The case for a mosque near Ground Zero: Two mothers of 9/11 heroes argue for a Muslim center there
 
 
People of all faiths died on Sept. 11, 2001, a reflection of the fact that the United States (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/United+States) is a nation of diverse cultures and religions. First responders from the New York City Police Department (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/New+York+City+Police+Department) and the Fire Department – including our sons – sacrificed their lives trying to rescue those trapped in the burning towers, irrespective of their faith, race or ethnicity. They risked their lives because they had a reverence for life and a commitment to the value of every human being.
 
 


After the horror of that day, we transcended all the barriers that separate us and as a nation; united; sought to find those who survived; rebuilt our lives, and then began to rebuild our city, a city long referred to proudly as “a melting pot.”
 
 
What a tragedy that less than nine years later, by waging a campaign against building a Muslim cultural center near Ground Zero, some are seeking to use the rebuilding of downtown Manhattan (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Manhattan) to pour salt on old wounds – not heal them.
 
 
We need to continue as Americans to focus on our commonalities as human beings rather than our differences. We must abandon language meant to instill fear, fear that can allow us to curtail the freedoms of others rather than encourage us to promote understanding and dialogue.
 
 
The planned construction of an Islamic cultural center near Ground Zero would be a testimony to who we are as a nation. What better way to rededicate this ground than to build a community center and mosque where peace-loving Muslims can gather and pray in the country and city they love?
 
 
On the international level, it will send a message that America is not in conflict with the Muslim world, while dispelling fears of Arab-Americans and Muslim Americans that their own government somehow distrusts them.
 
 
continued.....
 
 

There are some 8 million Muslims and 4 million Arabs in our country – hardworking, decent people who take active roles in their communities and schools and are law-abiding citizens. They are raising families, operating small businesses and worshiping at their local mosques. They celebrate weddings and the births of children; they dance and sing and laugh and cry. They also bleed.
 
 
They have suffered discrimination and intolerance since 9/11. People have had their businesses vandalized. Their children have been the targets of hate slurs in school. In fact, according to the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/American-Arab+Anti-Discrimination+Committee), there were more than 700 violent incidents targeting Arab-Americans or those perceived as Arab-Americans, Arabs or Muslims in the first nine weeks following the attack.
 
 
We must make a conscious choice about what kind of nation we aspire to be. We cannot rationally blame all Muslims for the acts of a deranged few. Those who call the construction of the Muslim cultural center a slap in the face are stoking anger and violence instead of building bridges.
 
 
The most fitting legacy for all those who died on 9/11 is a world at peace, devoted to the rights of every individual to pursue life, liberty and happiness – and to worship in the church, synagogue, temple or mosque of their choice. This is the future we should leave our children and our grandchildren. This is the only way we can survive.
 
 
Hamdani (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Mohammad+Salman+Hamdani) is mother of Mohammad Salman Hamdani, an NYPD cadet killed on Sept. 11, 2001. Welty (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Timothy+Welty) is mother of Timothy Welty, a firefighter killed on Sept. 11.
 
 
http://parkiran.net/uncategorized/the-case-for-a-mosque-near-ground-zero-two-mothers-of-911-heroes-argue-for-a-muslim-center-there (http://parkiran.net/uncategorized/the-case-for-a-mosque-near-ground-zero-two-mothers-of-911-heroes-argue-for-a-muslim-center-there)

Did the Ayatollah in all the Muslim countries denounce 9/11 ???

Hmmm?

Links pls.

No?

Go play with yourself.

Ah, hon - you and I agree - the DISCUSSION is a Muslim one, indeed.

As it was a Christian one to own 70 years ago - when (after the fact) Catholic hypocrites thought a Catholic presence at or near Auschwitz would appease for what was needed then and now - which is open and honest discussion about it all - which perhaps has yet to fully occur even today.

Time is now indeed for Muslims at a cross roads WITH THE WORLD to stand with terrorists allowed to intermingle and disrepect their faith - or stand up and take action IN THEIR MIDST against them.

Don't leverage the conflicted sentiments of those that very really lost their loved ones on 9/11. You only disrespect and dishonor the totality of the action and what it meant and continues to mean to us all.  Out in the far reaches of this nation's Inside Passage of Alaska where I was living at the time that Muslim aligned terrorist action on 9/11 (however it may have very really demeaned and defamed the Koran and all of that faith's peaceful followers) very really impacted me and mine. Forever.

