Throughout the week, President Barack Obama has reiterated that he supports the right of what has been dubbed “the Ground Zero mosque,” a highly controversial project that plans to build a mosque and a Muslim community center two blocks from Ground Zero.

His declarations have followed a statement of qualified support he first made last weekend, after the initiative, which is backed by local imams and supporters, exploded into a debate about Islam in America and freedom of religion more broadly.

Conservative leaders have blasted the mosque as being hateful and anti-American, and some leaders in New York are even putting together a television ad urging Con Edison to use its power to stop the building of the mosque.

However, many Democrats and others, including New York City’s Independent Mayor Michael Bloomberg, have defended the right to build the mosque under the Constitution and the First Amendment. 

Now Obama has entered the fray, after weeks of keeping mum. 

The president stated on Saturday that, “Ground Zero is, indeed, hallowed ground. As a citizen and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country. That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances.”

Obama’s statements have drawn wide criticism, and he is now being called “weak” and is being accused of “pandering to radical Islam.”

However, what the President said is completely true, and probably the only statement he could make in good conscience without igniting an even bigger firestorm. As the president of this country he must stand by our Constitution, which guarantees that any American can practice whichever religion they choose wherever they choose without fear of consequence.

The mosque’s representatives clearly have the right to build the mosque by Ground Zero. The bigger question is, why do they want to?

When asked for statements regarding the issue, the mosque’s representatives have had few comments, and recently declined an offer to take a different plot of public land in a not so emotionally charged area.

The mosque’s representatives should realize that their project symbolizes more to a lot of people than just a building.

The mosque, which people may pass as they go to pay respects to the people killed on 9/11, will be a reminder of the hatred and extremism that robbed America of thousands of citizens, family members and friends. A recent TIME poll indicates that more than 70 percent of respondents agree with the statement that "proceeding with the [mosque] would be an insult to the victims of the attacks on the World Trade Center."

Of course, the Muslims who will worship there are not the same type of Muslims who murdered those people, but it will be a reminder just the same. It is surely upsetting to many American Muslims that their places of worship and, moreover, their entire religion is being associated with such atrocities, but those perceptions are an ugly truth that cannot be ignored.

The mosque will make people angry. It will make them upset. It will remind them of their heartbreak over the tragedy of 9/11. That message has been made loud and clear. Faced with this reality, no matter how angered they are that their religion evokes these type of feelings in Americans, why wouldn’t they just simply choose a new spot to build, especially since they have other spots at their disposal?

By building the mosque next to Ground Zero, the mosque’s representatives have broken no laws in our country. But by doing so, they are choosing to intentionally hurt and sadden millions of Americans.

The mosque’s representatives should not give up their First Amendment right to freedom of religion. But maybe they should show a little tact.

Reporter Stephanie McNeal can be reached here.

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