Museum of Tolerance backer: No to WTC mosque

[brooklynite]

Source: Crain's New York Business

The new Museum of Tolerance New York opened in the heart of Manhattan this week, citing an ambitious mission to help enlighten city residents and tourists on issues of discrimination, prejudice and social inequality.

But the museum's financial backer, the Wiesenthal Center of Los Angeles, says it cannot tolerate the planned location near Ground Zero for a mosque and Islamic community center.

Rabbi Meyer May, the Wiesenthal Center's executive director, on Thursday called the mosque's proposed location “insensitive” to the people who experienced the 9/11 attack that killed nearly 3,000 in 2001 and are still dealing with “extraordinarily painful wounds.”

“Religious freedom does not mean being insensitive...or an idiot,” said Mr. May, who led the push for the museum's New York location.

Read more: http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20100806/REAL_ESTATE/100809871

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I thought the point of religious freedom was precisely to protect people who are insensitive idiots. The inoffensive religious people don't need any protection.

[joeybee12]

1. He doesn't see the irony of his stupid comments, does he? n/t

[FiveGoodMen]

2. :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

:eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[Downwinder]

3. Is the whole world going mad, or is my MS relapsing?

Must be the heat.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. The Simon Wiesenthal Center is also behind building a Museum of Tolerance atop of a Muslim cemetery

in Israel.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/10/jewish-museum-tolerance-muslim-cemetery

A group of Palestinians descended from 15 of Jerusalem's oldest Arab families lodged a protest with the UN today in a fresh effort to prevent the construction of a "Museum of Tolerance" on the site of an ancient Muslim cemetery.

The project, run by the Simon Wiesenthal Centre in Los Angeles, has been dogged by controversy since its launch in 2004. Islamic groups and individual Palestinians complained that the site, in west Jerusalem, was the ancient cemetery of Ma'man Allah, also known as Mamilla, which housed thousands of graves dating back hundreds of years and where even today there are still many gravestones and tombs.

[Tempest]

10. Opponent Of Cordoba House Is Building A Museum On Top Of A Muslim Cemetery In Jerusalem

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/08/06/marvin-hier-museum/


Goddamn fucking hypocrites!

[Chulanowa]

14. Tolerance, so long as you're not a Muslim or a Roma

Islamophobia and Antiziganism seem to be the two pillars of some of these "tolerance" groups.

[Igel]

20. Of course.

It's mild hypocrisy on the part of the Center, saying that the Cordoba Initiative shouldn't build the mosque/center where they want to site it.

Then again, people who support the Palestinians in trying to ban the Center's building in Mamilla in spite of how the cemetary was treated by Muslims and Israelis for decades before the Center sited their expanded center there are amusing. After all, it's insensitive in Jerusalem and should be banned. Sensitivities must not be simply acknowledged, they must have final say. Those infringing upon sensitivites are the bad guys, not the erstwhile offended banners.

Then, in NYC, those infringing upon sensitivities the good guys, and those who are offended and stop at being offended are intolerant; those who are offended and want to ban the mosque are even worse.

Some sensitivities must be respected and what those offended want is what must be done. Other sensitivities must be ignored, if not inflamed to show how evil those non-people are. It's all a question of who offends whom, it seems. This strikes me as a more advanced, enhanced hypocrisy.

[No Elephants]

21. "Tolerance" and "sensitivity" seem to be one way streets for the Center.

No cred.

[Wilms]

5. Awesome headline. n/t

[Karenina]

31. +1

:rofl:

[otohara]

6. Tolerance ... Ain't It Grand?

I think a name change is in order.

[NYC Liberal]

7. It's not a mosque. It's not Ground Zero.

People's personal sensibilities do not trump rights.

If want to opine about the "appropriateness" of a community center near the World Trade Center, go ahead. But once you start suggesting it be BANNED then you've crossed the line.

[jobycom]

9. Didn't sound much like tolerance, either.

The person in the article, obviously, not any of the posters.

[Igel]

19. Did either of these groups say "ban"?

I can't find it. The Wiesental center makes the difference explicit. The Meyer quotes don't, but also don't say "ban."

There's no evidence these have crossed the line, whatever your assumption.

[WillParkinson]

8. Yes, because only Christians suffered.

Should we build no churches so as not to be insensitive to atheists or those of other religions?

Or do you just not care about them?

[bossy22]

11. i dont think they should be prohibited by law or an arbitrary beurocratic act

but i think they should take it upon themselves to possibly seach for another location. Though i personally have no problem with it (im from the new york metro area) i think its a bit insensitive to be pushing for it to be built in this location. 9-11 is a touchy, sensitive issue that brings out strong emotions from people; which is why the rebuilding of that area is taking so long and has gone through so many revisions. It should also be noted that the majority of new yorkers don't think it should be built there. With all this evidence i can't help but move closer to the conclusion that this community center/mosque project is a publicity stunt.

Its like making a drunk driving joke in front of someone you know who lost a relative to a drunk driving accident- yeah you have a right to say it but it doesnt mean you should.

