Building mosques near Ground Zero

Barack Obama has been criticised heavily for comments he made recently about Muslims' right to build a mosque near New York's Ground Zero. Facing an outcry from Americans within his own political party, Republicans and the majority of commentators he has since tempered what he said, which has isolated him further and made him appear to be driven by expediency at the expense of his independence of thought.

It is natural that there continues to be sensitivity about the attacks on the Trade Centre in 2001, but I wonder how much balance there is in the reactions to the proposal. Is there an implication that all Muslims are terrorists, or that Muslims should be barred from the area?  Has there been recognition that the mosque would be inconspicuous, in an enclosed building and with a memorial to peace within it? What about the rights and needs of local Muslims to worship in their home area? How much of the reaction is based on dislike or mistrust of the President?

Meanwhile, have its proponents fully considered the likely outcry and how to deal with it, and if it is truly the best place to have it? Have they thought about the feelings of friends and relatives of the victims? They too have questions to answer.

Key strands of the Principles of the New Consciousness philosophy are (non) Judgment, Discernment, Acceptance, and also having Compassion. How far have these been evident in this situation, I wonder?