Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Mosque near Ground Zero?

I was channel surfing and came across a stern Bill O'Reilly warning Nihad Awad that pursuing the building of a mosque near ground zero is a mistake. I can understand why an American would not want to see a mosque near ground zero or anywhere in lower Manhattan. O'Reilly actually made a good point, that no Japanese would even think of building a Japanese temple near Pearl Harbor. But Awad also made a good point by saying that Muslims were also victims on 9/11. The fact is that most victims of "Islamic terrorism" have been Muslims! Furthermore, the Qur'an instructs Muslims to respect Christians and Jews, not hijack their planes and fly them into their buildings.

However, out of respect for conservative Americans and for the victims of 9/11, and knowing that the money for the proposed project will likely come from KSA and maybe other Wahhabi-infested kingdoms, I believe it would be unwise for Muslims to insist on building a mosque near ground zero. Having said this, the actions of New Yorkers and mayor Bloomberg have already shown that Americans are quite tolerant of Islam and Muslims.

From the AP: 'A city panel Tuesday cleared the way for the construction near ground zero of a mosque that has caused a political uproar over religious freedom and Sept. 11 even as opponents vowed to press their case in court.

The Landmarks Preservation Commission voted unanimously to deny landmark status to a building two blocks from the World Trade Center site that developers want to tear down and convert into an Islamic community center and mosque. The panel said the 152-year-old lower Manhattan building isn't distinctive enough to be considered a landmark.

The decision drew praise from Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who stepped before cameras on Governor's Island with the Statue of Liberty as a backdrop shortly after the panel voted and called the mosque project a key test of Americans' commitment to religious freedom.

"The World Trade Center site will forever hold a special place in our city, in our hearts," said Bloomberg, a Republican turned independent. "But we would be untrue to the best part of ourselves, and who we are as New Yorkers and Americans, if we said no to a mosque in lower Manhattan." '

9 comments :

David All said...

I have to admit I have mixed feelings regarding a mosque near Ground Zero. The likiehood, as you point out Mojo, that financial backing will come from pro-Whhabi Saudi Arabia is a factor against it. On the other hand, Moslems were not only among the victims on 9/11 but also have been the leading victims of Islamist terrorists around the world. Finally the opposition of that demagougic bag of hot air, Bill O'Reilly inclines me to support the mosque.

Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi said...

David All and Iraqi Mojo, you might be interested in this essay I wrote on the planned Ground Zero mosque: http://comments.americanthinker.com/read/1/645732.html

Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi said...

Sorry:

http://comments.americanthinker.com/read/1/645732.html

Anand said...

Dolly, the syndicate of extremists in KSA, Gulfie states and Pakistan are the biggest security threat in the world today.

David All said...

Aymenn: That was an interesting article that you wrote. Thanks for linking to it. Reluctantly I agree with you that a mosque that close to ground zero is a bad idea, especially one built with Saudi money where Wahabbi extremism is likely to be preached. Still I do not like being on the same side as hate mongers like Glen Beck and Bill O'Reilly, though I suppose neither does the ADL.

Note: This is not exactly the same thing, a prayer room instead of a mosque, but it is in the Pentagon, which was also hit on 9/11 and where 170 people lost their lives.
Link to http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/08/05/muslims_infiltrate_pentagon

Hat tip to daily kos where the story is discussed at http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/8/6/890864/-Hey,-Tim:-What-about-the-Pentagon-mosque

C.H. said...

David,

Its interesting you think O'Reilly is a "hate-monger" but you praise the Daily Kos. The DK is as hateful as it gets.

David All said...

President Obama eloquently defends building a mosque at Ground Zero.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/8/13/892897/-President-Obama-defends-religious-freedom-for-all,-including-right-to-build-Ground-Zero-Mosque

Anonymous said...

Hi Iraqi Mojo...

I want to ask this:
Is there any church in KSA????
Do they allow to build 1 church there???

In my opinion,those who agreed about this project are insulting their people, Americans people.

By the way...
This is my blog:
www.easternliberty.com
My nickname is freedom.
Those who are in government would sell their religions for money!!!

Aton said...

"So the other night I announced plans to build a gay bar catering to Islamic men, near the proposed mosque site near Ground Zero."

http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/ggutfeld/2010/08/14/muslim-gay-bar-why-are-the-intolerant-preaching-tolerance/