Yes, The Cordoba Initiative does indeed have the right to build a Mosque and cultural center in the building they own near ground zero. Approximately 60% of the people polled have stipulated to this fact and it does not appear to be in dispute to any great degree.

That being said, the question becomes one of whether they should build on this hallowed ground. It has been said that this property isn’t technically ground zero and the left has been scurrying as of late to re-brand the location as “near” ground zero. This property is in fact ground zero by virtue of the fact that wreckage from one of the planes that slammed into the Twin Towers actually penetrated the roof of the building in question.

This ground is a sacred testament to all those who lost their lives on that fateful day in September, 2001. The Mosque and cultural center should not be built in the proposed location. According to Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf who is the chairman of the Cordoba Initiative, this project is intended to foster better relations between Muslims and non-Muslims. The Imam repeatedly refers to himself as a bridge builder. At this time it can be said with a great deal of certainty that if this project was meant to foster better relations between Muslims and non-Muslims, it is failing before it even gets started.

Approximately the same percentage of people who believe the Cordoba Initiative has the right to build the Mosque and cultural center, believe it is an intentional “thumb in the eye” to the United States and is insensitive and hurtful to the families who lost loved ones on September 11th 2001. They can build the Mosque. They have the right. It does seem however that maybe the best way to build that bridge would be to move this project to another location.

Alan Levesque is an author and publisher who writes articles pertaining to politics, world events and American culture. You can read more of Alan’s articles at The Daily Pamphlet

On September 11, 2001 the world watched as two megaliths of the New York City skyline crumbled to the ground. Along with the millions of tons of steel and glass, thousands of American lives were lost. To this day it is the worst terrorist attack that has ever been committed on American Soil. The World Trade Center is currently being rebuilt to include many new skyscrapers and a lasting memorial to those who lost their lives in the attacks. Many individuals were trapped within the smoldering ruins of the tours, and the service-people who bravely gave their lives to try and save them have been glorified in history as performing one of the most selfless acts in history. The Ground Zero site will always serve as an emotional and spiritual memorial to the many lives lost on September 11th.

The original structure of the World Trade Center was designed by Minoru Yamaski in the 1960s. The two 110 story towers were both finished in 1970, and 1971 respectively. It was one of the largest office buildings constructed in the city and was comprised of over 13 million square feet of office space. The idea of making a World Trade Center was first posed in 1946. The NY legislature passed a bill that authorized Governor Thomas E. Dewey to commence the project. Though the initial plan was for the towers to be 80 stories tall, the Port Authority required that the buildings hold at least 10 million square feet of office space and to accommodate for such a large number extra stories were added to bring the total to 110. The twin towers were an iconic characteristic of the New York City skyline, and to date it literally appears naked without their presence.

The world Trade Center was once a wonderful tourist attraction and offered beautiful views of the city. Since the towers were attacked, a memorial has been constructed on the Ground Zero site and though the construction of new buildings has taken some time it is now one of the most popular tourist destinations worldwide. Its reputation was immortalized through the September 11th attacks and it is a meaningful addition to any tourist itinerary. It is recommended that you visit this site on any trip to the city, if only for the shear spiritual power the site now holds. It serves as a lasting reminder of the need to American safety as well as how readily American citizens will give their lives to help save others. The acts committed at this site, though atrocious have helped to unify the American people in ways that were never thought possible and one hopes that we learn from the experience as a country and strive to increase the protection of our Nation so such an occurrence never happens again.

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