Muslims worldwide - but especially in this nation of ours (in my opinion) need to come to a consensus about what it all meant - and means. And to suggest a community center that really and truly was only offered up because a Mosque was the true intent - at the precise geographic placement of 9/11 (for all intents and purposes) is blasphemy - to all truly peaceful persons - Christian, Muslim, Jewish, etc. And you know so.

Shame on our president for trying to represent any of it as anything else. Until we ALL get "real" that is.... which obviously we are not even close to being - "real" that is...

Sine, Beavis & lm oregon,
 
Wow, the lack of respect for those two mothers of the first responders who died at the hands of the "radical element" of the Islamic faith is astounding and about as un-American as anything I have seen in a very long time.
 
Shame on all of you and God Bless The United States of America.

 
Then lets build a christian cathedral in that spot. Or would that be insensitive to other faiths?
 
 

Then lets build a christian cathedral in that spot.
 
 
 
whatever for?

Two "MOTHERS" do not represent the totality of the issue here. No one is begrudging them of anything. They are simply and solely having their sincere sentiments be abused/politicized as a part of all of this. Case in point - posting their existence here as an attempt to bolster this mosque existence at ground zero - or whatever.

It is what it is a - a misjudged (and truthfully ill advised) mosque request that is now aburdly being REVISED to be promoted as a community center for something or another. These two mothers and their extended family in the U.S.A. still and all an innocent intentional target of Al Qaeda terrorism if they get in the way of the enemy of us all right now.

Expressly why Obama cannot close Gitmo. Expressly why Obama will be - for all the days of his singular term in office - the Commander of a very real war against Al Qaeda that professes to be killing and targetting solely in the name of their Muslim faith's dictates.

You think 70 years out that the fact there is little if no recognition of Christianity at Auschwitz is some kind of "mistake" A historical mistruth? Come on... it's a FACT for a reason, people. Six or seven million Jewish population exterminated reason. Some things and some actions cannot be revised. Or ever should be.

We must never forget. We must honor. And set aside and be reverent. As a society of peaceful humans intent on never repeating atrocities of the past - the actions of the Al Qaeda Muslims on 9/11 included. WE MUST FULLY OWN ALL OF THAT  - INSIDE OF OUR NATION ESPECIALLY. Not bounce a stupid ball and sing kum bah yah around any of it - disrespectfully.

While opposition to the Cordoba Center is high in the Bronx (53%), Brooklyn (61%), and Queens and Staten Island (60% -- the poll lumps the two boroughs together), it's lowest in Manhattan, where only 31% of voters disapprove of the planned center. Fifty-three percent of Manhattanites side with their mayor in favoring the Cordoba Center's construction.
 
 
http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/poll-53-of-new-yorkers-oppose-so-called-ground-zero-mosque.php (http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/poll-53-of-new-yorkers-oppose-so-called-ground-zero-mosque.php)


lm oregon, since 53% of the people who actually live in that area approve of the construction of the Community Center, what gives "you" the right to interfere with what goes on in "their" neighborhood?

jews have a name for people like oregon
 
guess what it is?

1) Federal dollars, hon. MY MONIES. Rebuilding it all. That was blown apart by Muslim extremists.

2) The economic impact of it all - to the financial structure of our nation. Hugely impacting us all.

3) The targetting of me and mine - not just New Yorkers - by Al Qaeda on those planes taking off from the west coast and from the east.

4) Plowing into our Pentagon and our Pennsylvania landscape - and further intended for OUR White House - if their evil intended Muslim mission had been completed as planned. Making their actions a full out offensive attack on us all. Not just New Yorkers.

All Americans in their way - of all religious persuasions their willing casualty.

5) Al Qaeda Muslim cells in existence IN THIS COUNTRY - some of them in my state of Oregon - being outed one by one - ongoingly - since 9/11. Recruiting new terrorists every day.

What gives ME the right as a targetted American to object to any pretense this should be constructed? Give me a community center (hah) break, hon. They went after me and mine.

6) Americans men and women from all across this nation every day since 9/11 IN OUR ACTIVCE DUTY U.S. Military have died for YOU and ME and for all of our safety in this nation of ours.

Shame on YOU, for narrowing the scope of national impact here. Shame on YOU. I HAVE EVERY RIGHT.

What's next on the agenda of those who express so much disdain for Muslims........digging up the graves of the Muslims who are buried at the hallowed ground in Arlington National Cemetary who died in service to this great country and throwing their bodies in garbage dumps?

here we go
 
the rebuilding is insurance money
 
nah this is too easy

Revise History, Deflect and Deny. and Excuse Away. Oh yeah - and my favorite - Community Center Bubble Gum Swirl. 
 
All flavors of Ben and Jerry Ice Cream this summer. From those silly progressives.
 
