The reaction to the Mosque at Ground Zero is nothing short of appalling

[Politics_Guy25]

The depths of racism, hatred and bigotry were on full display in reaction to President Obama's statement that religions have a right to build places of worship wherever they desire. I am absolutely appalled at the hatred that has been shown for the Islamic religion these past few days. The Republican party, including their campaign chair, John Cornyn, has proven to be racist and bigoted thugs. How many muslims died on 9/11? How many have died fighting for their country since. Now, they are to be denied the right to practice their religion? Shame!

It is a reaction similar to the horrors the Civil rights movement endured as well.

Also, America really needs to get over "9/11." Other countries, even in the Western World, have endured far greater tragedies. It is not the most epic tragedy to ever befall a nation ever. Not by a longshot. I weep for the victims and cry for them but this hysterical reaction to all things 9/11 has got to stop. This reaction is what got Shrub re-elected as well.

I have never been so appalled in my entire life. The way that our Muslim brethren has been treated in the past few days is quite similar to the way the Jews were treated in Nazi Germany 1933 before the Nuremberg laws made it genocide of course. Sarah Palin's reaction to this shows her to be quite like Hitler herself actually.

Muslims had nothing to do with 9/11. They were 19 Saudi Arabian extremists only.

Does Timothy Mcveigh represent the entire Christian religion? I guess by Cornyn's logic he does.

I guess that President George W. Bush's embrace of peaceful muslims is no longer viewed upon favorably either then?

The United States is spiralling down into racism, bigotry, violence and despair. I weep at this overt racism and bigotry that Hitler himself would approve of.

SHAME ON AMERICA. SHAME.

[VMI Dem]

1. They have a right to build it there. I won't comment on the wisdom of doing so.

[Politics_Guy25]

3. The builders of the Mosque did not participate in or condone

9/11.

[VMI Dem]

12. I fully agree. Just won't comment on the wisdom of building it there.

[RaleighNCDUer]

29. By saying that, you ARE commenting on the wisdom of doing so.

It was weasel words coming from Obama, and no less so coming from you.

[VMI Dem]

42. I agree. I commend you for noticing that.

:toast:

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

45. Aaah, you sneaky bastard you.

:evilgrin:

[RaleighNCDUer]

47. !

:toast:

[jdlh8894]

13. How do you know that?

The mosque is being built now? I did not know that there are builders on site at present.

[Karenina]

53. IT'S NOT A MOSQUE!!!

Bitte. Danke.

[tblue37]

88. It's not a mosque! It's a friggin' cultural center that happens to have

a room for worship. Even some hospitals have chapels. That doesn't make them into churches.

[dkf]

2. The lack of respect for family members of the 9/11 dead is even more appalling.

We will worship the concept of freedom of religion over common decency. Screw the families of the dead. Make them suffer just because we can.

[Politics_Guy25]

5. The Islamic religion is NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR 9/11!!

Or are you arguing that they are? If so, is Christianity responsible for Timothy Mcveigh? Should all Christian memorials be banned at OKC?

It was a perversion of Islam on 9/11. Not Islam itself. Even George W. Bush says this. I bring up Georgie boy since he was president when 9/11 happened. Only due to that.

Immediately after 9/11, Islam was embraced. Now all of a sudden 9 years on, it's barbaric?

[dkf]

19. Doesn't matter how I view it or you view it. What matters is how the families of the dead view it.

So go tell them they are racist despicable people who deserved what they got will ya?

[jberryhill]

43. That's the same logic of "A Black Man Mugged Me"

Therefore, I am entitled to distrust and discriminate against blacks.

Explain the difference?

Nobody is saying they "deserved what they got".

They are not entitled to DISH OUT what they got on INNOCENT people who did NOTHING to them.

[dkf]

58. Frankly if I'm walking alone at night I'm wary of all men period.

Guess I'm a hateful sexist right?

[jberryhill]

59. Are you agitating to have all men locked up at night?

No.

Dealing with your personal fear is one thing. Making your personal fear a political agenda to deprive innocent others of their rights is a different thing entirely.

[dkf]

70. I'm afraid of Muslims now? Lol.

I'm just hoping we can be a little kinder to people who suffered a great loss but I can see many don't give a damn.

