Thought's for Today: Rights vs Wisdom

“The fact that someone has the right to do something doesn’t necessarily make it the right thing to do.” “This is not an issue of law, whether religious freedom or local zoning. This is a basic issue of respect for a tragic moment in our history.”

-- US House Republican leader John Boehner called Obama’s “endorsement” of the centre’s construction near Ground Zero troubling.

Obama’s comments came after his remarks at a White House event in which he appeared to offer his backing for the construction of a centre called Cordoba House near the site known as “Ground Zero” in lower Manhattan which will be a place of worship and a community centre on private property in lower Manhattan. The construction of Cordoba House, a 13-story building that would include meeting rooms, a prayer space, an auditorium and a swimming pool.

“I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making a decision to put a mosque there,” Obama told reporters.

“I was commenting very specifically on the right people have that dates back to our founding. That’s what our country is about.”

Obama said he believed Muslims had the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in the country.

“That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community centre on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances,” he said.

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Source: The Malaysian Insider: Obama wades into New York mosque debate

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Would the people in power also accord such protections and accord the same rights to practice any religion of the minorities here?

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