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Hello all, I am just curious, what do you all think about the Mosque in New York 2 or 3 blocks from Ground Zero?
Personally I think they have the right to build it, but I think its insensitive, especially when the Gov. offered them state land for free a little further away, but that's just me. What do you think?
i see no problem with it personally. most of the people who will worship in that mosque are good people.... not crazy radicals like the ones involved in 9/11.
I respect their freedom to build a mosque, and I respect that they are allowed to follow Islam. I am not one to stereotype all of a race/culture because of the actions of a few.
I do, however, think it is a slap in the face to the families of those who were killed on 9/11.
I want to know if these same peole would be so against it if a group of Catholics or Lutherans hijakced the planes and were the reason behind September 11th and then wanted to be a Christian community center at Ground Zero. I have a feeling that thing would be built in a heartbeat. Some people just really want to hate Muslims and that's why they are fighting so hard against this.
Just don't get me started on the people who think the President is Muslim. I might flip a lid. I haven't heard anyone saying he supports it because he is Muslim, but I am sure it is out there.
Needless to say, I am all for the community center with the mosque attached.
I respect their freedom to build and freedom to religion. I respect their desire to "enlighten" the community about their muslim faith. I have no issues with muslims, I know some, I love all...
I do however think it's in poor taste... especially given that they "could" have built elsewhere but it HAD to be at Ground Zero. I heard this analogy the other day... "No one hates Germans or has a problem with Germans... but if they built a german cultural center at Auschwitz, you bet people would feel like they were slapped across the face." That's how I feel about this. I've been to Auschwitz and other concentration camps in Poland. Crazy radical people were responsible for it and that is who I hold accountable, not the German citizens. However, I would not want to see a german cultural center there either.
So, it's complicated. I respect the right to religion and their freedoms... and as a Catholic Conservative who is frequently the butt of many jokes and laughter... I get religious prejudice. I don't think we have a right to try and stop them (eta, nor do I think we should be able to), however, if they want to "bridge" our nation together and promote peace and healing, I don't think this is the way to accomplish it, and for those who lost family and friends it will likely make the wound deeper.
@KLP2010: You said exactly what I was thinking.... you just did it much more eloquently than I did.
I was watching a story about this on some news show, and there's already a mosque that is like a block away or something from Ground Zero. Why aren't people clammering to shut that one down?
I don't understand why it's insensitive. The people who flew planes into the towers were radical extremists, they aren't the majority of Islam followers. Let them build their mosque and go about their relgious practices in peace.
@In the media: I agree...I don't even understand why it matters if the president IS Muslim. So what? We have freedom of religion in this country, don't we?
The community center(it's not actually a mosque) isn't actually AT Ground Zero. It's blocks away, and not visible AT ALL from Ground Zero.
As a native NYC gal, I have no problem with them building it. It's not like it's going to inlcude an homage to the terrorists.
From the article linked to below:
?In addition, the building planned for 45 Park Place is a cultural center with a prayer room -- not a single-purpose house of worship for Muslims, which is probably what we should reserve the word "mosque" for. As Haberman also explains, "That it may even be called a mosque is debatable. It is designed as a multi-use complex with a space set aside for prayer -- no minarets, no muezzin calls to prayer blaring onto Park Place."
The 92nd Street Y, on which the Cordoba House is explicitly modeled, has a whole host of Jewish events take place inside of it, but no one calls it a synagogue. There's no good reason why Cordoba House should be misleadingly called a "mosque." I've been guilty of using this word too, in conversation and in writing, but it's inaccurate. Muslims already read the Quran and pray at 45 Park Place, but that does not and will not turn it into a "mosque."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-sledge/just-how-far-is-the-groun_b_660585.html?ref=fb&src=sp
i do not think its a slap in the face to anyone... just because someone happens to worship the muslim religion, that should not connect them (in a negative way) to 9/11. like the pp said... no one would make a fuss if it were a christian church there. i was raised catholic but i do not practice, i consider myself a very openminded and well rounded person, and i dont think that its anyones business telling them where they can and cannot build their place of prayer. for all we know, (and it is very likely) there were people who practiced the muslim religion who were killed in 9/11 (innocent people just like all the others). as far as uniting our nation and promoting healing... i think it may help open some minds... which is what this country needs.
It's only a slap in the face if you think a mosque and the attacks both symbolize muslims, and put them under one umbrella. A mosque is a building of faith, a house of worship for god, no different than a church or synagogue. The attackers were a combination of crazies and politically manipulated pawns. Nothing to do with Islam, just a horrible misinterpretation of it. Building a mosque in that spot is not a bad idea, if only to clear this misconception and to demostrate people unity and understanding across faiths. I think people who take it as an insult are those who oversimplify things, just like people thinking Obama is Muslim because his dad was, and he must be a terrorist lover because he is Muslim.
