Ground Zero Mosque

[emmie]

did anyone watch this on Channel 4. If so, any thoughts?

[alan-r]

yeh i'm with the anti mosque group

[jackthehat]

On balance, I believe that the development ought to proceed.

[dr b]

Since it is neither at ground zero, nor a mosque, it's hard to see what the objections are.

[emmie]

so you didn't watch the programme then. Which is what i asked.

[jackthehat]

I did.
And I gave you my thoughts.

[emmie]

so having watched it, still think it should go ahead. It is a mosque and Muslim community centre, and its near enough to Ground Zero for many to be upset by it. Going on the level of hatred, distrust on all sides in this, wouldn't it have been better to have shelved the plans, or put it elsewhere. The property developer seemed rather naive to think many people would be happy with it.

[pastafreak]

I watched it,and after seeing the anti-mosque brigade stirring in other parts of the city,I think it would not matter to some where it was put. They will find a reason to spout hatred towards Muslims.
The group involved with the community centre seemed to genuinely want positive communication. Something sorely needed to help heal.

[emmie]

PF there seemed lots of conflicting information from the various parties involved, the developer who has now rediscovered, for want of a better word, his Muslim faith, and the Imam featured. You may be right about wherever it goes, but they aren't short on Mosques across USA, and though i'm not 100 percent sure, read someplace that there was a prayer room for Muslims in one of the Twin Towers, if so, perhaps as likely a room for christians, or others of faith. I would like to see a follow up programme to this.

[Gromit]

Many muslims died in the WTC. A place nearby (not at ground zero) where relatives of those victims and visitors could visit is very appropriate.

[pastafreak]

Looking at some statistics-there are 100 mosques in NYC, to serve a minimum 800,000 Muslims(in a total population of 8.4 million). In comparison-there are 6000 churches,and 1000 synagogues. So...not all that many.
It's assumed by too many that what happened on 9/11 happened only to Christians...yet people of many faiths-including Muslims-died that day. NY has prided itself on welcoming all for over 100 years......that needs to continue. I may be naive,but I find it sad that there is still so much misplaced hatred ten years on.

I grew up just outside NYC,by the way....so I consider it MY city.

[Khandro]

The stats are awesome ;
http://www.guardian.c.../aug/18/usa.terrorism

and many Muslims among them. I don't see finding another site would make any difference; after all it's not being sited there as an act of provocation, and just how far away should it be to appease the malcontents?

[emmie]

Gromit, as did many people of faith i'm sure, including atheists, and different nationalities, not just those born in USA. So your argument seems to be that relatives of those Muslims killed have somewhere to pray, then that should hold for all faiths. So why not make it a multi faith centre for prayer, help to get the communities together, perhaps a better understanding of one other. But that is not what has been proposed. For many it's still raw, they hold a memorial service every year, and perhaps many can't find it in their hearts to forgive.

[Answerprancer]

No word from the Git yet ? (He must be building up for it!)

[Gromit]

em10

As pointed out above, other faiths already have places to worship in NYC.

I would welcome a multi-faith place of worship as well as but not instead of the site under discussion.

[emmie]

PF i have grown up in London, and if anyone suggested putting a mosque, or Islamic centre next to or nearby tavistock square, then i might not be too pleased. Over three thousand people died, and hundreds of thousands who have been affected by it, their relatives, friends who never came home.
I would be interested to see what happens next.

[askyourgran]

I agree em10, multi-faith or nothing. I'm sure that the American public will not forget the barbarism of those fanatics who brought about the deaths of all those American citizens and the destruction of the twin towers. It is the first thing I think of when I hear someone mention Ground Zero. To me it is not in the best of taste having a mosque parked on the doorstep.

[emmie]

i would rather he didn't contribute in a way, no offence AOG, but i asked a question, and most of you said that it should go ahead. Let's see what happens.