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A mosque at Ground Zero? What next?
Published: Wednesday, August 11th, 2010 |
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We are all for tolerance in America and we bend over backwards to accommodate the wishes of all races, creeds and religions. In fact, freedom of religion is guaranteed in our Constitution. But sometimes a group pushes the envelope just a little too far for our comfort.
Last week, the Landmarks Preservation Commission in New York City cleared the way for a Muslim mosque to be constructed near ground zero by denying landmark status to a building near Ground Zero by a 9-0 vote. Commissioners said the 152-year-old building didn’t meet historic criteria to qualify as a landmark and could be torn down.
The mosque is to be part of an Islamic community center and operated by a group called the Cordoba Initiative, which claim the center will be a place for moderate Muslim voices, as if there is such a thing. We haven’t heard any so-called moderate Muslim voices lately. The only Muslim voices we hear are those who denounce “infidels,” which are all non-Muslims, and vow to kill all of us in the name of Allah. It’s in the Koran, their holy book.
For such a group to even consider building such a mosque near ground zero where nearly 3,000 people died on Sept. 11, 2001, would be almost inconceivable to most Americans. More inconceivable is the fact that the group was granted permission to do so by a New York City Commission with the blessing of the city’s mayor, Michael Bloomberg. Where is the outcry? Are we getting so “tolerant” that we don’t object vehemently to such crazy actions by our fellow citizens?
Daisy Khan, executive director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement, said the Muslim center’s board would include members of other religions and look at possibly including an interfaith chapel in the mosque. “We want to repair the breach and be at the front and center to start the healing,” Khan told the Wall Street Journal. She would be a partner in the building and is the wife of the cleric leading the effort.
Anti-Defamation League national director Abraham Foxman said Khan’s proposals don’t address the crux of criticism from opponents who say that erecting the mosque near Ground Zero is insensitive to 9/11 families. Last week, the leading Jewish organization came out against the mosque, saying that “some legitimate questions have been raised” about the Cordoba Initiative’s funding and possible ties to “groups whose ideologies stand in contradiction to our shared values,” according to Newsmax.
What they are talking about is the fact that Kahn’s husband, the Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, is the leader of the Cordoba Initiative. No one can tell us what the funding sources are for the 13-story, $100 million project. Opponents, like former New York Gov. George Pataki, have questioned where the funding is coming for the project, asking if foreign governments are behind it. “Are they coming from people who have backed terrorists in the past? And we have every right to stand up and say we need to know where the funds are coming from,” Pataki said.
The issue isn’t whether or not the building in question qualifies as a landmark status or not. It may well not qualify. The issue is allowing a Muslim mosque to be constructed near Ground Zero. There must be hundreds of other locations in New York City where such a structure could be built. We hope those involved in this touchy situation get a grip of reality and decide it should be located elsewhere, for obvious reasons. Obvious to us at least.
We are all for tolerance in America and we bend over backwards to accommodate the wishes of all races, creeds and religions. In fact, freedom of religion is guaranteed in our Constitution. But sometimes a group pushes the envelope just a little too far for our comfort. Last week, the Landmarks Preservation Commission in New York City cleared the way for a Muslim mosque to be constructed near ground zero by denying landmark status to a building near Ground Zero by a 9-0 vote. Commissioners said the 152-year-old building didn’t meet historic criteria to qualify as a landmark and could be torn down. The mosque is to be part of an Islamic community center and operated by a group called the Cordoba Initiative, which claim the center will be a place for moderate Muslim voices, as if there is such a thing. We haven’t heard any so-called moderate Muslim voices lately. The only Muslim voices we hear are those who denounce “infidels,” which are all non-Muslims, and vow to kill all of us in the name of Allah. It’s in the Koran, their holy book. For such a group to even consider building such a mosque near ground zero where nearly 3,000 people died on Sept. 11, 2001, would be almost inconceivable to most Americans. More inconceivable is the fact that the group was granted permission to do so by a New York City Commission with the blessing of the city’s mayor, Michael Bloomberg. Where is the outcry? Are we getting so “tolerant” that we don’t object vehemently to such crazy actions by our fellow citizens? Daisy Khan, executive director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement, said the Muslim center’s board would include members of other religions and look at possibly including an interfaith chapel in the mosque. “We want to repair the breach and be at the front and center to start the healing,” Khan told the Wall Street Journal. She would be a partner in the building and is the wife of the cleric leading the effort. Anti-Defamation League national director Abraham Foxman said Khan’s proposals don’t address the crux of criticism from opponents who say that erecting the mosque near Ground Zero is insensitive to 9/11 families. Last week, the leading Jewish organization came out against the mosque, saying that “some legitimate questions have been raised” about the Cordoba Initiative’s funding and possible ties to “groups whose ideologies stand in contradiction to our shared values,” according to Newsmax. What they are talking about is the fact that Kahn’s husband, the Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, is the leader of the Cordoba Initiative. No one can tell us what the funding sources are for the 13-story, $100 million project. Opponents, like former New York Gov. George Pataki, have questioned where the funding is coming for the project, asking if foreign governments are behind it. “Are they coming from people who have backed terrorists in the past? And we have every right to stand up and say we need to know where the funds are coming from,” Pataki said. The issue isn’t whether or not the building in question qualifies as a landmark status or not. It may well not qualify. The issue is allowing a Muslim mosque to be constructed near Ground Zero. There must be hundreds of other locations in New York City where such a structure could be built. We hope those involved in this touchy situation get a grip of reality and decide it should be located elsewhere, for obvious reasons. Obvious to us at least. Click Here To See More Stories Like This |
Current Comments
3 comments so far (post your own)August 13th, 2010 at 16:02pm
1) The killing of infidels is NOT in the Koran. How about doing some simple research before printing something like that?
2) I take it you do not support the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States? If so, why not be honest and print that in your editorial column?
August 17th, 2010 at 03:23am
And by the way, there are already two Mosques close to Ground Zero...Masjid Manhattan, on Warren Street, four blocks from ground zero, was founded in 1970. Masjid al-Farah, formerly on Mercer Street, moved to its present location on West Broadway, about 12 blocks from ground zero, in 1985.
Here's a quote you may have forgotten:
On 26 September 2001, President George W. Bush held a substantive meeting with American Muslim leaders, and said that "the teachings of Islam are the teachings of peace and good."
August 25th, 2010 at 11:34am
This area of Manhattan is an historically Muslim area, at one time being called Little Syria.
And, if you haven't heard any moderate Muslim voices, it is probably because you aren't listening and because of the polarization of our society, our news media (if it can be called that), and this discussion. The imam who is involved in the mosque and the Cordoba Institute is a very moderate Muslim.
Also, I personally know many moderate Muslims. Maybe you should venture out of your comfort zone and seek the moderate Muslim opinion.
This is also a discussion that is not about "being tolerant." The freedoms most people talk about defending are not limited to white Christians. The freedoms set down for us in the Constitution are there to protect everyone. And, this country was founded on religious freedom, not just the religions you think are "moderate."
Also, this property belongs to the mosque and has for years! It is not in violation of anything. There were Muslims who were killed on Sept. 11th, not just Christians.
Your editorial is not even close to moderate, perpetuates the stereotypes of all Muslims being violent people and intolerant of infidels, and does nothing to help the discussion. Your reasoning is flawed and you seem to be blinded by the right's propaganda campaign against Islam.
I agree with James. Do your research. You're a journalist--and shouldn't let the lax attitude toward facts in the current news media to influence your standards. The status quo may seem like a comfortable place to be--but as they say, ignorance is bliss.