Building a mosque near Ground Zero was sure to be a battle. One has to wonder why the developers/ promoters/organizers didn’t think about that. They are, after all, financially successful and socially prominent, and in New York, neither of those achievements is accidental. In fact, the people who succeed in New York are those who understand the impact of the media and know how to play it.
So, how did this situation get out of hand?
I won’t pretend to have an answer. I am just watching how it has spun from a local PR issue into a maelstrom in which we now have Billy Graham’s somewhat successful eldest preacher kid reminding us that President Obama is a Muslim. Because the seed passes from father to son. Good lord...
I am fascinated by this story because there’s an element to it that no one has pursued…not the PR firm that is now involved, not the politicians, not the media, not the organizers. It’s not about right to practice one’s religion. It’s not about being associated with terrorism. It’s not about besmirching the memory of those who died on 9/11.
It’s about noise. Someone needs to ask the residents of the Lower Manhattan/Wall Street how they feel about a mosque broadcasting prayers five times a day starting at 5:30 a.m.
They really need to ask.
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