Ok. Call me silly, but since trying to get the building where the people want to build the Islamic cultural center declared a historic landmark failed, why hasn’t anyone bothered to ask clergy – any clergy – to consecrate the ground? Unless I missed something, from the beginning there was talk about the fact that some of the “fallout” from 9/11 landed on and around that building, including sadly enough, human remains. As Charles Krauthammer pointed out in depth, there are justifiable reasons to consider certain places hallowed ground. While he offered a few perfectly logical analogies, I’ll offer one that should be loud and clear. If someone suggested that we permit a foreign nation such as Germany – albeit an ally today, but one that we’ve waged war against in the past – build anything on the grounds adjoining Arlington National Cemetery, would there be good reason to prevent it? Would there be some moral or ethical reason to prevent a nation that had been the cause of many of the graves in that cemetery from having control over even a square inch of land anywhere near those graves?

Ground Zero is a grave, period. Anywhere near Ground Zero that was littered with debris – biological debris and debris from the planes in particular – should be considered hallowed ground, just as Ground Zero is. The only purpose for any of that property should either be purely secular, or in memory of those lost that day, period. Yes, the terrorists twisted their faith to fit their criminal designs, and in a perfect world, law-abiding citizens sharing their faith in the non-twisted form should have the right to observe it where they choose. But there is nothing wrong with questioning the motives of any religious organization seeking to build a place of worship on what is essentially the graves of others. It is not like a church that chooses to expand into its own cemetery.

So, that said, is there a minister in the house? The residents of New York City need your assistance. Please step forward, and exercise your right to observe your faith, and consecrate the hallowed ground surrounding Ground Zero.