Some 9/11 families support Mosque. Some NY Dems fold

[ProSense]

Pro-Mosque Mom Who Lost Pregnant Daughter In Trade Center: 9/11 Families 'Not Monolithic'

Christina Bellantoni

As plans to build an Islamic cultural center near Ground Zero in New York City become political fodder for the fall elections on a national scale, it's become shorthand to imply that all 9/11 families oppose the erection of the mosque two blocks from the site where terrorists downed the World Trade Center nearly nine years ago.

But in fact, no cohesive position has emerged from the thousands of 9/11 families who have been politically influential on many issues in the past. One group which has opposed war has come out strongly in favor of the mosque project, known as Cordoba House. Others have avoided even addressing the issue.

"There is no simple, singular 9/11 group who really should or could speak for all 9/11 family members," said Donna Marsh O'Connor of September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, a coalition of more than 250 families which recently endorsed the mosque. Since the endorsement, the membership numbers have grown, she said.

O'Connor told TPM in an interview that it's unfair for groups like Debra Burlingame's 9/11 Families for a Safe and Strong America to act as if they are representing everyone who lost loved ones in the attacks. O'Connor's 29-year-old daughter Vanessa, pregnant at the time, was killed working on the 93rd floor of one of the twin towers.

more

Greg Sargent

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Here's the bottom line: When Arcuri's GOP opponent did the right thing and came out for the center, this signaled that the mosque controversy didn't have to be a campaign issue. Yet a Democrat chose to make it one. How many more Dems are going to play these pathetic Rovian games?

UPDATE, 11:11 a.m.: Three more New York Democrats have now come out against the project.

[davidinalameda]

1. I'm glad to see some Democrats with some sense

the mosque was a horrible idea

[ProSense]

2. Why?

Sacred Ground?

[last_texas_dem]

3. That pretty much sums it up! haha

[ProSense]

4. And that's a block away. The Mosque site is two blocks away. n/t

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. Of course that's sacred ground.

Just think of those heavenly bodies.

[davidinalameda]

8. it's only been 9 years since 9/11

building a mosque or an Islamic community center or whatever you want to call close to Ground Zero is in poor taste at best

whoever was filling in for Tweety yesterday said it best-there's a time and place for everything; this is neither the time nor the place to build this

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. How many years should pass before you approve of constitutional rights for muslins?

[COLGATE4]

13. Bullshit

Why is it "in poor taste at best" to build a cultural center there? Could it be because it's a (gasp!) Mooslin Cultural Center??? Ohmigod! Can't have those damned radical terrist ragheads take over a holy site (St. Burlington Coat Factory shrine) to desecrate the site of the WTC, two blocks away. Who the hell do they think they are, anyway?

"Neither the time nor the place". This is just cheap window-dressing for "I don't want them to build it, EVER!" Pray tell, just when IS the time and WHERE is the place? I don't believe for a second that any reasonable proposal to move the cultural center or defer its opening to a later date that would satisfy the mouth breathers? Don't keep spouting that bullshit - just come out and say what's on your mind -

[Jennicut]

6. No, the Dems in NY being wimps and folding like limp spaghetti is what is horrible.

[CTLawGuy]

12. why?

because all Muslims are responsible for 9-11?

[Douglas Carpenter]

14. Mayor Michael Bloomberg: 'Sad Day For America' If Ground Zero Mosque Plan Is Killed

Mayor Michael Bloomberg: 'Sad Day For America' If Ground Zero Mosque Plan Is Killed

NEW YORK — New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg says it would be "a sad day for America" if opponents successfully kill plans for a mosque proposed near the World Trade Center site.

Bloomberg has been among a few outspoken elected officials supporting the plans for an Islamic center and mosque two blocks from ground zero.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/16/bloomberg-sad-day-for-ame_n_683692.html

"Let us not forget that Muslims were among those murdered on 9/11 and that our Muslim neighbors grieved with us as New Yorkers and as Americans. We would betray our values – and play into our enemies' hands – if we were to treat Muslims differently than anyone else. In fact, to cave to popular sentiment would be to hand a victory to the terrorists – and we should not stand for that." Mayor Michael Bloomberg

.

