Did you know the Ground Zero Mosque is Opening this Week?

In the summer of 2010, Americans who objected to the Ground Zero mosque felt good about what they had accomplished. People showed up in great numbers; the ground zero imam, Feisal Abdul Rauf was exposed and actually resigned his post. Everyone went home thinking it was a major victory. It was a victory but it was one that apparently required a bit more follow-up because the Ground Zero mosque is now set to open two weeks after the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

Via Daily Mail:

The first part of Park51, the controversial Lower Manhattan Islamic community centre, is opening on Wednesday with an art exhibition featuring photographs of children.

Just a few blocks away from the site where the Twin Towers once stood, the exhibition marks Park51’s first big public event.

It comprises portraits of children from 169 countries who now live in New York and its opening coincides with the United Nations’ International Day of Peace.

Katerina Lucas, Park51’s chief of staff, said: 'It is a huge step forward. I hope it shows we are about inclusion, not exclusion.'

When plans to build a high-rise Islamic institution were announced last year, critics angrily pointed out that it was insensitive to have the mosque so close to the site attacked by Islamic extremists.

To be fair to citizens who protested, it doesn't help that NYC's mayor, governor, and the US President all support the construction of the mosque, despite the intentions of Rauf being made known through translations of his Arabic into English.

h/t Weasel Zippers