[No Elephants]

22. Holding 1.4 billion people responsible for 19 suicidal maniacs is bigotry.

Not finding drunk driving jokes funny is not bigotry.

[LostinVA]

28. Um... it's nothing like making a "drunk driving joke"

:wtf:

[SoapBox]

12. " says it cannot tolerate the planned location NEAR Ground Zero..."

And as I keep repeating...

Near = OVER TWO BLOCKS away.

Not too tolerate of them, I would say.

Oh ya...and I guess your message is...ALL MUSLIMS are guilty! Guilty!

not.

[ShockediSay]

13. Perspnally. a mosque [for prayer & meditation] is fine, but a play

place?

[No Elephants]

23. In that area are, among others, an off-track betting parlor, a porn shop and a strip joint.

This is blocks away from Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan. And all kinds of things have gone go on in that neighborhood all along, including children playing, probably even Muslim children.


"Speaking of that sacred ground, within two blocks of the World Trade Center site are an off-track betting parlor, a porn shop and a strip joint. Are any of those an insult to memory of the victims of Sept. 11? Do they call the strip joint "The Ground Zero Strip Joint"?"

http://www.ydr.com/ci_15695701?source=most_viewed

[LostinVA]

29. What do you mean a "play place"?

I think a community center should be less offesnive to you than a gentlemen's club, bars, a Starbucks.

[Heddi]

15. kick

[kpete]

16. Museum of Tolerance backer: No to WTC mosque

Source: Crains


Modified: August 06, 2010 11:06 PM
Museum of Tolerance backer: No to WTC mosque
There's tolerance and then there's tolerance, argues Wiesenthal Center's leader as he celebrates grand opening of group's anti-prejudice museum in Manhattan. Planned Islamic center is too close to 9/11 site, he insists.


New York, New York City, Manhattan, Downtown, Financial District, World Trade Center

The new Museum of Tolerance New York opened in the heart of Manhattan this week, citing an ambitious mission to help enlighten city residents and tourists on issues of discrimination, prejudice and social inequality.

But the museum's financial backer, the Wiesenthal Center of Los Angeles, says it cannot tolerate the planned location near Ground Zero for a mosque and Islamic community center.

Rabbi Meyer May, the Wiesenthal Center's executive director, on Thursday called the mosque's proposed location “insensitive” to the people who experienced the 9/11 attack that killed nearly 3,000 in 2001 and are still dealing with “extraordinarily painful wounds.”

Read more: http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20100806/REAL_ESTATE/100809871

[LostinVA]

17. So, the Director of the Museum of Tolerance is Intolerant

Oh boy.

[sofa king]

18. Because THAT magical sky pixie isn't the REAL magical sky pixie.

As an atheist, I view all the religions of the book with equal contempt, and I despise those religions only slightly more than all the rest. They're all scams designed to distract followers from the one thing that we have over all the rest of Earth's creatures: the ability to predict the future well enough that we can envision the ultimate failure of our mission to survive and (for some) to reproduce.

Ignoring that paradox is the very way to become more like the animals from which those very same people claim they are not descended. And that is why the followers of those religions are more prone to act accordingly.

See you in Hell.

[No Elephants]

24. People are insensitive idiots for wanting to build a Muslim Center in the same area as a strip joint

and a porn shop? Why? Because all Muslims are somehow connected to the 911 attack? If they are, let's keep all those murderous buggers off the entire planet, not only Lower Manhattan.

However, if the objections to the Center are based on smearing 1.4 bilion people for the acts of 19 suicidal maniacs (aka bigoted stereotyping), why call those who want to build it insensitive idiots?

[LostinVA]

30. Their whole "Blood Libel" argument is breathtaking in its irony

It really is.

[boppers]

25. Time to stop building religious centers, churches, synagogues, and mosques.

They've fucked up civilization enough already, maybe it's time for the US to stop endorsing all of them by giving them any building permits, anywhere.

[No Elephants]

27. I have no objection to their building, but I am for taxing them. Let everyone pay real estate,

income and sales taxes.

[LostinVA]

26. Let you without sin cast the first stone

As someone else up thread has mentioned, the Museum of Tolerance in Israel is being built atop a Muslim cemetery where very important Islamic scholars and religious figures are buried. In addition, the MOT's parent organization, The Simon Wiesenthal Center, has been more than a bit cuckoo over the last few years: accusing Ireland museum's of refusing to give up stolen WWII Jewish treasures (not true), declaring French charities of giving money to suicide bombers (not true), editing statements of Chavez to make it appear he made anti-semitic statements, accusing Iran of making Jews wear yellow clothing (not true), etc.

It is really interesting to see how the Islamic community center in that part of Manhattan is bringing out the intolerance in so many organizations and people. Astounding.

[daleo]

32. How far away is far enough away?

Four blocks? Six blocks? A mile? Brooklyn?

How long should the prohibition last? A decade? If so, we are nearly there. A generation? A century?

The objectors should give some answers to these questions. If they can.

[Lance_Boyle]

33. Highlights ADL and Wiesenthal Center's motto - 'never again. to the jews, anyway.'