NewYorkers against Mosque built at Ground Zero

[Sherban Shabeel]

Originally posted by ailamos:

quote:Originally posted by *Ibtisam:

Ailamos: Are you offended

I think he was joking, dont be so sensative.

My bad if he was

it's lunch time and I've so far had a rough day at the office :rolleyes: ... besides I'm not a big fan of the European-inspired generalizations about the US...

I was half-joking. I am a European after all and don't see any problem with making sweeping generalizations about a country which makes sweeping generalizations about the entire world.

[ailamos]

^^LOL@"a country which makes sweeping generalizations about the entire world."

 

Stuff and nonesense ya Sherban. If you want to pinpoint, say Hollywood, say US foreign policy, not just "a country"... it's "a country" of 300 million viewpoints and opinions, coast to coast... about the same size as the Eurozone (16 countries)

 

There are always people who generalize about others, but you don't have to follow suite and do the same

[Sherban Shabeel]

I will take a respectful bow out of this argument because I don't want it to seem like I'm hating on the US.

 

I stand by my one viewpoint and opinion, which is that the US - although a nice country - is inferior to Europe in many, many ways.

[5]

Sherban, I'd be very interested in hearing in what ways.

[ailamos]

Originally posted by Sherban Shabeel:

I stand by my one viewpoint and opinion, which is that the US - although a nice country - is inferior to Europe in many, many ways.

^^^ ... I've lived in Europe and I personally prefer life there, but that doesn't mean the US has no merits of its own... so, I too, would like to hear your argument as to why Europe is superior to the US...

 

Please list your "many, many ways" here... go to Wikipedia if you must you're not getting off that easy

[Chimera]

The nerve is amazing, New York is a freaking large city, plenty of places to put it.

[SeeKer]

^Lol @ the nerve. Its not nerves but more they feel justified by their beliefs and American constitution.

 

Ailamos, Let sleeping dogs lie

 

Its amazing how many people I have met while traveling that as soon as they hear my accent have a certain idea about what I believe or think. Blah its the sole reason I just smile beguiling and let people talk till I can figure out what personality I am dealing with.

[Blessed]

It's not on Ground Zero.

 

Ibts.

The primary goal of a mosque is to establish salah so it is of use, Subxan Allah. I know what you mean about serving the community but the too should be to promote tawheed and develop the spirit..

[Ibtisam]

Blessed fine, establishing the prayer is all well and fine, but if it is just for that, then there is no need to plant it in a controversial area, it could be anywhere and I will only half object. BUT considering where it is being built, it needs to provide great service and answers to both Muslims and others who will either be drawn to it for one reason or another, and be able to defend itself from abuse and attack which it will get. It is only worth building if it will help the community provide answers or use it as platform or something. Otherwise is it really worth all the hostility and backlash Muslims will get? Can it even survive (assuming it goes ahead) if it is just a prayer hall/ mosque, without a structure, plan and purpose to sustain itself as the platform for the community and the pillar which supports it.

[Jacpher]

Originally posted by chocolate & honey:

There shouldnt be any Mosque anywhere near Ground Zero simply because it would incite

more hate.

What you mean more hate? Do you believe mosques in other parts of the city or country incite enough or acceptable hate and this particular one will incite more hatred? What do you know about the people planning this one to reach this conclusion?

 

Mosques are buildings like Churches, Synagogues and Temples. They are all built for the same purpose and the same people. People of faith use these buildings for worship. Not much difference except each adhere to different faith. One doesn't incite hate more than the other. One is not holier or acceptable than another religious institution in terms of the laws of the land at least from what I know. So I don't know how you can draw the analysis that a mosque in New York or else where is going to incite more hatred unless you believe mosques promote hate and intolerance. Would you also object other religious buildings anywhere near this place? Stop watching Fox News.

[Ibtisam]

^Why are you laying on her so much?? :eek: She explained herself in the post after. Miis waa iska kulushaey already?

[Ashkiro]

I don't think it's a good idea and don't see the point.

