Imam behind NYC Islamic community center says it will include 'prayer spaces' for other faiths

[Turborama]

Source: AP

NEW YORK — The imam behind plans for an Islamic community center near ground zero writes in a newspaper editorial that the facility will include "separate prayer spaces for Muslims, Christians, Jews and men and women of other faiths."

The national debate over the center has focused on plans to include a mosque near the site of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf writes that the attention surrounding the project "reflects the degree to which people care about the very American values under debate."

He delivered his comments in an editorial published on The New York Times' website on Tuesday.

Read more: http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/0258d8c347df46fea55dc77c447aba1a/US--NYC_Mosque/

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N.Y. Imam: Mosque project won't be stopped

In New York Times, Rauf says financial backers will be named

MSNBC

The imam at the center of the controversy over what's become known as the "Ground Zero Mosque" — a YMCA-like Islamic center on property two blocks from the former site of the World Trade Center — says the project will not be stopped and that financial backers will be identified.

In an Op-Ed article on the New York Times website posted Tuesday night, Feisal Abdul Rauf, the imam for the proposed Park51 community center, writes of his surprise at the opposition to the center — but is emphatic in saying the center will be built.

"I have been away from home for two months, speaking abroad about cooperation among people from different religions," writes Rauf, who has been on a goodwill mission sponsored by the U.S. government. "Every day, including the past two weeks spent representing my country on a State Department tour in the Middle East, I have been struck by how the controversy has riveted the attention of Americans, as well as nearly everyone I met in my travels."

"We are proceeding with the community center, Cordoba House," Rauf writes. "More important, we are doing so with the support of the downtown community, government at all levels and leaders from across the religious spectrum, who will be our partners. I am convinced that it is the right thing to do for many reasons."


More: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39050049/ns/us_news-life/


The Op-Ed itself...

Building on Faith By Feisal Abdul Rauf
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/08/opinion/08mosque.html?_r=1&ref=opinion

Snippets posted in GD by hlthe2b here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9092874

[hlthe2b]

1. I posted a link to his 9/07 op ed in the NYT... (already up)

which I thought worthy of a read, no matter how you feel. Seems most DUers must be really tired of the issue as it sunk like a rock.

Here it is for any who might be interested:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9092874

[Turborama]

2. Thank you, I was having trouble finding it.

I've added it to the OP. I haven't seen Keith's piece yet, looking forward to hearing what he had to say.

:hi:

BTW, have you seen this one yet? http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9092441

[htuttle]

3. The Unitarian Space will house the communal coffee urn!

Sorry...just trying to inject some human humor into the circus...

In my life, the biggest pain in the ass for me, religiously speaking, was a Jehovah's Witness I was stuck working next to on an assembly while I was in the middle of a divorce. Other than that, I have never really cared, nor even thought about, what religion other people clung to. I cared about what people did, not what they believed. I honestly believe that most Americans who aren't on television feel about the same as I do.

[nyy1998]

4. Maybe if they added a Starbucks, things will cool down

Muslims drink coffee too, right?:hangover: :sarcasm:

[mcollins]

5. The drink Chai

Hot and sweet.

[Turborama]

8. Yes, Muslims do drink tea as well as coffee

Java coffee and Iced tea are very popular drinks in Indonesia, for example.

Or were you thinking of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masala_chai#Traditional_masala_chai">Masala chai, the Indian drink?

[nyy1998]

24. It was a joke

like Torborama said, they drink different varieties of tea(and to be fair, the Muslims in India/Pakistan/Bangladesh do drink chai). A lot of American muslims here love their Starbucks as much as everyone else.

[verges]

25. Will there be a special room

where the Atheists can do nothing?

[Turborama]

28. I think there might be a library and a games room

Why sit around being bored?

[AngryAmish]

6. Who cares?

[Turborama]

7. A lot of people, apparently. If you don't...

...there's a handy little button at the end of the subject line of this topic that looks like this...

Thanks for the kick, though.

