Originally Posted By DAR <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20100803/ts_csm/317733_1" target="_blank">http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20...317733_1</a> I do believe in religious freedom in thsi country so if they want to build then fine. But I completely understand New Yorkers being upset over this. So my solution is let's put a synagogue there too. A Christian church. A Buddist temple. Hindu too. Heck build a center for atheists to go to.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan I think it's okay to build a mosque in the area not because of the 9/11 hijackers, but in spite of them. Building a mosque in the area is not a victory for the hijackers -- they hated America and what it stands for, and their attacks killed people of many different faiths. The hijackers were hardline fundamentalists. So, a mosque being built there, especially if it is open to all as promised, shows that America is strong enough to stand by its principles of religious freedom and has not been "terrorized" into abandoning those principles.
Originally Posted By DAR ^^Like I said I'm closer to your reasoning but I certainly understand and sympathize with those who don't want this.
Originally Posted By fkurucz I agree with what Kar2oonman said. However, it is likely that the terrrorists will perceive this as a victory nonetheless.
Originally Posted By Disneyland55 If they do build there, I suspect they will fall victim to vandalism, protests, and threats. You'd think they would build somewhere else just because it may be more trouble than it's worth.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>However, it is likely that the terrrorists will perceive this as a victory nonetheless.<< Perhaps, but it's a no-win game trying to worry about what terrorists perceive. They'll view everything through their nutty prism anyway. We can't allow ourselves to dance to their tune. Instead, stick to our own ideals because we know better, frankly, than a bunch of nuts. I can understand at one level why people would feel upset about a mosque, but it takes strength not to give in to that sort of prejudice. During our visit to New York last summer, I found the idiots hawking their 9/11 conspiracy theory books and videos right at the WTC to be more disgraceful, disgusting and disrespectful than a mosque would be. But, it's a free speech thing, and people are free to sound like unhinged loons if they want to.
Originally Posted By gadzuux >> But I completely understand New Yorkers being upset over this. << The members of this mosque are New Yorkers too. And it was religious intolerance that was at the root of 9/11 itself. Certain factions of muslims want a holy war. Certain christian factions are only too happy to give it to them - many of them in positions of leadership within our own military. We need to rise above both extremes, live our ideals, and slap down the fundies on either side.
Originally Posted By ChurroMonster It's not a mosque. It's a Muslim community center. It will not look like a mosque. There will be no minarets and no public calls for prayer. This is another case of the media creating a story out of nothing.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>It's not a mosque. It's a Muslim community center. It will not look like a mosque. There will be no minarets and no public calls for prayer. This is another case of the media creating a story out of nothing.<< Ah, that's different.
Originally Posted By Labuda Two things. First, replace the wrod terrorists here with Tea Partiers, Republicans, or Conservatives - i.e., those who have taken the Republican Party hostage: Perhaps, but it's a no-win game trying to worry about what terrorists perceive. They'll view everything through their nutty prism anyway. We can't allow ourselves to dance to their tune. Instead, stick to our own ideals because we know better, frankly, than a bunch of nuts. And, secondly, I certainly hope post 9 was a joke. Please assure me it was just humor, Longhorn! PLEASE!!!
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones I don't care if it's built or not, but I wouldn't step foot in there. I'm afraid of what American terrorists might do.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy This "mosque" isn't even really at Ground Zero. It's several blocks away. You can't see Ground Zero from the site. And, as stated above, the facility isn't even really a mosque. This is a scenario that is entirely made up of hyperbole by right wing political hate groups in order to raise money for their continued efforts to hate people.
Originally Posted By tiggertoo Actually, I think building a mosque at ground zero is a great idea. That way, every time a would-be terrorist walks out of the mosque, he'll see the resiliency of the American spirit embodied in the Freedom Towers. If fact, Americans should demand they place it right across the street with the doors facing the new towers.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney ^^Well said! The thing isnt even AT the site, so what's the issue exactly? It sounds like much ado about nothing. And I agree with K2M, putting a mosque or a community center, whatever, it tells the morons who hit the towers that regardless American values remain strong and that diversity and tolerance will win out in the face of hate and evil time and time again. What better way to express that than this? People should be supporting this BECAUSE they are Americans, not fighting it!
Originally Posted By Longhorn12 >So what's the issue exactly? It sounds like much ado about nothing.< It is much ado about nothing, but you have to take this from the republican/hick side. "OMG THOSE BROWN ARAB ISLAM FOLKS WHO HATE JESUS AND AMERICAN AND GOD AND MONEY AND KILLED DEM GOOD PEOPLE IN THE TOWERS ARE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING! THIS MUST BE A SECRET AL-QAEDA TO DESTROY ALL THAT IS GOOD IS THIS WORLD!"
Originally Posted By imadisneygal ^^^If you had spelled a few more of those words incorrectly I'd swear Granny was back in the house!
Originally Posted By tiggertoo The sad thing is, there was no hyperbole in post #17. Read some of the comments on the Yahoo news threads. It's bleeping scary.
Originally Posted By barboy2 For all those who find this Islamic center near the fallen towers acceptable would you take issue if the Westboro Baptist Church(Phelps & Co.) set up a more permanent camp very near the fence where Shepard died outside of Laramie, Wyoming? Or what if Westboro decided to occupy office space or erect their own building very near Dr. Tilden's Women's Health Care Services in Wichita, KS. Kar2oon, I'm really thinking of you on this one because your ***America is strong enough to stand by its principles of religious freedoms*** is so very moving. So does your proclamation cover less popular or contoversial faiths as well or does it only apply to the Islamic faith?
