Alright everybody, it's been a while since I've posted something and I figured it was a good time to write about the Ground Zero Mosque, seeing as it is the topic du jour (or du mois, considering it has been so intense for a while now).
For starters, I'm going to let everyone know that I (evidently) don't believe this mosque should be built at Ground Zero. There are numerous reasons for this. However, it being "insensitive" is not one of them.
My first reason, has to be the fact that the Imam who is leading this project is a radical extreme fundamentalist. He sympathizes alongside those that bombed the towers in the beginning. He believes the American government had a hand in the attacks of September 11th. He has opined that America needs to be more "Shariah compliant". This is a man who's father was a devout member of the Muslim Brotherhood (a radical fundamentalist organization that has been linked to terrorist attacks). I firmly believe that the government needs to step in and explain that a man who respects the country he lives in so little, has no right to build a mosque at Ground Zero. Whether or not he owns it, is not an issue as so many point out. There is a legitimate case to be made that he could potentially be a threat to national security, and his teachings could foster anti-American and pro-terrorist sentiments.
Secondly, the sheer irony that the people building this mosque insist on the fact that Islam is an incredibly tolerant religion; yet they do not allow ANY person that is not Muslim into the cities of Medina and Mecca (their two most holy places). If Christians or Jewish people attempted to build a Church or Synagogue in those cities, they would be laughed at. So why we would allow a mosque at such a sacred location for America, is beyond me.
Finally, the flawed logic of the people organizing this mosque's construction, shows why they should not be permitted to put a mosque on these grounds. When asked what they thought of a potential gay bar across the street from their mosque, they said they would fight it, stating that it would be insensitive to their religion. This hypocrisy and ignorance is exactly why that mosque should not be built. Now, remember (this is for the Left-wingers who won't be able to keep up), I'm not saying the insensitivity is the reason it shouldn't be built, I'm saying it's their own beliefs that should prevent them from building there.
So, all in all, there are legal means to stop this project, and there are certainly other legitimate reasons to prevent this project from progressing any further. I hope Obama will step in and do something about it, besides release a statement and then backtrack on it the next day. I won't hold my breath though. I would have no problem with this mosque going up somewhere else, with a different Imam, but as it stands, it is clear to me that this mosque is wrong.
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RightForever
"cities of Medina and Mecca (their two most holy places). If Christians or Jewish people attempted to build a Church or Synagogue in those cities, they would be laughed at."
ReplyDeleteAccording to Saudi Law it is Illegal for Jewish people to enter the country of Saudi Arabia. I believe it is also illegal to construct churches anywhere in Saudi Arabia.
Actually, the Imam has denounced terrorism and radical Islam. In fact, he's promoted a moderate and tolerant Islam and even helped the FBI with counter-terrorism efforts.
ReplyDeleteThe difference between Saudi Arabia and the United States is that the United States is a secular nation. Everyone has the right to practice their own religion. You're definitely reaching if you're comparing the US and Saudi Arabian governments.
As far as the "potential gay bar" issue goes, I agree that it is hypocritical. However, speaking of homosexuality, aren't most conservatives against promoting it in the first place? But that's another topic for another day.
All in all, I don't think it matters where the Mosque is built. If people (not Muslims, Christians, Jews, but PEOPLE) remain civilized, this shouldn't be an issue.
I don't know the reason behind his willingness to build it near there but he has the right to do it and shouldn't be stopped. Would you stop the construction of a church or a synagogue by Ground Zero? The Muslim population in the US is growing year by year. The US is no longer the Christian nation that it once was.
Anyway, those are my thoughts, you can agree or disagree. If you haven't noticed by now, I am a liberal but I look forward to reading more articles on this blog to create friendly discussions and debates. Kudos to the article writer.
Thanks for the comments guys. Kayvan I don't think the religion building their place of worship is the issue, it's the man who is leading them. And to say he's denounced radical Islam, is incredibly naive. He was raised in an environment of radicalism and preaches Shariah Law which is radical anywhere outside of 3 or 4 countries in the Middle East. Anyone can denounce something. It is a political gesture, not an aciton. For instance, many pro-life people have denounced Scott Roeder for killing George Tiller the baby killer, but many of us are happy he shot Tiller. If you think that this man is not a radical because of a few PR stunts and half hearted help with the FBI to get them off is back, I truly believe you are beyond naive. This man can easily be declared a threat to national security and his mosque can be shut down. And it should be. As for the gay marriage topic, who said anyone advocated for it? We simply offered a htpothetical proposition asking what if SOMEONE built one, not what if WE built one.