[jberryhill]

74. No you are not making sense at all

How are you being kinder to the Muslim victims of 9/11 by calling their religion some kind of "insult" to others?

[backscatter712]

104. Exactly. dkf is conflating the 9/11 hijackers and all Muslims.

That is bigotry.

dkf can dance around this discussion all he wants, but unless he recants his conflation and admits that most other Muslims, especially the Sikhs that want to build Cordoba House, had nothing to do with 9/11, give respect to the dead of 9/11 like other Americans, and that the victims of 9/11 have no reason to be offended by innocent Muslims building a community center on their own private property, he's being bigoted.

[Zoeisright]

69. Bullshit. Racism is racism. I don't care if it's wrapped in grief.

If those families think that a mosque shouldn't be built there, they need to be educated about the Constitution of the United States.

[dkf]

71. Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

The constitution doesn't guarantee that insensitive actions must be applauded.

[jberryhill]

75. Like calling all Muslims terrorists or Nazis, as your friend Newt did?

How is painting all Muslims with the broad brush of bigotry being "sensitive" to anyone?

[dkf]

89. Ah you finally get it.

And not only do I lump Muslims together but I throw in the Christians, the Jewish, the Mormons, the Hare Krishnas, the Jehovahs Witnesses and all the rest of the religions. As institutions all of them want the same thing...world domination. I'm not sure if there is such a thing as a peaceful religion because within every one you will find extremists and the peaceful. All religions are religions of peace and of war.

[jberryhill]

90. That's a basic fact of humanity not peculiar to religion

No sale. War is not peculiar to the religious. Officially atheist communist regimes have been as bad as anything else.

Religious organizations provide a lot of medical and hunger relief as well.

You are confusing a basic condition of humanity - the urge to divide - with selected manifestations, while ignoring it in yourself.

[Skip Intro]

80. Wait a minute. Is Islam a race? nt

[Hekate]

97. Islamophobia falls into the same category as anti-Semitism at this point. Race/Religion/whatever...

It's still bigotry when judging millions of Jews or billions of Muslims by the actions of a few. And how the RW does love to divide us.

[Lilyeye]

87. Exactly!

I bet if a Christian church was being built near the Oklahoma City building no one would give a flying fuck. The bigotry and and hypocrisy among "Christian" Americans sickens me and I am a Christian. And the fact that people on DU are buying into right wing bullshit sickens me to.

[Chulanowa]

93. Actually there IS a Christian chapel at the OKC memorial

Which is built right where the bombing took place.

There's also a Shinto temple within walking distance of Pearl harbor.

Anyone want to take a wager on how many Catholic churches there are in Mexico City?

[Lilyeye]

112. I didn't know that. Thanks for sharing this info.

It only goes to show that this outrage is purely based on the bigotry directed at Muslims in this country.

[Milo_Bloom]

6. What about the familes who came out FOR the project??

Guess their opinions don't matter?

[jdlh8894]

8. Opinions are like _______

guess you know the rest.

[dkf]

22. So if five African Americans say it's okay to call them the n word we can go

Around calling all African Americans the n word? I don't think so. And sensitivity to another person has to do with how they feel not how you feel.

[jdlh8894]

23. Nicely said!!!!

[Milo_Bloom]

54. There is no law against using the N word.

It gets said freely all the time on cable television.

[Milo_Bloom]

55. I don't understand how ANYONE on DU DARES to be "against" this project.

[Skip Intro]

81. The same constitution that allows the mosque to be built allows anyone to use the "n" word.

That's just a fact.

Sensibility, on the other hand, is a multi-edged sword. It doesn't just cut in favor of the mosque, in this situation.

[polmaven]

101. PLEASE!!!!!!!

Can we all PLEASE stop calling it a Mosque....It is a COMMUNITY CENTER that has a prayer space on an upper floor. If it were a Mosque, no other activities would be allowed to take place inside.

IT IS NOT A MOSQUE!

[Chulanowa]

94. The trouble is, you're the one using the "N-word" so to speak

Given your denigration and collective tar-brushing of an entire community, on the proven false assumption that you are privileged to speak for "everyone"

In other words? Shut your eat-hole.

[backscatter712]

107. What? You're making no sense.

How is building Cordoba house like using racial slurs. That makes no sense.

