THINQon : Ground zero mosque

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Mark Opal

Ground zero mosque

Latest Post: October 24, 2010 at 11:55 PM

13 followers

Harry Reid thought it wise to throw his cents into the jar regarding the debate over the mosque at ground zero. This comes three days after Obama gave his staunch support for a 5 story mosque a block away from the September 11 attacks. A pretty drastic fall outta party line for the top ranking Democratic senator. Something about an election no doubt.

But am I mistaken or isn't the debate hardly a debate at all? Why should there be any doubt? Setting aside for the moment all freedom of religious practice promised to us in the constitution, it's just downright hateful to ban the construction of a mosque just because it is feet away from the site of a terrorist act perpetrated by Muslim extremists more charged politically than religiously.

If anything the construction of this mosque so close to ground zero should be testament to the dominating American spirit of acceptance and understanding. By censoring the right to religion we are merely reinforcing the boundaries that the terrorists wanted to impose with their heinous act. Those who oppose its construction only serve to add fuel to the larger fire. It was not the work of Islam that crashed planes into America that day and to block this mosque will only alienate us further with the larger Muslim population. A population that exceeds a billion the world over.

Why should such hate exist? And what's worse is how politicized a non-political matter has become. This isn't an issue to be argued across party lines, in fact it shouldn't be an issue at all for anyone who considers themselves an American.

This post is referenced by the following other contributors:

George Steel

in "Ground zero mosque / The Koran burning controversy"

(The Living Room)

Jeanne Vanessa de St-Blanquat sent kudos.

Reply to:

George Steel

August 17, 2010 at 2:29 AM

7 followers

I personally don't have an opinion on the matter as I haven't thought about it, as the main question seems to be why do it, but I did want to bring up Obama's statements on the matter. Was that really the issue to fight about? The democrats will lose a lot of votes because of this as this is not a rational matter. It is about emotions, and seems incendiary to many people. (Connected to the topic of Thinking clearly when upset). I also wouldn't open a flight school or air museum there though pilots or flying in general are not to blame. Obama avoids so many important and righteous fights that you have to wonder why did he choose this one.

It's not about what he said, he tried later to "fix it" with voters by saying that the fact that he thinks they should be allowed to build it doesn't mean they should build it there, but did he really have to enter this discussion? Was this the correct fight to choose for him, while ignoring so many others? You have to wonder what's going on there. Will this be last feather to cost several democratic senators their seats?

(As an aside. I haven't thought on the matter to have an opinion, but why would you open a mosque there? Because you can? In order to tell people it is not the fault of Muslims or Islam? Most people know that, and those who don't won't be persuaded by this. On the other hand you hurt so many people by doing this. It really does seem incendiary, though I agree with you Mark that they obviously have the right to do so. Again, maybe there are many great reasons why a mosque should be built there, I don't know.)

This post is referenced by the following other contributors:

George Steel

in "Ground zero mosque / The Koran burning controversy"

(The Living Room)

Reply to: or

Tara Lee

In response to George Steel

August 17, 2010 at 5:04 PM

2 followers

I think the Islamic community should be allowed to build their Cultural Center. It is not really a Mosque (as a Mosque is a sacred space to worship) this structure will have a prayer room, a gym, classrooms and the like. I think they are also opening a cooking school. To deny this group the ability to build a structure on private land simply because of actions carried out by actors who embody the worst of their religion smacks of intollerance and is directly against the religious freedoms this country was founded on.

Location wise, is it provacative?

Yes and No.

Yes because the location is within the lower Manhattan area where the towers once stood.

No, because it is many blocks away, in a parcle of land that has not been used since 9/11, in a region that desperately needs regrowth. It is also south of the former towers an area that no one who goes to visit the towers/memorial is likely to see.

With respect to Obama, as he was presiding over a celebration of an Islamic holiday it makes sense that he made the statemets that he did, should he have? It was risky, but necessary as the objections to this building seem to be based purely on hatred of a religion, and not for any other reason.

I was a witness and a victim on 9/11, I was a few blocks away and ended the day covered in the dust of the destruction of the towers. Even though I feared for my life, and even though I lost friends, I feel we would loose more as a country if we blocked the building of this cultural center.

George Steel sent kudos.

Reply to: or

Andrew Esch

In response to George Steel

August 17, 2010 at 11:48 PM

15 followers

As an aside. I haven't thought on the matter to have an opinion, but why would you open a mosque there? Because you can?

They certainly can. No one in the mainstream Right is denying it. Which I think may put us ahead of parts of Europe in terms of religious tolerance - see Switzerland's Minaret Ban, and France's (possible/probable) upcoming burqa ban. OK, I'm done with the jingoism.

I frequent some conservative blogs (always interesting to see how the right wing is caricaturing themselves), and they are hammering this story hard - what a great distraction/wedge issue for the midterms! ...never mind the collateral damage.

It's a community center, really. And there is another (actual) mosque already in place about 5-6 blocks from Ground Zero. The proposed project is the site of a former Men's Wearhouse... hardly hallowed ground. And this is NYC, where notably most people support going ahead with it - where are the states rights/local government people on this issue...? There are literally thousands of businesses in the immediate vicinity of Ground Zero. Jon Stewart of course nails it with his analysis, which I am parroting to an extent. Recommended viewing - http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-august-16-2010/mosque-erade

However, you're not alone in wondering. Some Muslim writers have questioned the project, noting among other things that the building is now on the political radar, and will be closely watched and used for fearmongering. If the leaders (or followers, or guest speakers, or whoever they are raising the $100 million from - that will be interesting to find out... etc.) ever have any questionable connections, there will be a destructive xenophobic mudfight.

Here are links to Muslim writers not so keen on the mosque. The second seems to be part of the right-wing/fox news noise machine. Seems that two enterprising Muslims found a way to bleed money out of the xenophobes. Ingenious.

http://www.aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=2&id=21980
http://www.aifdemocracy.org/news.php?id=6131