A room inside New West served as a forum Monday night for a discussion on the controversial mosque near Ground Zero.
Members and guests of UNC’s Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies, a debate club which is the oldest campus organization, debated the proposed Muslim community center, offering divergent opinions on what many considered a highly sensitive issue.
The first speaker, member Keri Majikes, spoke in favor of building the mosque.
“The community center stands for religious freedom and diversity,” she said. “It is guided by universal values of all religions — peace, compassion, generosity and respect for all.”
“It’s not a trophy for Muslim extremists because it promotes interfaith dialogue.”
Member Josh Groll countered, saying, “this debate is not about rights. The real question is, ‘Is it appropriate for a mosque to be built?’”
Groll added that a change is needed in the nation of Islam.
“Either you take it all or you take none of it,” Groll said. “Islam needs to go through an ideological evolution. Mohammed says that martyrdom is the most glorious thing a man can do.”
Critic Paige Goodlett, who was facilitating and critiquing the debate, brought up the role the media has played in heightening the controversy after the official debaters had their turns.