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. Please enlighten us, in non-biased, non-racist terms, just how a

Muslim community center which includes whatever their equivalent of a 'chapel' is, is an affront to the families of 9/11 victims.

[dkf]

24. You have to ask them. It's not about how you and I feel it is about how they feel.

You may think it's stupid but if you know it bothers the other person then being careful and not hurting them on purpose is showing care and consideration for their feelings.

If they are sensitive over something that involves the death of a loved one that demands extra care. It's common decency. If you wouldn't bring it up at the persons funeral because you know it's not in good taste why should you not recognize that it's not a nice thing to say?

[RaleighNCDUer]

27. No, YOU have to ask them.

You are the one carrying the racist banner in THEIR names. And you can't say why?

Nevermind the constitutionality of it - nevermind that there is no consensus against it - nevermind that the Sufi Imam who is behind it is the diametrically opposite of the radical terrorists - nevermind that a great many innocent Muslims were among the 9/11 victims and how their families may feel about it -

And WTF is with the 'funeral' reference? This didn't happen last week, or even last year. It happened 9 years ago. This is NOT 'bringing it up at the person's funeral'.

You're on the wrong side of this, legally, emotionally and morally.

[jberryhill]

11. What Sacrifice Have YOU Ever Made For This Country?

Try this one on for size

[dkf]

16. That sacrifice was not one that should have been asked.

Breaks my heart.

[jberryhill]

41. Yeah, but DON'T LET HIS FAMILY WORSHIP THEIR GOD

Because that would be insensitive.

Mr. Ahearn's family should apologize to everyone for being Muslim.

And they should never let Muslims be buried at Arlington.

Right?

[jberryhill]

14. Letting African Americans Live In White Neighborhoods Is Insensitive

...to the white victims of black crime.

If some 9/11 families have a problem with Muslims, they are bigots plain and simple, and their bigotry deserves contempt.

[jdlh8894]

20. How HIGH is that horse you're on? n/t

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

26. Not as high as the cross that you're burning.

[jdlh8894]

28. I don't burn crosses.

I tend to burn bridges.(behind me)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

32. You may as well.

[dionysus]

34. !!!

:rofl:

[Posteritatis]

77. Ouch!

:thumbsup:

[jberryhill]

40. High Enough To Recognize UnAmerican Bigotry - I Don't Care What Family It Comes From /nt

[dkf]

30. Well I said some here don't have respect for the families of the 9/11 dead and you

Screamed out your contempt loud and clear. You've made my point.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

31. Not as much as you're disrespecting them.

Only a small minority are the bigots that you're saying they all are.

[stranger81]

33. Wrongheaded bigotry does not deserve respect, whether it's endorsed by a 9-11 widow or Pat Buchanan.

Stupid, hateful ideas don't become less stupid and hateful depending on who's espousing them.

[jberryhill]

38. Guess what - Any Collection Of People Includes Assholes

There are "families of 9/11 dead" who support the community center.

What are they to you? Insensitive jerks?

A lot of people died on 9/11. That fact did not make any of their family members asshole-proof.

Someone who hates all blacks because they were the victim of a crime committed by one black is a bigot.

A 9/11 family member who blames "Islam" for the attack of 9/11 is a bigot and and asshole. Yes.

They appointed YOU their collective spokesperson? Yes?

If not, then STFU about what "the families" think. They all have their own opinions about just about anything, and YOU are not the spokesperson for a single one.

Got it?

[jberryhill]

39. Do you support any 9/11 family members who think 9/11 was a Jewish conspiracy?

Yes or no?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

56. Muslim passengers and first responders were among the victims of 9/11.

You clearly don't give a shit about them. Then again, you're okay with the Arizona racial-profiling bill, so it's not a surprise.

[glitch]

111. Ah. Much explained.

Disgusting to use the families of 9/11 victims in this manner.

[chrisa]

100. That comparison is so correct, it's not even funny.

I wish a mosque-whiner, especially a RW wing one, would try to tell how the hatred-fear of Muslims is any different.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

25. No, I consider their disrespect a good thing.

The only "9-11 family members" being "disrespected" are the Islamophobic ones.

And I'm glad they're feeling pain. I hope they spend the rest of their miserable lives feeling horrible. It's karmic justice for their bigotry.

