And what about those 60 that died on 9/11? I am

[Jumping John]

talking about the Muslims? At least one being a first responder I think. And maybe there were others. I am not really sure. But is their loss of life just not important? I am sure it is not to Palin or Newt. But to the concept of compatibility and fairness? Surely there is pain in those families also.

But no one really seems to notice I guess.

[dkf]

1. The most considerate thing for all concerned was to avoid this whole controversy.

From the moment it hit the spotlight it started to hurt grieving people and it only got worse and worse.

There is no healing here for either side.

[Psephos]

3. well said n/t

[jberryhill]

4. The controversy was "created" by bigots

Rosa Parks would have gotten where she was going just as fine in the back of the bus. But she created controversy instead.

If African Americans didn't insist on going to white schools, there wouldn't have been so much controversy in Little Rock.

Muslims should know their place, stay out of places where they aren't wanted by "sensitive" people, and not stir up such controversy.

Yeah, that's the ticket. They stubbornly insist on doing their Muslim stuff, just to piss you off.

[csziggy]

7. [phone]

[pinboy3niner]

8. Exactly!

You could have added that the Muslim ball-player who was severely beaten by bigots on the opposing team should have known his place, too. It was all his fault for joining a baseball team--he should have been more "considerate" of the sensibilities of others. :sarcasm:

These kinds of 'blame the victim' arguments are despicable. :puke:

[Caliman73]

9. Even MORE well said

The whole sensitivity thing is just a cop out argument so that the bigoted ideas of those against the center aren't discussed. Phony outrage conjured by a right wing anti-Muslim blogger carried over into the mainstream media morphing into some kind of call for "sensitivity".

If you cannot understand the difference between a group wanting to build a cultural center open to all, and radical terrorists, then you are a bigot.

[readmoreoften]

10. +1000. I guess my gay ass should be "sensitive" too when I'm around the Prop 8ers.

If you don't fight back you lose. As it used to go: silence = death...

[Vickers]

11. "If you don't fight back you lose."

+1,000,000

[LeftishBrit]

12. Agreed.

Quite generally speaking, for a minority group (whether Muslims, Jews, gays, African Americans, British Asians, etc.) to avoid an issue that can upset the bigots, may be the safest and most 'considerate' option in the short term - but it often stores up far more trouble for the long term. Hiding from prejudice doesn't solve the problem.

Muslims were among the victims of the London Underground bombings too. It's not all Muslims against all non-Muslims; it is terrorists against ordinary citizens - who may be Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Sikh, atheist, etc. etc.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. When you do this once, that is back off

to be "sensitive" things will get worst

You need to stand up to gin up hate. If you do not understand this, let those who do, at least do that.

After all today it is "them," the other... tomorrow you might become the other. So if you want to be selfish you stand up for yourself.

[tavalon]

13. This is right wing ginned up bullshit

Fundamentalist extremists shouldn't build anything near ground zero but Muslims do not equal fundamentalist extremists. Timothy McVeigh was a Christian. Should we ban any Christian churches near the Oklahoma bombing site? It's an apt comparison. No one should allow the right wing hate machine to play these games. We need to stand up to them.

Find me a grieving person who is grieving more now that this cultural center has been ginned into a supposed major story. Feel free to provide links.

[JI7]

2. Palin and Newt are bigger victims of 9/11 than they are

in fact the families of those muslims should apologize to Palin and Newt and anyone else who hates them.

that's the fucked up thinking of many.

[flvegan]

5. What about the "Christian" that let it happen to begin with? You know, George W. Bush.

The whole thing is just stupid.