To Mosque or Not to Mosque...

While opinions fly to and fro on whether or not to include a mosque in the Freedom Plaza complex I'll let my fingers enter where my common sense fears to tread.  The following is not intended to sway you to my opinion or to denigrate yours.

The First Amendment to the Constitution provides for freedom of religion.  That generally has provided that if a religious organization wants to meet in a place that is permitted for the use, then they should NOT be prohibited from exercising their right to peaceful religious assembly.  For that reason I agree that the developers of the Park51 project have the right to pursue their project.  HOWEVER, just like the First Amendment to the Constitution also protects the freedom of speech it restricts that right when the resultant speech threatens the welfare of others.  

Everyone is familiar with the scenario that says you have the right to say anything you want but you can't yell "FIRE" in a crowded theater.  The reason you can't is because the stampede that follows would likely harm people in the crowd.  Your right to exercise your speech  is limited by the potential to result in harm unintended and unrelated to your opinion.  I believe this rationale, when applied to the exercise of religion, applies as well.

SO, like the free speech example, I think that while the Park51 folks may have the right to the exercise of their religion I also believe that right is subject to restriction when unintended and unrelated harm to the surrounding public, inconsequential to the beliefs or tenets or their organization, is the result.  I hope all those seeking a place of religious worship find it in a location that doesn't result in harm, unintended or otherwise, to the general population.     .