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Obama's Two-Step on NY Mosque By Derrick Z. Jackson Boston Globe August 17, 2010 http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/08/17/obamas_two_step_on_ny_mosque/ PRESIDENT OBAMA had it right the first time in talking about the mosque proposed near ground zero of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Speaking last Friday at the White House celebration of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Obama said, "The 9/11 attacks were a deeply traumatic event for our country. And the pain and the experience of suffering by those who lost loved ones is just unimaginable. So I understand the emotions that this issue engenders. And ground zero is, indeed, hallowed ground. "But let me be clear. As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country. And that includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in Lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances. This is America. And our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable.'' Unfortunately, Obama and his aides were clearly shaken by poll numbers against the mosque, fueled by the predictable blowback from fearmongers who see anything Muslim as evil. The very next day, while visiting the Gulf of Mexico, he said, "I was not commenting, and I will not comment, on the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque there. I was commenting very specifically on the right people have that dates back to our founding. That's what our country is about.'' [Continue reading this article at: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/08/17/obamas_two_step_on_ny_mosque/] _____________________________________________ Portside aims to provide material of interest to people on the left that will help them to interpret the world and to change it. Submit via email: [log in to unmask] Submit via the Web: portside.org/submit Frequently asked questions: portside.org/faq Subscribe: portside.org/subscribe Unsubscribe: portside.org/unsubscribe Account assistance: portside.org/contact Search the archives: portside.org/archive