I'm going to try and boil it down in as simple a way as I can and try not to talk about it much more after this unless the issue actually becomes election fodder for November.  If that happens then we'll all be sick and tired of it by then.

The argument goes something like the following.  It's insensitive to build a mosque and cultural centre so close to ground zero because those people who perpetrated the attack happened to be Muslim.  The argument is based on the assumption that because the Terrorists of 9/11 were Muslim, therefore all Muslims are suspect.  THIS MAKES NO SENSE.  There is no causal relationship between being Muslim and violence, much like how all Catholic priests aren't molesters.

That's it.  That's my rebuttal.  

That is of course ignoring that the constitution protects freedom of religion and the right to worship where you want on private property.

Now for the cynical aspects of all of this.  There is an effort to make this about a war on Islam to get the conservative base out to vote in the upcoming midterm elections.  I can't express strongly enough how idiotic the very concept of a religious war is, and more importantly prominent figures stoking the flames of religious fanatics around the world, Islamic, Jewish  and Christian alike.  My message to them is that you're not helping things get better, but that may not be what they want.

Even Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, has come out against building the Cordoba cultural centre near ground zero, breaking with President Obama's stated position in favour of religious freedom.  What you have to realize is that Harry is fighting a tough re-election bid in Nevada and needs to reach out to conservative voters in his attempt to beat out Tea Party favourite Sharon Angle.  That doesn't make his position the right one, but at least you know that there is a method to his madness.  It's cynical as all hell, it's a gamble, and it's definitely not the right position to take, but such is the way of politics and the fleeting whims of your average voter.

In any event, these hot button issues aren't about solving problems or improving civil society, they're meant to evoke emotional responses without the benefit of sober second thought.