The battle over the Ground Zero mosque has gone way beyond sensible.
Those angry protestors need to realize that there is, as I have written in the past, the potential that good can come from this mosque and community center. The real test will come in 20 years when we look back. Will this mosque and community center really promote relations or will it be viewed by Muslims as a symbol of victory and a center for moving America toward Islamic rule? We can’t know the answer today.
In addition, the mosque will be two blocks from Ground Zero, not directly on Ground Zero.
Folks, We the People have a choice now regarding America’s future relationship with the Islamic world; we can continue the current war with no end in sight, or we can help Americanize Muslims who can then speak to the rest of the Muslim world about peace and about all that Muslims can gain by joining the 21st century.
As for mosque supporters – to deny that there are legitimate reasons to be concerned about the presence of an Islamic center so close to, and placed deliberately close to, Ground Zero is to completely deny reality. While it is true that the 9/11 terrorists did not represent all Muslims, there was an awful lot of celebration from the Muslim world when the towers went down. Those terrorists represented far too many people, many of whom live here in the USA. That is nothing more nor less than a fact.
Further, calling opponents racists is a narrow minded approach by people who are more often projecting their own views as opposed to intelligent commentary on the motives of opponents.
We the People need to debate the Ground Zero mosque and Islamic center with grace, critical thinking, and a long term focus on how we achieve the ability to share the planet with Muslims. As I write this, that style of debate is not happening.
{ 15 comments }
http://groundzeromosquetheamericanway.blogspot.com/
I am by no means in favor of the proposed Mosque for many reasons. However, that being said, one of the primary reasons I am skeptical is that the Imam himself was the first to call this the “Ground Zero Mosque”. Only later did he change the moniker. I believe this, combined with the erection of mosques as the routine historical Islamic sign of victory, signifies that this should not happen at this site.
And why not just build elsewhere? I mean, really, why not? That would more greatly signify “peace” and “bridge-building” in a far more palatable manner. As it stand now, it’s not “bridge-building”. It is not. It is grossly divisive and an obvious power struggle.
Those angry protestors need to realize that there is, as I have written in the past, the potential that good can come from this mosque and community center.
Yes the potential that the mosque may lead to some good is there but the potential that it will lead to something bad and terrible (like creating more terrorists) is also there and more likely to occur.
The real test will come in 20 years when we look back. Will this mosque and community center really promote relations or will it be viewed by Muslims as a symbol of victory and center for moving America toward Islamic rule? We can’t know the answer today but the risk is too high.
Muslim terrorists have already been developed and recruited in the US. We do not have to allow the facilities for our own extermination because of “tolerance”
In addition, the mosque will be two blocks from Ground Zero, not directly on Ground Zero.
The landing gear of one of the planes fell on that exact building and that makes it part of ground zero.
Folks, We the People have a choice now regarding America’s future relationship with the Islamic world; we can continue the current war with no end in sight, or we can help Americanize Muslims who can then speak to the rest of the Muslim world about peace and about all that Muslims can gain by joining the 21st century.
The so called “good Muslims” have been silent and have allowed the current war to develop and have often even supported it morally and with financing. You have the issue reversed. For the Muslims it is about Islamizing the US.
As for mosque supporters – to deny that there are legitimate reasons to be concerned about the presence of an Islamic center so close to, and placed deliberately close to, Ground Zero is to completely deny reality. While it is true that the 9/11 terrorists did not represent all Muslims, there was an awful lot of celebration from the Muslim world when the towers went down. Those terrorists represented far too many people, many of whom live here in the USA. That is nothing more nor less than a fact.
That is why the “silent majority of good Muslims” cannot be depended on for stopping the radicals.
Further, calling opponents racists is a narrow minded approach by people who are more often projecting their own views as opposed to intelligent commentary on the motives of opponents.
We the People need to debate the Ground Zero mosque and Islamic center with grace, critical thinking, and a long term focus on how we achieve the ability to share the planet with Muslims. As I write this, that style of debate is not happening. No that style of debate cannot happen.
As long as Muslims follow their religion by lying to infidels for the promotion of Islam they can never be trusted. It is sad but their own religion really makes all sincere debate, discussions and agreements invalid.
It’s hard to believe the imam was acting in good faith when he decided to build a community center without reaching out to the community. And just what is this project anyway? Is it a mosque or is it a community center? If it’s a mosque designed to serve Muslims, they can build it wherever they want and that’s it. Freedom of religion and all that. But if it’s a community center, there is no freedom of religion protection involved, and the imam should be responsive to the community he says he wants to serve.
