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NYC Mayor: 'Sad Day' If Mosque Plans Blocked

   VOA News 16 August 2010

   New  York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg says it would be a "sad day for
   America"  if  opponents  block plans for a mosque near the site of the
   September 11, 2001 terror attacks in Manhattan.
   Bloomberg told a news conference Monday that the government should not
   interfere  in  people's  religion.   He  said stopping the mosque and
   community  center  just  because  they  are two blocks away from where
   "freedom was attacked" would mark a sad day for the country.
   The  mayor and others who support the building of the center have said
   it will help bridge divisions between the West and the Muslim world.
   Opposition  Republicans  have  criticized  President  Barack Obama for
   comments  he  made supporting the right of developers to carry through
   with the controversial plan.
   Senator  John Cornyn said Sunday it is "unwise" to build a mosque near
   the  site  where more than 2,600 Americans were killed.  He described
   Mr. Obama as "disconnected from the mainstream of America" for what he
   said is the president's support of the center's construction.
   On  Saturday,  Mr.  Obama  said  he supports the "right" of Muslims to
   build  a  place of worship and community center on private property in
   New  York City, but that he would not comment on the "wisdom" of doing
   so.
   Republican Representative Peter King, who opposes the center's planned
   location,  accused  Mr.  Obama  Sunday of changing his position on the
   project.   King  said  the project's sponsors are "pouring salt" into
   what he called Americans' "raw wound" from the attacks.
   Opinion  polls  by  CNN/Opinion  Research  indicate that 68 percent of
   Americans  oppose  building  a mosque less than one kilometer from the
   site  where  al-Qaida  hijackers crashed two passenger planes into the
   twin  towers of the World Trade Center.  Many Americans say putting a
   mosque so close to the site would be disrespectful to those killed.
   The  prayer  room  would  be  part  of  a  $100 million Islamic center
   featuring  a  500-seat  auditorium,  sports  facilities,  theater  and
   restaurant, and would be open to all visitors.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP.

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