$100 million Muslim center planned 2 blocks from Ground Zero.

[dust1n]

Local Board Endorses Muslim Center Near Ground Zero - NYTimes.com

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, who has led services in TriBeCa since 1983, told the board the center would help “bridge and heal a divide” among Muslims and other religious groups.​

Sorry, but I don't think this is going to heal anything. I think people are going to come from all over America to **** on this mosque.

Sounds good to me.

 

[Magic Man]

I'm not personally offended, but I also don't see this as anything more than the circle-jerk that it is.

I'm curious how you see things that aren't there.

Unless, of course, they are emboldened by "their" victory to push harder to get new members and commit more acts of terrorism.

Sure, just like they could be emboldened by the fact that this group was pressured to not build their mosque there. I'd say that would be an even more realistic concern.

Of course I can't. However, without any rational mechansim of how this is supposed to "bridge the divide" in the real world, there goal seems unrealistic and/or insincere.

The fact that you haven't taken the time to understand what they're doing doesn't mean they don't have a rational mechanism for how this is supposed to "bridge the divide". The fact is making an example of themselves is a good way to show non-Muslim Americans that there are good Muslims out there, and they're not all jihadists. Just like a local mosque here is having a "Meet your Mulsim neighbors" open house sort of thing soon.

This type of insulting rhetoric does little for your argument.

The fact that you see it as insulting rhetoric is very telling. I'm not the one who called what these people are doing "silliness". Being a hypocrite does little for your argument.

 

[Sunstone]

Sorry, but I don't think this is going to heal anything. I think people are going to come from all over America to **** on this mosque.

I hope not. It would renew my faith in humanity if people could accept this mosque without seeing it as extension of the criminals of 9/11.

 

[Sunstone]

I don't even want to live here anymore.

I can understand the feeling.

 

[Magic Man]

If you read about the group that's doing this, and what they plan to do, it's actually a very cool idea. But America is filled with crazy, violent people. I don't even want to live here anymore. If we can make it to retirement, I want to retire abroad.

I hear ya. I don't want to retire abroad; I want to go there now. If my wife was up for it, I'd already be living in France or Scotland.

 

[McBell]

they're fanning the flames of bigotry.

I agree.
The bigots do not want the Mosque to go up.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I'm curious how you see things that aren't there.

I have an aversion to closing my eyes, in any context.

Sure, just like they could be emboldened by the fact that this group was pressured to not build their mosque there. I'd say that would be an even more realistic concern.

Both valid concerns. How about this: they don't try to build a mosque 2 block from ground zero, and there's no reason for the terrorists to be emboldened at all.

The fact that you haven't taken the time to understand what they're doing doesn't mean they don't have a rational mechanism for how this is supposed to "bridge the divide". The fact is making an example of themselves is a good way to show non-Muslim Americans that there are good Muslims out there, and they're not all jihadists. Just like a local mosque here is having a "Meet your Mulsim neighbors" open house sort of thing soon.

Please explain the raional mechanism of how building a mosque 2 blocks from ground zero is supposed to "bridge the divide."

The fact that you see it as insulting rhetoric is very telling. I'm not the one who called what these people are doing "silliness". Being a hypocrite does little for your argument.

Yes, it is very telling. You telling me I"m against equal marriage rights is insulting rhetoric. The fact that I see this, shows that I see things for what they are. And what these people are doing is silliness. Anybody wanting to bridge divides wouldn't even consider building a mosque 2 blocks from ground zero in the first place. There are about a million other things which can be done to bridge the divide, if people were really interested in doing so.

 

[Magic Man]

I have an aversion to closing my eyes, in any context.

That's great, but how do you see things that aren't there?

Both valid concerns. How about this: they don't try to build a mosque 2 block from ground zero, and there's no reason for the terrorists to be emboldened at all.

Yeah, obviously, the terrorists will just stop all terrorist activity. Come on, man. You're smarter than that. The terrorists are going to keep doing their thing no matter what. I'm sorry, but I don't want them dictating what we do.

Please explain the raional mechanism of how building a mosque 2 blocks from ground zero is supposed to "bridge the divide."

I thought it was pretty obvious and simple. They make an example of themselves to all of the Americans who only see "Muslim=terrorist", and show that they're not connected to the people responsible for 9/11 in any way other than they share the same religion. They show people that not all Muslims are jihadists.

Yes, it is very telling. You telling me I"m against equal marriage rights is insulting rhetoric.

There you go again, with that seeing things that aren't there. I never said that. I related this to another situation. I know you're for equal marriage rights, which is why it's funny that you don't see the analogy here.

The fact that I see this, shows that I see things for what they are.

No, it just shows arrogance.

And what these people are doing is silliness.

And more arrogance. It's no more silliness than people fighting for marriage equality or fighting to get people to treat them equally.

Anybody wanting to bridge divides wouldn't even consider building a mosque 2 blocks from ground zero in the first place.

