The discussion surrounding the Cordoba House project in New York City contains core contradictions held by people on both sides. Many of the people who oppose it should in fact be accepting, and many of those who support it should be opposed for the very reasons they cite for support.

One premise that generates contradiction is this: the project is intended to be an insult to the memory of those who died on September 11, 2001. Let's accept this as being true and see what contradictions result.  Read more

Do you remember seeing the pictures from Baghdad of people throwing shoes at the fallen statue of Sadam Huesein as it was dragged through the streets? Few of us at the time understood the meaning of the act. But we got the message loud and clear when Muntadher al-Zaidi, an Iraqi journalist, threw his shoes last year at then-President George W. Bush. And we also understood the full depth of Bush's ignorance of the Arab world when we saw his complete lack of understanding as he shrugged it off.  Read more