While the Islamic Cultural Center is not planned to be a mosque as such, it should be noted that there is already a mosque, of long standing, on the property. It has been there, and operating as such, for a number of years BEFORE 9/11.

Further, as I understand it, there is to be a mosque within and part of the proposed Center. And I say "appropriately so". Since there is already a mosque on the property, the objectors are (1) objecting to the Cultural Center, regardless of the mosque, and (2) at least by implication, they are trying to close an existing house of worship, or perhaps to force it to be moved from the site it has occupied peacefully for many years.

As to the "too near Ground Zero" argument, the question comes to mind, "What distance would NOT be too near?" I get the impression that the answer of the objectors would be, "Oh, about eight thousand miles."

Dave Oesterreich