[dionysus]

35. yeah, because religious bigotry is teh awesome...

:eyes:

[stranger81]

36. Respect for 9-11 victims does not require blatant bigotry. [n/t]

[emilyg]

37. My feelings exactly.

[Cali_Democrat]

44. I wonder how you would feel if you were a Muslim American.

But it's not you being discriminated against so you could care less obviously.

[Beetwasher]

46. Who Made YOU The Spokesperson For 9/11 Families And Victims????

Where were YOU on 9/11? I was lucky to escape with my life. Shall we continue this conversation now?

[Whisp]

49. that is wrong, what you said. so very wrong.

Let's think about this payback you have in mind, this revenge. What should be done about the many more thousands/millions that the US empire has slaughtered around the globe? Do others deserved this revenge as well?

You want to go down that path? I recommend not.

[Hansel]

63. You don't respect any victim of any crime by punishing people who...

were not responsible for the crime just because they remind the victims of the actual perpetrator.

The families of the dead need to get counseling if they have spiraled down into blaming innocent people for their loved one's death. If they are suffering because of this, they need to get support and help so that they stop blaming people who are wholly unrelated to the criminals who committed this crime and put the responsibility on the idiots who actually did kill their loved ones. It is the only way they can heal.

You don't do any victim of crime a favor by supporting their displaced anger at the expense of others. You just make more victims.

[JVS]

79. Are you being sarcastic?

[backscatter712]

106. Error: Bad framing. dkf, you watch too much FOX News.

The only reason that people clutch their pearls and act all offended is because FAUX News is pumping the frame that building a community center on private property two blocks away from Ground Zero is somehow offensive. I find that frame offensive because it makes an entire religion practiced by over a billion people responsible for the actions of 19 assholes.

dkf, if you're going to pimp the framing of FOX News and assholes like Newt Gingrich, we don't want you here. Redstate is that way... -->

[jdlh8894]

4. My question is ---

Who owns the property? If it is owned by the city,then I see a conflict on the separation of Church and State. If the property is privately owned,then I see no problem.

[Karenina]

10. The Park51 Project OWNS the site.

The community center has BROAD interfaith support in the area. The rabbis held a rally of support last week as they've been working with the Iman, who is Sufi, and Christian leaders on the concept for some time. This is a LOCAL non-issue that is Exhibit A for how American psy-ops work.

[jdlh8894]

15. Thanks for the info!

I was under the impression that the city owned all the land and leased out segments.

[polmaven]

102. If the property was city owned,

which it is not, there would still be no violation of the first amendment because this is NOT A RELIGIOUS BUILDING! It is a COMMUNITY CENTER, with 1 room planned on the upper floors, for prayers, much like a hospital would have.

[HockeyMom]

9. I posed a question on another forum

to those opposing the Mosque near Ground Zero. If you are opposed to this mosque, do you also favor eliminating the names of all those Muslims (yes there were) who died in the Towers on 9/11? If a mosque is an affront to those who died, how can you rationalize putting the names of Muslims who died there on a memorial to the victims? Isn't it the same thing?

You cannot have both ways. As of today, not one person has answered my post, because they have no answer to this.

[polmaven]

103. If I had seen your post,

I would have given it a big :thumbsup:. You are absolutely right on. There were also Muslims who were among the first responders, and the crews in the aftermath digging to find the bodies/remains of the dead, or any lingering survivors.

Muslims did not attack the United States on 9/11/01. Al Quaida did.

[alterfurz]

17. Point/Counterpoint

[unblock]

21. oh, SNAP!

[Karenina]

52. BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

I am SO STEALING THAT!

Amis be looking REAL BAD on this side of the pond right about now...

[unblock]

18. one of shrub's worst disservices to america was to burn "9/11" into our psyche to his own advantage

a true leader ( :rofl: ) would have put it in proper perspective. treated it with appropriate mourning and solemnity, but at a minimum, identified the real enemy CLEARLY, taking pains to distinguish those who AREN'T the enemy.

the childish words he used, like "evil", are horrendous for this purpose, and pretty much the word "islamic", or worse, "islamist", is also terrible. the enemy was and is the extremely small numbers of violent/suicidal people willing to wage a war of desperation and guerrilla tactics against the united states, but here and abroad.

