Plan for mosque near World Trade Center site moves ahead

[The Witch]

Plan for mosque near World Trade Center site moves ahead

"A proposal to build a mosque steps from Ground Zero received the support of a downtown committee despite some loved ones of 9/11 victims finding it offensive.The 13-story mosque and Islamic cultural center was unanimously endorsed by the 12-member Community Board 1's financial district committee.
The $100 million project, called the Cordoba House, is proposed for the old Burlington Coat Factory building at Park Place and Broadway, just two blocks from the World Trade Center site.
"I think it will be a wonderful asset to the community," said committee Chairman Ro Sheffe.

A rendering of the mosque presented to Manhattan's Community Board 1 Financial District Committee.

Imam Feisel Abdul Rauf, who helped found the Cordoba Initiative following the 9/11 attacks, said the project is intended to foster better relations between the West and Muslims.
He said the glass-and-steel building would include a 500-seat performing arts venue, a swimming pool and a basketball court. "There's nothing like it," said Rauf, adding that facilities will be open to all New Yorkers.
Daisy Khan, executive director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement and Cordoba Initiative board member, said the project has received little opposition.
"Whatever concerns anybody has, we have to make sure to educate them that we are an asset to the community," Khan said.

Khan said her group hopes construction on the project will begin by the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
Once built, 1,000 to 2,000 Muslims are expected to pray at the mosque every Friday, she said.
No one at last night's meeting protested the project. But some 9/11 families said they found the proposal offensive because the terrorists who launched the attacks were Muslim.
"I realize it's not all of them, but I don't want to have to go down to a memorial where my son died on 9/11 and look at a mosque," said retired FDNY Deputy Chief Jim Riches - whose son Jim, a firefighter, was killed on 9/11.

"If you ask me, it's a religion of hate," said Riches, who did not attend last night's meeting.
Rosemary Cain of Massapequa, L.I., whose son, Firefighter George Cain, 35, was killed in the 2001 attacks, called the project a "slap in the face."
"I think it's despicable. That's sacred ground," said Cain, who also did not attend the meeting.

"How could anybody give them permission to build a mosque there? It tarnishes the area."
Correction. An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the Cordoba Initiative’s funders as well as Daisy Kahn’s title; she is not the Initiative’s executive director. The News regrets the errors."

Full Story -


Opinions? Thoughts?

 

[moogling]

I don't like this.

I have the utmost respect for every culture, but this idea seems incredibly imposing. If I had a family member that died on 9/11, I would be completely opposed to the idea.

I've got no objections to them building mosques, wherever they please in America- but on ground like this- it's just incredibly disrespectful in my honest opinion.

 

[The Witch]

I agree 100%. They can build their mosque anywhere else, not there. That's a slap in the 911 victims faces. And it's disgusting.

 

[Madaraki]

First off; let me say that I do not consider the hijackers/perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks to be Muslim. They might've claimed it, but they were nothing more than terrorists using a religion as a front.

That said; keep in mind that this is several blocks away from the site. If they were building it right at the edge of or on Ground Zero; I'd have a problem. As it is, I don't mind the idea. People still associate "Muslim" with "Terrorist" and I think it's necessary to move beyond that.

Might I feel differently if I'd lost a relative in the attacks? Who knows.

 

[The Witch]

I can see that, too.

First off; let me say that I do not consider the hijackers/perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks to be Muslim. They might've claimed it, but they were nothing more than terrorists using a religion as a front.

They only attacked us because their religion supposedly says to hate everyone but them. That's just what they believe.

 

[Madaraki]

I can see that, too.

They only attacked us because their religion supposedly says to hate everyone but them. That's just what they believe.

If I may correct the wording slightly; they believed their religion says to hate everyone but them. From all I've learned; their beliefs are far from an accurate representation.

What bothers me the most I suppose is how a radical minority is used as a face for the greater whole. The fanatics/terrorists are seen by some as representations of all Islam, just as the wingnuts (both left and right) in the US are seen as representations of their respective parties.

 

[The Witch]

No, no, no. I know for a FACT that not ALL of them want to kill us.

