Mosque Near Ground Zero Clears Key Hurdle

[Neo-Logic]

A $100 million mosque to be built near the 9/11 Ground Zero site has the final approvals needed to begin construction.

I don't see this as any offense to the families of those who lost their lives on 9/11 attack.

I don't see this as a blow to America or a victory for terrorism.

I see this as a great day in American history when we chose our principles and refused to give into the irrational fear. If anything, this was a win for America and proof that there really is nothing to fear but fear itself.

Mosque Near Ground Zero Clears Key Hurdle - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Personally, I don't give a crap either way. And, as long as nobody makes an unnecessary point out of it, I don't think most other people would either.

 

[Magic Man]

I'm not sure I see it as a great day. I'm glad they let them build it, but that's what they should have done. It's only some irrational people who wanted to stop them, but luckily they aren't in power. On the other hand, it would have been a travesty if they had not been allowed to build it.

 

[arimoff]

I think it is not right to not let them build it but they should have used a different place.

Somebody got paid really good to allow this and the major problem I have is that no body even knows where the money is coming from.

Islam in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
approx. 2,454,000 (2009)[1] or 6 million (2000)[2]
0.8—2.1% of the total U.S. population
Thats not enough to collect $100 million, the money is coming from outside and for me a New Yorker who constantly goes to work around that area it is disturbing that someone from overseas can influence money flow and certain decisions.

 

[Nerthus]

I think there will be many people who will be angry about the decision to let them build it there.

 

[Kathryn]

First of all, Ground Zero is not visible from the site of the future mosque. The future mosque will be 13 stories tall however, so I don't know if the mosque will be visible from Ground Zero upon completion. I doubt it - the area is chock full of very tall buildings.

This is a matter of religious freedom and the mosque should be allowed to be built. I've heard people say, "Yeah - let them build that mosque when we can build a church or synagogue in Saudi Arabia!" Well - this isn't Saudi Arabia and thank God for that. This is the United States of America, which was founded on the principles of freedom of religion and our right to practice and express our faiths.

That being said, I think the imam's insistence that the mosque be built so close to the site of the worst terrorist attack in US history - perpetrated by radical Muslims - in spite of the feelings of so many family members of victims, is indicative of a profound lack of sensitivity, AT BEST. I am suspicious of his motives, and I hope that the source of his funds is closely monitored.

I would have much preferred to see an interfaith community center built near Ground Zero. But - I don't live in NYC, and I don't have any friends or family who were killed on 9/11, so I really don't have a dog in this hunt. Unless, of course, you count the fact that I'm an American, and in that sense, we were ALL attacked on that horrible, horrible day.

 

[Magic Man]

Somebody got paid really good to allow this

Why would someone have to get paid to allow this? There are reasonable people in the world who don't always think with their emotions, and that's all it takes to allow them to build this.

and the major problem I have is that no body even knows where the money is coming from.

Who cares where the money's coming from? Some of us aren't conspiracy theorists who think anything Muslims do is suspicious.

 

[Magic Man]

That being said, I think the imam's insistence that the mosque be built so close to the site of the worst terrorist attack in US history - perpetrated by radical Muslims - in spite of the feelings of so many family members of victims, is indicative of a profound lack of sensitivity, AT BEST.

Yes, don't worry about the feelings of the Muslims who have taken a lot of flack the past 9 years because of Americans' misunderstanding of the situation. Let's only focus on the feelings of non-Muslim Americans here. The whole point of building it there is to get noticed so that he can preach his intolerance of the mindset that led the terrorists to commit that attack. He wants to show people that the problem isn't with Islam; it's with radical Islam, just like the problem isn't with Christianity, but with radical Christianity like the WBC. The very fact that so many people oppose this building is reason enough to do it.

I am suspicious of his motives, and I hope that the source of his funds is closely monitored.

Of course you're suspicious of his motives. He's a *gasp* Muslim. I love how people are quick to be suspicious of where this money is coming from. Do you really think Osama Bin Laden is interested in spending $100 million to build an Islamic center in New York? What would be the point of that?

