{"id":305,"date":"2010-09-10T13:34:52","date_gmt":"2010-09-10T13:34:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/lynnvsekulow\/2010\/09\/imam-rauf-no-bridge-builder.html"},"modified":"2010-09-10T13:34:52","modified_gmt":"2010-09-10T13:34:52","slug":"imam-rauf-no-bridge-builder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/2010\/09\/imam-rauf-no-bridge-builder.html","title":{"rendered":"Imam Rauf – No Bridge Builder at Ground Zero"},"content":{"rendered":"

Barry, <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

Imam Rauf <\/a>missed an important opportunity.  <\/span>Instead, of coming forward and becoming the ‘bridge-builder’ that he so often proclaims to be, he told CNN<\/font> <\/span>that there’s no plan to move the Cordoba House project – building a $100 million dollar mosque at the site of Ground Zero.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Of course, the Imam does not consider the site where the building is located to be Ground Zero. That’s unfortunate since the landing gear of one of the hijacked planes crashed through the roof of the building on 9-11.  <\/span>And, now, even new reports <\/a>that human remains from that fateful day have been discovered just steps away from the building.  <\/span><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

But what caught my attention and is still resonating from his interview are his comments interjecting the claim that our national security <\/a>is at risk if the mosque is not built at that site.  <\/span><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/font><\/span>These comments are not only offensive to the 9-11 victims’ families and friends, but to an overwhelming majority of Americans who don’t want the mosque built at Ground Zero.  <\/span><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

His comments were insensitive and divisive.  <\/span>He cannot deny the fact that this is sacred and hallowed ground.  <\/span>And his desire to move forward with the project is simply not in the best interest of the families and friends of the 9-11 victims or the American people.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>All of this, of course, has spawned tremendous media coverage – and sideshows – like the Florida pastor and others who threaten to burn the Koran.  <\/span>Such actions are despicable – they are divisive and insensitive as well.  <\/span>They have no place in this debate.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

But, the focus right now should be on the Imam, the developers, and financial backers of the project.  <\/span>With rapidly changing developments, there are signs that not all mosque supporters are on the same page.  <\/span>There are reports that mosque backers <\/a>may be divided <\/span><\/font>and that the chief investor <\/a>in the site is willing to sell.  <\/span><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/font><\/span>And it’s apparent, as we commemorate the 9th anniversary of the horrific terrorist attacks of 9-11, that this issue is not going away any time soon.  <\/span><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani <\/a>says “sensitivity is a two-way street.”  <\/font>In an opinion editorial, the former Mayor said:  <\/span>“Many have expressed misgivings and even fear about locating a mosque so close to the site where thousands of Americans were slaughtered by Islamic extremists. The vast majority with legitimate concerns – including me – should not be automatically lumped in with the small minority who have expressed more strident opinions about the mosque and about Islam in general.”<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

The fact is most Americans are tolerant.  <\/span>And most Americans understand that this location – at the site of Ground Zero – is not the place to build a mosque.  <\/span>Will the Imam come to that conclusion?<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

To subscribe to “Lynn v. Sekulow” click <\/font>here<\/font><\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Barry, Imam Rauf missed an important opportunity.  Instead, of coming forward and becoming the ‘bridge-builder’ that he so often proclaims to be, he told CNN that there’s no plan to move the Cordoba House project – building a $100 million dollar mosque at the site of Ground Zero. Of course, the Imam does not consider the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":163,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[346,38,358],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ground-zero-mosque","category-national-security","category-zoning-and-land-use"],"yoast_head":"\nImam Rauf - No Bridge Builder at Ground Zero - Lynn v. 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Jay Sekulow has also served as a faculty member for the Office of Legal Education at the United States Department of Justice.  As a member of the faculty he instructed Assistant United States Attorneys and investigators in the First Amendment issues associated with prosecution of obscenity. An accomplished and respected judicial advocate, Sekulow has presented oral argument before the U.S. Supreme Court in numerous cases in defense of constitutional freedoms. Several landmark cases argued by Sekulow before the U.S. Supreme Court have become part of the legal landscape in the area of religious liberty litigation.  In the Mergens case, Sekulow cleared the way for public school students to form Bible clubs and religious organizations on their school campuses.  In the Lamb's Chapel case, Sekulow defended the free speech rights of religious groups, ensuring that they be treated equally with respect to the use of public facilities.  And, most recently, in McConnell v. FEC, Sekulow ensured that the constitutional rights of young people remain protected with a unanimous decision by the high court guaranteeing that minors can participate in political campaigns. A nationally recognized and respected defender of religious freedom, Sekulow has assembled one of the most prestigious law firms in the nation.  Founded in 1990, the American Center for Law and Justice focuses in constitutional law.  The ACLJ, under Sekulow's direction, is involved in public interest and public policy issues working to protect religious and constitutional liberties. In 2007, the Chicago Tribune concluded that the ACLJ has \"led the way\" in Christian legal advocacy.  In 2005, TIME Magazine named Sekulow one of the \"25 Most Influential Evangelicals\" in America and called the ACLJ \"a powerful counterweight\" to the ACLU.  Business Week said the ACLJ is \"the leading advocacy group for religious freedom.\"  Sekulow's work on the issue of judicial nominees - including possible vacancies at the Supreme Court - has received extensive news coverage including a front page story in The Wall Street Journal.  In addition, The National Law Journal has twice named Sekulow one of the \"100 Most Influential Lawyers\" in the United States (1994, 1997).  He is also among a distinguished group of attorneys known as \"The Public Sector 45\" named by The American Lawyer (January\/February 1997).  The magazine said the designation represents \"45 young lawyers outside the private sector whose vision and commitment are changing lives.\" Sekulow brings insight and education to listeners daily with his national call-in radio program, Jay Sekulow Live!, which is broadcast throughout the country on nearly 850 radio stations.  Sekulow also hosts a weekly television program, ACLJ This Week, which tackles the tough issues of the day and is broadcast on a number of networks nationwide including the Trinity Broadcasting Network and FamilyNet.  Sekulow is also a popular guest on nationally televised news programs on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX News, MSNBC, CNBC, and PBS.  He frequently contributes articles and commentary to national publications and is often quoted in the nation's leading newspapers including USA Today, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and Washington Times. A graduate of Mercer University, Sekulow graduated cum laude receiving both a bachelor's degree and doctor of jurisprudence from Mercer University where he served on the Mercer Law Review as an editorial staff member.  Following graduation, Sekulow served as a tax trial attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service.  In that capacity, Sekulow prepared and brought to trial tax cases on behalf of the United States Department of Treasury in United States Tax Court. He also received a Ph.D. from Regent University, with a dissertation on American Legal History, and is the author of numerous publications and law articles. Sekulow serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for The Supreme Court Historical Society in Washington, DC.","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/author\/jsekulow"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/305","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/163"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=305"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/305\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=305"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=305"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=305"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}