Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman
For the past several weeks, talk radio and cable news has been abuzz with the controversy regarding the proposed Islamic center in lower Manhattan, not far from the site of the 2001 terrorist attacks that killed thousands of people and destroyed the World Trade Center.
Because of the hyperbole with which this topic has been discussed in the media, it is understandable—though regrettable—that many Americans have a negative reaction to the proposal. It is extremely unfortunate, however, that some of our would-be leaders are using this moment to fan the flames of division and intolerance.
The question of whether Muslims in New York have the right to build an Islamic Center near Ground Zero isn’t really a question at all: Of course they do; this is America. Religious freedom is one of the foundations upon which this nation was built. Every American has the right to worship how and where they see fit.
This principle, enshrined in the First Amendment to the Constitution, is one of many that make me proud to be an American. But others apparently think it should be revisited. For example, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich recently suggested that when it comes to religious freedom, America should follow the lead of Saudi Arabia.
“There should be no mosque near Ground Zero in New York so long as there are no churches or synagogues in Saudi Arabia,” Gingrich said.
Gingrich is clearly hoping to ride this issue all the way to the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, though I don’t know that suggesting that America take its cues from an Islamic theocracy is the best strategy.
Not all opponents of the New York mosque are making as radical a case as the former House speaker. Some have acknowledged that Muslims have the right to build a mosque in lower Manhattan, but say they should have the decency to refrain from exercising that right because of the attacks of nine years ago.
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Beechcroft On The Brink Of Title
Beechcroft coach Bruce Ward cautioned his team to stay focused as there's
still work to be done. But you could forgive the Cougars if they were ready
to whoop it up following a 29-12 win at Centennial Oct. 22.
The victory put Beechcroft (7-2, 6-0) at the brink of its first City League
North title since 2006, and a win next week over Northland would cement the
crown.
"I told them they did a great job tonight, but we have one more game to go.
We haven't won anything yet," Ward said. "Northland, that's kind of a
neighborhood rivalry, a traditional game, and both teams are going to be
ready. We need to play against them the way we played tonight."
Beechcroft got things going quickly against the improved Stars (4-5, 3-3)
getting an 85-yard touchdown run from Shaq Minnifield to go up 6-0 .
Centennial answered with a 38-yard touchdown run by Paul Goble near the end
of the first quarter before Minnifield again took it to the house, this time
on a 30-yard pass from Maurice Hale.
"We had a little bit of trouble getting untracked there in the first half.
Centennial was playing well and making us work," Ward said.
The Cougars were dominant in the second half, using a swarming defense to
limit Centennial to just two first downs and forcing a pair of turnovers. A
third quarter safety pushed Beechcroft's margin to 14-6, and a one yard
scoring plunge by Hale made it 21-6 before Centennial opened the fourth
quarter with a 20-yard scoring strike from Wesley Russell to Marlen Moore,
paring the deficit to 21-12.
Minnifield cemented the victory with a 26-yard run, and finished the night
with 223 yards on 24 carries. Dai'ron Glover added 150 yards on 11 carries
for the Cougars, who ran for 356 yards on the evening. Centennial was held
to 166 yards of offense.
After a pair of early season losses to Watterson and St. Charles,
Beechcroft looked as if it might be in for a down season. But the switch was
flipped once the conference campaign began, and the Cougars have shown
flashes of being the most dominant team in the North.
A win next week would make it official.
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