Muhammed, the prophet of Islam, taught that religious faith, education, and politics are all one. Christianity and Judaism see government as essential for the environment of faith, but not as the expression directly of religious faith. The concept of shariah law is to express faith in Allah in actions of power that come from the thoughts of Allah. Furthermore, Christianity and Judaism see education as necessary to understand the sacred writings of their faith. However, education in Islam is the culmination of the thoughts of Allah expressed in the minds and speech and actions of its students.
That is why schools in Muslim countries are attached to the local mosque. That is why shariah law is vital to so many Muslims.
In America we have a tradition of compromise. To the ardent muslim there can be no compromise of the thoughts of Allah with the world of the infidel. Political power must be expressed in shariah law and the young must be trained in the way of Allah.
The "cultural center" proposed in New York is not and could never be for the purpose of compromise. It can only be directed to the purpose of reconciling America to Islamic faith.
