Over the last month, this Examiner has covered the vote on the proposed Islamic center, how American Muslims are torn over the proposed Islamic center, and the counter protests this past Sunday.
However, lost amongst the heated discussion on the proposed Islamic center near Ground Zero is New York City was not the only place struck and affected on September 11, 2001. The most lives were certainly lost in Lower Manhattan, but another building, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, was also struck that morning.
Unbeknownst to some and possibly many observers is the fact that there currently is place of prayer for Muslims at the Pentagon, where 125 workers and 59 individuals on board American Airlines Flight 77 lost their lives.
A multifaith chapel was constructed and opened up about a year after Islamist terrorists flew American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon. Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Protestants, Mormons, and Episcopalians hold frequent services at this chapel. Individuals like George Wright, an Army spokesman at the Pentagon, has not seen one issue in his four years there.
However, building a mosque and community center near Ground Zero has sparked a range of emotions and created much division. Some, who were aware of the multifaith chapel, incorrectly labeled it as a mosque. Nonetheless, the fact that Muslims pray at the Pentagon is most definitely a fact.
The amount of people who use the chapel numbers in the hundreds. That includes Muslims holding daily prayers Monday through Thursday with a worship service on Fridays. Additionally, there are over 3,200 members of the U.S. military who are self-identifying Muslims. That is compared to 222,039 who identify as Roman Catholic and 160,000 who identify as members of various Baptist churches.
One of the points mentioned by many who support the Islamic center is having it built can assist in moving forward with accepting the Muslim faith in Lower Manhattan. The Pentagon's chapel opened as and has served as a place for peace and solace. The chapel was planned in the wake of the 9/11 attacks in order to bring faiths together instead of dividing them. The chapel serves partially as a memorial to those who lost their lives nine years ago. The Pentagon chaplain, Col. Ralph Benson, said at the time of its opening, that:
"The chapel represents an element of healing and hope, as it is wed to the memorial. One goes to the memorial to remember (the victims of the attacks), and then the chapel to find hope and healing no matter what their faith"
For those who harp on the location of the Islamic center, this multifaith chapel is not only at the Pentagon, but right near where the American Airlines Flight 77 went into the Pentagon. That means that Muslims are worshiping right near where a plane struck. There has not been a peep out of anyone over the nearly eight years that has been occurring.
It certainly does not hurt this discussion to give it a little more to complete the picture and analyze the issue. Granted, the chapel at the Pentagon is multifaith-based while this Islamic Center would only house Muslims. The fact that Muslims still pray at the Pentagon cannot be erased, ignored, or just glanced over. If Muslims can pray at the Pentagon, where many lives were lost; it would seem to make sense that Muslims should be allowed to pray near Ground Zero.
If this Islamic center was a multifaith-based center instead; in all likelihood much of the opposition would still exist. Arlington, Virginia is a bit different of a city than New York City, but it does not change the fact that both places were affected roughly nine years ago. If people have allowed the multifaith chapel all this time; maybe this Islamic center is not such a bad idea.
Comments