There are very few times in my life when I have been truly ashamed to be a New Yorker. Mayor Bloomberg has managed to make that happen.
So in case you were interested in my opinion …
I cannot think of a better way to promote anger, resentment and hate towards those of the Muslin faith than the proposed Mosque at “ground zero”.
Bloomberg’s actions can only be explained as a result of possible malpractice at his Bris with a cut somewhat closer to the body.
This plan is akin to saying we need a memorial to Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich adjacent to the Holocaust Museum in DC.
Evil accepted is Evil Condoned –
Wheat
Except, its not a mosque, it’s not at ground zero and we live in America not Israel.
That pesky First Amendment again.
Sorry to disagree. Glad to see you back. We’ve had the suckiest spring/summer on record.
Love to The Henry. And, of course, to you.
I agree with you, Wheat, and make no apologies for it. This would be a travesty of the first order. I had a good friend for many years who converted to the Muslim faith several years before 9/11; in our discussions during her conversion, this is just the kind of ‘shove it in our face’ thing that Muslims do after an action of the kind done on 9/11. The main point being, Americans forget and get on with their lives; Muslim extremists are in this for the long haul. This will go on for many, many years.
So, let’s tear down any catholic/christian churches near OK city, too. fair is fair, right?
I agree completely. What is wrong with putting it a few blocks further away? That real estate must cost a big chunk of change and it seems definitely to be a poke in the eye sort of thing.
I happen to like the various excuses – it’s not part of the 9/11 site (but one of the plane’s engines landed there. so seems to me it _is_ part of the site)….and about “only the extremists made up the terrorists” well, if it’s true, why can’t the moderates say “sorry about those a-holes, we will build elsewhere”…
oh course, this is America, free speech, etc, etc, but seriously, this is wrong…
While I am not aware that McVeigh ever claimed his actions were religiously motivated ….
No, I do NOT think existing structures should be torn down, but I might be less upset if the City of NY was as willing not allow St Nick’s to be rebuilt – it is as much the double standard as the emotional knee jerk that is upsetting to me.
The people who attacked the WTC were not Muslims attacking Christians, they were Muslims attacking America. For us to respond as if the only salient fact was that they were Muslim, is to turn the entire issue into a religious war. I fail to see how that is in any way an American value.
We built this country on pluralism. Unless you also condone attacking the Christian faith for the actions of some, you cannot justify the attacks on Muslims individually, let alone on Islam as a whole.
Ground Zero is the location directly under an atomic blast. The use by Rudy Giuliani to forward his political career was just one more despicable act in a long series.
Before anyone says anything, you should know that 1) I come from a long line of Jews, and we lost an entire branch of the family, some 120 men women and children, to pogroms before we could get them out (no thanks to the anti-Semites running our country at the time) and 2, I had been offered a job at the WTC some weeks before the attack: I knew dozens of people who worked there, and was at least very friendly with many. Also 2 of the firefighters who were killed and several who have lasting effects are/were friends.
St Nick’s was built un-permitted, and the parish seems to be unwilling to bring the structure up to code, as it would be too expensive.
First, according to their own statements, they were Muslims, involved in a Jihad against those who did not share their faith.
And while I would agree that more harm than good has often come from seemingly religious motivation than not, we might agree that much of that harm comes from the misuse of that religion.
Having known RG for about 35 years, yes, he always made sure what he did would be politically useful, but he also did much good in his career up to and IMNHO including Sept 2001.
St Nick’s was in place LONG before the Trade Center, I would have to check, but suspect it meet all applicable codes when build in the early 1920′s.
We all lost friends and family and close associates that day – so I never question you or anyone else on the sincerity of your feelings.
Additionally, I have written about the several Muslim physicians, beginning in 1954, to whom I owe my life.
We just are going to have to agree to disagree and I admit possibly more for emotional than rational reasons.
Take Good Care
Wheat
P.S. in case you are wondering, I would classify the Floridan minister planning to burn copies of the Koran to be extremely wrong – even worse than burning a US flag.
Note from Wheat: It is my policy to approve any comment so long as it is written in g-rated language.
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Unedited comment left by Cass follows:
Comparing a Muslim community center and mosque to a memorial to Hitler is sick and twisted, and a signal that you have no absolutely nothing to substantiate your position other than bigotry and hate. Muslims died in the attacks, too. And those who would restrict the religious freedoms of others do not deserve their own.
As noted earlier, my opposition is likely more related to emotional than rational reasons.
On the other hand, if concern about the intent and intentions of those who would support terror and the goals of the Jihad is sick and twisted, then I am pleased to be so described.
Wheat