I would have much preferred to see an interfaith community center built near Ground Zero. But - I don't live in NYC, and I don't have any friends or family who were killed on 9/11, so I really don't have a dog in this hunt. Unless, of course, you count the fact that I'm an American, and in that sense, we were ALL attacked on that horrible, horrible day.

Then get someone to build an interfaith center. That's not the point of this Islamic center. The point of this building is to put good Muslims that aren't any different from you and me front and center for the rest of America to see, to hopefully dispel all of this silly suspicion and mistrust of them.

 

[tumbleweed41]

There was already a Muslim worship center in Manhattan. Like many such places, it was getting a bit overcrowded. An empty lot was found. The Iman thought it would be a good idea to include an education center on Islam in their new building. This particular Iman has condemned the terrorist attacks as not being in accord with true Islam.

Despite the ADL claims of " In our judgment, building an Islamic Center in the shadow of the World Trade Center will cause some victims more pain - unnecessarily - and that is not right" ..as an excuse to oppose the new Center. Opposition based simply on the fact that it is Muslim is pure and simple bigotry.

 

[tumbleweed41]

I think it is not right to not let them build it but they should have used a different place.

Somebody got paid really good to allow this and the major problem I have is that no body even knows where the money is coming from.

Islam in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
approx. 2,454,000 (2009)[1] or 6 million (2000)[2]
0.8—2.1% of the total U.S. population
Thats not enough to collect $100 million, the money is coming from outside and for me a New Yorker who constantly goes to work around that area it is disturbing that someone from overseas can influence money flow and certain decisions.

I think there will be many people who will be angry about the decision to let them build it there.

Exodus 23:9:

"Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt."​

 

[Nerthus]

Exodus 23:9:

"Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt."​

True, but still many people will get angry it. Perhaps more people from no faith, people who lost loved ones.

 

[Gunfingers]

That being said, I think the imam's insistence that the mosque be built so close to the site of the worst terrorist attack in US history - perpetrated by radical Muslims - in spite of the feelings of so many family members of victims, is indicative of a profound lack of sensitivity, AT BEST. I am suspicious of his motives, and I hope that the source of his funds is closely monitored.

I think it's just the opposite. The Imam knows that many people blame Islam in general for bringing down those buildings. He also knows that when people are faced with what they hate, and given an opportunity to learn about it they will see that Islam in general is not to blame for the attack and that we're really all on the same side.

It may offend some of the victims' families, but tragedy doesn't excuse bigotry and i have no sympathy for hurt feelings from that bigotry.

 

[YmirGF]

I think it's just the opposite. The Imam knows that many people blame Islam in general for bringing down those buildings. He also knows that when people are faced with what they hate, and given an opportunity to learn about it they will see that Islam in general is not to blame for the attack and that we're really all on the same side.

Sorry Gunfingers, Islam is, most certainly, not on my side. It is amusing though how a secular society is supportive of an effort driven by people who would prefer to see the eradication of secular society altogether. Things that make you go, "Hmmmmm." No doubt, it's all just a minor misunderstanding.

It may offend some of the victims' families, but tragedy doesn't excuse bigotry and i have no sympathy for hurt feelings from that bigotry.

Personally, I believe the word bigotry is bandied about far too lightly these days. I am curious why people automatically think that just because one has serious misgivings about Islam that they are a bigot and an Islamophobe. Muhammad is purported to have said, "War is deceit." One can only wonder who the deceived ones are and who are not.

It is interesting that many of those who have spoken in this thread supportive words about the building of the proposed mosque, know very little about Islam. I can't help but think there is a correlation there.

 

[Magic Man]

I am curious why people automatically think that just because one has serious misgivings about Islam that they are a bigot and an Islamophobe.

Probably because that one has serious misgivings about Islam, and apparently doesn't realize that Islam isn't the problem; extremists are. You know, kind of like how some people think black skin makes someone a bad person? Yeah, neither black skin nor Islam automatically make someone a person to be suspicious of. If you are suspicious of that person for one of those reasons, that, by definition, makes you a bigot.

It is interesting that many of those who have spoken in this thread supportive words about the building of the proposed mosque, know very little about Islam.

It is interesting that in your great arrogance you believe you know more about Islam than we do. Not surprising. It's not like this is the first time you've displayed a condescending, yet completely inaccurate mindset.

