Recently, the chairman of a Muslim organization proposed building a community center near Ground Zero in New York City. The chairman, Imam Feisal Abdul Raif, envisioned a center that would enrich Lower Manhattan; it would house sports facilities and discussion rooms. An auditorium would serve as a venue for shows and art exhibitions. And, a space would be reserved for Muslim prayer.
News editors eagerly latched on to this last proposition and began to publish stories about the ‘mega-mosque’ that would be built by Ground Zero. Word spread quickly; this propaganda catalyzed an intense, passionate reaction from both supporters and protestors of the plan.
The ‘mosque’ proposal enraged families affected by 9/11 and reinvigorated the actions of ardent Islamophobes worldwide. Many protestors believed the building of a mosque so close to Ground Zero would glorify the ‘Muslims’ who attacked the World Trade Center. People marched around Ground Zero wielding signs emblazoned with phrases like, ‘A Mosque at Ground Zero is a Monument to Terrorism‘. And that was a tame one. Houston’s very own radio talk show host, Michael Berry, declared that the mosque should not be built, and stated, “if you do build a mosque, I hope somebody blows it up...I hope the mosque isn't built, and if it is, I hope it's blown up, and I mean that."
Various New York politicians, however, have supported the idea of building a ‘mosque’ by the site. In a radio address, Mayor Bloomberg emphasized that everyone had the right to construct a ‘religious house of worship’ in whatever place they desired..’if somebody was going to try to build a church or a synagogue on that piece of property, no one would be yelling..”
Simply by interchanging the words, ‘community center’ and ‘mosque’, news media has incited the world audience. This issue is fostering the pervasive misunderstanding about Islam everywhere.
Personally, I believe that this proposed ‘community center’ should be a completely secular space in which people can discuss issues that cultivate terrorism. Research has shown that terrorists act out of misinformation, feelings of depression, and/or a desire for a better standard of living. If we address these complex problems in a holistic way, we may deter future acts perpetrated by terrorists.
People must learn to disassociate the words, ‘Muslim’ and ‘terrorist’. Building a Muslim house of worship so close to Ground Zero would not promote this initiative, but further foster this dangerous misconception. As a Muslim, I feel it is my duty to break this stereotype, and promote the development of mutual understanding worldwide.
What do you think about this proposal? Is the community center promoting a positive view of Islam, or is it a slap in the face to 9/11 victims' families?
Post below!
3 comments:
Mayor "Napoleon" Bloomberg
Mayor Boobberg - er, Bloomberg - and his backstabbing cronies must have a $tupendou$ rea$on which they can't reveal for wanting a sharia-hugging mosque near Ground Zero.
But the sharia "cobra" they're toying with can quickly grow up and not be choosy as to whom it will strike soon after it announces "Smile, you're on Candid Scimitar and will soon be buried in a scimitary, ha ha ha!" - proving that one good backstabbing deserves another!
Incidentally, I thought up the following pro-life slogans which anyone is free to reprint: "Unborn babies should have the right to keep and bear arms - and legs and ears and eyes etc.!" and "Unborn babies should have the same right to be born alive that abortionists had!"
God-haters and America-haters may not realize how high the collective temperature has now risen in the hearts of true American patriots - many of whom are now willing to die for America right here in America if they get pushed completely over the line!
Since the nation's headquarters for treason is the White House, readers can enjoy related material if they Google "Obama Supports Public Depravity" and also Google "Sandra Bernhard, Larry David, Kathy Griffin, Bill Maher, Sarah Silverman" in addition to Googling "Obama...destined to become a black-slavery avenger."
And by all means visit Googleland and type in "Government-Approved Illegals" and "Un-Americans Fight Franklin Graham."
A Kansas Patriot
[above web/bit seen by me - Burt]
Interesting thoughts. I don't appreciate your reference to mosques as 'sharia hugging' houses of worship, though. All mosques are not led by fundamentalists; you should not promote that idea with your comments.
First of all, I do not believe it is possible to have a 'secular' community center if this area is proposed and run by known affiliates of Islam. Secondly, I definitely do not agree with those who associate Islam with terrorism, and this mosque as a terrorist affiliate. I think that is a disgusting generalization I do, however,believe that it is extremely selfish of the Imam and those wishing to build the mosque as they care more about restoring their self-image then they do about honoring the wounds of 9/11 that are still so evident in widows and family members of the victims. No, they are not terrorists, but why build a center for Islam right on top of Ground Zero when so many people are still injured by and fearful of the terror that was, in fact, portrayed by a Muslim faction? (I do recognize that this is a drastically radical minority). WHY NOT BUILD IT SOMEWHERE ELSE Also, survivors probably do not want to even THINK about terrorism, so why shove it in their face? they want to move on.
Additionally, I do not feel that counseling would be effective in preventing terrorism. Depression may be an excuse for suicide, but it certainly not an excuse for mass-murder in the name of God. These people are not depressed and they are certainly not victims. They are hell-bent on American and Israeli destruction/annihilation and no counseling can solve that.
Some people have compared this concept to building a Hitler memorial in Israel. I do not agree with this comparison. I do think, however, it would be the same as building a GERMAN COMMUNITY CENTER next to Auschwitz Concentration Camp (where most of my entire ancestry was murdered), for the selfish purpose of restoring their self-image post-Holocaust....even though these Germans are clearly not Nazi affiliates.
In sum, I think a Muslim community center/mosque/anti-terrorist center is an AWESOME IDEA! BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE NEXT TO GROUND ZERO. Bloomberg and Obama have their hands tied here as the mosque is protected under free speech and freedom of assembly, so it is not fair to criticize the government. If they tried to stop it, it would definitely be harmful in the long run as the group could 'cry oppression.'
I apologize for the length of this post. It was a well-written article and I am clearly passionate about the subject
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