HR1385 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1385 LRB096 23393 GRL 42757 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, September 11, 2010 marks the 9th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, where almost 3,000 people were killed in suicide attacks by Islamic terrorists linked to al-Qaeda; and

WHEREAS, The events of September 11th served as a catalyst for the "war on terror", which has become one of the largest scale international conflicts in history; the "war on terror" has involved combat operations in nearly a dozen countries, supported by hundreds of thousands of American troops throughout the last 9 years; and

WHEREAS, The lasting physical effects of the attack can still be seen at the former site of the World Trade Center; American sentiment claims this location as hallowed ground, with thousands of people visiting the site every year to pay respects to those who perished in the cowardly attacks and to show support for the ongoing "war on terror"; and

WHEREAS, The American Society for Muslim Advancement and the Cordoba Institute have proposed a development plan to build a $100 million mosque and Muslim Community Center at 45 Park Place in Lower Manhattan; this location is a mere 2 blocks from Ground Zero, which has provoked concern among segments of the American public and politicians from both parties alike; and

WHEREAS, The perpetrators of the September 11th attacks were Muslim extremists; while the proposed mosque and Muslim Community Center would be a place of peace and worship, many Americans question the appropriateness of honoring Islam in such close proximity to Ground Zero, where thousands died and hundreds of victims were never recovered; and

WHEREAS, Typically, tragedies of such large scale are honored at the site with monuments to remember and honor the fallen; the proposed building of a mosque and Muslim Religious Center in such close proximity to the site of the attack has been controversial and could negatively impact those visiting the area to pay respects to the thousands of innocent victims; and

WHEREAS, Throughout history, the locations of tragic occurrences and monuments have been claimed by the victims and families of victims to memorialize the event and honor its victims; the decision to allow the American Society for Muslim Advancement and the Cordoba Institute to build a mosque and Muslim Religious Center at Ground Zero has energized protests across the U.S., generating negative media attention and jeopardizing the integrity of future memorials; and

WHEREAS, While freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and property rights allow for such a structure to be built, sensitivity to the concerns of American citizens should be prioritized by choosing another location for the Muslim Community Center to show respect for the lives lost on September 11, 2001; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the American Society for Muslim Advancement and the Cordoba Institute to reconsider their plans regarding the building of a mosque and Muslim Community Center in such close proximity to the site of the largest scale tragedy in the United States to date; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to President Barack Obama, New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, New York Governor David A. Patterson, and the Manhattan Community Board.