NOTE that no one should really give crap whether the enemy is islamic, jewish, christian, atheist, buddhist, seikh, whatever. what matters is that they are violent against the united states. identify them as such and fight them on that basis.


but of course, the shrub gang had a different agenda, which included stoking bigotry as a means to get their base riled up. hence a whole lot of anti-islamic crap came out. then shrub would include the occassional quiet denial in an obscure speech saying that of course peaceful muslims are fine. but let the rampage continue!

[TwilightGardener]

48. Yep, but it was a huge boon for the DoD and "homeland security" contractors.

Going on ten years now. Fear makes it much easier for people part with their tax money and rights.

[besdayz]

50. a

the disturbing thing is that the modern conservative movement including the neocons has evolved into a reactionary type of fascism....

preemptive war
search and seizure
habeaus corpus
1st amendment

this from these self proclaimed super-patriots who love the constitution

[slackmaster]

51. Unrec because it's neither a mosque nor "at ground zero"

:nuke:

[Politics_Guy25]

62. Take it up with Keith Olbermann

Who labeled it "Mosque hysteria" on his show last night. Sometimes, people use simple easy-to-understand terms to describe an important event.

Fine, an expanded muslim community center somewhere in Lower Manhattan. Happy now?

Furthermore, referred to as a Mosque here:
http://thepage.time.com/

Multiple times.

And on CNN and on MSNBC. and on ABC. and on CBS.

Jerk. What is your problem??

[slackmaster]

78. I can't stomach much of Keith any more

He lost me on his support of using the secret "terrorist watch list" to deny people free exercise of their civil rights.

[polmaven]

105. Apparently,

slackmasters problem is that IT IS NOT A MOSQUE! Just because the MSM are calling it a mosque does not make it so!

I won't, btw, stoop to calling you names because I disagree with you!

[GCP]

57. Why does this country get its guts in uproar over ridiculous stuff like this?

Every so often, the media ramp up these so-called issues, make a huge deal of it and go on and on and on until that's the only thing you're hearing on radio or TV.

Who makes the decisions to hype these issues?

Millions of Pakistanis are in danger of dying from unprecedented floods undoubtedly caused by global warming.

Millions of our fellow Americans are on the bones of their asses, with their unemployment running out and nowhere to turn.

The Gulf is dead courtesy of BP.

And meanwhile the Chatterocracy are rabbiting on about a community center which 56% of Manhattanites have no problem with.

[babylonsister]

60. I so agree with you. I too am appalled and embarrassed. nt

[ibegurpard]

61. Yes it is

Obama got this one right.

[Name removed]

64. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jberryhill]

66. Yes, and the KKK uses the cross as their symbol

You think the Christian religion has nothing to do with the KKK's actions?

I find it interesting that you know what they said, though. Were you in the cockpit?

Just because a Christian, a Jew, or a Muslim is an asshole, does not make all Christians, Jews, or Muslims assholes. Is that really too hard for you to understand?

[Name removed]

68. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

72. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Posteritatis]

76. Sufis are not Wahabbists, though the distinction may be too subtle for one such as yourself. (nt)

[jberryhill]

91. No

And if you knew the first thing about Imam Rauf, you would understand how foolish is your suggestion.

Now, would you care to explain how you know what was spoken in the WTC planes? There were no voice recorders recovered. If you were not IN the cockpit, you are simply making up stuff to suit your narrative here.

[Hekate]

95. I call BS. Sadly, when this kind is spread around, flowers don't grow--only hatred.

No. This group, led by this man, is not taunting anyone. They are exercising (or trying to) their Constitutional rights to free association and freedom of worship.

Hekate

[polmaven]

108. I think the Community Center

may actually work to bring people together. My understanding is that it will be just that - a Community Center, not be limited to Muslims, but for everyone and anyone who cares to use it. What better use of a space but to bring people together in an attempt to understand each other. How better to prove that "Muslims" are not biased against "Americans". The people planning this project ARE American, after all!

I said it in another post on this thread, and I will say it again. Muslims did not attack this country on 9/11. Al Quaida did.

