If anyone is still laboring under the delusion that the U.S. is “post-racial,” the dustup about the so-called “ground zero mosque” should set them straight. Certain TV pundits are making huge political hay by stirring up racist fears about people who are “not like us.”
Since when is a world religion synonymous with a fringe group of terrorists? Since when are Americans entitled to cherry pick the Bill of Rights for their favorite parts and ignore the rest?
The Star didn’t help with a front-page Aug. 19 story, “Miles from ground zero, storm builds,” that repeatedly called the 13-story community center a “mosque.”
Yes, there’s a mosque in it. But would you call a 13-story community center with a Christian chapel a “church?” Not if you wanted to be accurate.
Despite slander to the contrary, the people behind the project seem to be peaceful moderates, who consistently say their objective is to open interfaith dialogue and promote community values.
What a great gesture. This is a total kick in the teeth to all Osama bin Laden stands for. Unfortunately, the baying xenophobes only serve to expose the ugliest aspects of our society.
Jan S. Gephardt
Westwood
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The Jewish Community Center at 115th & Nall isn't a synagogue, but it required zoning approval.
Posted by: currahee | September 04, 2010 at 09:01 AM
Why did the backers of this "recreation center" apply to get the building approved by the zoning commission as a mosque if, as our Obama apologists insist, it is not a mosque?
Posted by: Smarter Than You | September 02, 2010 at 06:47 PM
Jan obviously is not that sharp. Islam is not a race, it's a religion.
And if the imam who wants to build the WTC mosque is a "moderate," why does he refuse to denounce Hamas as a terrorist organization?
Posted by: Arminius | September 02, 2010 at 04:44 PM
A little history lesson on Cordoba:
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Cordoba.html
Posted by: pmcw | September 02, 2010 at 01:25 PM
The proposed community center has a prayer room of sorts planned that would be open to all faiths. There is no "mosque." That said, I think common sense dictates that more study should take place about a better location. Otherwise, I can see a "Christian terrorist" like Timothy McVeigh attempting to solve the problem...
Posted by: JayhawkinMO | September 02, 2010 at 11:31 AM
The proposed community center has a prayer room of sorts planned that would be open to all faiths. There is no "mosque." That said, I think common sense dictates that more study should take place about a better location. Otherwise, I can see a "Christian terrorist" like Timothy McVeigh attempting to solve the problem...
Posted by: JayhawkinMO | September 02, 2010 at 11:31 AM
it may be more sensitive to a NYK'ER but why keep away a cultural center if that center jhas nothing to do with terrorism? Or is it really a "RACE(muslim)(Islam" issue; I would hope not but everything points that.
Posted by: Keith Williams3 | September 02, 2010 at 10:34 AM
"potential terrorism" not digging on you K but before 911 there was "potential terrorism" and a president that new of it.
Posted by: Keith Williams3 | September 02, 2010 at 10:26 AM
Being as I lost no one on 9/11 and am not a resident of NYC..I'll leave the part about whether the location is improper to them.
I don't see this as being about race..this is all about politics and potential terrorism. My concern remains, who's behind it and why would they go out of their way to create ill will with their 'neighbors' by locating it there.
And, you know..more and more is beginning to come out. First, the owner is an ex waiter who did not have the kind of money it would take to buy that building; along with several others in NYC. He also hasn't paid over a quarter of a million dollars in taxes and has an interesting criminal history.
As for that wonderful Iman that our State Dept. paid to send on tour to foreign countries turns out to be a slum landlord. He misrepresented his apartment as a place of worship for 450 to 500 people so he could obtain tax free status. And there's more. But you're not interested in any of that.
For some strange reason, too many American's like to suspend their common sense and hit the 'bleeding heart' button automatically. What makes some of us so gullible?
Posted by: K. Sirridge | September 02, 2010 at 09:09 AM
Somehow "Hispanic" became a separate race, and now "Islamic" is a race too? I suppose the reason is it makes it a lot easier to call people racists. Can we just agree that going forward any word that ends in "ic" is a race?
Posted by: Gary | September 02, 2010 at 08:54 AM
Its pointless to even try, the ones against it says its insensitive, to who and why?
Posted by: Keith Williams3 | September 02, 2010 at 07:42 AM