I am disappointed at the opposition of some Americans to the construction of a 15-story Islamic and community center at Ground Zero. This seems ironic considering the fact that the US claims to be a secular nation. The opposition to the center is an open indication of the predicament of the American Muslim community since the 9/11 tragedy. It seems that Islam in America still cannot obtain a position like any other belief. Americans need to know that Islam does not permit terrorism, and Muslims have nothing to do with the 9/11 incident. In fact, Muslims have been victims of the same terrorist elements. Critics are giving biased and illogical explanation that the Islamic center is too close to where ‘Islamist extremists' destroyed the World Trade Center in 2001. How come those extremists – who killed nearly 2,800 innocent people – are being linked to Islam? Whoever did that act of terror is certainly ‘not' Muslim. Indeed, the cruel act by those terrorists has not just tainted the Muslim's image among non-Muslims, it has also created Islamophobia in the West. The actual issues are extremism and radicalism. These have no connection with any specific religion and its fundamental beliefs. It's actually an extreme negative approach. The problem exists among both Muslims and non-Muslims. I welcome the remarks of President Barack Obama on the issue of the Islamic center near Ground Zero. He said that Muslims also have the full right to practice their religion and build the Islamic center. However, this is just an opinion of the president of a secular country. Obama needs to practice what he preaches. He must take stern action against those spreading Islamophobia. Effective measures should also be taken by moderate Christians. Dialogues with Muslim circles should be held to explain Islamic belief. During my visits to the US, I observed that Islam is widely believed – wrongly so – to be connected with fundamentalist-radicals there. I felt moderate religious leaders should be more active there. There are suggestions to shift the proposed Islamic center from Ground Zero. This alternative solution will create more problems, rather than solve it. In fact, an Islamic center near Ground Zero can better handle the task of projecting the true image of Islam and promoting mutual understanding. Islamic center at Ground Zero can be the right symbol of peace, unity and compassion with the families of 9/11 victim. This, in fact, is a good chance for non-Muslim Americans to express their true understanding by supporting the construction of the Islamic center near Ground Zero. Hearts can be won by love and tolerance. This world can get peace only if all citizens learn to avoid making religion an issue. Values of honor, tolerance and unity should be practically and sensibly shown by both Muslims and non-Muslims. An American author and politician Eleanor Roosevelt said that understanding is a two-way street. This should be understood by opponents of Ground Zero's Islamic center that America's fight is against terrorism, not Islam.
