Comments on: Bigots and the “Ground Zero Mosque”

By: Siah

Siah — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:31:41 +0000

“since Americans can’t build churches or synagogues in Afghanistan or Iran, why should Muslims be able to just build a mosque wherever they want?”

Seriously? Someone actually used this as an argument?

The amount of pompousness and ignorance wrapped up in that statement is revolting.

Its amazing how so many (white) American’s beleive that the whole world is their playground, so international restrictions couldn’t possibly apply to them.

By: BeckySharper

BeckySharper — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 18:27:57 +0000

This issue is more about emotions rather than logic anyway. My point exactly. You and others opposed to the Cordoba Center can't make policy or deprive your fellow citizens of their rights based on simply your emotions. Particularly when the emotions people are expressing, with respect to the Muslim-Americans involved, are bigoted and illogical.

By: Burl

Burl — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 18:21:41 +0000

Okay Becky. I’m not interested in debating it. This issue is more about emotions rather than logic anyway. That’s all I wanted to point out. Not everybody opposed to it is a racist ot bigot.

By: BeckySharper

BeckySharper — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 17:39:39 +0000

Why build a mosque near a strip joint? Because they want to. Why do you care? Typical handwaving. As for whether it's "hallowed ground"---there are many buildings in the neighborhood that were damaged on 9/11. They're not considered "hallowed ground." No one says the Brooks Brothers on Church St, or the American Express headquarters, which were used as a morgue after 9/11, shouldn't have been reopened. Or any of the other buildings that were damaged and rebuilt. Even the "hallowed ground" of the WTC site itself is now just a giant construction zone. Sorry, that argument doesn't fly. Do you live in New York? You don't seem to be very familiar with what that neighborhood looks like or what's happening at and around the WTC site. I’m not sure who gets to determine what is and is not hallowed ground; perhaps the voters. The voters, as represented by the community board in that neighborhood, had no problem with the Cordoba Center. The community board unanimously approved its construction.

By: Burl

Burl — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 17:13:46 +0000

Even more so to the point. Why build a mosque near a strip joint? There are several sources out there that say that the Burlington Coat Factory building sustained damaged from the initial attack.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2012638406_mosque17.html
Seems to be enough to qualify it in the same category to me, but then again, I’m not sure who gets to determine what is and is not hallowed ground; perhaps the voters.

By: BeckySharper

BeckySharper — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 16:01:32 +0000

@Burl: No, Burl, it’s not a complex issue. This cultural center is not being built on “hallowed ground”, so your analogies do not hold.

As I pointed out in my post and in the comments thread, the Cordoba Center is not on the site of the World Trade Center—it’s on a side street several blocks north next to a supermarket, a bar and a gym. There’s nothing “sacred” about that block at all. Hell, there’s even a strip joint down the street that’s closer to the “sacred ground” of Ground Zero than the Cordoba center. This is a simple case of anti-Muslim sentiment—a.k.a. bigotry—trying to overpower citizens’ right to freedom of religion.

Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.–John Adams

By: Burl

Burl — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 15:44:46 +0000

I think that narrowing this down to a few bigots and/or racists is over-simplifying a very complex issue. 9/11 was a devastating American tragedy. When something like this happens, emotions run extremely high, as in this case. Also keep in mind that this is not new. In the 1980’s three Carmelite nuns attempted to build a convent on the grounds of Auschwitz. This angered Jews world-wide and it became so controversial that the pope recalled the nuns. Then there’s our government that gives out licenses to build on Native American sacred lands like Bear Butte. At some point in this debate, people have failed to realize that this is about more than just a mosque. This is about land that is now considered “hallowed ground” and/or “sacred”. If this is indeed the case, then we should not build anything there in the same way that we ought to be respecting Native American lands. This is a very complex issue.
http://www.nps.gov/flni

By: rodriguez

rodriguez — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 22:45:07 +0000

also, JD & BearDown, that is so funny

By: rodriguez

rodriguez — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 22:44:13 +0000

http://www.scpr.org/programs/patt-morrison/2010/08/18/ground-zero-mosque/

Sam Harris and Reza Aslan discuss the Mosque/Cultural Center with Patt Morrison.

By: Christina

Christina — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 22:20:56 +0000

Superb, BeckySharper! You beautifully put my thoughts into words.