Know that mosque in Lower Manhattan the far right's been bloviating about all week?

[KamaAina]

Guess what?

It's NOT A MOSQUE!!!!

http://dnainfo.com/20100520/manhattan/politicians-rally-against-tea-party-bashing-of-world-trade-center-mosque#ixzz0p5qQ2O9l

Stringer and other politicians stood together outside the former Burlington Coat Factory building on Park Place, where the Cordoba Initiative hopes to build a $100 million, 13-story community center with Islamic, interfaith and secular programming, similar to the 92nd Street Y. (that's Young Men's Hebrew Association, not YMCA, by the way -Ed.)...

Rauf said emphatically that the center was “not a mosque. Though it will contain space for up to 2,000 Muslims to pray, it will also host many athletic and cultural events, possibly including the Tribeca Film Festival, he said. The Cordoba House may also include a memorial to those killed on 9/11.

Aww, poor widdle right-wing crackpots. Guess they'll have to go back to defending BP or immigrant-bashing or something. :eyes:

[arcane1]

1. Nor is it "at ground zero" but who needs facts? n/t

[aquart]

2. Uh, you know nothing about Ground Zero then.

The Burlington Coat Factory on Park Place was well in the debris field. There was no way to get near any of those businesses. Not for weeks, months on end. Businesses that had been in place for decades failed. And newer ones like my uncle's law practice on Chambers.

And I'm truly impressed that it's NOT A MOSQUE but lots of space to pray in.

The memorial to 9/11 is really touching. The only real memorial is at St. Paul's. Where the rescue workers slept in shifts and drank coffee. Where the remains of the tree that took the blow that may have saved the church can still be seen. But it's nice that the non-mosque plans to be so thoughtful.

[arcane1]

4. I presumed "ground zero" was the actual WTC site

if not, I stand corrected.

[aquart]

9. Yeah. The big hole.

Except it was so much more. The statue in the Liberty Street park survived, but they found it blocks uptown. I know because I asked someone where it was. They put it back, but in a different corner. And when I finally saw it again...

The tourists go to the big hole. I go to St. Paul's. With such gratitude that my city was able to keep its history. They built better back when.

[jberryhill]

6. So, do those Americans have your permission to develop their property? /nt

[aquart]

10. Sure, Rand Paul. Private property rights are absolute.

Go there by all means necessary.

BTW, did they buy the property at a good price because so many businesses failed because of the months of ash?

My sister feels that perhaps they're trying to show their own a different path. I applaud that. And I am still offended.

[jberryhill]

11. Who is this "they" of which you speak?

Are you offended that American soldiers who are Muslim, and who have died fighting for this country in Iraq and Afghanistan, are entitled to be buried in national cemetaries and have their markers bear a crescent moon?

We were not attacked by "Islam" on 9/11 any more than the KKK is a "Christian" group. You have no problem with Christian churches being built in towns where blacks were lynched by the Klan. What is the difference here?

Someone who prays five times a day is hardly someone to fear.

There are a billion Muslims in the world leading ordinary peaceful lives. What is it that "their own" need to learn?

We were not attacked by Americans on 9/11, and Americans are free to practice the religion of their choice. Your notion of being an "American" by taking offense to other's rights suggests YOU have more in common with the terrorists than the people building this community center.

One of the things I love about America is reflected in the local Oktoberfest held at the German club in my town. The German club is across the street from the mosque, and doesn't have enough parking. So, during Oktoberfest, the mosque lets people use its parking lot. That's my America, you should visit sometime.

[KonaKane]

3. I dont care if it was a mosque or not.

It has every much a right to be there as any other house of worship. Islam didn't kill people on 9/11/2001. Some crazy people did. Remember that.

[Scuba]

7. Much easier to just think "we're good, they're evil"...

...than to actually examine the issues and understand what is going on in the world. We invaded Iraq when Saudi terrorists took down the twin towers. Same logic applies here.

[Scurrilous]

5. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Dappleganger]

8. The bigotry is blinding.

It blinded some on this site as well. :(

[jberryhill]

12. I'm simply awestruck that the First Amendment isn't "American" to some

It's simply amazing that celebrating the First Amendment and our most cherished freedoms embodied therein is "offensive" to some.

In America you are free to be a Christian, Jew, Atheist, Wiccan, Muslim, Hindu, or whatever.

The terrorists attacked us because they don't like that sort of thing.