NYC Mosque Controversy Continues

Read this:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/quran_burning

Reverend Terry Jones epitomizes an anti-Islamic person. A person who believes the Park51 project is in an inappropriate location is not anti-Islamic for that reason. I hope I've made my point.

On another note, Imam Feisal Abdul, the man behind the project, was on CNN yesterday to clarify the purpose behind Park51, his background, and his vision--a necessary feat considering 71 percent of New Yorkers oppose the project.

He also believes that changing its location, only two blocks north of Ground Zero, will provoke Islamic extremists this late in the game.

"If we move from that location, the story will be the radicals have taken over the discourse," Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf told CNN's Soledad O'Brien on "Larry King Live."

On the show, Rauf fully acknowledged the controversy surrounding the project, and plans to continue speaking to the families of victims of 9/11.

According to CNN.com, the imam told O'Brien "had I known [the controversy] would happen we certainly would never have done this." Asked if he meant he would not have picked the location, Rauf said, "we would not have done something that would create more divisiveness."

I have a question for Rauf. He's a well-educated, perceptive, and inspiring individual. Did he not anticipate some sort of controversy regarding Park51's location? How could this be possible? If he did anticipate it, why follow through with the project, especially now that he has made clear his intention was not to upset or anger anyone?

I'm confused. Is anyone else?

PS. I apologize for the brevity of this post. I have much more to say, but haven't the time to write it down now. But please email me if you have thoughts on this topic--I'd love to discuss it.