Me thinks none of them are going to sell too well. Shame on them for trying...

willammm
 

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Juli

people such as Oregon, Sine are a perfect example of how sad, and void of ideas the TeaParty/GOP leadership has given their supporters.

To sink this low on the intelligence totem pole.

Whether or not Muslim Americans should build a cultural center 2 blocks from Ground Zero.  And they claim this will effect the 2010 elections...how sorry is that?

Cheryl,

The bottom line is that "American" Muslims did not attack this country on 9/11.

Whether or not Muslim Americans should build a cultural center 2 blocks from Ground Zero.  And they claim this will effect the 2010 elections...how sorry is that?









Well, let's see shall we?

Oh look, Poll numbers for Obama went down again today.

You were saying sweet pea ???   


Some thing about sine, and oregon not getting America or Americans was it , and being low on the intelligence totem .....   Ohahahahah (http://www.aesopsretreat.net/forum/richedit/smileys/YahooIM/21.gif) 


Hey, Cheryl!  Look up on the totem pole,  I've got to take a leak!   Ohahahaha!  (http://www.aesopsretreat.net/forum/richedit/smileys/YahooIM/24.gif)

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I guarantee if the muslims went to court they would win
 
no way anyone can confiscate their land for any reason
 
so you non new yorkers just butt out

why, you obviously don't know what you are doing and need help.


Don't be so egotistical that you refuse help, would you  ???

9/11 Families Group Announces Support for Islamic Cultural Center in Lower Manhattan

 
New York – Today, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, a nationwide group founded by family members of those killed on 9/11 issued the following statement, which may be attributed to their spokesperson, Donna Marsh O’Connor:
 
September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows strongly supports efforts to bring an Islamic Cultural Center to lower Manhattan, near the Ground Zero site. We believe that welcoming the Center, which is intended to promote interfaith tolerance and respect, is consistent with fundamental American values of freedom and justice for all.
 
 
We believe, too, that this building will serve as an emblem for the rest of the world that Americans stand against violence, intolerance and overt acts of racism and that we recognize that the evil acts of a few must never damn the innocent.


To arrange an interview with a member of September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, please contact David Lerner or Shonna Carter, Riptide Communications, 212-260-5000 (dlerner@riptideonline.com (dlerner@riptideonline.com) or shonnac@riptideonline.com  (shonnac@riptideonline.com%20)).
 
 
http://www.peacefultomorrows.org/article.php?id=977 (http://www.peacefultomorrows.org/article.php?id=977)

So let's follow the deflect and deny rationale of left wing nuts - insane nuts that is - if you are a non-new yorker you have no right going there to help your country out post 9/11. Well then sign me up for being stupid enough to allow my husband to go there - to help out. But then no one from our country was turning us away, imagine that - any volunteers from across the U.S.A. in 2002 with our sincerest offering of help and all. To our fellow Americans post act of terrorism on our domestic soil.

If you are a non-New Yorker you cannot interject your donations to help out firegfighters, police and/or the thousands of civilians impacted cruelly and economically by this Muslim inflamed terrorist act AGAINST our entire nation, too. Well - golly gee - someone over there in New York had better gift me and millions of other Americans with our private dollars - didn't know we couldn't care or act on New Yorkers behalf out here in Oregon or up in Alaska or North Dakota or Florida or .....

Sheez you twisted Ben and Jerry revisionist progressives YOUR panties are bundle so tight with hypocrisy trying to justify the unjustified there is no making "sense" of any of you spewing hate toward Americans simply and solely pointing out the obvious.

And the obvious also includes the fact that no one "voted in or out" the solemn and sacred tribute to Auschwitz post World War II solely that stands for all time on the basis of being solely from neighboring towns around Auschwitz. The hatred inflamed terrorist/genocidal action ongoing for years and years against Europe's Jewish population was too far reaching for that - and the victims came from all over Europe. Kind of like (duh dems) the population of those represented inside the World Trade Center who went down in flames together - from all over the country that flocked to this nation's financial capital. To work freely in that tower.

And yet ONLY New Yorkers can interject an opinion in regard to a ill advised mosque/"community center" being proposed within the smallest of distances from ground zero?

Absurd. Simply absurd left wing nuts.

Hate mongering too.

Only in bizarro world would you have someone calling a group called Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, hate mongers.

Just when you think you've seen and heard it all, they don't disappoint. They give you one better.

wait a minute
 
I think I got it
 
oregon's husband volunteered post 9-11 and now new yorkers have to get his permission to allow any construction
 
that about right?
 
truth be known out of town busybodies were more trouble than help