Litcube suggested that one of the New Yorkers here do a post on the proposed so-called "Ground Zero Mosque". As a former New Yorker, and as an American, and as a human being, I certainly have an opinion on this, and I think it's kind of a strong opinion; but rather than rant and rant I think I'd rather hear what more reasonable people have to say about the issue. That's you. Go.
13 comments:
I don't know who Keith Olbermann is, but I fully agree with him; perhaps even to the level of drama he's pontificating.
I'm a Canadian who's never been to NY, hasn't been touched by any terrorism, 9/11 or otherwise.
However.
I have to echo Keith Olbermann, in a sentiment I've had since I first read of this on CNN: I'm a little horrified that folks took up pitch forks and torches claiming that this center is somehow an insult to the victims of 9/11. The blatant fucking ignorance of that sentiment alone astonishes me to the point that I almost feel debate a worthless excercise; like your 7 year old arguing about bed time, or why they have to go to school.
Anyway, that's the side of the fence I'm on. I'd like to hear you. How big is this movement? Are people serious about it? Is media sensationalism making this a bigger thing than it is down there?
I don't think I have the right sentiment to make judgement calls on this, but for some reason I think it would have made more sense to have a Baha'i or perhaps Raelian Temple there instead.
Dear Future People:
Keith Olbermann's special comment is here.
Your friend,
Mr. Pony
Your opinion is important too. I don't think anyone wants to go first.
Guys, this is more important than the guest queue issue.
DOES NOBODY CARE THAT AL-AQEDA IS BUILDING A HATCHERY IN YOUR FUCKING BASE!?!?
I would never equate Al Qaeda with the Zerg. hey are we now flagged as a potential terrorist cel because we typed that name? I wonder if Dementors are approaching my front door as I type...
It'd be more, like, Battle Cruiser Operational at our front door.
I've been continually surprised at how many people in American have no problem telling U.S. Muslims they can't worship in their own community just because the 9-11 hijackers were extremist fanatic Muslims.
Uh, hello?
Mr. Pony tweeted something a while back about the U.S. not having learned from its internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II (or something to that effect) and I couldn't agree more.
It's so repulsive that America is denying the civil rights of people who had nothing to do with 9-11....
It's stunning similar to how America threw Japanese-Americans who had nothing to do with the attack on Pearl Harbor into camps.
It's so distressing I could scream.
I thought Mayor Bloomberg's eloquent speech defending of the freedom religion would shame the bigots into silence, but I'm astonished it hasn't.
What's frightening too are these outbursts of violence against Muslims. Like the nutcase who stabbed his New York cab driver. And this kid in upstate New York that fired a gun into the ground outside a mosque. I hope we don't see more of this.
Litcube - you asked if the media was sensationalizing this. People in Hawaii are probably the wrong ones to ask because I suspect most folks here would say, "Build your mosque if you want to. Why would I care?"
But seems this sentiment is not shared in other places. Sadly, I don't think the media is overstating the opposition.
I am constantly surprised how many people actually do care about where Muslims build their mosques in Hawaii. I thought like Odori does in regards to the citizens of our fair state. Turns out going back to school was an eye opener.
Odori - Thanks for chiming in!
While the individual incidents are deplorable, as are all random acts of violence perpetrated on an individual basis, what frightens me most is that the President of your country spent energy dignifying the controversy over Park51 by reiterating freedom of religion. Regardless of his sentiments (which match my own), there were follow-up news reports with headlines like, "Do you agree with Obama’s statement?", or “Have we gone to far with freedom of religion?”
What the fuck hole.
Well spotted re: Japanese WWII correlation. That's something we can relate to here in Canada, as the Vancouver region(ish) was home to many camps.
It's really weird what the president of our country has to put up with. I don't think any president thus far has been held under such a microscope without their being some sort of naked sekhz scandal or nuclear armageddon threat going on.
Mayor Bloomberg's Speech (cited by Odori) is here.
My astoundingly less eloquent response is here.
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