I'm sorry you're falling into the trap of thinking like an average American who connects all Muslims with 9/11, but that's the entire reason they are building this mosque. If there wasn't this mindset that Muslims=terrorists, there would be no point in building the mosque.

There are about a million other things which can be done to bridge the divide, if people were really interested in doing so.

Like?

 

[tumbleweed41]

The Community Board in Lower Manhattan voted to allow construction to begin on a new Mosque and Cultural Center. The location is in an empty lot two blocks from Ground Zero. There is already a Mosque two blocks from the new construction site that has overgrown its current space, thus necessitating the new construction.

I don't see what the big deal is.
Other than Teabaggers like Fox News commentator Mark Williams recent blog post...
"The monument would consist of a Mosque for the worship of the terrorists' monkey-god." He added, "In the meantime I have a wonderful idea along the same lines as that mosque at Ground Zero thing… a nice, shiny new U.S. Military Base on the smoldering ruins of Mecca. Works for me!"

 

[McBell]

"The monument would consist of a Mosque for the worship of the terrorists' monkey-god." He added, "In the meantime I have a wonderful idea along the same lines as that mosque at Ground Zero thing… a nice, shiny new U.S. Military Base on the smoldering ruins of Mecca. Works for me!"

Hopefully he will be the one flying the plane....

 

[Smoke]

I don't see what the big deal is.

Well, I was thinking this is just stirring these lunatics up further, and that's why it's a bad idea. But on reflection, I guess they're foaming at the mouth anyway, so there's really nothing to lose.

 

[kiwimac]

Reaching out to heal divisions is surely a good thing. I fail to see why, other than the obviously false idea that all Muslims were involved in the 11/9 bombing, this is a bad idea. Must people of good will bend over so as not to insult in some way those too ignorant to tell the difference? Oh, and BTW 01001110011011110111000001100101001011000010000001101010011101010111001101110100001000000110100101101110011100110110000101101110011001010110110001111001001000000110001101110101011100100110100101101111011101010111001

 

[.lava]

I actually believe this Mosque can be used to heal the rift between Muslims and the more Conservative/anti-immigrant members of American society.

it makes an attractive target though. besides no intention is pure and meant for peace as long as USA bomb Muslim nations. it's just a theatral show. only people with good intentions are being used

.

 

[McBell]

it makes an attractive target though. besides no intention is pure and meant for peace as long as USA bomb Muslim nations. it's just a theatral show. only people with good intentions are being used

.

So the Muslims who want to build this Mosque are merely putting on a show?

 

[.lava]

So the Muslims who want to build this Mosque are merely putting on a show?

i don't know. i assume they have good intentions. but while war still goes on and some Muslims and non-Muslims are continuously given daily news to hate one another, basically under these circumstances to build a mosque near that place that's became symbol of "war on Islam" does not sound perfectly clever to me. it only takes a few idiots to cause more trouble. if someone wanted to use this as an opportunity to give people more fear and kill their hope for peace, he would not have to try so hard i guess. but, i am paranoid. i don't mind for what they do. i just think timing is very important since this conflict is also emotional issue for some people. this might not be the best time and i believe only good timing would make this decision a good decision

.

 

[Revoltingest]

Other than Teabaggers like Fox News commentator Mark Williams recent blog post.../quote]

To tarnish tea partiers with this bad example is just a tad bigoted. The movement has nothing to do with Islam as I see it. It's
about too much government. Should all lefties have the Unabomber as their poster child? Enuf of the histrionic partisanship already.

The only problem I have with mosques is the same I have with churches, temples, etc - the property goes off the tax roles. Other
than that, I say build away! the Muslims here cause no problem for me whatsoever....& they're nice enuf to not ask me to join'm.

 

[DeitySlayer]

The problem, in my opinion, is that while I have minimal doubts as to the sincerity of those who wish to build the mosque, the USA is not exactly famed for racial or cultural tolerance.

 

[Revoltingest]

The problem, in my opinion, is that while I have minimal doubts as to the sincerity of those who wish to build the mosque, the USA is not exactly famed for racial or cultural tolerance.

I don't know about that. Despite the problems, it seems one of the better places in the world. Moreover, some areas are more
tolerant of some more extreme types of diversity. Greater Detroit is one of the largest cities in the Middle East...sort of. The
immigrants are more than tolerated.....they're essential to the city's culture & cuisine.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

It's appalling how people keep asking where the peaceful Muslims are and why aren't they being vocal in their condemnations, then decry something like this, which appears by all accounts to be peaceful Muslims attempting to promote peace and heal wounds.

I can see how this may be considered a way to reopen wounds, but really the wounds can't be healed until we attempt to get over our hateful feelings towards each other.

 

[.lava]

It's appalling how people keep asking where the peaceful Muslims are and why aren't they being vocal in their condemnations, then decry something like this, which appears by all accounts to be peaceful Muslims attempting to promote peace and heal wounds.

I can see how this may be considered a way to reopen wounds, but really the wounds can't be healed until we attempt to get over our hateful feelings towards each other.

i would agree with every single word if USA bombs were not reopening wounds everyday deeper

.