Opinion of the proposed mosque near Ground Zero

[The Mikado]

I think it's a hell of a lot more touching and positive symbolism than the tacky-as-hell Freedom Tower, but that's just me.

This group is building a 13 story mosque on the site of a Burlington Coat Factory damaged on 9-11 two blocks away from the WTC site.  Assholes are protesting it.  What do you think, Atlas?

[You kip if you want to...]

Don't care. It's religious freedom.

[Franzl]

Don't care. It's religious freedom.

[fezzyfestoon]

Eh, I don't really know how to feel.  It seems like a positive gesture, but the guy in charge at the mosque doesn't make me feel like it's a positive thing.  It just doesn't sit well with me for motivational purposes.

[paul718]

I have no problem with it.  Most people around here are up in arms about it, though.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

I really don't care.

[TheGreatOne]

ehhh religious freedom and all that, but it doesn't sit well with me.  Overall it doesnt' effect my life so I'm just gonna go on living now.

[Sam Spade]

No - considering who's funding it.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

No - considering who's funding it.

Not caring much about this issue, I haven't kept up.........who, Spade?

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Don't care. It's religious freedom.

[memphis]

Don't care. It's religious freedom.

[fezzyfestoon]

Don't care. It's religious freedom.

There's no doubt about whether or not they can, it's whether or not they should that is of concern.

[??????????]

Equivalent to neo-nazis building a meeting hall next to auschwitz.

[Franzl]

Equivalent to neo-nazis building a meeting hall next to auschwitz.

Actually, no, not at all.

[TheGreatOne]

Equivalent to neo-nazis building a meeting hall next to auschwitz.

Actually it would be the equivalent of Roman Catholics building a church near Auschwitz.  Islam is a religion, not a terrorist group.

[opebo]

Travesty to the memory of the Burlington Coat Factory. 

The ground was soaked in blood long before the *-**** every got at it, folks.  Nothing's going to make the Bad Place good.  Run!

[Boris]

There really shouldn't be Islamic architecture in lower Manhattan...if it's just a generic building, then who cares?

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Don't they already have one in Manhattan?

[Associate Justice PiT]

     I echo the voices of others in not particularly caring about this, though anyone who seriously takes issue with building a mosque there is a genuine HP.

[Silent Hunter]

Equivalent to neo-nazis building a meeting hall next to auschwitz.

Actually it would be the equivalent of Roman Catholics building a church near Auschwitz.  Islam is a religion, not a terrorist group.

Exactly. I'm pretty sure there are churches near Auschwitz anyway.

[??????????]

Catholics had little to do with the holocaust.

[angus]

What do you think, Atlas?

I guess any group with the money to buy the land who wants to put a building there shouldn't have any reason not to.  Moreover, I can imagine that observant Muslims would want to build a mosque there to remind them to pray for peace, and for the souls of the victims of the attack.  It might be especially important since they may feel an ethnoreligious kinship with the attackers.  Brothers gone astray, so to speak.  It is reasonable that observant muslims, particularly if they are also arabs, might want to pray near the site of the WTC.

I imagine the protesters associate mosques with Islam, and Islam with radical Islam, and radical Islam with the destruction of life and property.  This mosque seems a little close to home for them, I'm imagine.  Every time they see the mosque they will be reminded of the attack.  And of death and destruction.  This is also understandable.  I think any group has the right to peaceably assemble and protest anything they want. 

Hadn't heard of any this till I saw the thread.  Then I googled a NYT article.  Interesting.  Neither the desire to build there, nor the ensuing protest that the plan causes, comes as a surprise.  This USAToday article also has a poll at the end: 

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/05/local-nyc-board-backs-plan-to-build-mosque-near-ground-zero/1

Wow.  Take a look at the results of the poll if you vote.

[Oakvale]

Equivalent to neo-nazis building a meeting hall next to auschwitz.

No, for that analogy to work they'd have to be building a shrine to Al Qaeda, not a place of worship of one of the world's largest religions.

[Sbane]

Equivalent to neo-nazis building a meeting hall next to auschwitz.

You are just going to paint all Muslims with the same brush? They are all responsible for 9/11? Perhaps no Southern Baptist churches should be allowed in Black neighborhoods since they supported Slavery and Segregation?

 If this was being funded by some group known to fund terror, you may have a point. Otherwise you are being an idiot.

Sam, can you answer Gramps question? Seems like it's important to know who is building this mosque.

[Mint]

Sam, can you answer Gramps question? Seems like it's important to know who is building this mosque.

Perdana.