Here's my problem. The Muslims over seas will see this as their "way of changing the world into Islam" already working. If those people continue to think that if they keep attacking innocence, their mosques will be the reward. Do we really want to create something that they'll see as their dominance?

I can guarantee they Muslim extremists will see this as them winning little by little.

 

[Madaraki]

No, no, no. I know for a FACT that not ALL of them want to kill us.

Here's my problem. The Muslims over seas will see this as their "way of changing the world into Islam" already working. If those people continue to think that if they keep attacking innocence, their mosques will be the reward. Do we really want to create something that they'll see as their dominance?

I can guarantee they Muslim extremists will see this as them winning little by little.

Then that rather deadlocks us all, doesn't it? According to your statement, we can't do anything they might interpret as "them winning", but at the same time it is essential we do away with the misconceptions people have about Islam.

You may have a point that this is how extremists will interpret our actions, but at the same time, no other location will carry as much weight in terms of repairing social relations with Muslims. "Several blocks from Ground Zero" sends a message. "The corner 43rd and 15th" (example) does not.

 

[Aselia]

I fail to see the point here. Why is it "disrespectful" to allow people who had nothing to do with what happened on 9/11 practice their religion freely? I thought this was America. Just because one group of radicals did something wrong, we are going to persecute the rest of the religion? That is disrespectful.

 

[Valvalis]

No, no, no. I know for a FACT that not ALL of them want to kill us.

Here's my problem. The Muslims over seas will see this as their "way of changing the world into Islam" already working. If those people continue to think that if they keep attacking innocence, their mosques will be the reward. Do we really want to create something that they'll see as their dominance?

I can guarantee they Muslim extremists will see this as them winning little by little.

But aren't places of worship usually built according to local demands for them? I mean tbh there really isn't enough room in NYC for people to construct new (or convert old) entire buildings just to make a statement about something they like. There are all sorts of zoning/commissioning processes they have to go through and a city will not build something if there is no existing demand for it. That they are going through with this most likely means that there are enough Muslims living in the city for it to be a worthwhile move, so that they will have a place to go and worship.

And it is unfortunate that the extremists give a bad name to the whole religion; I know I would feel uncomfortable if I were a Muslim and had to explain to people all the time that I was not "one of the bad ones" or something. I mean, really, to say a mosque shouldn't be in the same city where the 9/11 attacks occurred is like saying there shouldn't be any Catholic churches in Oklahoma City because the Oklahoma City bomber grew up in an Irish Catholic family >_> I mean, I'm not sure to what degree that affected him in particular, but plenty of people have died in the name of Christianity too; it happens with a lot of religions and you can't blame the religion itself, just the way people interpret it. (And there are Catholic churches in Oklahoma City btw, I just looked)

 

[GBJoker]

I'm iffy. I was hoping we'd just build another business office there. That's what I would have done, at least. Shove it in the terrorists faces that even two big ass planes ain't gonna stop my capitalism.

Yes, I'm fully aware my idea is not shared by... virtually any one.

 

[SaShman]

I agree 100%. They can build their mosque anywhere else, not there. That's a slap in the 911 victims faces. And it's disgusting.

This is essentially the same business as the other thread of your's about the kid who got in trouble for wearing a shirt with an American Flag on that Mexican Heritage day.

In that situation the kid who wore the shirt was doing something that seemed inappropriate and offensive to some people. Erecting a mosque near ground zero is essentially doing the same thing.

You see this situation as insensitive. Yet you got pissed off when others thought that wearing an American flag on Mexican Heritage day was insensitive. Hypocrisy etc..

 

[moogling]

I fail to see the point here. Why is it "disrespectful" to allow people who had nothing to do with what happened on 9/11 practice their religion freely? I thought this was America. Just because one group of radicals did something wrong, we are going to persecute the rest of the religion? That is disrespectful.

No one's really persecuting anyone here. I'm just opposed to the idea of placing a mosque on top of where people of that same religion killed innocent people.

The fact is where they are placing this mosque. If it had been anywhere else, I'm sure no one would be opposed. If they had picked a different site for this, sure, I'd have absolutely no problem.

 

[The Witch]

No one's really persecuting anyone here. I'm just opposed to the idea of placing a mosque on top of where people of that same religion killed innocent people.

