You're right, Rohn---and wrong. First, the Islamic "Golden Age" was only able to take place because, ironically enough, no one had access to the Muslim scriptures. The minute the Qur'an, Haddith, and Sunnah became available to a significant number of Muslims, the character of Islam changed (or should I say, changed back) from a mindless mythology, a simple collection of pointless rituals and traditions, to a bloodthirsty political doctrine bent on the subjugation or death of everyone outside the fold---beginning with Jews and Christians. The reason Islam is so deadly and dangerous today is that people have access to information, to the supposed words and deeds of the "prophet" and his god. A Muslim today is only as hazardous (to others) as his adherence to his own scriptures.
Second, there is no question that building an Islamic center in the neighborhood of ground zero is the religious equivalent to a dog pissing on a tree. They're marking their territory, proclaiming their conquest. It has absolutely nothing to do with the religion of Islam, and everything to do with Islam as a political doctrine. Our pathetic politically correct responses to this travesty are based on the freedoms of religion that are built into our constitution (freedoms that are extended to every religion, but are denied to unabashed followers of Yahweh, since this isn't technically a religion). If only we understood that dar al-Islam is a political entity, a nation who has declared war upon us, and not a religion that is entitled to equal protection under the law, things would be very different. But don't hold your breath on that one. Looking at this another way, one could say that the 9/11 hijackers were only pursuing their religious obligations, like Catholics lighting candles or Jews eating unleavened bread at Passover. If Islam is only a religion, who are we to complain when they do such things? Their scriptures require it.
Third, though I find the whole Cordoba Initiative thing repugnant, we should put this in perspective. It's only a symbolic victory (which is not to say it isn't real). But as such, what symbols are at odds here? Yahweh wasn't attacked on 9/11. The twin towers represented American wealth, and the Pentagon represented American military might---two "gods" every bit as false (though not quite as obvious) as Allah. It's like rooting for Zeus, Poseidon, or Hades, and cheering when Zeus wins (getting the heavens), Poseidon places (getting the seas), and Hades loses (getting stuck with the infernal regions). These are false gods---all of them. What happened on 9/11 was merely Allah getting the upper hand on Mammon and Mars. In other words, it doesn't really matter who "wins." Yes, I weep for the souls of the victims, but Yahweh's kingdom has not suffered loss. One evil has temporarily triumphed over another, that's all. But in the end, Yahweh will subjugate all things to His own glory.
So let them build their expensive shrine to their false god. Yahweh knows how to take care of His own interests. "He who sits in the heavens laughs; Adonay holds them in derision. Then He will speak to them in His wrath, and terrify them in His fury, saying, 'As for me, I have set My King on Zion, my holy hill.'" (Psalm 2:4-6)
kp