Great irony in outcry over Ground Zero mosque

"If I ask any American why u hate Islam?"

Uhh, what kind of people do you hang out with? Most people I know would respond "I don't hate them, I just don't want them to be able to go around killing random people in the name of some medievalist political agenda."

We don't need hatred to muster the will to fight. It just requires moral courage, nothing more than that.

.

How funny, the question and the answer is now totally changed. At first, it was all about building a mosque is the ground zero but now it turned into whether Islam is good or not.
It is really sad that the great Americans really don’t have any idea about, what is Islam and what Islam really says? Even they themselves don’t know why they hate Islam? Hahaha… most funny answer would be, they hate Islam because they are used to. If I ask any American why u hate Islam? Without hesitating he’ll answer because my friends or parents do, or , he hates Islam believing on what Al-qaeda or talebans say or do. It’s so funny that the gentle Americans will believe extremists but will not believe real Muslims.
An example: Say, U have no idea about CNN (cable news network) and also don’t know
what it telecasts. If an extremist tell u that CNN is a PORN channel and without justifying it’s truth if u start spreading that CNN is telecasts porn movies it will be so unfair and injustice for CNN. Similarly, If I wanna about Jews or Christians, where should I go? I must not go to a Muslim or Hindus to know about them. I must go to a
Jew or Christian or a Bishop. But their Holy books will be the best to know and understand them. Such as Bible for Christians. So, request u not to believe in absurd talking. Justify Islam by urself. Read what Prophet Mohammad really said and what not.
And what is the mandate of Allah through Quaran.
Some people say, Mohammad said to do jihad. It is the total cut-pies of his real sentence.
He also mentioned, why to do Jihad when to do Jihad? People hardly mention them because a report shows 75% Americans have no idea “what is a real Islam”? They just believe the media or extremists.
“If any People around you, may be Jew or Christian, is disturbed or depressed by you, In the name of Allah, I swear, You will be highly punished and will be in Hell forever.” Said by Prophet Mohammad.
Yet don’t u think Mohammad loved u all and he of course loved u and will love u forever though hate him because r so poor to realize the truth.
So, plz, kindly ferret out Who Mohammad was, his real words and how he loved people?
“If anyone kill an innocent life, he has killed the whole man kind” said by almighty Allah.
I abhor those who knocked twin towers down and killed lots of people. They are not Muslim, rather they are the enemy of Islam, who are destroying a Great Religion.
So, friends, Justify Islam by urself, don’t bother or waste time thinking what people
Or extremists say. We all should live together, respect each other, find out peace to build a strongest America. PEACE BE UPON YOU.
God bless America.

It seems really funny that The Great Americans have no idea what is Islam and what It really says. To me, Americans themselves even don't know why they hate Muslims Or Islam? They hate Islam because they are used to. If I ask any American, Why You hate Islam? The most probable answer will be that his or her parents or friends hate Islam, that's why. But he will never justify whether they are right or wrong. And it is going on for years and years. It's a shame for these great Nation who can be a good model for any country. An example: Say, You have no idea what is CNN (cable news network). And you also don't know what types of program it telecasts. If one of your friends tell you that CNN is a PORN channel and without justifying it's truth if you start spreading that CNN telecasts porn movies will it be a proper justice for CNN? It's as simple as drinking water. So just don't believe what media, the people around you and The Bloody Al-Qaeda or other extremists say. Justify Islam by yourself. If I wanna know about Jews or Christian, where should I go? I must not go to a Muslim or Hindu to know about them. I must go to a Jew or Christian to know about them. It will the best If take a Bible to know about Christian. So, being a great nation on earth with having world's most scientific life, why you are bothering or wasting time on such absurd talking. REMEMBER al-qaeda or other extremists are not Muslim. They are the enemy of Islam more than you are having. They are destroying a great religion.
Some of you say, "Prophet Mohammad says to do Jihad." It is a total cut-pis. You people have taken the middle sentence of Mohammad and you leave the full sentence which includes why to do Jihad and when to do Jihad? You always forget to mention, " people around you, may be Jews or Christians is your friend, You are accountable to Allah if you do any wrong with them and will be punished highly, said By Mohammad. Yet don't you think HE loved you. He really loved you all and will recommend to GOD for you in the day of Justice. Friends, U have a lot to know about Islam. "If anyone killed an innocent life, he has killed the whole human being. said By Almighty Allah. I hate those who knocked the twin tower down and caused a lots of death. Surely they will be punished after death. We should all live together, search for peace to make a better and stronger America. So, I again request you that Al-qaeda, talebans or other extremists are not Muslim. They are the enemy of Islam as well as the whole world. PEACE BE UPON YOU.
GOD bless America.

Suggesting that they cannot build there would simply be unamerican. Realizing that, the question is, is it appropriate. And in a democratic, capitalist state that has separation of religion and state, the government has no right or ability to mandate what can be built there other than local land use policies of the local municipality. The real problem has to be with it's stated uses. As a community center and teaching facility, it would draw a large number of Islamic followers to it's doors. The discipline of separation of state and religion is not a principle that is not followed in many Islamic countries. So in fact what they would like to build is more of a political teaching facility. I'm sure that this fact has not been overlooked by some in our government. So do we want to allow such a large facility to be built in New York City or anywhere for that matter. I feel that smaller community based centers might be more beneficial to the Islamic cause.

