Annie
DP, how do we know that Mr. Rauf would not be willing to host such a debate/conversation? It seems it would fit in with what I understand to be a purpose of the community center. I do suspect that the matter of keeping it “safe” could be problematic however.
Also, I think that one difference between Islam and Christianity (Judaism, too? I don’t know) is that in most Western religions there is one particular “head” that presides over matters of dogma or belief. The Catholic Church has it’s Pope, for instance. As I understand Islam, there are Imams in different geographical areas and they have that role locally. So Islam could be different depending on interpretations by different Imams in different locations. So to Mr. Rauf it may truly be about peace, though I don’t know of any religion that preaches “only” peace. Do you? Quakers maybe? Amish?
As for “many” New Yorkers who “may” take the idea of a peaceful Muslim message as a slap in the face, while understandably being hurt and angry, that reaction continues to polarize and is not helpful to a process of knowledge, understanding and healing.