ReplyDeleteFirst, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is one of the most respected and moderate Muslims in the country Jon. He was sent on behalf of the State Department in the Bush Administration on multiple occasions to give speaking tours across the Muslim world on tolerance and religious diversity. He was also asked by the FBI to come in and speak to their agents about how to deal with Muslims - "Islamic extremism is an oxymoron, it is a fundamental contradiction in terms." The allegations that he is a terrorist seem as ridiculous to me as the Obama birthers.
ReplyDeleteSecond, while the government of Saudi Arabia might not hold this view, the ACTUAL religion of Islam says that anyone who believes in one God (there is no God but God and Allah is his name) is technically a Muslim. So really, Christians and Jews being kept out of Mecca is the Saudi Government, not Islam itself, and I kinda get that because I would imagine busloads of american tourists at one of the most sacred and important religious ceremonies in Islam would get rather annoying. In fact, Islam is the most tolerant of the three at it's heart. It says in the Qu'ran the ONLY time war (jihad) is permitted is when a Church, Synagogue or Mosque is under threat of destruction.
Third, the bit about the Gay bar doesn't really make sense to me... I imagine any religious institution, even the ultra-liberal United Church would prefer if a gay bar (or any bar for that matter) wasn't built across the street from them. That just seems obvious to me, sorry.
Still couldn't disagree more on the Imam. He believes in institutionalizing a discriminatory, outdated legal system in America. In America, Shariah IS radical.
ReplyDeleteAs for the gay bar comment, you're right (although I would disagree on the United Church, they do perform gay marriages in their churches). The point wasn't so much about tolerance as it was about ignorance. They could've sold that property, made a ton of money and moved the mosque elsewhere. Heck, that would be respectful, profitable and probably more convenient for most of their parishoners (I don't think many Muslims, live in Mahattan, as they do in other boroughs).
I'm sorry unfortunately I don't know what you're talking about with the whole Sharia law thing, if you could find me like a youtube clip or newspaper article of where he said that itd be much appreciated. Cus to me it REALLY doesnt add up that one of the most respected Muslims in the USA truly wants Sharia law implemented. I agree with you, if that is ACTUALLY his true beliefs and not a comment taken out of context from 40 years ago or something like that, then Sharia law in the USA is totally radical and unacceptable. I just don't buy that that is actually what he believes.
ReplyDeleteAs for the United Church, I was raised United and ya, I know they married the homos before it was cool :P But I still think they'd prbly be a little P.O.ed if a bar, gay or straight, opened up across the street haha. As for the whole ignorance thing - my question is... why the hell should they move it? It would be figuratively bending over and taking it up the ass if they caved to some angry right-wing people who don't understand their religion, who equate them with terrorists, and who would like to see them graciously get the fuck out of america. Them moving the mosque would just be a victory for ignorance and intolerance. I think choosing this site to put a mosque may not have been the wisest decision, (then again they had to have known it would spark some outrage, maybe their intent was to create a public discourse exposing the ignorance about Islam), but keeping it there is really their only option.
Peter, before I finish reading your comment, I want to address your question. And I understand it doesn't add up to you, because it doesn't seem like he could be a proponent of both. However, it is all written in HIS book. His philosophy and advocacy of Shariah Law are all spelled out there. I'll respond to the rest of the comment when I finish reading it.
ReplyDeleteAs for the rest of the comment, yes I agree with the bar statement, I just missed your point. I get it now, and yeah, a bar of any sort, isn't all that Christian lol.
ReplyDeleteAnd once again if this wasn't led by THIS particular Imam, I may not have a problem (I know others still would, don't worry, I'm not that naive lol). But this is an Imam who cries out about Shariah Law and saying the Bush Administration was repsonsible for 9/11. Now I know you personally may agree with him on that, however, that too is considered a radical statement. This man, is anti-America, and anti-American culture. He is lucky to be living in the country in the first place, but he is a slap in the face to everything America stands for, and I truly believe that there is a case for that mosque to be legally blocked if it continues with this Imam.
And FYI, the CURRENT administration's State department is also parading him around the Middle East to fundraise. Some of that money? Coming from HAMAS, an outlawed terrorist group in both Canada and the USA. Unreal. This mosque is a joke. It is more reasonable financially, PR-wise and convenience wise for the Muslim community. The reason they won't back down is because they are intentionally being antagonists. No question about it.