New Yorkers angry for plans to build a giant Mosque near Ground Zero

[The Stig]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ound-Zero.html

Outraged protesters are planning a massive rally to try to block plans to build a giant mosque near New York's Ground Zero.

Angry relatives claim the move is an ‘insult’ to the victims of the World Trade Centre atrocity.

The mosque is part of a proposed 13-storey Muslim community centre, which will include a swimming pool, gym, theatre and sports facilities.

The building, which was damaged by the fuselage of one of the hijacked planes, is at 45 Park Place - just two blocks from Ground Zero.
It formerly housed a Burlington Coat Factory store. The store's two selling floors were destroyed when the landing gear from one of the planes tore through them during the attacks.

Construction is due to begin on September 11 next year – the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack.
A massive rally protesting the plans has been scheduled for June 6 as anger grows.

Rosemary Cain, whose fireman son was killed, said: ‘I think it’s despicable. That’s sacred ground. It’s a slap in the face.
'How could anybody give them permission to build a mosque there?’

Bill Doyle, whose son was also among the 3,000 victims, said: ‘What I’m frightened about is that it’s almost going to be another protest zone – a meeting place for radicals.’

Paul Sipos, a member of the New York community board, said the £68million community project should be located somewhere else.

‘If the Japanese decided to open a cultural centre across from Pearl Harbour, that would be insensitive. If the Germans opened a Bach choral society across from
Auschwitz, even after all these years, that would be an insensitive setting,’ he told the New York Post.

‘I have absolutely nothing against Islam. I just think, why here?’
But the organisation behind the mosque has said they picked the spot precisely because of its location near Ground Zero.

Building a mosque 'where a piece of the wreckage fell.... sends the opposite statement to what happened on 9/11, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the cleric leading the project, told the New York Times last year.

'We want to push back against the extremists,' Feisal, 61, added.
Director of the mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs Fatima Shama told the New York Times: 'We as New York Muslims have as much of a commitment to rebuilding New York as anybody.'
The FBI has also given Feisal its seal of approval after he helped them reach out to the Muslim population in the wake of the attacks.

'We've had positive interactions with him in the past,' a spokesman was quoted as saying.

Since the attacks, Ground Zero has become a shrine to the victims, with millions of visitors paying their respects every year.

Pamela Geller, executive director of the Stop Islamisation of America activist group, is organising the June 6 rally in protest against the development, which will be called Cordoba House.

She said: ‘What could be more insulting and humiliating than a monster mosque in the shadow of the World Trade Centre buildings that were brought down by an Islamic jihad attack?

‘Any decent American, Muslim or otherwise, wouldn’t dream of such an insult.’

But Daisy Khan, executive director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement, said: ‘The time for a centre like this has come because Islam is an American religion.

‘We need to take the 9/11 tragedy and turn it into something very positive. 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.’
She added that up to 2,000 Muslims would be expected to pray at the mosque every Friday.

Herbert Ouida, whose son died in the attacks, said: ‘I understand the anger, the bitterness and hatred, but it only generates more hatred.’
A community board backed the project last week, but organisers are still seeking funding.

• A radical cleric has called for the creation of a ‘Greater Iran’ that would rule over the Middle East and Central Asia. Hezbollah leader Ayatollah Mohammad Bagher Kharrazi said the formulation of an ‘Islamic United States’ would herald the coming of Islam’s messiah.

Thought this was news worthy to post! Your thoughts?

[Acturus]

This article bristles my backside in so many ways.

The fireman's mom calling ground zero "sacred ground".

The fact that there is an organization called "Stop Islamisation of America".

Calling Islam an "American religion".

PR nightmare aside, I imagine it was a really good business deal. I doubt property values around ground zero are particularly high, and with the rebuild, whoever negotiated the sale on behalf of the mosque did a very shrewd job.

In other words, I blame the jews.

[Conrad]

All Muslims were in favor of 9/11

[Obev]

Cause each time I feel it slippin away, just makes me wanna cry: what's so funny bout peace love & understanding?

[Olo401]

in b4 Egon's screed about the enemy.. always at war with eastasia etc.

[Quixon]

Timothy McVeigh was Roman Catholic. I don't remember people pissing and moaning about the nearby catholic churches to the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

[BerenTebogo]

Islamislation.