@Ms. MoxieMonkey: perfectly said.
Another thing people don't realize is Muslims worship the same God Christians and Jews do. They just believe that, like the Jewish, Jesus was a prophet.
I don't affiliate myself with any religion as I am spiritual. Just so you know ;)
I, like many others, agree that they have every right in the world to build a community center, but, initally I, too, thought it somwhat insensitive to build a muslim community center so close to Ground Zero. Then, I investigated the issue further. If you look into the owner of the location, he has started two nonprofit organizations to help educate "the West" about Islam in an attempt to combat the stigma created by the extremists. This commnity center was an etension of that goal; however, I think they realize that they're engendering increased Islamophobia instead of eraticating it.
So, although I think ideas are noble, and think that they have every right to build a community center where they plan to, the amount of xenophobia and prejudice that have resulted from it terrifies me.
When I heard about this story my only thought was: "Couldn't they do this a different day? That's just not right."
But then I did a little research.
I don't have a problem with the location. It's actually four blocks away, not right across the street. There is no line of sight from one to another.
It is not a Mosque, it is a Muslim Community Center, intended for use by everyone.
I could not find ONE source citing their inauguration date as 9/11/11. NOT ONE. Besides Newt Gingrich. And you can see why that citation would be shady.
When I first found out about this I was pretty ticked off. Then I actually researched it. And now I feel like the victim of a hoax e-mail. I fell for it hook, line, and sinker. When in actuality this was only based PARTLY in SOME truth. Boo.
(But if there were a Mosque being built within view of ground zero and being inaugurated on 9/11/11, I wouldn't blame anyone for spitting at it. But there isn't. So...moot point.)
Well I am not up in arms about it. The developer(s) have every right to do so. Yes, it isn't the most sensitive move when alternative sites were offered, but you have to ask yourself...where is the line? Why shouldn't muslims, who want community, be active and visible in NYC? It would be one thing if they would be spewing hate, but it is quite another when the commonality is that they happen to share a broad religion with the 9/11 terrorists. Certainly all Christians don't lump themselves together, especially with terrorist "Christians". I really don't think it will stand because people seem to have worked themselves into a frenzy and might do something regrettable.
@killerpenguins05: "Another thing people don't realize is Muslims worship the same God Christians and Jews do." Do people believe otherwise? Wow, I didn't even know there was a misconception about this. I'm Muslim btw. Not a practicing or devout one, but at least by way of birth.
I have a hard time wrapping my head around the logic of people who are against the Islamic cultural center. Would people be upset if a church or Christian center were built near an abortion clinic that was bombed by the Army of God? I don't see how this is a slap in the face...and the argument that it will make it even harder for families of victims to visit the ground zero makes no sense to me either. Let's not forget that people from over 70 countries died that day, as well as people of all religions and even NO religion!
I think Keith Olbermann says it best www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677//vp/38731398#38731398
thank you for sharing your thoughts, just curious! I am in a job where I am constantly surrounded by politics and new stories, so I wanted to see what you ladies thought. Thank you!
They have a right to build wherever they want. And I'm going to be in the minority here, but I don't think it was insensitive either. Why should all muslims have to apologize for something terrible and evil a few radical ones did? Should all Christians apologize for Timothy McVeigh? Or do all Germans have to apologize for Hitler? I don't see how its really that insensitive. People from over 70 countries died that day. So I would suppose there were at least a few muslims that lost loved ones there as well. Besides, its really more of a community center than actual mosque. It will just have a place for prayer as well.
Also, it's two blocks away! Its not as though they're building right ON TOP of ground zero. How far away do people want them to go??
@In the media: I read on CNN yesterday one in FIVE Americans thinks he is Muslim. WTF?? First of all, WHO CARES??? Oh gosh...
It's two blocks away and it's a community center. Know what's closer to ground zero? Strip clubs.
I heard on the news there was something to do with the name of the center.... that it related to the name of a mosque/center in Spain that was built on a site of a former Catholic church and that one of the pillars of Jihad is to build a marker of triumph/success near a successful attack....
There are so many conflicting news reports that I am having trouble understanding the whole debate.
People in this country need to learn that "muslim" and "terrorist" are not synonyms.
Ok just have to throw my 2 cents in here... Did you know there is already a mosque that is there and they want to expand? Look it up, its true...
AND it is the United States, every one has the right to RELIGEOUS FREEDOM
It is actually not at ground zero. I think the press is making it way more than it is. In my opinion, it is a non-story.
