Much has been made of the cancellation of the visit we have been told that Condoleezza Rice was going to make to the Masjide Al Hidayah on Milham Street.

But there is widespread scepticism about the supposed reasons for extending the invitation and then withdrawing it given by supporters of the visit.

It has been suggested that by inviting such high profile figures into a mosque, the Muslims of Lancashire would have shown the world that they are open and are willing to foster dialogue and discussion.

This argument would have stood up if we were talking about some other international personalities and members of the British government.

However many felt that a line had to be drawn at inviting a figure such as Condoleezza Rice into a mosque.

Their contention was that that Secretary of State Rice and others at the top of the Bush administration have shown little desire for such a dialogue in recent years.

If they had, the situation in the world would be very, very different, or so the argument goes.

As a result members of the executive committee here in Blackburn found themselves in an almost impossible position when the community made their feelings clear.

If a visit had taken place it would have been little more than a public relations exercise and left the community feeling they had been pushed to one side.

And the wishes of the community and the people must always come before any efforts by individuals to appease the ruling Labour party.

And if it has been stated that mosques should not be used for political purposes WHATEVER the reason then this should be the case in all situations.

With this in mind it also seems unfair that politicians should put some individuals in the position of having to defend such a potentially controversial mosque visit.

Especially as the whole controversy could have been avoided if the community had been asked for their opinion on the invitation in the first place.

Gone are the days when mosques and local politicians could make decisions and the community would slavishly go along with them. The visit did put the region in the spotlight which is good even though the mosque cancellation cast a large shadow.

This sadly turned the visit into a Muslim versus Condoleezza Rice confrontation. In fact the Secretary of State faced more non-Muslim protestors outside her North West venues than Muslim ones.

If there had been no protests and Ms Rice had been allowed to visit the mosque would this have really been greeted with applause?

The Muslims of Blackburn had not lost an opportunity but proved to the world that they too are not afraid to promote the ideals of freedom, democracy and justice.