[Douglas Carpenter]

15. a NYT article about Imam Feisal and plans for the community Center - written last December

Muslim Prayers and Renewal Near Ground Zero

By RALPH BLUMENTHAL and SHARAF MOWJOOD
Published: December 8, 2009


snip:

“ As a Sufi, Imam Feisal follows a path of Islam focused more on spiritual wisdom than on strict ritual, and as a bridge builder, he is sometimes focused more on cultivating relations with those outside his faith than within it.

snip:

Those who have worked with him say if anyone could pull off what many regard to be a delicate project, it would be Imam Feisal, whom they described as having built a career preaching tolerance and interfaith understanding.

“He subscribes to my credo: ‘Live and let live,’ ” said Rabbi Arthur Schneier, spiritual leader of Park East Synagogue on East 67th Street.

snip:

The mayor’s director of the Office of Immigrant Affairs, Fatima Shama, went further. “We as New York Muslims have as much of a commitment to rebuilding New York as anybody,” Ms. Shama said. Imam Feisal’s wife, Daisy Khan, serves on an advisory team for the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, and Lynn Rasic, a spokeswoman for the memorial, said, “The idea of a cultural center that strengthens ties between Muslims and people of all faiths and backgrounds is positive.”


snip:

“ Building so close is owning the tragedy. It’s a way of saying: ‘This is something done by people who call themselves Muslims. We want to be here to repair the breach, as the Bible says.’ ”

The F.B.I. said Imam Feisal had helped agents reach out to the Muslim population after Sept. 11. “We’ve had positive interactions with him in the past,” said an agency spokesman, Richard Kolk. Alice Hoagland of Las Gatos, Calif., whose son, Mark Bingham, was killed in the hijacked plane that crashed in Pennsylvania, said, “It’s quite a bold step buying a piece of land adjacent to ground zero,” but she said she considered plans for the site “a noble effort.”

snip:

Joy Levitt, executive director of the Jewish Community Center, said the group would be proud to be a model for Imam Feisal at ground zero. “For the J.C.C. to have partners in the Muslim community that share our vision of pluralism and tolerance would be great,” she said.

Mr. El-Gamal agreed. “What happened that day,” he said, “was not Islam.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/09/nyregion/09mosque.html?_r=1

link to the cordoba intiative:

http://www.cordobainitiative.org /

link to Imam Feisal Press Conference:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfIPO7CVflA


.

[Go2Peace]

7. So Obama stands up for the constitution and Reid insults him. Great!

Obama did the right thing. He said nothing revolutionary. The mosque is not at "ground zero" anyway, it is in an area nearby with strip clubs and restaurants.

To me this signifies how far our congressional leadership has fallen. A clear opportunity to stand for the constitution and liberal values on what should have been a clear cut, easily defended stance. But because everyone is so concerned about their jobs they actually hurt each other and our party instead.

We never get it. Until our leaders stand together firm in their convictions and values the Republicans will *always* prevail.

Reid has to go! This isn't about his fucking job. He is there to protect the principles of our country and party FIRST!

[Thrill]

9. And people wonder why Obama doesn't do more strong progessive things

Its because the Democrats in Congress run when he does. Same happened with Gitmo, Same happened when he released those pictures of the prison abuse.

[Milo_Bloom]

10. How anyone on this board DARES to be "against" this project is beyond me.

[Phx_Dem]

16. The whole "controversy" is such bullshit, I don't even want to hear about it anymore.

CNN's Don Lemon interviewe pretty-much sums up the hatred for all of Islam. It's disgusting, and Lemon should be removed from his anchor position, if not fired for his inciteful comments.

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/node/39079