Mosque Near Ground Zero Clears Key Hurdle

[Kathryn]

No, your sensitivity argument applies to both. It just sounds retarded when put in perspective. The proposed site isn't even on ground zero, that's just a phrase coined by the republicans to give the connotation of minarets rising from base of the WTC itself. Will your sensitivity soon extend over a ten mile radius? The city itself?

No one is banning him from speaking are they? So what if they protest they're not trying to shut down his speech and cart him off to jail. You don't think every time anything associated with Islam is constructed someone doesn't protest?

I am going to reiterate something that you already know - but for some reason don't think is worth taking into consideration:

The building is 600 ft from Ground Zero. It is so close that the landing gear from one of the planes which struck the WTC went through it's roof that day. It was covered in the ashes of 3000 people who were killed.

How close would be too close in your opinion?

As for the comparison to the brouhaha surrounding Beck's rally - my comparison is this:

Those who are questioning or protesting his sensitivity (the anniversary of King's speech), his location (the Lincoln Memorial) and/or his motives (political? religious? racist?) are typically the same people who fling the "Bigot!" judgment at those who question the sensitivity, location and/or motives of the Cordoba Group/Park 51 imam.

I believe that's an ironic and hypocritical position.

 

[Bismillah]

You understand that the WTC claimed the lives of almost every major religion? Are you claiming the some American lives were not as important as others? Should their sensitivities be ignored by your own argument.

The building is 2 blocks from the WTC and you cannot even see it from the site. The program is upgrading a crumbling building that is an eye soar of the street and refurbishing it to accommodate all faiths in order to pursue a goal that would hopes to prevent what happened two blocks down. If there isn't a better place to pursue tolerance and the consequences of hate and anger I don't know where would be.

By the way why were some Republicans praising the effort before they caught wind that the GOP wanted to press this issue to the mindless masses during elections?

Even you could prove that each of these groups are related the truth is that one group is aiming to prevent a freedom granted through the Constitution, the other is highlighting Becks attempt to gain political power by intentionally stirring up drama and racist ideologies. I don't see how they coincide.

Also why do people insist on the motives of this building? There is no reason to condemn a liberal Muslim leader who has condemned 9/11 and seeks interfaith harmony. I can only assume that whenever surreptitiously questions the motives prejudice is at work.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Those who are questioning or protesting his sensitivity (the anniversary of King's speech), his location (the Lincoln Memorial) and/or his motives (political? religious? racist?) are typically the same people who fling the "Bigot!" judgment at those who question the sensitivity, location and/or motives of the Cordoba Group/Park 51 imam.

I believe that's an ironic and hypocritical position.

I fully support Beck's rally (though I find it silly that people took it seriously, but I admit to be liberally-minded. Should I fix that?). But the problem is this: the motive for protesting is based on perceived bigotry that they see in both places, so it isn't really hypocritical. Ironic...maybe.

I don't know about others, but had the NY protesters kept to the sensitivity over the victims of 9/11, I wouldn't be so adamant in my defense of the education center. But they've gone into outright anti-Islam, and my research into the issue has suggested this has been about anti-Islamic sentiments all along with the sensitivity issue being thrown in and snowballed.

I can't abide that.

I can't help but imagine that if it had been Westboro Baptists on that plane instead of radical Muslims, and a Baptist education center being put up in that same area, there would be only a slight fluttering of eyelids and not this fiasco.

 

[tumbleweed41]

I can't help but imagine that if it had been Westboro Baptists on that plane instead of radical Muslims, and a Baptist education center being put up in that same area, there would be only a slight fluttering of eyelids and not this fiasco.

Amen!!

 

[Kathryn]

I fully support Beck's rally (though I find it silly that people took it seriously, but I admit to be liberally-minded. Should I fix that?). But the problem is this: the motive for protesting is based on perceived bigotry that they see in both places, so it isn't really hypocritical. Ironic...maybe.

I don't know about others, but had the NY protesters kept to the sensitivity over the victims of 9/11, I wouldn't be so adamant in my defense of the education center. But they've gone into outright anti-Islam, and my research into the issue has suggested this has been about anti-Islamic sentiments all along with the sensitivity issue being thrown in and snowballed.

I can't abide that.

I can't help but imagine that if it had been Westboro Baptists on that plane instead of radical Muslims, and a Baptist education center being put up in that same area, there would be only a slight fluttering of eyelids and not this fiasco.

I don't know about the Baptist thing - that's nothing more than conjecture. But as for the Islamic center/mosque being built on that site, I'm personally all for it. It doesn't bother me one bit - they can have at it.


I agree with most of your post - but I disagree that what we're seeing is irony rather than hypocricy. What I'm seeing is the pot calling the kettle black.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

I don't know about the Baptist thing - that's nothing more than conjecture. But as for the Islamic center/mosque being built on that site, I'm personally all for it. It doesn't bother me one bit - they can have at it.

It is conjecture. But it's part of where I'm coming from when I rail against the protesting.

I agree with most of your post...

I'm sure a lot of liberal-minded and conservative-minded people are actually closer to agreement than they think. But we do get caught in that political firestorm too often.

Care to join me in Kumbaya?

...but I disagree that what we're seeing is irony rather than hypocricy. What I'm seeing is the pot calling the kettle black.

Yeah, we'll have to disagree. I see the protesting against the NY protesters and the Beck rally as being against a perceived religious bigotry, so they are sticking to one value and not going against their own arguments.

But I could be wrong.

There are many of the other side who may be doing the same: arguing for Beck's right to hold a religious rally at the civil rights site, yet saying the Muslims have no right to have an education center two blocks from Ground Zero.

I say let both happen. Beck's had his chance, give the Muslims theirs.

And I know you agree, Kathryn, I'm just feeding off your post.

 

[Kathryn]

Look, I'll only sing that stupid Kumbaya song after a bottle of shiraz and some hookah time. Deal?

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Look, I'll only sing that stupid Kumbaya song after a bottle of shiraz and some hookah time. Deal?

Works for me!

Truth be told, I don't care for Kumbaya. Have any requests?

 

[Kathryn]

No Kumbaya and no We Shall Overcome. No If I Had A Hammer either.

What about I Got Friends In Low Places? Or we could always sing that song about grandma getting run over by a reindeer...or the theme to the Beverly Hillbillies...

"Gonna tell ya a little story 'bout a man named Jeb..."

 

[Guitar's Cry]

No Kumbaya and no We Shall Overcome. No If I Had A Hammer either.

What about I Got Friends In Low Places? Or we could always sing that song about grandma getting run over by a reindeer...or the theme to the Beverly Hillbillies...

"Gonna tell ya a little story 'bout a man named Jeb..."

I actually know "Friends in Low Places." How about that and "Touch of Grey" with some Willie thrown in for Angellous?

 

[Kathryn]

I actually know "Friends in Low Places." How about that and "Touch of Grey" with some Willie thrown in for Angellous?

Heck, yes. Love me some Willie. I actually kissed Willie Nelson right on the mouth once about thirty years ago. That was an adventure.