not just in the muslim world, by the way, but around the world it is being seen as a test of america s freedom of religion on one hand and, you know, the sensitivity of people who don t want mosques, and it is part of a larger debate about islam in america. do you think it is a national security issue now, as he says it is? i think it is certainly a possibility that if you have this center crumble under pressure, if you have korans burned in public demonstrations of anger that radicals in places like indonesia, jordan, that the osama bin ladens of the world will use this to manipulate public opinion. they ve done it in the past. they ve done it with things like the danish cartoons and all kinds of perceived slights. this is being reported all over the world. i do think there is some reality there. the main point, i would say the main message that i got out of that interview was that this man
extraordinary american example of the alternative to extremism, the alternative to radicalism, but it has got mired in an unfortunate emotional debate. and i feel as though if this thing were built and functioning, people would actually, from all sides, would see that the people who are most threatened by this are the bin ladens of the world. they re the ones who don t want centers like this. why your shaking your head, david. he made a point that radicals are actually need each other and are more opposed to moderates than anyone else. well, he did. but and i would think there would be a lot of people in this country who would resent and you voiced this earlier. resent being lumped together with radicals because you oppose this or you have some real problems with this. do you agree, andy, that he was lumping those who oppose the mosque being built with radicalism in the united states? i don t think that was his intent, but i think it could
thing were built and functioning, people would actually, from all sides, would see that the people who are most threatened by this are the bin ladens of the world. they re the ones who don t want centers like this. you re shaking your head, david. he made a point that radicals are actually need each other and are more opposed to moderates than anyone else. well, he did. but and i would think there would be a lot of people in this country who would resent and you voiced this earlier. resent being lumped together with radicals in the middle east because you oppose or you have some real problem with his this center. do you agree, andy, that he was lumping those who oppose the mosque being built with radicalism in the united states? i don t think that was his intent, but i think it could have been read into it. are there some radicals in this country? of course we see fringe elements. this past week in florida. the pastor in florida. but when you get 67% to 71% of people
it is? i think there s certainly a possibility that if you have this center crumble under pressure, if you have korans burned in public demonstrations of anger that radicals in places like indonesia, jordan, that the osama bin ladens of the world will use this to manipulate public opinion. they ve done it in the past. they ve done it with things like the danish cartoons and all kinds of perceived slights. this is being reported all over the world. i do think there is some reality there. but the main point i would say the main message that i got out of that interview is that this man is genuinely a moderate and is looking for some middle ground. time and again he said i don t rule out anything. and i m looking for a way to ease the pain of people who felt hurt. i ve tried to do this because i thought it would be a peacemaking and bridge-building effort. and that really does seem to be what s motivating him. andy, you were on the program last night, saying you don t
like indonesia, jordan, that the osama bin ladens of the world will use this to manipulate public opinion. they ve done it in the past. they ve done it with things like the danish cartoons and all kinds of perceived slights. this is being reported all over the world. i do think there is some reality there. the main point. i would say the main message that i got out of that interview was that this man is genuinely a moderate and is looking for some middle ground. time and again he said i don t rule out anything. and i m looking for a way to ease the pain of people who felt hurt. i ve tried to do this because i thought it would be a peacemaking and bridge-building effort. and that really does seem to be what s motivating him. andy, you were on the programming saying you don t believe he s a moderate. did anything he say tonight change your mind? he has done more good for my movement tonight than 100