No “Confederate heritage celebration” at the Birmingham church bombing.
No “Libertarian activism seminar” at the Oklahoma City bombing memorial.
No “Weimar cultural museum” at Auschwitz
No “Islamic community center” at Ground Zero
If you want to prove your movement or organization has nothing to do with a crime against humanity, why on earth would you put it on display right in front of the scene of that crime? Have some common decency and common sense. Build the mosque somewhere else.
i do not support a mosque near ground zero!! remember on 9/11 how all those muslims were dancing in the streets becuz of what happened, well lets not forget. I know all muslims are not bad but they have to understand that there people are the ones that messed it up for them.
I say this, all these terroists like to release videos threating to kill us, well if this mosque gets built, i say all americans make threats againts this mosque and the people who go there. See how they like to have people threaten them.
i say that we threaten that mosque and the people who go their if it gets built.. see how they like it when americans give them a tatse of their own medicine.
Some people believes that this mosque may work like a bridge between Islamic World and USA. I think better option would be USA declare itself a Islamic Unites states. This will surely make all problems solved. If we start Sharia law here our enemies will be friend! No more fighting and no more jihad! If we demolish some church, synagogue and build minarets on them, I believe Muslim world will be happy. If we do that I am sure, 20 years from now we can prosecute today’s protesters under Sharia law.
Would building the mosque three or twenty blocks away make any real difference with respect to the potential for terrorist activity? Are the inflamed passions based on symbolism and emotion rather than risk probability? If the core of the arguments are symbolic and emotional…there’s an easy solution. Just suck it up! Both sides.
In fact, I believe the answer lies in dialogue about the source and “realities” of the arguments on both sides. We know what “sucking it up” has done for forwarding the resolution of racial animosities in the U.S. All Muslims are not terrorists anymore than all terrorists that have done significant emotional and physical harm in our country are Muslims…or Christians. Let’s figure out what makes a terrorist and address the real problem.
“That is why the “silent majority of good Muslims” cannot be depended on for stopping the radicals.”
maybe the silent majority are too afraid and are waiting for the rest of america to help them with their voice…not all muslims are for this place but most are afraid to speak out
irshad can tell you about speaking in detroit and groups of muslims coming up to her after the cameras have gone…when asked why they didn’t speak in front of the cameras they said , irshad you get to leave detroit and go home but we have to stay here…now this is in detroit not some backward village in pakisatn… muslims are afraid for their life if they speak out against radical islam here in the usa….what’s wrong with this picture?
we should support irshad and her fellow muslims who are trying to eradicate radical isalm…problem is the imam of the community center not mosque not at ground zero is not one of them
http://www.irshadmanji.com/
YES!! YES!! Exactly. This is true too with Israeli and Palestinian relations. Moderate Muslims need support to stand up to Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, Syria, etc.
an excerpt from the new book she is writting
” I’ll explain why good-hearted non-Muslims should risk offending. Their willingness to bust deadly silences can encourage reformist Muslims to speak up, too.”
can’t find an edit button
“Bottom line: Liberal Muslims need the support of liberal non-Muslims. And the future of liberal democracy needs us all.”
The winner is going to lose. If Muslims win by building the mosque, Islam will lose due to the hatred and anger it’s going to gain from this victory. If the majority of Americans ( 66% or something like that) won by stopping the mosque, America lost; one as a free country with absolute freedom of religion. Two, this will empower the illusion extremist muslims live by that there is actually a religious collision between Muslims and Christians with the latter led by the USA. Sadly, this kind of empowerment could be seen as more recruitment of young Muslims to support Islam that is supposedly attacked.
Personally, I’m against the idea of initiating it. We know that many (apparently most) Americans are having a hard time detaching muslims from terrorism but they’re politely giving us the benefit of the doubt. But to provoke that and put Americans to the test is just a too harsh provoking. But now that’s on the table and damage is already done, I’m against any kind of cancel, change or compromise because any of that will strengthen the false ideology that Islam and terrorism are one and thus, the authorities have pushed it back a little bit.
The original planned opening for the mosque is 9/11/11, the 10 year annivesary of the terrorist attacks. I will say that shows absolutely no respect for where they want to build. (See all the media hoopla about the 5-year anniversary of Katrina).
If it does go up, maybe Bloomberg can force this to be built by NYC construction unions only. Fill in your own punchline.