Broadway and Mosque

Building a Mosque near Ground Zero?

An excellent article by Thomas Friedman.

Extract:

When we tell the world, “Yes, we are a country that will even tolerate a mosque near the site of 9/11,” we send such a powerful message of inclusion and openness. It is shocking to other nations. But you never know who out there is hearing that message and saying: “What a remarkable country! I want to live in that melting pot, even if I have to build a boat from milk cartons to get there.” As long as that happens, Silicon Valley will be Silicon Valley, Hollywood will be Hollywood, Broadway will be Broadway, and America, if we ever get our politics and schools fixed, will be O.K.

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I agree that as long as USA practices Inclusiveness and able to attract the best talents from all over the World, it will always remain as the world superpower for a long long time. As for countries that practice exclusiveness like Saudi Arabia, in 100-200 years time when their oil reserve was depleted, that will be the end of that country as well. It is a matter of time.

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In Singapore, alot of Singaporeans are complaining that the foreign talents are taking the best jobs. I have a few foreign talents friends, and I am amazed by their intelligence and hard work. They do deserve the best jobs, and I fully support the government's initiative to import the foreign Talents - especially offering scholarships to bright foreign students, who tend to assimilate better in the society. I am more skeptical about those foreign "talents" who were educated in their own countries.