A Muslim victim of 9/11: 'Build your mosque somewhere else'

[oberliner]

Concluding paragraphs:

On the day I left Ground Zero shortly after the tragedy, I felt that I was abandoning my mother. It was like being forced to leave the bedside of a loved one who is dying, knowing you will never see her again. But I felt the love and respect of all those around me there, and it reassured me that she was being left in good hands. Since I cannot visit New York as often as I would like, I at least want to know that my mother can rest in peace.

I do not like harboring resentment or anger, but I do not want the death of my mother -- my best friend, my hero, my strength, my love -- to become even more politicized than it already is. To the supporters of this new Islamic cultural center, I must ask: Build your ideological monument somewhere else, far from my mother's grave, and let her rest.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/06/AR2010080603006.html

[Dorian Gray]

1. She is entitled to her feelings and resentments

but we are not entitled to prohibit the free exercise of religious belief. So, though I know what she's prefer to happen, we can't support her resentments

[oberliner]

3. I agree with you

I thought her perspective was worth reading, but I do not agree with her recommendation.

[Orrex]

20. I agree with you as well

The fact that she's a victim of a tragedy does not--in itself--grant her special expertise or authority to address matters beyond her experience.

[Orrex]

2. This person has the right idea.

In fact, we should bulldoze a six-mile radius around Ground Zero and keep it as an open wound in perpetuity so that no national healing or bonding is ever possible as a result.

[Smarmie Doofus]

4. Either that or require all Muslims south of 14th street....

... to don distinctive garb.

OR.... a small but plainly visibly yellow crescent pinned to their chest... if they are otherwise indistinguishable from ordinary citizens.

[Orrex]

12. I like the cut of your jib

It won't be long before we can implement a controlled breeding program, and at that point can utopia be far behind?

[lynne]

5. Personally, I would rather that no religious establishments be built in the area -

- and remove religion from the table entirely. I know this isn't right on ground zero and isn't only a mosque, but I do wonder why it must be built in this particular spot. Is there a reason why this location is superior for the building? Is there a large community of muslims near this location to use the center? Why wouldn't another location a bit removed from ground zero work as well for this building?

Given all the angst that this location is causing, I am just wondering why this particular spot is worth it.

[LiberalVoice]

7. Why don't we remove the churches and synagogues too?

If you think it's OK to tell Muslims where and how they can practice their religion why not decide where everyone else gets to practice too?

The problem is the bigots that lump all Muslims into the "terrorist" category and therefore associate them with 9/11 think they have the right to dictate how ordinary Muslims should practice.

There are few things more frustrating then ignorant conservatives thinking they should be allowed to make decisions like that. Considering few if any ever consider the hypocrisy of their own religion and beliefs.

I am an Atheist but I'll be damned if I'm going sit back and watch anyone OF ANY RELIGION pretend they deserve anymore rights then followers of any other religion.

[izquierdista]

10. Plaques

I'd like to see commemorative plaques to the mayhem caused by religion. At ground zero, you could have a plaque saying "In the name of their religion, 10 zealots caused the deaths of over 3000 people." Just think, if a plaque was put up everywhere that people were murdered in the name of religion, that could be quite a growth business.

[lynne]

11. Are you talking to me? If so, you sure didn't comprehend what I wrote -

- I asked why this particular location was so important. Is there a demographic reason that this one spot is a necessity? If you know the answer then let's hear it. If not, then move on as your post has nothing to do with my question.

[LiberalVoice]

13. You don't know why real estate in downtown manhatten is valuable?

"Given all the angst that this location is causing, I am just wondering why this particular spot is worth it."

The point of my post was just because some bigots have angst at the thought of having an Islamic center near ground zero doesn't mean their view should be taken into consideration when deciding a location.


Edit: I'm wondering why people think they have the right to question where this center is being built.

[lynne]

15. Of course I know that real estate in NYC is big bucks, which is part of the reason for my question -

- as to why it must be there and only there. It's obviously an expensive location so I'm asking about the demographics to support the venture. I don't see downtown Manhattan as having such a large Muslim community that it necessitates that venture only in that one spot. Could it not serve the same persons in a less sensitive location? That was my question.

