Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should do it.
Nothing earth-shattering in that statement, but it strikes me that many people and organizations simply can't get this thought through their heads.
There has been a great deal of debate and discussion about whether or not a mosque should be built near Ground Zero in New York City. While emotions on the subject run high, if you can put that aside for a few minutes there are a couple of items most rationale people won't argue with.
Our country was founded on the premise of religious freedom. We wanted to be free from a government who told us what our religion should be and what we should believe. This was so important it is included in the Bill of Rights. So when we begin to discuss the prospect of building a mosque near Ground Zero, for the government to say "no" would be contrary to everything this country was built on.
Having said that, I would hope the leadership of the mosque would understand the hard feelings building a mosque this close to a sacred site may create and will look for an alternative location. I completely understand the desire to share and to educate the overwhelming majority of our country about Muslims, but I think there may be a better way to fulfill that desire.
However, if the supporters of mosque insist on this specific site, I'm not going to tell them "no." If the rationale for saying no is they represent a faith or religion that has no tolerance for our Western ways, what have we demonstrated to them if we act in exactly the way we accuse them of acting.
Sometimes just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.
