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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New Look Cavs Hope To Impress
Fans of the Cleveland
Cavaliers won't be the only ones wondering what their team does this season.
First-year coach Byron Scott, who was hired to replace Mike Brown as the
team underwent a major off-season transition, is among those who isn't quite
sure what to expect.
Gone is icon LeBron James, the face of the franchise and its best player
since entering the league in 2003. The Chosen One chose to migrate south to
Miami, where he will join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in a quest to win an
NBA title.
While James is no longer around to lean on in crunch time, Scott doesn't
think the Cavaliers will roll over once the season starts. He's liked the
effort from the team, which retains its nucleus from its NBA best 61-21
team. There is a newness to the upcoming campaign, but also an excitement
that's maybe been lacking in recent years.
"I'm pretty sure most of the guys are kind of anxious to see how things are
going to work," Scott said. "We've still got a lot of work to do, a long way
to go. But the progress in the last week or so has been much better. I know
it's tough on them. This is something a lot of these guys haven't done in a
while. I commend them on how hard they've worked and I'm anxious to see how
it goes as well."
The Cavs will be more of a possession-oriented team this season, with the
offense running through All-Star guard Mo Williams, who averaged 15.8 points
and a team-best 5.3 assists per contest. He's joined in the backcourt by
Daniel Gibson, Ramon Sessions and Anthony Parker.
The frontcourt will be anchored by veteran Antawn Jamison, who provided a
spark upon arrival last February. Jamison
averaged 15.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, and will have a bigger role
in the offense this season with James no
longer around. J.J Hickson, Anderson Varejao, Leon Powe, Jamario Moon and
Jawad Williams will hold down the frontcourt, while back to the basket
seven-footer Ryan Hollins hopes to be a presence in the paint.
If early returns are any indication, the Cavs have made progress from the
opening of training camp.
"The Wine and Gold scrimmage looked kind of sloppy." Hickson said. "But
we've been moving the ball a little more and now have a better idea of what
we're doing."
The new-look Cavaliers will be on display Oct. 21 at the Schottenstein
Center, where they will face former Ohio State star Michael Redd and the
Milwaukee Bucks. Redd, who missed a good portion of last season with a knee
injury, is looking to rebound and help the Bucks once again for a playoff
berth in the Eastern Conference. Redd, who owns an NBA career scoring
average of 20.3 points, should be a top draw for the game at the Schott, the
site of many of his top moments as a Buckeye.
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