Anti Mosque Rally shows the true racist colors of these idiots

This entire community non-profit center just happens to have a mosque in it so that Jews and Christians and Hindus and Buddhists can worship together in the spirit of many faiths like is the tradition in a mosque. Believing what you want, sure, okay.

 

May I ask, I am not sure if I remember correctly, aren't you a Muslim yourself?

 

I would have a problem with a mosque built near ground zero, I would not have a problem with a community clinic run by Muslims that simply served the medical needs of the community. There's quite a difference in the tone of what this clinic appears to do and the goals and aims of this organization above.

 

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Just because a community center has a religious institution built in doesn't mean that it excludes people from other faiths.

I go to the YMCA all the time. There's a prayer room in there that's pretty Christian. Idkkkkk. I guess I should stop going to the Y.....

 

No I'm Buddhist inclined. I don't really have a dog in the Muslim/Jewish/Christian battle. I sort of have my suspicions of all of them equally for different reasons.

You might think that because I posted in the cartoon thread a lot. This to me is the same principle at work. That you have a right to do something doesn't mean you should. Danes can draw stupid cartoons making fun of Muslims and Muslims are free to build a mosque at ground zero but they're both in poor taste and I see them both as instigations really.

 

That's really not the principle at work. It's obviously the location that is the issue, not whether or not having a mosque in a community center is a problem. Having one in this community center at this location is the problem in my view.

 

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You're right, having a religious institution next to a strip club is probably in pretty poor taste!

 

Wait, how does a Buddhist make ANY kind of judgment about what should go where?

 

Let me explain my logic. The immediate vicinity in which this man wants to build a mosque happens to be the site of a terrorist attack committed in the name of Islam, celebrated by many in the Muslim world, condoned by many in the Muslim world, even denied as the work of the CIA or Israel or Bush or whoever by many in the Muslim world. I find it highly objectionable to place a mosque on the site where that attack took place. It's a political stunt, it's inappropriate, and I don't like it. If it's being funded by extremist Saudis who peddle terrorism around the world then I sure as hell don't like it. Now if the people of New York want to have a mosque there then that's their call because it's their community but I fully support any lawful effort to disrupt the building of this mosque at that site. If they're that well intentioned to serve the "community" they can certainly find an alternative site that won't offend so many.

I don't make much sense to you because you have a polarized argument, the old Bush with us or against us argument that has served us so well. Obviously if you don't support a mosque at ground zero then you're a bigot, there can't be complicated issues, thoughts, and emotions behind the reasons for not wanting it there. You want to play the Bush simpleton card just like you did in the immigration thread because you can't fathom someone having an opinion that differs from your own that isn't based in bigotry.

If Muslims in general want to show that terrorists don't speak for Islam then they can start by doing something in Afghanistan and Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Call me when that's all sorted out and then we can talk about New York City.

 

Buddhism, it's a process.

 

and that was a good post

 

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I'm interested in what you want them to do. Please do tell...

 

I don't know, maybe that's part of the problem. We had 9/11 and then there was no leadership to tell us what to do about it. I don't pretend to have all the answers. Cutting off Israel and solving the Palestinian issue would probably be a good start on a policy level.

 

Except that it's not a political stunt. In fact, it wasn't political at all until recently. There was no opposition to it for months during the planning phase, and it was actively supported by local religious leaders of other faiths. There were hearings on it and no real opposition there either. It was supported by liberals and conservatives, and people of all faiths. The only political stunt is the opposition to it now, once a known anti-Islam activist came out screaming about it.

What about if it's being funded by Jesus? Because there's similar amounts of evidence for both scenarios.

Except the community isn't terribly offended. Manhattanites aren't opposed to the thing. It's only the rest of the country that seems to be.

Whatever makes you feel better, but that doesn't explain why there is now vocal opposition to new mosques in California, Tennessee, and many other places - all coincidentally coming up in the weeks after this manufactured controversy over the NY one.

 

I don't know if your winky is meant to be sarcastic about being a Buddhist but I follow Buddhist beliefs too and have been allowed inside mosques and also participated with Muslims in ecumenical and Islamic gatherings.

Just because there is a mosque inside doesn't rule out that the center can be inter-faith.

Further if you do follow Buddhism you would understand how attachment to something like Ground Zero to the point of it being exclusionary is wrong.

 

Iman Rauf has being doing a lot in the Middle East by going on State Dept. trips to help improve the US' image. Frankly Iman Rauf has probably done far far more for this country in the war on terror than anyone here.

 

But the local community board DID support the building of this mosque. The city DID support it. The mayor DID support it.

There was no resistance until very recently when it was used by some a-hole to make a story.

You worry about the funding coming from Saudi or terrorist groups. Well the people who may be funding it are partners in owning FoxNews - did you know that? They get more money when people watch Fox, so does that mean people who watch Fox are funding terrorist agendas? Because that's what you are basically saying.

There is a political meaning to having a mosque close to ground zero - just like there is having a mosque at the Pentagon. It shows that nothing can shake America's foundation. It shows that America is allied with moderate Muslims - mainstream muslims. And it shows everyone in the world, both American and Muslim - that guys like the Taliban and Al Qaeda really are the fringe.

If you oppose this mosque - that's fine. That is your right. You can go against what the community has decided. against Bloomberg. Against the spirit of freedom of religion....you can do all of that.

But please, if you go that course - don't ever say again that America is a beacon of freedom to the world. Because you can no longer make that claim based on your position here.

 

If you make enough dumb statements, maybe you start believing in them.

 

Islam isn't a race...

 

Great point, it has not been mentioned in this 12 page long thread....