A Voice in the Wilderness In Defense of "Mere Conservatism"

Developers of the controversial Park51 Islamic community center and mosque located two blocks from Ground Zero earlier this month applied for roughly $5 million in federal grant money set aside for the redevelopment of lower Manhattan after the attacks of September 11th, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

The audacious move stands to reignite the embers of a divisive debate that dominated headlines surrounding the ninth anniversary of the attacks this fall, say people vested in the issue.

The application was submitted under a “community and cultural enhancement” grant program administered by the Lower Manhattan Redevelopment Corporation (LMDC), which oversaw the $20 billion in federal aid allocated in the wake of 9/11 and is currently doling out millions in remaining taxpayer funds for community development. The redevelopment board declined to comment on the application (as did officials from Park51), citing the still ongoing and confidential process of determining the grant winners.

Wow.  To prove just how desperately the builders of this mosque want to "mend fences" and bring about "reconciliation" these dolts are petitioning for money that was set aside to help fix-up the area that was devastated by Muslim terrorists. And, knowing this administration and most government bureacrats as we do, chances are they will get the funds they have applied for.

Only in America, right?

Oh, and finally, I might actually have a new column of my own posted tonight or tomorrow.  It will be a re-cap of the last three weeks of my life and the incredible conservative thinkers and writers that I've had the privilege to spend time with.  The list includes: Dr. Arthur Brooks, Father Robert Sirico, and Dennis Prager.