[Jacpher]

Ibti: I am lost at what you're talking about. What 'laying on her' and 'kulushahay' are we exactly talking about? Waan ka dhacsanahay.

[N.O.R.F]

A couple of blocks is quite a distance in NYC.

 

Nothing wrong with having a mosque there.

 

Ailamos, how many mosques in Manhattan?

 

 

Mosque to go up near New York's ground zeroBy Nicole Bliman, CNN

May 7, 2010 -- Updated 0719 GMT (1519 HKT)

 

New York (CNN) -- Plans to build a mosque two blocks away from ground zero have set off an emotional debate among area residents and relatives of victims of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.

 

Cordoba House project calls for a 15-story community center including a mosque, performance art center, gym, swimming pool and other public spaces.

 

The project is a collaboration between the American Society for Muslim Advancement and the Cordoba Initiative, both of which work to improve relations with followers of the religion.

 

The two groups presented their vision to part of the Community Board of lower Manhattan on Wednesday night.

 

Ro Sheffe, a board member who attended the meeting, said the project did not need to get the board's approval.

 

"They own the land, and their plans don't have any zoning changes," Sheffe said. "They came to us for our opinions and to let us know their plans. It was purely voluntary on their part."

 

The 12 members who were at the meeting voted unanimously to support the project. Community board members are appointed by the borough president and serve as advisers to the borough president and the mayor's office.

 

Daisy Khan, executive director of the Muslim society, described her vision of a center led by Muslims, but serving the community as a whole.

 

"It will have a real community feel, to celebrate the pluralism in the United States, as well as in the Islamic religion," Khan said. "It will also serve as a major platform for amplifying the silent voice of the majority of Muslims who have nothing to do with extremist ideologies. It will counter the extremist momentum."

 

The need for the center is twofold, Khan said, because it will support the needs of the growing Muslim community.

 

"The time for a center like this has come because Islam is an American religion," Khan said. "We need to take the 9/11 tragedy and turn it into something very positive."

 

Sheffe said a community center for lower Manhattan residents is "desperately needed." The area was mostly commercial, Sheffe said, but as more people move downtown, the lack of residential amenities is a problem.

 

The project got mixed reviews from families and friends of September 11 victims.

 

"I think it's the right thing to do," said Marvin Bethea, who was a paramedic at ground zero. "I lost 16 friends down there. But Muslims also got killed on 9/11. It would be a good sign of faith that we're not condemning all Muslims and that the Muslims who did this happened to be extremists. As a black man, I know what it's like to be discriminated against when you haven't done anything."

 

Herbert Ouida, whose son was killed in the attacks, supports the project as a way to bridge cultural divide.

 

"I understand the anger, the bitterness and hatred, but it only generates more hatred," Ouida said. "Such a large part of the world has this faith, and to say anyone who has this faith is a terrorist, it's terrible."

 

Others decried the idea of building a mosque so close to where their relatives died.

 

"Lower Manhattan should be made into a shrine for the people who died there," said Michael Valentin, a retired city detective who worked at ground zero. "It breaks my heart for the families who have to put up with this. I understand they're [building] it in a respectful way, but it just shouldn't be down there."

 

Others such as Barry Zelman said the site's location will be a painful reminder.

 

"[The 9/11 terrorists] did this in the name of Islam," Zelman said. "It's a sacred ground where these people died, where my brother was murdered, and to be in the shadows of that religion, it's just hypocritical and sacrilegious. "

 

However, Khan emphasized that the attacks killed Muslims, too.

 

"Three hundred of the victims were Muslim, that's 10 percent of the victims," she said. "We are Americans too. The 9/11 tragedy hurt everybody including the Muslim community. We are all in this together and together we have to fight against extremism and terrorism."

 

Cordoba House is still in its early stages of development. The American Society for Muslim Advancement is hoping to raise funds for the center to be completed in three to five years.

 

CNN.com

[ailamos]

^^ Norf, not sure of the exact number, but see here: http://www.islamicfinder.org/locate.php?ziporcity=10021&dist=20&lang=english