Make ground zero a religious U.N.

In recent weeks there has been a lot of brouhaha about the building of a mosque near ground zero. I have to admit, my knee jerk reaction was outrage, as with many other people. But, the more I thought about it, the fewer honest, rational objections came to mind. And then I thought "Why not?"

Now before you all go ballistic on me, please hear me out. Let's put up a mosque. And a synagogue, a Buddhist temple, a Catholic cathedral, a Protestant church, etc. Let's parcel out all of ground zero to

the various major religions of the world. Let's create a sort of religious version of the U.N.

Think about it: How many wars throughout the last 5,000 years have been caused by religion? If there is the smallest chance that bringing them all together in one spot might be the first step to finding peace in the next 5,000 years, I say let's go for it.

I'm no bookie, but I'd say the odds of it helping reduce religious tensions are probably better than the number on your lottery ticket matching the ones on the back page.

Ed Emerson

East Dundee