Apparently, 'Mosque' Is Now a Synonym for 'Community Center'

By Michelle Consorte

Instead of picturing a cultural center similar to Manhattan’s 92^nd Street Y, or the YMCA, many Americans, 50% according to a poll conducted by the New York Times, have an image similar to the one painted by Charlie Brooker: “The planned ‘ultra-mosque’ will be a staggering 5,600ft tall…and will be capped with an immense dome of highly-polished solid gold, carefully positioned to bounce sunlight directly toward the pavement, where it will blind pedestrians and fry small dogs.” Obviously, this is a gross, but rather humorous, exaggeration. Still, the immense public backlash lends much to this illustration.

Although Park 51, a.k.a. the Cordoba House, is going to be a cultural center, containing a swimming pool, gym, and restaurant, the media and several politicians have portrayed the building as a haven for terrorists to come together and plot future attacks on the United States within the facility’s prayer room. Construction of Park 51 has been overdramatized by focusing on the single issue of the building housing a prayer room for Muslims- this sole fact has completely overshadowed the other, community-based aspects of Park 51. Thanks to this drastic oversimplification and distortion of the building’s purpose, many Americans are ready to wage jihad against the building that they presume is intended for that same function.

From birth the project has donned an unfortunate title: “Ground Zero Mosque.” The raw image of the symbol of Muslim faith (the mosque) being planted on the very grounds that were massacred by extremists of the same religion is enough to throw a large percentage of the American population into a passionate uproar.

Now, there would be some legitimacy in this reaction, if it were true. However, there really is not much bite to follow the bark of the building’s title. In reality, Park 51, the so-called “Ground Zero Mosque,” is to be built on Park Place (the site of the old Burlington Coat Factory), two blocks and a corner from the World Trade Center site. The two buildings cannot even be seen from one another, must less are located on the exact same ground. The name has gained so much hype that this small, yet essential, piece of information is often overlooked.

“It shouldn’t be any issue,” said Andrew, 39, a trucker and supporter of the community center, in reference to the chosen spot.

Even those who are aware of the precise location of the proposed Cordoba House feel the spot is disrespectful and insensitive to those who were affected by 9/11. Some have gone so far as to call it a ‘victory mosque’ which commemorates the actions committed against the U.S. on 9/11.

On the other hand, supporters of the mosque look more into the core of the country than out for their reasoning. Noel Arroyo, standing in front of the proposed ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ location, pointed to the U.S. Constitution, namely the first Amendment.

“It all boils down to Article 1: freedom of religion,” Arroyo said.

Other supporters expanded upon this central idea.

“It’s ironic that they’re building a freedom tower [and not allowing freedom to Muslims to practice their religion]. You can’t draw a line where freedom of religion should apply [and where it stops],” said Matt Sky, 26, a supporter of Park 51 who has been protesting outside of the proposed site for roughly 2 ½ weeks.

Why is the idea of a community center; a building intended to bring people together for positive activities so easily displaced? How can a project that is supposed to create dialogue between different faiths be silenced without adequately examining the facts? Unfortunately, for these questions, this reporter has no answers. For much of the mainstream media has chosen to disregard these original intentions in favor of more sensationalized, fabricated ones that generalize all Muslims as extremist terrorists who despise the United States with every fiber of their being. Peaceful community center or scheming al-Qaeda cell? Apparently, the latter will gain more attention, and so, once again, the truth has been constructed.