The 'Mosque' Near Ground Zero
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Date: 19 August 2010
Debating Park51
It’s not exactly a mosque, and it’s not on Ground Zero, but that hasn’t stopped 61 percent of Americans from opposing the planned Islamic community center known as Park51. The project has triggered a national debate over Islam, religious liberty, and the memory of 9/11. This week, we explore two views on the contentious building.
Richard Land, President of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Mark Pelavin, Associate Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
There's so much more to this interview...hear an extended version here
'This Does Not Hurt Me': A 9/11 Mother Speaks Out
Begins at 22 min 30 sec
In the debate over Park51, many are asking — what about the 9/11 family members? Wouldn't they disapprove? Not Donna Marsh O'Connor, the mother of a 29-year-old who died in the South Tower. She supports the Islamic center, and says the 9/11 families are not a monolith.
Donna Marsh O'Connor, Spokesperson for
September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows
The Mayor's Defense
Begins at 38 min 15 sec
Mayor Michael Bloomberg isn’t known for his warm and fuzzy personality. But on August 3rd, he showed his support for the controversial Islamic center with an emotional intensity that caught many by surprise. With the Statue of Liberty within eyeshot, surrounded by religious leaders, he called Park51 “[as] important a test of the separation of church and state as we may see in our lifetimes."
Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York
Commentary: Check Your Constitution
Begins at 46 min 12 sec
Our own Maureen Fiedler supports Park51. “These are the voices of that 'moderate' Islam that everyone has been asking to hear,” she says. “Now, they deserve to be heard.”
Maureen Fiedler, Host
