Once there were people who thought other people were evil.  And  these “evil” people were dwelling in a land the “good” people wanted. So the “good” people attacked the “evil” people and caused mass murder and destruction; destruction causing much pain and aguish.

    Did you think I was talking about September 11th? Wrong. I was talking about the crusades. Humans, who can count higher than this cat, say that up to 133,000 people died during the crusades. On September 11th the best estimate of the death toll is 3,000; some of my human’s colleagues were among those who died in this obscene mass murder.  

    So what’s the point? The point is a few  people do horrible things because of their faith, or perhaps their faith should be better termed fanaticism. Those people should be stopped. But other people should be allowed to practice their faith in peace. Christians and Jews are allowed to worship in the lands fought over during the crusades. Admittedly some of them are persecuted.  But the synagogues and churches still exist. The mass murder committed by others who claimed to be of their religion does not stop their ancestor's  worship.

    So now there is a fight raging about building a mosque in the vicinity of ground zero in New York City. All sorts of politicians are saying the mosque would be disrespectful of those who died on September 11th. I say a place of worship  would be one of the highest forms of respect that could be offered to those honored dead.  It would also declare loudly and clearly that Americans believe in the rule of law, and this includes the separation of church and state.        

    There is already a Christian church across the street from ground zero dedicated to peace.  Their should also be a synagogue their for the same purpose. Both of those places are places to worship. A mosque is also a place of worship.  

    At some point we must stop hating others because they are different Build the mosque! Build a house of prayer for every religion in the same area. Let them all be dedicated toward peace, and let prayers of peace be lifted up in them all.

    If we wish to honor those who died on that day, there can be no bigger honor than the start of  an inter-religious movement near ground zero to work and pray for the day when this can no longer happen again.