Resolved: An Islamic Cultural Center should be built near Ground Zero.

Thank you for accepting and good luck to you too. On April 14, 1993, Pope John Paul II decided to move a Catholic covenant from Auschwitz because he wanted to respect the victims of the tragedy that occurred there. [1] Because I also respect victims of tragedies such as 9/11, I negate the resolution Resolved: An Islamic Cultural Center should be built near Ground Zero. I would like to begin by analyzing the resolution today. The resolution asks whether an Islamic Cultural Center SHOULD be built near Ground Zero. I acknowledge that the builders have every right to build it near Ground Zero. Therefore, no one can FORCE them to move from Ground Zero. The resolution today asks whether the BUILDERS should move the Islamic Cultural Center. If the builders choose to move it, it would not violate their constitutional rights because they are CHOOSING to move it. On the other hand, if the builders choose to build it, it is not religious tolerance for Muslims. Since the majority of the American people are against the Islamic Cultural Center, building it would mean going against the will of the American people. Thus, it would not show that Americans approve of or tolerate the Islamic Cultural Center. The reasons that I think the builders should voluntarily move the Islamic Cultural Center are: Contention 1: Moving the Islamic Cultural Center will show respect to family members of 9/11 victims. While our opponents argue that the Islamic Cultural Center is not at Ground Zero or strictly a mosque, building a symbol of Islam so close to a place where extremists killed thousands in the name of Islam is insensitive to the family and friends of those who died. As explained by Muslim scholar Akbar Ahmed, "The wounds [of 9/11] remain largely open and when wounds are raw, an episode like constructing a house of worship becomes like salt in the wounds." [2]The least the builders of the Islamic Cultural Center can do is show respect for these victims. The Former NY Fire Department Deputy Chief, whose son was killed, who states, "this is all about location, location, location. It's not about religious freedom... be sensitive to the families." 9/11 is the site of one of the greatest tragedies in American history, affecting every citizen, and by moving the Islamic Cultural Center the builders would show compassion and caring towards those who deserve to be remembered and honored. Contention 2: Moving the Islamic Cultural Center will break stereotypes about Muslim Americans. Currently, 46% of Americans have a negative view of Islam. By moving the Islamic Cultural Center, the builders can prove that Muslim Americans are a compassionate and loving people, not terrorists who cannot change their views. On the other hand building the Islamic Cultural Center is extremely unlikely to promote "interfaith tolerance". The idea that one Islamic Cultural Center can heal years of distrust between Christians and Muslims is absurd. It is much more plausible that it will create an even deeper, portraying Muslims as insensitive and inconsiderate. If the Islamic Cultural Center is moved, Americans will see Muslims in a new light, which is the beginning to healing the mistrusts of Muslims. By proving that there is a distinct line between Muslim Americans and Islamic extremists, Muslim Americans can break the stereotypes often associated with them and show that they are a compassionate, peaceful, and loving people. Contention 3: Moving the Islamic Cultural Center will prevent hate crimes against Muslim Americans. In 2001, Muslim Americans were victimized in more than 400 hate crimes. Although this number has been steadily decreasing, the Islamic Cultural Center is likely to cause it to spike again. The Center for American-Islamic Relations believes anti-Muslim sentiment in the U.S. is "skyrocketing" because of the debate over the Islamic Cultural Center. This is disappointing because hate crime levels were almost leveling off before the Islamic Cultural Center became such a big deal. However, this debate is sparking renewed and increased hatred against Muslim Americans. Furthermore, there has been specific hate crimes linked to the Islamic Cultural Center already. For example, a California Imam recently found his mosque vandalized with statements having to do with Ground Zero. Also, a New York taxi driver was assaulted after confirming to the passenger that he was Muslim. By moving the Islamic Cultural Center, Muslim Americans will prevent the hate crimes related directly to Ground Zero. On top of that, they will also reduce general hate crimes directed towards Muslim Americans by establishing a new image for the group. By moving the Islamic Cultural Center the builders can protect the Muslim Americans from unjust hate crimes. [3] The first argument that my opponent makes is that the Islamic Cultural Center should not be considered an issue of sensitivity because there was already a mosque near Ground Zero. However, the reason the other mosque was built was so that peaceful Muslims could pray. Imam Rauf, the leader of this project, has clearly said that he choose this building "where a piece of the wreckage fell" from 9/11 on purpose in order to show that Muslim Americans are different. [4] However, even if this is his reason, it shows that he choose to build this building near Ground Zero ON PURPOSE, which means that families can view this as deliberately close (and insensitive) and other mosques as merely near Ground Zero by coincidence. The second argument that my opponent makes is that these Muslims are different from those who committed the 9/11 attacks. Although I agree with him, the ugly truth is that much of America does not. The best way for Muslim Americans to prove that they are different is for the builders to move this Islamic Cultural Center away in order to show that Muslim Americans want peace and love, not conflict all over the media. The third argument that my opponent makes is that these Muslims need prayer space because there is no room. However, this is a big misconception. According to the Muslim Canadian Congress, New York has more than 30 mosques and there is no pressing need for more prayer space. [5] The source that my opponent cites merely says that there is need for more houses in Manhattan. It says nothing about prayer spaces and thus you must ignore the argument unless my opponent can prove a direct link. The fourth argument that my opponent cites is that this is a matter of freedom of religion. However, as I have already explained, the majority of Americans are against the Islamic Cultural Center. Building it would not show that Americans continue to embrace the ideology to this day. It would actually prove the opposite, that Americans continue to stand opposed to the ideology. Similarly, moving the Islamic Cultural Center would not be a violation of rights, but rather a voluntary and compassionate move by the builders. Thus, I urge a con ballot today. [1] http://www.nytimes.com... [2] http://religion.blogs.cnn.com... [3] http://www.newsweek.com... [4] http://www.nytimes.com... [5] http://www.ottawacitizen.com...