What's in a Mosque?

From what I know, the inside of a mosque may have an imam, and probably Muslims worshipping. I think the artistry is ornate, but in a geometric manner, rather than like a cathedral.

The truth is, I don't really know what's inside a mosque. But I do know that in America, mosques are allowed, even if they're built in unpopular places. A lot of people are very frustrated, even angry, that a mosque is being built near Ground Zero in New York. I live in New York now, and I hear about it all the time.

Many people think it's insensitive of the mosque's builders to place it so close to Ground Zero. And it makes sense that people may feel that way. But it's an attitude based mainly on fear and ignorance. Muslims were responsible for the worst terrorist attack in history, and the worst attack ever carried out on American soil. Those people were and are reprehensible, and America is, and must continue to do everything in our power to combat them.

The problem is, those Muslims represent a VAST MINORITY of the world's Muslims. There are after all, a billion Muslims in the world. If all of them were out to get us...well that would be a much bigger problem. It's important for Americans to understand the differences between different types of Muslims. After all, if Southern Baptists started committing atrocities, we wouldn't blame or fear German Lutherans. Those two groups of people are different.

We need to keep that in mind when we talk about the mosque. Perhaps there are better locations. There very well may be, but at the same time, maybe this mosque isn't about insulting our American sensitivities, perhaps it's about healing. Given that most of the world's Muslims are not terrorists who are actively seeking to destroy our country, maybe those building the mosque are trying to promote peace. Maybe they want to show us that Islam can be a religion of peace as well as a religion of hatred. Maybe the site near Ground Zero is symbolic because it represents the blending of two cultures rather than a slap to America's face. Maybe Osama Bin Laden's "America is at war with Islam" recruiting line won't go over so well if there's a mosque next to Ground Zero.

Maybe. But I don't know. I don't know what's in a mosque.