However, I also think that blaming all muslims for what some insane terror group did is not ok. Our country needs to remember waht happened to thousands of Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor.
There are Muslims who are just as American as the rest of us and shouldn't be held responsible for what some maniacs did. And as far as a slap in the face...I think it would be a big "F.U." to those that DID hit those towers. We would be rubbing it in their faces that we have freedoms and choices that they do not have, and that we honor freedom of religion.
I think the mosque has a right to be there, is not connected to terrorism and should not be associated with terrorism. However, when I first heard the plan to build, I thought, why? There are hundreds of other things that could have been built there, why pick the one thing that is going to stir up controversy. It seems deliberate. Perhaps the developers are trying to promote understanding, but I don't know that it will have that effect or not. And sure, maybe it is a few blocks away or it's really a cultural center, but the public at large is not going to distinguish those things. Some people think its not insensitive, but other people think it is - and why do something so deliberate that will hurt people and stir up controversy and possibly more prejudice?
1 - it's not a mosque. it's a community center with prayer space and a culinary school. we like to make things sound more impressive in this country, even if we're lying.
2 - it's like, 4 blocks away from 'ground zero.' There are 3-4 churches closer to the site than the center would be.
3 - the name would be 45 Park Place. Sounds scary doesn't it?
4 - there's already a mosque near ground zero. it's been there since the 70s. it's across the street. no one seems to care or notice that it's a big deal. wtf would a community center several NYC blocks away matter or be insenstive? it wouldn't. we just don't like people who aren't just like us because they make us uncomfortable.
i'm still trying to figure out why if its only about building a mosque near ground zero, why are people picketing mosques and islamic centers in TN, CA, and WY?
@MightySapphire: Great point about the 9/11 "Inaugration" date. I think that bit of false info has a lot of people up in arms about this.
I think it's actually kind of cool. I would bet that at least some of the people killed that day were Muslims who practiced peacefully. We need more stories out there of people like that. It would be different if the mosque was an extremist branch, but it seems to be just a house of worship. Nothing wrong with that.
I'm a big fan of the first amendment, and feel that the Consititution isn't something that we can pick and choose to enforce in ways that suit our political agendas.
Freedom of religion is an inalienable right in this country and one of the many things that makes this country great.
There's already a mosque two blocks closer, so really I think this is a ginned up controversy designed to cause summer hysteria.
I'm so sad that anti-muslim sentiment is increasing to scary levels in this country. Yes, there are a small proportion of muslim extremists, but there are also Christian extremists etc. I think we should be mature enough to see the distinctions.
Intersting article from some 9/11 victims relatives http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100820/ap_on_re_us/us_nyc_mosque_families
@MightySapphire: Nice post. The sad thing is I bet so many people (in America, not the boards) who are against the idea would not even give a crap about the facts here.
I 100% agree with Mrs. DG. Freedom of religion means freedom of ALL religions. What does it say about us if we don't practice tolerance? Also, thanks to all who pointed out all the inaccuracies in the media that are stirring up this hysteria. I read an analogy in some article - to say that a Muslim center should not be built near Ground Zero b/c the 9/11 terrorists were Muslim is like saying a Catholic church should not be built near an elementary school b/c a small minority of priests molested boys. It's insanity.
So many thoughtful comments on this post. I think they should build it--not doing so would be in a way a "win" for fringe extremists who give their respective religions a bad name. Not building it would equate all Muslims with the radical faction that carried out the 9/11 attacks, and that is SO not the case and should never be. We all have much more in common than we realize!!
I do not have a problem with it at all. I think this is a great stepping stone to teach the children of America and the world that we as a country can rise above a devastating situation. I also think it is a great opportunity for us to take part in the saying “show me don’t tell me” this will be a great way to show the people of the Middle East that we do have a place for all religions and do not believe that all Muslims are terrorist and that we are not just saying this. Actions speak louder than words. We as a Country have a golden opportunity to show just how strong we are may it be to other terrorist who plan on doing harm or the Iraqi village who hears the news that this happening. This is a just one little step in gaining the trust and respect of the individuals in Iraq and Afghanistan who are currently and the fence not knowing if they want to join forces with the Military members over there and fight to get their countries back or if they would be better off joining against the Military
I don't have a problem with it at all. I don't really think it is insensitive either. But, I do understand why some people would be offended by it. There is a lot of misinformation out there and when people don't take the time to research the facts for themselves they tend to just go along with what the media tells them, which is rarely a good idea. When the media tells everyone how offensive something is, people tend to blindly follow.
I don't see a problem with it. Would it still be "insensitive" if a Catholic church were built there? Just a question.
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