NY Mosque

[kootenay]

I was just watching the interview of the Iman of the NY faith center to be built on CNN. Just wondering what everyones opinion is. On the face of it it appears to be an issue of Freedom of religion and the separation of Church and state. It also appears to me that Americans appear to have for the most part abandoned greatly their support for freedom of religion. Fear has it appears taken over and between burning Qura'n's and banning mosques they seem to want to harm their own image and goals in the M.E. ?

The fear is that this makes it worse for both US and Canadian Soldiers in Afghanistan.

[nightowle]

sounds to me like we're going down a path similar to interning Japanese Americans during WWII. Not a well thought out path to take for the long term. At the same time, I understand the pain of those that lost love ones in the towers. They certainly can have input on this. The rest of us that may be opposed are just flapping yet again about things that may well be inconsequential.

[ssneade]

it's not just a point of freedom of religion. you know how many mosques are currently operated in the United States? hundreds, i assure you. it's a point of allowing the radical sect of a religion to build a place of celebration of a successful attack on the "infidel" at the location of said attack........

and then you have idiots like terry jones down in florida fanning the flames of hatred even hotter. i thought the government could make this self serving freak dissapear......

also you have a media in this country that feels it's only chance of survival is to sensationalize what's trivial and spread fear among the general public. sure there is freedom of the press too, but they should be held accountable for their actions if their actions cause harm to innocents......

[St Anna]

Hiya Sneadey, how are you?
I wonder if I could quote you?? [rhetorical Q = pm if u wish]

[PBzeer]

First of all, no one is "banning" mosques. The builders of the (now renamed Park51) Cordoba Initiative have been asked to choose a different location (though some think the government should stop them from building there). Most people though are aware that they have every legal right to build there. (Just as the wacko in Florida has the legal right to burn Korans).

Both are constitutionally legal. Both are deliberate provocations. So while legally right, they are morally wrong.

[RAGNAR]

Originally Posted by ssneade

it's not just a point of freedom of religion. you know how many mosques are currently operated in the United States?

Two thousand, most of which were built after 9/11. Three such projects are currently being held up, as the people behind them have track records even our government can't ignore.

That's a far, far better record of tolerance and adherence to principle than you'll find just about anywhere else.

[kootenay]

Originally Posted by ssneade

it's not just a point of freedom of religion. you know how many mosques are currently operated in the United States? hundreds, i assure you. it's a point of allowing the radical sect of a religion to build a place of celebration of a successful attack on the "infidel" at the location of said attack........
......

Only problem I have with that statement is the characterizeation of this Moslem group as "the radical sect of a religion" as it doesnt fit with any information I can find on the fellow in charge. Below is one article flr example;

Even so, the project stirs complicated emotions, and Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is a complex figure who defies easy categorization in the American Muslim world.
He's devoted much of his career to working closely with Christians, Jews and secular leaders to advance interfaith understanding. He's scolded his own religion for being in some ways in the "Dark Ages." Yet he's also accused the U.S. of spilling more innocent blood than al-Qaida, the terrorist network that turned the World Trade Center, part of the Pentagon and four hijacked airplanes to apocalyptic rubble.

FACT CHECK: Islam already lives near ground zero - Yahoo! News

Now you may not agree with the second statement he is reported to have made about the US spilling innocent blood but he clearly isnt one of the radical sects represented by Al qaida. If you simply look at the number of "collateral casualties" in Iraq the statement is simply factual. In his appearance on CNN he seemed exactly what should be needed to begin to heal the rift between America and Islam. Its a shame this issue ha served to worsen the situation and has placed the US in such a horrible PR position. The folks at Al Qaida Inc must be wringing their hands in glee.

I totally agree with you on the role of the media. Its too bad they cant be held to account.

[w1651]

Does anyone remember what common courtesy is anymore?

Common courtesy dictates you don't put a mosque where 3000 people were murdered by members of your religion because they were not members of your religion.
As for the Ahole in Florida. He has the right to burn Qurans just don't get to close to that idiot when he lights the fire.
Does anyone really believe that Muslems won't look out at the hole in the ground and praise Allah for the killing of the infidels while walking into their mosque? They will be coming from all over the world to do that.