Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf in the Times op-ed section:
“Lost amid the commotion is the good that has come out of the recent
discussion. I want to draw attention, specifically, to the open,
law-based and tolerant actions that have taken place, and that are
particularly striking for Muslims.
“President Obama and Mayor Michael Bloomberg both spoke out in support
of our project. As I traveled overseas, I saw firsthand how their
words and actions made a tremendous impact on the Muslim street and on
Muslim leaders. It was striking: a Christian president and a Jewish
mayor of New York supporting the rights of Muslims. Their statements
sent a powerful message about what America stands for, and will be
remembered as a milestone in improving American-Muslim relations.
