Which World do You Want to Live in?

There have been horrible protests taking place in New York City and all over the country because some of our fellow citizens would like to build a mosque two blocks away from Ground Zero (the former site of the Twin Towers and five blocks away from their present mosque they have outgrown) in New York.  Several people have been protesting.  They feel insulted that that group would dare to want to build a mosque there, mainly because it is Islamic.

 


In the street day after day we find people protesting, almost coming to blows because this mosque is moving from 12th to 2nd St. and building a community center.  Some protest for religious freedom, to allow the to build the mosque.  Others protest in the name of patriotism, thinking that the Moslems are all guilty for the attack on the Twin Towers.  It is a real fiasco. 

 


 

In contrast 

Moslems, Christians, Mormons, Unitarian Universalists, and various other religious organizations, met together at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Philadelphia to provide for the homeless, poor, and unemployed.  Thousands of people who were in need showed up.  

 

While all of the fighting and bigotry, xenophobia, and hatred are being played out  the real religious people who are dedicated to the principles of love, are working to make the world better by providing for the poor and broken-hearted.  I think it is important nowadays to find a group  that does similar things.  I want to be a part of that group.

All the anger, hollering and fighting to stop people from building a religious institution and community center has little to do with God and much to do with unresolved anger and deeply entrenched egos.

What can we do about this?  Find a group working to heal the world so you can channel your creativity into that.  Leave a great legacy to your children and grandchildren;  a legacy of a better world and the memory of a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle who made the right decision, when times got rough, and stood on the side of love.  For love is all that we really have to improve things.  The ability to love and to create is probably the most important thing that we can give to the next generation.   The self-righteousness is something we should just as soon leave behind.


Dr. John W. Gilmore

 




2 thoughts on “Which World do You Want to Live in?”


  1. Dr. Gilmore presents excellent reasoning for those in favor of building the Mosque near Ground Zero. One sentence, in his presentation, however:” For love is all that we really have to improve things. The ability to love and to create is probably the most important thing that we can give to the next generation.” really sums up his argument.
    If those unreasoning people who want to build a mosque at the site of a heartbreaking tragedy really wanted to show their love they’d build their mosque elsewhere, preferably in Iran.

  2. I am not even Muslim, but I find the statement “If those unreasoning people who want to build a mosque at the site of a heartbreaking tragedy really wanted to show their love they’d build their mosque elsewhere, preferably in Iran” VERY offending.
    So they want to build a new Mosque, and it just so happens that the available space is near ground zero. Did any of those Muslims take part in 9/11? No. Have they tried to commit terroristic acts? No. Did they come to America to be free and have FREEDOM OF RELIGION? Yes. You saying something like that is taking that right away. You might as well say that Hindus should build their Temples in India, Christians and Jews should build their Churches and Temples in Israel. You are grouping them all in together, and that is a HORRIBLE thing to do.
    I am for it. I know this is very late, but honestly, people who are against it because of ONE group of Muslims needs to realize that it is considered racist to group them all in together, and basically telling them to leave the country and that they shouldn’t be allowed to worship here, much less build a place of worship in a country that promotes freedom of religion is ridiculous. Freedom of religion is NOT limited to one religion, and that needs to be realized.
    This spot happens to be open, and they need a new place of worship. They don’t support al-Quada. They don’t set off bombs. They came here for freedom. GIVE IT TO THEM OR GO TO A COUNTRY WHERE THERE IS NONE AND BE HAPPY THERE.
    ^ This BS is part of the reason I’m Atheist.
    /end rant

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