The fact is where they are placing this mosque. If it had been anywhere else, I'm sure no one would be opposed. If they had picked a different site for this, sure, I'd have absolutely no problem.

Yea, that's how I feel too. There's no reason for the Mosque to be built there.

 

[Linnaete]

I have no real opposition to this either, although it does instantly look insensitive particularly as a mosque is a brutal reminder of the terrors committed on that day in the name of the religion that the mosque represents.

I know that New York has very little space to squeeze in a mosque, but if I was making the decisions, I would respect the victims' families and either cancel it or find somewhere else for it.

I do feel sorry for the moderate Muslims as well. I know many of them would love to have this mosque as a place of worship and recreation, but probably realise putting it there may not be a good idea. It's too bad that a very dangerous minority is tainting the name of their religion.

 

[charliepanayi]

I have no idea what the fuss is about, it's a mosque, not a big billboard saying 'Osama Bin Laden is great'. To say it's an insult to any victims of September 11th is ludicrous.

 

[The Witch]

I have no real opposition to this either, although it does instantly look insensitive particularly as a mosque is a brutal reminder of the terrors committed on that day in the name of the religion that the mosque represents.

I know that New York has very little space to squeeze in a mosque, but if I was making the decisions, I would respect the victims' families and either cancel it or find somewhere else for it.

I do feel sorry for the moderate Muslims as well. I know many of them would love to have this mosque as a place of worship and recreation, but probably realise putting it there may not be a good idea. It's too bad that a very dangerous minority is tainting the name of their religion.

Very well said! I agree 100%!

It really does suck that their religion is tainted because of extremists.

I have no idea what the fuss is about, it's a mosque, not a big billboard saying 'Osama Bin Laden is great'. To say it's an insult to any victims of September 11th is ludicrous.

Put yourself in the 9/11 victims shoes.

 

[Mitsuki]

Hmm, this is an interesting topic. I'm not quite sure about all this in all honesty. Like Madaraki stated, had they intent upon building it on the "actual" ground, then I can say that I would be totally against it for many reasons, and not because it is my intent to disrespect any religion, but because it is a very sensitive issue for many people, many religions-alike, not just one. I know that they stated that it's meant to "foster better relations between the West and Muslims" and I actually appreciate that. Do I support that notion and intentions behind that? Of course. But beyond that, there are also many concerns and this is because I'm mainly looking at the possibilities that could happen. I firmly believe that this will re-awaken animosity from many people, especially those who lost their loved ones. We can't deny that this will surely become a very sensitive issue for them, and for those who takes their emotions to extreme length, will we see another major tragedy, if you can sort of see where I am going with this...and that is what I am afraid of. It has nothing to do with whether I think this side is wrong or right for believing or saying this or that, I'll make this clear now. It's the fact that humanity will always be at war with each other at some point, and I am just stating the possibilities out of this idea.

Again, I don't mean to offend anyone, and I have always been careful with sensitive issues, but sometimes it's not a one-way street with this whole respect and disrespect points-of-view. In reality, people's actions, thoughts, and opinions will always be seen as disrespectful by one group even if the intentions behind it is not meant to be disrespectful at all.

I have no idea what the fuss is about, it's a mosque, not a big billboard saying 'Osama Bin Laden is great'. To say it's an insult to any victims of September 11th is ludicrous.

See, there's actually nothing wrong with that mindset - in fact that's actually a good mindset to have if you ask me, bar the last statement. (If people get insulted by someone calling them names, then surely the Mosque being built near there can still insult many people). However, that's also irrelevant because a lot of people may not think the same that you do, and that's the problem.

 

[Alak]

Not that I have anything against Mosques...but why on ground zero? That to me is as random as putting a Blockbuster store there. It just doesn't make sense. Ground Zero is a memory for many people in more ways than one. It was the tallest building in New York. It was a place of business venture and entrepreneurship. It's where over 2,000 people died. Why not just build a grand memorial or a museum? I personally think we need something that remembers the moment.

 

[VinnieJones]

I agree that location-wise, it's bad idea and the place and surroundings should be left to the Americans as a tribute to those who were killed. Anyone who uses the religion as the reason to scrap this project and maybe future Mosques in the States, however, are just ignorant.