Current social issue and action plans for ethnic groups' rights

Islamic Cultural Center

The building of an Islamic Cultural centre (ICC) has been a subject of controversy since it was conceived. The Islamic centre is intended to host several Islamic infrastructures like the rooms for Islamic teachings and Madras as well as a worship centre for the Muslims and a section that would be dedicated to the Islamic culture display.

The controversy that ahs surrounded the commencement of the building of the centre has been not so much on the legality of such an entity in the U.S.A. But on the proximity to the ground zero, that is known fro the 9/11 bombings by Islamic extremists. It is considered by many of those who oppose the idea as being too close to the 9/11 site that it would prohibit or injure their ability to commemorate, as one Mr. Brown, a complainant in the supreme court once noted (ABC News, 2011).

This controversy has seen a number of people seek legal redress for the courts and other avenues that are permitted by the law. On July 13, 2011 there was a landmark ruling that was made by the Supreme Court that cleared the way, legally for the construction of the ICC. This was a ruling on the suit that was filed by Mr. Brown that found no legal grounds for stopping the construction of the ICC noting that there is no legal basis to show that the construction of the ICC would "injure his ability to commemorate" as he filed.

The building meets the Zoning laws requirements and there would be no appropriate reason for stopping the construction of the building. It meets the standards of the recreational centre and does not contravene any law hence there could be possibly no reason for stopping it except for religious intolerance (SBA, 2011).

There is need for the general American population to have a sense of religious diversity as well, this is in line with the basic freedoms that the U.S.A. has been advocating for and still is advocating for to date. The ICC is intended to be used just like the other numerous Islamic centers across the U.S.A. The notion of blocking the construction of the ICC just for the mere fact that it is next to the ground zero will be indirectly implying that the entire Islam religion and the followers are forever held responsible for the unfortunate happening at the 9/11 scene. This will be the highest point of lack of religious diversity since it is not the Islam as the faith that was responsible for the events that took place.

The denial of the construction of the centre at the identified place will also indicate an extended form of exclusion of the Muslims from the normal, daily occurrences of the U.S.A. This is in line with the fact that there other developers that are allowed to build all over the U.S.A. And even in New York. This in light of the fact that the facility is meant to be built on a private property by private using private funds hence to try and stop such a program is in itself lack of an all inclusive policy and selective preference in America (Allvoices Inc., 2011).

In any case the centre is blocked from being built, then there are chances that people and mainly Muslims will translate this as a means of social stratification where there is a class of citizens that are allowed to build beyond a certain boundary in New York. This will be message that may be sent and hence there is going to be a significant section of Americans who will be stratified to be below some social class hence not allowed to build in some areas.