The so-called “Ground Zero” Mosque, originally slated to be built only a few blocks from the former World Trade Center site in lower Manhattan, may now be moving North.
For most of the summer, protesters picketed in opposition to building a Muslim Mosque so close to where the attacks of 9/11 occurred. Opponents said they believed a Mosque would be disrespectful to the families of those who lost their lives in the tragedy, as well as a symbol of victory for the Islamic community. But developers of the Mosque refuted all negative claims, countering that the Mosque would stand as a symbol of religious and spiritual unity, and could serve as a welcoming place of prayer for all faiths to utilize.
Now there is word that King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia wishes to step into the controversy, fearful that going forward with the current plan might only incite violence against Muslims and the Mosque itself. His plan is to purchase the struggling and now bankrupt St. Vincent’s Hospital in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan (which is several miles from Ground Zero), and build the Mosque at that location instead. King Abdullah is said to be worth $20. billion dollars, and would be willing to invest $300. million into reopening parts of the hospital that closed following bankruptcy. The King says not only would his plan salvage an important hospital in lower Manhattan, but it would dismantle all discussion regarding a Muslim Mosque and cultural center from being disrespectfully close to Ground Zero.
Naturally, plenty of pro and con opinions have already started flowing in regarding the proposed plan. Some Greenwich Village residents say if the cost of reopening the much needed St. Vincent’s Hospital means that a Mosque will also be built on the site, they’re all for it. Others say Mosque developers should not cave to the bigotry and should proceed with original plans to build near Ground Zero. And a few others want their cake and eat it too, saying they’d like the hospital reopened without foreign money, and would also prefer the Mosque not be built in their neighborhood.
What do you think?
