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Obama's Stand on Mosqsue Surprises
Obama’s stand on mosque surprises Sunday, August 15, 2010 BY JOSEPH AX The Record STAFF WRITER Teaneck Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin expected a memorable evening when he received an invitation to join President Obama at a White House iftar dinner to break the daily Ramadan fast on Friday. But Obama’s decision to voice support for a mosque planned near Ground Zero in Manhattan – remarks he sought to clarify Saturday by saying he was offering a broad defense of religious freedom rather than a particular project – took Hameeduddin, and probably everyone else in the room, by surprise. "If you look at the polling, it’s not a popular position," the mayor said. "The buzz in the room afterwards was that everybody couldn’t believe that he came out so strongly for the rights of the mosque." Hameeduddin said Obama’s focus on the rights of free religious exercise – and the need to uphold the law of the land – jibes with his own view of the controversy. "Everybody’s entitled to their opinion," he said. "But the law is what should govern. The religious freedoms that we have are what make America, America. To allow all faiths to build mosques, churches, temples, and everybody to worship as they choose, that’s what makes America great." A number of Republicans criticized the president Saturday, saying it was improper for him to comment on a local issue and insensitive of him to support the project. Obama and the White House said Saturday that he was speaking more generally about religious rights and was not expressing support for that specific mosque project. The families of several Sept. 11 victims oppose the project, saying it shows disrespect for their loss. Hameeduddin, the first Muslim mayor in Bergen County, said Obama’s point that al Qaeda has killed more Muslims than people of any other faith was a reminder that the Sept. 11 terrorists do not represent Islam. "There’s been a broad brush painted for Muslims and Islam," he said. "We feel that we’re being unfairly blamed for other people’s actions." Obama said Friday that while Ground Zero represents hallowed ground, "the principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country and that they will not be treated differently by their government is essential to who we are." The White House iftar dinner tradition dates to Thomas Jefferson, who held a dinner for the first Muslim ambassador to the United States. E-mail: ax@northjersey.com Teaneck Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin expected a memorable evening when he received an invitation to join President Obama at a White House iftar dinner to break the daily Ramadan fast on Friday. Teaneck Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin meeting President Obama at Friday night’s White House dinner. But Obama’s decision to voice support for a mosque planned near Ground Zero in Manhattan – remarks he sought to clarify Saturday by saying he was offering a broad defense of religious freedom rather than a particular project – took Hameeduddin, and probably everyone else in the room, by surprise.

MYLP 2010