I can't help but think there is a correlation there.

Yes, the correlation between knowing nothing about Muslims and opposing this Islamic center should not be ignored. So, once you've educated yourself on Muslims in general, and specifically the Muslims associated with this center, I'm confident you'll drop your opposition to this and your general (and unfounded) suspicion of all Muslims. Until then, it would probably be best not to pretend you're better than everyone else, while proving with your words that you're not.

 

[Gunfingers]

Sorry Gunfingers, Islam is, most certainly, not on my side. It is amusing though how a secular society is supportive of an effort driven by people who would prefer to see the eradication of secular society altogether. Things that make you go, "Hmmmmm." No doubt, it's all just a minor misunderstanding.

Extremism is more common in Islam than any other religion at this particular point in history, but that doesn't make Islam an extreme religion. There are entirely too many people who manage to be Muslim and not blow up themselves or others. The fact that virtually every religion (every ideology, in fact) has had, and continues to have, extreme elements seems to indicate that the source of extremism is not Islam. Islam is simply a convenient cover.

Personally, I believe the word bigotry is bandied about far too lightly these days. I am curious why people automatically think that just because one has serious misgivings about Islam that they are a bigot and an Islamophobe. Muhammad is purported to have said, "War is deceit." One can only wonder who the deceived ones are and who are not.

It's true, it's easy to be a bigot. I've been called sexist for approving of a girl wanting to be a housewife and i've been called a homophobe because i refuse to stop using "gay" as a general term for something unpleasant. I feel comfortable saying that someone who opposes the construction of a mosque because Islam offends their sensibilities a bigot, however.
As for advocations of war in scripture, go ahead and find me an ancient religious text that doesn't advocate war, genocide, rape, murder, and software piracy.

It is interesting that many of those who have spoken in this thread supportive words about the building of the proposed mosque, know very little about Islam. I can't help but think there is a correlation there.

What don't i know about Islam that would change my mind?

 

[arimoff]

Exodus 23:9:

"Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt."​

I don't remember saying to oppress Muslims, I clearly said that it is not right to not allow them to build it but I did say to monitor where the money is coming from because I don't want it to become a radical center where young men will be trained and after every incident in the middle east I don't want to see New York become France!!!

Speaking about Exodus 23:9 I absolutely see no reason why you even brought this up (it has nothing to do with living in New York by the way), maybe you should come to New York and see for your self that immigrants from Muslim countries come to New York and mostly settle in and around neighborhoods witch are mostly Jewish and no body oppress them Jews have no problem giving them jobs and certainly do not make riots if they don't like something, the small mosque by my house even has a big sign Pakistanians vote for Mr. Greenfeld loool.

Why even get racial? It is you are the one who is making a difference because I'm Jewish and I posted something about Islam or a mosque you are steering up an argument. I wasn't born in New York or even in America I was born in a region dominated by Muslims and I know how they act when they are a majority. My experience tells me, at times they get violent and most of the time a terrorist is a Muslim whether you like it or not and I don't want that mosque become a terrorist nest.

 

[Badran]

Sorry Gunfingers, Islam is, most certainly, not on my side.

What is your side? Mine is, as a muslim, is that i don't want people to blow themselves up killing civilians, i don't want any criminal behavior carried out under the name of my religion causing grief to others, i want militaries out of invaded countries, and i want us to reach a better understanding, so that we could overcome those who do pose a threat to people (and those are found on both sides). Isn't there similarities between our sides?

It is amusing though how a secular society is supportive of an effort driven by people who would prefer to see the eradication of secular society altogether. Things that make you go, "Hmmmmm." No doubt, it's all just a minor misunderstanding.

Who are you referring to, that wants the eradication of secular society? Because i'm pretty sure you don't mean muslims in general, so who in particualr?

Personally, I believe the word bigotry is bandied about far too lightly these days. I am curious why people automatically think that just because one has serious misgivings about Islam that they are a bigot and an Islamophobe. Muhammad is purported to have said, "War is deceit." One can only wonder who the deceived ones are and who are not.

Islam doesn't advocate war, and there are many rules that we have provided before, clear general rules, that forbids muslims from being the aggressors.

