Ground Zero Mosque: Taking pulse of public opinion

WHAT DO MOSQUES LOOK LIKE NEAR YOU? Muslim centers come in many shapes and sizes. Here’s a mosque in northern Wisconsin that resembles local churches in that area.What does the American public say about the proposed Muslim community center in New York City?

If the court of public opinion ruled, the new facility would not be built. Just over half (51%) of Americans oppose the so-called Ground Zero Mosque, according to a new survey by Pew. Only a third (34%) say it should be built. 

But there is considerable variation in levels of support and opposition. Older Americans are more likely than younger Americans to object to the new mosque. Those with more formal education are less likely to oppose it than those with less education. Republicans overwhelmingly oppose the project, with three of four saying so. Just over a third of Democrats (39%) say no to the Ground Zero Mosque.

Despite opposition to this mosque, many Americans (62%) affirm the rights of Muslims to build houses of worship in local communities, according to the Pew report.  Only 25% say local communities should be able to prohibit the construction of mosques if they disapprove of them. There is more consensus on these issues than there is with the New York City mosque. Looking at differences in age, education, and political party, only two groups have less than a majority who affirm these rights:  the oldest Americans and Republicans.  Just less than half  (48%) of Americans 65+ say that Muslims should have the same rights as other religious groups to build houses of worship. And just less than half (47%) of Republicans say that same.

Do you have a mosque in your local community? 

If so, how do you feel about it? 

If there plans to build one near your home, what would you say?  Would you oppose or support it?

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Comments

[Kaily]

Muslims have the right to build a mosque on ground zero. If the government said "no", then that only affirms the stigma that American people have against Muslims; the stigma that ALL Muslim people are terrorists and hate the U.S. government. Most Muslims I know abhor the idea of terrorism. We can't tie every Muslim in this country to 9/11, but we would be if we refused to let them build their holy building.

George Santayana said, "Those who cannot remember their history are doomed to repeat it." I remember reading this quote from the wall of the Yankee Air Museum in Michigan. How ironic. The government hedged the rights of my grandparents and their generation by putting them in internment camps. Even more ironically, Japanese-Americans like my grandfather and his cousins were eager to serve this country, and did when they fought for this country during WW2.

Let's not repeat history.