'Nuff said.

[tyven]

terrorists need to gtfo my ground zero

[Francisco]

A few thoughts on this...

1: Not all Muslims are terrorists, extremists or America-haters. I work with a few Muslims - and they're all very nice. One is pretty weird though. A couple of them are good friends.

2: I personally think it's a bad idea to build their Mosque/Community Center in that location. Even if it is an innocent gesture, many will (obviously, as stated in the article) take severe offense to it.

3: Some will even view it as Muslims/Islam "killing Americans, and then building a Mosque on top of the bodies", which is what it honestly feels a bit like to me - and I don't think I'm being entirely irrational in thinking it.

4: Some of the REALLY angry people may well try to destroy the Mosque - and the people in it.

5: If Muslims want to rebuild Ground Zero - it should be in a manner that benefits the entire city. Build a museum, park, non-denominational community center, recreational center...

[BerenTebogo]

A few thoughts on this...

1: Not all Muslims are terrorists, extremists or America-haters. I work with a few Muslims - and they're all very nice. One is pretty weird though. A couple of them are good friends.

2: I personally think it's a bad idea to build their Mosque/Community Center in that location. Even if it is an innocent gesture, many will (obviously, as stated in the article) take severe offense to it.

3: Some will even view it as Muslims/Islam "killing Americans, and then building a Mosque on top of the bodies", which is what it honestly feels a bit like to me - and I don't think I'm being entirely irrational in thinking it.

4: Some of the REALLY angry people may well try to destroy the Mosque - and the people in it.

5: If Muslims want to rebuild Ground Zero - it should be in a manner that benefits the entire city. Build a museum, park, non-denominational community center, recreational center...

So you're saying the Muslims...

Should give in to...

terrorism? /sunglasses

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHH

Edit: shitty 6000th post.

[The Stig]

Weren't there plans to rebuild the WTC? Just something I remembered reading somewhere.

[Tagus]

I could see myself protesting this. It feels like more of a celebration of what 9/11 accomplished than a push-back against extremists. But then again, I'm a pretty paranoid person sometimes.

[Quixon]

Weren't there plans to rebuild the WTC? Just something I remembered reading somewhere.

They had plans to build about 200 different fucking things there lol. I don't think they ever decided on wtf they wanted to put there though.



Edit:
Never mind the above.

This is what is going to be @ Ground Zero when they are all done.

"The WTC plan includes

* Five new skyscrapers (1 WTC, Freedom Tower; Towers 2, 3, 4, and 5)
* National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center
* World Trade Center Transportation Hub
* Retail Complex
* Performing Arts Center"

http://www.wtc.com/about/

[Khajit]

It's been 10 years and you guys ain't rebuilt anything yet? You should be happy their oil rich asses paid for something that benefits your economy.

[Francisco]

So you're saying the Muslims...

Should give in to...

terrorism? /sunglasses

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHH

Edit: shitty 6000th post.

No, but it's more of an inevitability something would happen to this particular building.

I don't give into terrorism, but I'm not going to waltz into Beirut, be a bukkake bitch for 17 gay Mexicans while I smear orangutan dung on my face and scream "LOOK AT ME, I'M THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD!"

[Francisco]

This is what is going to be @ Ground Zero when they are all done.

"The WTC plan includes

* Five new skyscrapers (1 WTC, Freedom Tower; Towers 2, 3, 4, and 5)
* National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center
* World Trade Center Transportation Hub
* Retail Complex
* Performing Arts Center"

http://www.wtc.com/about/

*Eyes well up with tears*

My country 'tis of thee,
sweet land of liberty...

[Kuya]

‘If the Japanese decided to open a cultural centre across from Pearl Harbour, that would be insensitive. If the Germans opened a Bach choral society across from
Auschwitz, even after all these years, that would be an insensitive setting,’ he told the New York Post.

There is something very wrong with this logic.

[tyven]

not to me bro. GOMERICA!

[Alleya]

While we're at it, we need to stop building churches so close to reservations. It's a slap in the face.

[tyven]

While we're at it, we need to stop building churches so close to reservations. It's a slap in the face.

time has healed those wounds