By Nancy Gibbs
We all view them differently. So how can we best turn hallowed ground common ground?
How does a common place become hallowed? It is when people attach meaning to it. Gettysburg became hallowed because of Lincoln’s speech. Lourdes became sacred because of a miracle. So is Vietnam Veterans Memorial. How about Ground Zero? It is undergoing a test. Some oppose the construction of the mosque; others approve it. Either side contradicts its own case. To the opponents, I say the distance would not be the problem if “the center were intentional affront orchestrated by radical Islamic sleepers.” To the proponents, I ask why they build it “in so divisive a location. Politicians, who exploit the debates for their own purposes, deserve special scorn.