[Douglas Carpenter]

109. EXACTLY!!

Oz Sultan, the programming director for the center, said the complex was based on Jewish community centers and Y.M.C.A.'s in Manhattan. It is to have a board composed of Muslim, Christian and Jewish leaders and is intended to create a national model of moderate Islam.

“We are looking to build bridges between faiths,” Mr. Sultan said in an interview.

City officials, particularly Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, have forcefully defended the project on the grounds of religious freedom, saying that government has no place dictating where a house of worship is located. The local community board has given overwhelming backing to the project, and the city's landmarks commission is expected to do the same on Tuesday.

“What is great about America, and particularly New York, is we welcome everybody, and if we are so afraid of something like this, what does that say about us?” Mr. Bloomberg asked recently.

http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2010/07/31/the-defamation-league/?xid=rss-topstories#ixzz0vIfS1g3b

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.”


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

[LostinVA]

98. No, it isn't the least bit possible that is a motive

And, if you educated yourself about the project, you wouldn't Say that, unless you just want to cause trouble. The Inman behind the project is a Sufi, and HAS HELPED WITH THE FBI IN THE PAST.

And guess what, IT ISN'T A MOSQUE!

[GCP]

67. And how would you know that?

There was no radio contact at that point and everybody involved died on the spot.
Idiot.

[Gordan Shumway]

73. Your point being?

All of Islam should be shunned for 9/11?



Fooling people, you are not.

[Milo_Bloom]

86. So?

[Jefferson23]

65. Unfortunately they are not building only a mosque, I wish they were.

I wish it was the biggest fucking mosque ever to be built in the United States.


Get over your stupid fears and prejudices already.

[Fire1]

82. Appalling but not surprising. n/t

[liquid diamond]

83. Good post, but "get over 9/11" is fucking bullshit. It was one

of the worst tragedies this country has ever faced. Of course that doesn't justify the bigotry directed at Muslims. Over the last few days I've seen several posts that downplay the worst terrorist attack in this country's history. I find that appalling.

[Milo_Bloom]

85. It needs to be put in perspective!

More people die from lack of health care each year, than died at 9/11.

Even among people who do have health care, more people die from MEDICAL ERRORS each year, than died at 9/11.

More people die from FOOD POISONING each year, than died at 9/11.

All of these, like 9/11 are unforseen tragedies for which families suffer immensely. You can add in crossing the street and probably animal attacks as things that also are the cause of tragic deaths.

There are certainly LOTS more murders each year.

Yes, 9/11 was the worst single attack in this country's history, but not the worst disaster this country faces on a regular basis when you look at things cummulatively and ultimately it is nothing more than a mass murder orchestrated by psychopaths.

Why should 9/11 be raised above ALL OTHER tragedies and given special status?

For everyone else who faces tragedy life must go on and at some point, you have to let the rest of the world operate outside of and ultimately in disregard to the tragedy.

We are long past the date beyond which we should have to tip toe around everything 9/11.

[Politics_Guy25]

110. George W. Bush

I understand that 9/11 was a tragedy but Shrub so politicized it and made it almost illegal to be a democrat after 9/11 with his vicious attacks on Cleland, etc in the midterms in 2002 that he took what should have been an incident to bring America together and turned it into an issue to bash dems over the head with.

I think of 9/11 as a wedge issue that republicans will exploit for the rest of our lives now and THAT is why I can't stand hearing about it.

[zulchzulu]

84. Another mosque is four blocks from Ground Zero and has been there since 1970

Masjid Manhattan has been there since Nixon was President. It's four blocks from Ground Zero and that has never been an issue.

[Douglas Carpenter]

92. a NYT article about Imam Feisal and his plan for the center written before the crazy hate campaign

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


.

[Hekate]

96. When Baby Caligula left office I thought I was done being ashamed of my country. I was wrong.

:blush: and a very bad taste in my mouth.

TY for putting it so well, Politics Guy.

Hekate

[chrisa]

99. Blatent, in-your-face bigotry, really.

"If we put the MOSQUE (It's a community center) there, it will breed Muslim TERRORISTS!!!"

"It's insensitive to the 9/11 families! Islam attacked America on 9/11!"

"Muslims are all terrorists. Therefore, we don't want them here!"

Really, people haven't come out and said exactly those things, but it's implied. Shame on these people who in the shame breath, would praise Martin Luther King and claim to be tolerant.