Like it or not, there is angst or we wouldn't be having this conversation. Seems to me that placing it elsewhere would do a lot to mend relations unless there is some compelling reason - such as community demographics - for the center to be built only in that spot.

[LiberalVoice]

17. Moving it would do NOTHING to amend relations.

By appeasing those who condemn all Muslims as terrorists you only give them more power.

Whether there is angst or not isn't the question. The validity of their reaction is based on nothing more then a generalization of over a billion people's world views.

The tea party is famous for their "angst". Doesn't make them one bit less wrong in their rationale.

What exactly should this Islamic organization do to appease you?

[Posteritatis]

14. Precisely how far from the site do you think they should be allowed to build it?

Specific answer please; I'm curious as to whether you'll jump on the usual DU bandwagon that, when asked that question, wants to bar any new Muslim buildings from Manhattan as a whole.

Also, I'm curious as to whether you know anything about land values in that part of the US, namely how exceedingly non-trivial it can be to own a chunk of land in that neighborhood to the point where no, you generally can't "just build somewhere else."

[lynne]

16. How far has nothing to do with my question. I was asking about demographics -

- as I didn't realize that there was such a large Muslim community in that one region that would necessitate that it be built only there. I just don't see why its imperative that it be in that one location only when it has obviously caused a lot of conflict.

So I'm asking about why it must be there and couldn't be elsewhere. Specific answer, please, as I'm wondering if you'll jump on the usual DU bandwagon and just attack anyone asking a question that you don't have an answer to.

[LiberalVoice]

18. Actually it exactly has to do with your question.

The issue of demographics is precisely a measurement of how many Muslims are in that area(distance from ground zero). You seem to think that if there are enough Muslims near ground zero to use the facility then it justifies the building of the Islamic center. I am 100% certain there are at least a few thousand Muslims working in Manhattan.

So how many Muslims do you think is enough to allow this center to be built?

[Posteritatis]

19. You're taking issue with proximity to the WTC site

Cute attempt at a cut-paste riposte, though having a basic idea about the population of NYC - or hell, just about any highly multicultural city with stratospheric land costs - would answer your question for you.

If the site was being built in Boston, or rural Kansas, neither you nor anyone else aside from the usual white-hoods would be showing any hint of objection to it. You're not going to convince me that distance from the site has nothing to do with your having a problem with the location, because if you didn't have a problem with it then you wouldn't be suggesting they magically scrape together millions and millions of dollars to buy up another lot of land somewhere the Tea Party would approve of.

[daleo]

23. How far away is far enough?

And for how long should the mosque exclusion last? These are serious questions.

By the way I agree that a religion free zone would be more appropriate than a mosque free zone. It would irritate fundamentalists of all stripes equally.

[spanone]

6. how will this politicize the death of her mother? it's already politicized.

[LiberalVoice]

8. Well put. n/t

[east texas lib]

9. The Abrahamic religions are absolutist, monotheistic and authoritarian in nature...

Each believes in their own superiority and infallible doctrine. All actions taken by their adherents are extensions of those beliefs.

[oberliner]

21. How do those comments relate to the article in the OP?

I'm not sure I follow your point.

[east texas lib]

22. My point is that as long as religions compete for supremacy...

There will be an endless series of attacks, reprisals,wars and posturing culminating in events like the one (the 911 attacks and the present build it/don't build it hullabaloo) that gave rise to the articles such as the one in the OP. And I fear it will always be so, just as it has always been so.

[JI7]

24. what if some Atheist demanded nobody pray or perform

any religious service there because it would be violating the rights of their loved one who died by forcing some faith on them ?

[JI7]

25. this is stupid, if she had a problem with Islamic Fanatics why doesn't she speak out against them

if this Cordoba House starts to promote anything negative, speak out against it.

there are so many bad things happening around the world in the name of Islam. why doesn't she do anything about that.

instead it's about some center that is going to have a swimming pool ?