportunity
The Pentagon announced Thursday that it will recommend that Congress officially allow women to serve in more jobs closer to the front lines.
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Center helps victims of child abuse and neglect
We learned some good news about some terrible news in a story by reporter Joe Mahoney in Tuesday's Daily Star.
Continued ... - Wednesday, February 8, 2012
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Chamber made excellent choices on service awards
A special committee selected by the Otsego County Chamber has made two excellent decisions regarding the organization's annual awards for service to our communities.
Continued ... - Tuesday, February 7, 2012
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Cheers
To Michael Shea, Terry Bliss, and the passage of the bill to allow Otsego's exit from MOSA.
Continued ... - Monday, February 6, 2012
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A sad tale may come to an end with arrests
People are almost always sad, and sometimes outraged, whenever something awful happens to a fellow human being.
Continued ... - Saturday, February 4, 2012
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Pill abuse should be a priority for police, pols
Sens. Charles Schumer of New York and Mark Pryor of Arkansas proposed a bill this week to help police combat a disturbing trend of increasing prescription drug abuse.
Continued ... - Friday, February 3, 2012
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More needs to be done to aid vets with PTSD
The recent story of Stamford grandmother Melody DiGregorio grieving the loss of her grandson, Air Force veteran Edward "Drew" Snyder, brings home the debilitating and often-unreported effects of post-traumatic stress disorder on our service men and women.
Continued ... - Thursday, February 2, 2012
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Area 'shocked' at underage drinking? That's shocking
It has been referenced so often that it has become a cliché.
Continued ... - Wednesday, February 1, 2012
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School's new lease on life a welcome development
It is a big place designed to echo with the sounds of young people in a healthy learning environment.
Continued ... - Tuesday, January 31, 2012
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Cheers
To the Central American Youth Ambassadors Program, to Ray Preston and to the NCOC building trades class and the Prattsville Fire Department.
Continued ... - Monday, January 30, 2012
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Mitt's not at fault for loopholes in tax code
As the longtime frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, Mitt Romney has faced withering attacks from rivals seeking to upset him.
Continued ... - Saturday, January 28, 2012
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Rest in peace, Naples and Stalter
Our area recently lost two important and influential members of our community: Oneonta surgeon Dr. Kenneth D. Stalter and newly elected Sixth Ward Council Member Mike Naples.
Continued ... - Friday, January 27, 2012
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Case closed on 2 years of turmoil
"Case closed."
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Oneonta Mayor Dick Miller was referring to possible criminal charges against fired police officer Michael Breen on Wednesday, but Miller just as easily could have been talking about the more than two years of turmoil the city has endured with its police department. - Thursday, January 26, 2012
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Obama played his cards right Tuesday
Despite a daunting economy and a challenging re-election campaign, on Tuesday night President Barack Obama displayed what Mark Twain called "the calm confidence of a Christian holding four aces" in his State of the Union address.
Continued ... - Wednesday, January 25, 2012
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Searching for votes instead of honor
Say what you will about John McCain, the Republican nominee for president in 2008 who inflicted an ignorant Sarah Palin upon an unsuspecting nation.
Continued ... - Tuesday, January 24, 2012
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Cheers
To MLK Jr. Day events, Diana Nicols, and Jordan Beers and Mariah Ruff.
Continued ... - Monday, January 23, 2012
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Dignity not enough to show in speech
After weeks of watching the often unseemly, if not downright humorous, antics of the Republican candidates for his job, President Barack Obama should have little trouble providing at least one thing Tuesday night in his State of the Union address. Dignity.
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Cheers
