Off-topic: A defense of freedom

Mayor Bloomberg spoke on Governors Island yesterday, with the Statue of Liberty in the background, eloquently defending the idea of building an Islamic center near the World Trade Center site. The plan has been attacked by demagogues seeking, as often before, to manipulate the events of September 11th for political gain. Bloomberg said:

Should
government attempt to deny private citizens the right to build a house
of worship on private property based on their particular religion? That...