Religion & Law

I appreciate the title of Rob's last post, which speaks of a mosque "near" Ground Zero.  People keep speaking of a mosque "at" Ground Zero or refer to it as a "Ground Zero Mosque."  Whether or not one is generally a fan of Huffington Post,this piece nicely conveys the difference between "at" and "near." 

I am not insensitive to the feelings of those who lost loved ones on 9/11.  I lost an uncle only five years my senior, who was more like a brother to me growing up than an uncle, and I have seen the devastating effects of that day on other of my family members who were in the WTC or nearby when the planes hit.  I still grieve for all of them.  But talking about a mosque "at" Ground Zero is inaccurate and inflammatory.  If anything, incorrectly talking about a mosque "at" the site adds to the pain and opposition of the familes who mourn those who died (many of whom, I'm guessing, have not focused on the fact that one is unlikely even to be able to see the mosque from Ground Zero given the size of surrounding buildings).