The Cordoba House Construction Plans Continue in Manhattan, Unchanged Even After Protests and Pleas
The Construction Planning for the Islamic Mosque and Community Center in New York Pushes Forward Regardless of American Sentiment
Well, partially true. Construction planning is still unchanged.
Despite insurmountable controversy, the plans for the construction of an Islamic community center in Lower Manhattan is still moving forward. The 13-story-tall building will house a mosque, swimming pool and an auditorium, designed much like the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan.
The dispute has been fueled by Republican leaders, including Sarah Palin, Republican vice president nominee in 2008, who asked "peace keeping Muslims" to avoid any further "unnecessary provocation" and to oppose the construction of the Cordoba House.
The building of the Cordoba House is being defended vigorously by Mayor Michael Bloomburg on the grounds of "freedom of religion," and that the government, be it federal or state, does not have any business dictating where a "place of worship" can or cannot be built. President Obama has also spoken of his support for the religious center.
Rauf stated in a New York Times article that he is "sensitive to the feelings of the families of victims of 9/11," and getting the support from a Christian president and a Jewish mayor "sends a powerful message about what America stands for, and will be remembered as a milestone in improving American-Muslim relations."
However, in the Huffington Post, he said that he felt, "Much of the discourse in opposition to the Cordoba House has proven to be vacuous and fear driven, based on generalizations and misdirected anger." The press, Republicans and Democrats all have a piece of the blame for perpetuating these feelings.
A poll conducted by the New York Times, published on Sept. 2, 2010, revealed that two-thirds of New York City residents want the Cordoba House construction to be relocated to a less-sensitive location, even though the majority of those polled believe the Cordoba Initiative has the right to build it there.
The political and emotional firestorm that has risen from the proposed construction of the Cordoba House shows that Americans very deeply value their rights and are still very connected to the area around the World Trade Center. Americans are exercising their rights to oppose the religious community center, yet also recognize the rights of others, the freedom of worship and their right to build.
Roger Pilon pulls it all together, stating on Cato's website, "Americans will tolerate, not accept the mosque at ground zero, because they must, as a matter of principle, but in their hearts they will not accept it, because it is an insensitive affront to their deepest values." Americans, understanding the rights of Muslim-Americans, will tolerate the building and what it stands for, but not accept it, because of the veil of insensitivity it is being constructed under.
It is for certain that the construction of the Cordoba House will not help in healing the wounds of the families of the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. As the construction is completed, the grand opening in the past, the religious center will become another building in Manhattan, neither healing the human suffering that occurred just blocks away or bridging the gap between Islamic and Western Cultures.
America is a country of diversity and tolerance, and Americans understand that just because an organization or individual has the right to do something doesn't always mean it's the right thing to do.
References
New York Times, OP/ED: Building on Faith
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/08/opinion/08mosque.html?_r=1&sudsredirect=true
New York Times: NY Poll Finds Wariness for Muslim Site
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/03/nyregion/03poll.html
New York Times: Muslim Community Center in Lower Manhattan (Park51)
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/p/park51/index.html
The Huffington Post: The Cordoba House Debate: "It's Like a Dog Chasing Its Tail"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ian-moss/the-cordoba-house-debate_b_697260.html
Cato@Liberty: The Establishment Comes Up Sort
http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/the-establishment-comes-up-short/
2006 Today Show Interview conducted by Diane Sawyer.
Published by L.E. Duncan
A writer, photographer, traveler and investor. I have been writing internet content for six years. If you are interested in specific content, don't hesitate to contact me! View profile
- U2's Bono Signs Writing Deal with the New York TimesLong known for its coverage of the arts and sciences, business, real estate, economics, the New York Times, the worlds most powerful newspaper, has a long-standing practice of inviting the well-known and well-regarded...
Corey Lidle Told the New York Times that His Cirrus SR20 Plane was SafeCorey Lidle Told the New York Times that His Cirrus SR20 Plane Was Safe
Is it Murder to Kill the New York Times?Everyone sick and tired of all their arrogant spin, fit to print, can now join the forces working against against the future sustainability of the New York Times. Join the info...- New York Times Bureau Chief Defends NSA Wire-tapping StoryIn December, 2005, the New York Times decided to publish a story about wire-tapping by the NSA. The Bush adminsitration was outraged and called it a threat to national security. Here's the NY Times defense.
David Ortiz Used Steroids According to New York TimesThe New York Times is reporting that Boston Red Sox players Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz tested positive for steroids during the 2003 season when players agreed to confidential...
- The Cordoba House Park 51: Inappropriate for New York's Darkest Day Memorial
- Rick Lazio Challenges Andrew Cuomo to Investigate Cordoba Mosque Near Ground Zero
- Cordoba House '9/11 Mosque' Causes Controversy and Opens Wounds
- The Cordoba Initiative Mosque Near Ground Zero
- A Second Mosque Near Ground Zero? Could Happen!
- Large Mosque to Be Built Near Ground Zero
- Plans to Build Mosque on 9/11 Site Still Underway
5 Comments
Post a CommentCasandra: #1 - Relax. You've not lost friends or family in the 911 disaster have you? #2 - Bigotry is an equal opportunity Demon, who revels in the back and forth oscillations his tinkering generates. Don't participate in his machinations please. # 3 - Casual and careless "hatred", be it spoken or otherwise, isn't unique to the U.S, and is a common problem world-wide. Having said that, you will find the U.S. filled with millions of warm people side by side with our fair share of nitwits . . . just like any other country in the world. #4 - Don't get caught up in "hating" when poked by a stand-out situation, as 911 is. See #2.
And one last thing, America is NOT a country of diversity and tolerance, and many Americans realize this when they leave there. America is ONLY tolerant if you're Christian and believe what Christians believe. Honestly, at this point, I'm thinking of handing my US citizenship back as I'm ashamed to be associated with a country like this. Terrible.
Oh and what's even sadder. The Cordoba House was actually being built as a home for Muslims, Jews, Christians, Buddhists - anyone who wanted to go there. The Imam, a man who wanted to do nothing more than created something to help peace, has been attacked by a bunch of hate-filled 'Christians' who, if there is a God, will be locking the door when THEY show up at the gates of heaven. Disgusting people.
Good for the Imam. In all of this, he comes off as the 'normal' one and the anti-mosque crazies are just that - crazies. It's NOT a mosque and it's nowhere frikkin' near the WTC, plus it's surrounded by strip joints - so how it's 'hallowed ground' is beyond me. What's even more sickening about this though is people are treating these people like they are outcasts - they're AMERICANS from chrissake, who just happen to be Muslim. I'm telling you, at this point, America and the bigotry there scares me. I just canceled my Christmas trip to the US and am going to Malaysia instead. I don't want to set foot in a country with that much hatred. Very sad :(
The way New York is, turning a corner takes you into a whole new neighborhood. Two blocks away is not "on the site" of the World Trade Center. It is hard to deal with, but the whole thing is hard. When I'm in NY I walk over a block so I don't have to pass the Trade Center site.