Freedom of religion

If Catholics can build churches near playgrounds, then Muslims should be allowed to build a combination mosque / community center in New York City, even if it is two blocks from the former World Trade Center. 

On the principle of freedom of religion, that should be enough.  But the irony is that this proposed building, Cordoba House, was intended to promote cross-cultural understanding and counter extremism.

Here's the original story about the community board vote to approve the center. 
And here's a nice quote from the folks who want to build this and why they chose this location:

When Khan’s organization found a vacant property on Park Place, the former site of a Burlington Coat Factory that had been damaged by airplane debris on September 11, 2001, the potent symbolism of the site also became a compelling rationale for the project. “We decided we wanted to look at the legacy of 9/11 and do something positive,” she explained in an interview. Her group represents moderate Muslims who want “to reverse to trend of extremism and the kind of ideology that the extremists are spreading.”

So, who's the extremist here?  The Muslim organization wanting to promote moderation and worship, or the people like Newt Gingrich who suggests that every American Muslim must be held accountable for 9/11?