It is interesting that many of those who have spoken in this thread supportive words about the building of the proposed mosque, know very little about Islam. I can't help but think there is a correlation there.

I think its a rather bold statement to assume that all people who are in favor of this, know little about Islam. Not to mention that even if they disagree with its teachings, doesn't mean they would mistreat muslims.

 

[Badran]

I wasn't born in New York or even in America I was born in a region dominated by Muslims and I know how they act when they are a majority. My experience tells me, at times they get violent and most of the time a terrorist is a Muslim whether you like it or not

Don't you think this is a rather unfair assesment?

and I don't want that mosque become a terrorist nest.

If you mean that your point is just to make sure of those behind this, then there is nothing wrong with that.

 

[tumbleweed41]

I think it is not right to not let them build it but they should have used a different place.

Somebody got paid really good to allow this and the major problem I have is that no body even knows where the money is coming from.

Islam in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
approx. 2,454,000 (2009)[1] or 6 million (2000)[2]
0.8—2.1% of the total U.S. population
Thats not enough to collect $100 million, the money is coming from outside and for me a New Yorker who constantly goes to work around that area it is disturbing that someone from overseas can influence money flow and certain decisions.

I don't remember saying to oppress Muslims, I clearly said that it is not right to not allow them to build it but I did say to monitor where the money is coming from because I don't want it to become a radical center where young men will be trained and after every incident in the middle east I don't want to see New York become France!!!

Speaking about Exodus 23:9 I absolutely see no reason why you even brought this up (it has nothing to do with living in New York by the way), maybe you should come to New York and see for your self that immigrants from Muslim countries come to New York and mostly settle in and around neighborhoods witch are mostly Jewish and no body oppress them Jews have no problem giving them jobs and certainly do not make riots if they don't like something, the small mosque by my house even has a big sign Pakistanians vote for Mr. Greenfeld loool.

Why even get racial? It is you are the one who is making a difference because I'm Jewish and I posted something about Islam or a mosque you are steering up an argument. I wasn't born in New York or even in America I was born in a region dominated by Muslims and I know how they act when they are a majority. My experience tells me, at times they get violent and most of the time a terrorist is a Muslim whether you like it or not and I don't want that mosque become a terrorist nest.

I have highlighted the areas that border on a prejudicial attitude towards Muslims.

As for accusations of racial, the Exodus verse concerned religion, not race. (You will notice that you were not the only one quoted in my reply. There was also a Christian)
Should we be concerned about "where's the money coming from" for every place of worship? Or just for Muslims?
Personally, I am not to big on enormous amounts of money spent on any religious church, temple, synagogue, mosque etc. But unless it can be shown that the Center will be used for the purposes you fear, they have every right to build on the only available and suitable piece of property in Manhattan.

 

[Kathryn]

.

Yes, don't worry about the feelings of the Muslims who have taken a lot of flack the past 9 years because of Americans' misunderstanding of the situation.

Sorry. but two blocks from Ground Zero - I'm defaulting to the feelings of the victims' families. I am not and have never advocated the persecution or discrimination against Muslims - and in fact, in my first post I made it clear that they SHOULD be allowed to build the mosque on the site they've chosen.

The whole point of building it there is to get noticed so that he can preach his intolerance of the mindset that led the terrorists to commit that attack.

Really? How do you reach this conclusion?

The very fact that so many people oppose this building is reason enough to do it.

Ahhh, what logic. Spoken like a true adolescent.

Of course you're suspicious of his motives. He's a *gasp* Muslim.

Oh my - there it is again - the ubiquitous RACE CARD! What a handy tool that little card has become lately - ever so in fashion.

Someone tell these people - the race card is so...so...YESTERDAY...

Do you really think Osama Bin Laden is interested in spending $100 million to build an Islamic center in New York? What would be the point of that?

What is the point of this statement? Frankly, the odd notion that Osama bin Laden was funding this mosque had never even occurred to me.

The point of this building is to put good Muslims that aren't any different from you and me front and center for the rest of America to see, to hopefully dispel all of this silly suspicion and mistrust of them

Wow - I want some of what HE's drinking...well, maybe not. I'll ask again - where are you getting this notion?

If the iman really had this goal, he wouldn't be so intentionally inflammatory.