The Park51 Project: Cordoba House - Essay Example

Many Americans continue to view Muslims with suspicion. This acrimony drove some of the Muslim leaders to decide to open Park51or Cordoba House two blocks from ground zero to nurture better understanding amongst the various religious faiths in America. The Park51 project has caused a great deal of debate and controversy since not all inhabitants of New York are looking forward to seeing the building being constructed there. I am among those who disagree with the construction of Cordoba house building two blocks from ground zero.

I think stopping this project would be a very sensible step because it would prevent more public unrests from taking place. Many lives may be lost in these unrests; hence it is in the best interest of everyone to move the building elsewhere. The First Amendment, which is part of the Bill of Rights, guarantees freedom of religion, free exercise of religion, and freedom of speech. American society is diverse and is made up of people belonging to different religions. Following from the First Amendment, one can argue that Cordoba House can be built anywhere, even two blocks from ground zero.

Those who want to proceed with Park51may have the right to do so guaranteed by the first amendment, but this does not mean by having the right they can make things right. This issue is more of a moral question. The majority of American people, especially those families whose members died on September 11, feel that the Mosque is a “slap in their faces” to both them and the society in general. This Cordoba building will always remind people of the event that took place on that terrible date – the darkest day in American history.

The lives of people who suffered from that tragic event would be a terrible nightmare. Park51 was initiated by both American Christians and Muslim representatives in order to build the proper relations between these two faiths, and to enhance the place of religion in the life of people but it was funded by Muslims. It was stated that the Cordoba House project called for a “15-story community center including a mosque, a temple, a worship place for Christian community and Catholic, performance art center, gym, swimming pool and other public spaces” (Bliman n.d.).

It is a very good and attractive idea to have all communities from every religion, gender, class, age, visit and nurture relations with each other. The problem I have with this plan is why there have to build worship centers inside the building, even if the intention is to develop better understanding among various faiths. Do the proponents have to include religious centers within the building? There are a lot of ways to unify all religions, for example they can make events every week or month where every religion can have their own workshop at one place.

It is impossible to develop religious harmony while hosting different worship places within one building. Imagine Muslims are praying and worshipping in their room with a loud sound. Next to that room, Protestant Christians are worshipping to their God by singing loudly and enthusiastically. On the next rooms Catholics and Jews are also praying through hymns. How are these faiths going to interact with each other when they all feel they are being disturbed by the other while worshipping to their Deity?

It is like putting oil in water and expecting them to mix.