[Roland99]

9. +1

[superconnected]

20. Apparently you more than anyone. I think it would be nice if they made the whole thing for all

faiths and atheists. Why not, wouldn't that be the ultimate in open mindedness and get across the point they're trying to make?

[awoke_in_2003]

21. Atheists will NEVER be included....

in things like this. If there is one thing christians and muslims have in common, it is their hatred toward atheists.

[Turborama]

27. I do care about this a lot, doesn't mean I care about it "more than anyone".

And I agree with your main point.

BTW, I thought you said you were putting me on Ignore?

[Posteritatis]

26. "Wah! I'm not interested in this and that means nobody should be!" (nt)

[jefferson_dem]

10. Imam: NYC Mosque to Include Other Faiths

Source: CBS News

Imam: NYC Mosque to Include Other Faiths
In NYT Op-Ed, Imam Says Controversial Islamic Center Will Include Spaces for Other Faiths to Pray

(AP) A proposed Islamic community center near ground zero will include separate prayer spaces for Muslims, Christians, Jews and people of other faiths, the imam behind plans for the facility wrote in an opinion piece published online Tuesday.

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf wrote in The New York Times that the attention surrounding the plans for the $100 million community center just blocks from the site of the Sept. 11 attacks "reflects the degree to which people care about the very American values under debate: recognition of the rights of others, tolerance and freedom of worship."

He said it was critical that Americans "not back away" from completing the project.

"The wonderful outpouring of support for our right to build this community center from across the social, religious and political spectrum seriously undermines the ability of anti-American radicals to recruit young, impressionable Muslims by falsely claiming that America persecutes Muslims for their faith," he wrote. "These efforts by radicals at distortion endanger our national security and the personal security of Americans worldwide."


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/09/08/politics/main6845455.shtml

[burnsei sensei]

11. It's a good response.

Reason draws down a thin line, and he's asking people to stay on it.

[no_hypocrisy]

12. Can't call it a mosque now if it's interfaith, interreligious.

[Raine1967]

13. This man is a spiritual leader.

I am not a muslim, and I have no question that I will ever be. I am not a person who believes that anyone that lived on this planet is a saviour.

But -- I must say that what he is doing reminds me of the fight that MLK led as we progressed towards Civil Rights in this nations.

[DesertFlower]

19. i agree. nt

[stuart68]

30. I would love to see a call for tolerance globally

not just in NYC, but all countries, all regions, all people, male and female...

[MannyGoldstein]

14. What I suggested from the beginning

Actually, the Imam was probably listening to me :sarcasm:

[awoke_in_2003]

22. yeah...

and Windows7 was your idea :)

[Bonhomme Richard]

15. That would be the definition of compromise. Not the my way or........

highway definition the turds against this building are spouting.

[AlbertCat]

16. Interesting

I'm a complete atheist, but anyone with sense knows all religions contain great and useful ideas (along with tons of junk...but, whadaya do?)

I like to think the very controversy over the Center inspired the Imam to come up with this idea. That'd be cool.

Now, will they be on different floors or all o one floor? Is someone gonna complain that the Buddhist chants are interfering with Jewish meditations? Hey.... the Muslims got the biggest room!

Ahhhh... humans! Doing human things.

[cosmicone]

17. Can one worship satan there? Just asking ... n/t

[onehandle]

18. Good plan. nt

[thereismore]

29. I demand a room for Scientology! nt

[SemperEadem]

31. a very good idea

what a nice silver lining to this story. That goes to show those who truly have good in their hearts and those who have nothing but malice in their hearts.

[riderinthestorm]

23. Are there any plans for this yet?

Does anyone know if there are any preliminary plans for this center? I'm very curious about the design. Most worship areas allocate about 40 sq foot/person for a worship space of this size (2000 people for the Islamic worship space alone). That means about 80,000 sq feet for the Muslim worship area out of the 100,000 sq feet total. And now he wants to include other worship areas for other faiths?! And this building is also supposed to contain gyms, swimming pools, cooking class spaces etc....?

I am really confused how all of this is supposed to "fit" into a "community center" (that doesn't allow any quiet space for the approximately 10% of the population that is "no faith").