By now, you likely have heard the tale. A Muslim imam and a building developer want to buy an empty building in an economically depressed section of New York City.
The site is half a mile from the former World Trade Center site. The men desire to build a basketball court and open a culinary school.
Some people worry a dangerous religion is attempting a conquering of the United States by placing one of its temples at the site of the World Trade Center.
"It is a slap in the face of Americans," some cry. "The entire religion," others say, "is violent in its foundation."
How do Ball State students view this event? What are the issues that your classmates are identifying?
Auriel Maybone, a senior with a double major in information systems and operations management, took a view that was echoed by numerous students.
"I think they have a right to be there." Auriel said. "They are not guilty by association."
Marie Taylor, a freshman business major, took a long-term view of the issue.
"I think it is just the times we are in. There is just a bias against the Muslim religion," Taylor said.
New York City is one of the main gateways to the U.S. Many of your families joined this nation in New York City. The Statue of Liberty (a gift in honor of our high goals of liberty) was placed on Liberty Island to serve as a symbol to people persecuted across the globe that the U.S. would be a safe haven to those who wished to live free of tyranny. Some of the first to flee to this land were those persecuted for religion, and for many of you, these refugees became your ancestors.
Safia Ansari, a graduate student in the Teachers College, said she feels a personal attachment to the issue. As the daughter of a Christian mother and Muslim father, Safia sees two sides on the debate.
"Just because of the terrorism that happened, that doesn't reflect on all Muslims," Ansari said adamantly.
Ansari sounded a bit tired and sad as she related her own experiences.
"We have been harassed and terrorized ourselves because of what happened at 9-11," she said.
What has happened to us that some of us are now taking Manhattan, the soil that millions of our relatives have kissed in joy upon arrival in this nation, and turning it into a land of religious intolerance?
"I think there is a lot of misinformation going on," Jake Kryshak, a junior journalism major, said.
We spoke of the concerns of some that believe the center will be used for recruitments of terrorism.
"I prefer not to be a conspiracy theorist," Kryshak said. "Hate spreads hate."
Our U.S. Constitution is clear. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ... or the right of the people peaceably to assemble..." All the Ball State students I spoke with invoked this call to religious freedom.
Much has been said about the tragedies of Sept. 11. We mourn the human loss of life. We speak of the citizen heroes who were revealed in those first moments after the towers were struck. We often recall those fallen heroes who raced into the towers, in the regular service of their city, and those who live to this day.
Yet, despite our human losses both at home, or in foreign lands, there is perhaps no greater loss than a loss of public sanity.
It is this loss of which terrorists dream; the over-heavy hand creating enemies out of the indifferent or even the friend. Irrational fears, driving the opposition to self-destruct, are the primary reason that terrorists act against civilians.
Will Garnes, a senior geology major, was literal in his interpretation of our foundations.
"If we have religious freedom in America; if you have enough money to buy it, you should be able to put a church, or a mosque, or a synagogue, wherever you want too," Garnes said.
We spoke with Garnes about concerns that the center will be recruitment for terrorism.
"If we are going to have a system of laws, a code of conduct that our society goes by, then we have to stay true to that, even if that makes some people uncomfortable," Garnes said. "If this is America, and people have the rights they are supposed to have, we can't just start making laws because we are afraid."
Alex Walson is a junior urban planning major and writes "View to the World" for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper. Write to Alex at awalson@bsu.edu.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