I have a feeling Imam Rauf's wife simply wants to run for office in a couple of years and needs the center as something she can put on her resume as a political organizer. Isn't that the real reason the Democratic Party of New York are behind her?

The determinative issue here isn't the righteous intentions,aspirations, and goals of Imam Rauf & his wife, nor the moral and Constitutional mandates for religious tolerance. The mosque cannot be built at Ground Zero because every Jihadist Muslim Imam and political leader WILL warp and pervert the original loving "symbolic" intention of the mosque to SYMBOLICALLY PROVE THAT ALLAH HAS WROUGHT A GREAT JIHADIST TRIUMPH OVER THE GREAT SATAN BY THE ERECTION OF A MOSQUE AT THE SITE WHERE THE MARTYRS STRUCK.Thus the mosque will become a remarkably efective tool for inspiring numerous Jihadist terrorists and terrorist atrocities- no matter how much its proponents protest that wasn't its purpose.
IF THE RAUFS AND THEIR BACKERS ARE SINCERE, THEY WILL NOT GIVE THEIR ENEMIES-THE MUSLIMS WHO BELIEVE THAT THE JIHADIC KORAN VERSES SUPERCEDE THE BROTHERLY LOVE VERSES- SUCH AN EVIL TOOL WHEN THEY BUILD THEIR INTERFAITH CENTER ANYWHERE ELSE IN N.Y. AND THEREBY AVOID CREATING THAT TOOL.

There is no doubt that inter-faith dialogue is necessary for the healing process post-September 11, and I also applaud the intentions of the proposed mosque near the site of Ground Zero.

That dialogue should include reflection among us Christians on the dangers (and history) of extremism within our own religious tradition. The actions of a few extremists should not discount the hope, peace and compassion for others that lie at the heart of the major world’s religions like Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, or Hinduism that are practiced by so many Americans in their communities today.

Let’s draw from the very heart of all these different faiths – which teach that we belong to one family. We will need this to find peace within ourselves and with each other.

Pastor I wonder how much you know about Islam. How much have you read about it? Do you know that Muslims are allowed to lie to infidels so they can spread the cause of Islam? It is a doctrine called Taqqiya and is to be spread in lands that do not have a Muslim majority like the USA.

Compare Muhammand and Jesus. One advised that you give the other cheek and even forgave his crucifiers. The other beheaded people and was a pedophile. Is there a religion more foolish than Islam?

Also wherever Islam has been victorious, it has decimated the most important religious sites of other religions. Cordoba? Do you know about the jizziya tax? That is what Christians and Jews had to pay for living in Cordoba as infidels. The Hindus had to do the same in India.

There may be moderate Muslims but there is no moderate Islam. Islam teaches hate about infidels. Instructs its followers to kill them. Of course there is violence in other religions but no other religion challenges Western values like Islam does. Freedom of speech, freedom of women, freedom of religion are all 'haram' under Islam. It is a hateful ideology. Please open your eyes before it is too late.

Pastor I wonder how much you know about Islam. How much have you read about it? Do you know that Muslims are allowed to lie to infidels so they can spread the cause of Islam? It is a doctrine called Taqqiya and is to be spread in lands that do not have a Muslim majority like the USA.

Compare Muhammand and Jesus. One advised that you give the other cheek and even forgave his crucifiers. The other beheaded people and was a pedophile. Is there a religion more foolish than Islam?

Also wherever Islam has been victorious, it has decimated the most important religious sites of other religions. Cordoba? Do you know about the jizziya tax? That is what Christians and Jews had to pay for living in Cordoba as infidels. The Hindus had to do the same in India.

There may be moderate Muslims but there is no moderate Islam. Islam teaches hate about infidels. Instructs its followers to kill them. Of course there is violence in other religions but no other religion challenges Western values like Islam does. Freedom of speech, freedom of women, freedom of religion are all 'haram' under Islam. It is a hateful ideology. Please open your eyes before it is too late.

"indicating a continued fear and ignorance of the Muslim faith,/ most people dont understand what islam is so they start spreading lies based on ignorance and fear"

Yes Americans are “ignorant” about Islam. They see women being stoned to death and not extended even the basic human rights in Islamic countries and they are to “ignorant” to see the true face of Islam. They see Muslim countries trying to legislate universal blasphemy laws through the UN yet they are too “ignorant” to see the true face of Islam. They see demands in their public schools to accommodate Muslims religious beliefs, they see Christian ministers ostracized for praying in Jesus name, they see Muslims demanding the segregation of their public swimming pools and gyms to accommodate their religion yet they are too “ignorant” to see the true face of Islam. They see shariah law implemented in Britain and the advocating for the same in the US and yet they still remain “ignorant. They see Muslims demanding that their women have the “right” to cover their faces in public regardless of the fact that no one else has the “right” to do so…all these things and thousands of others Americans are shown and yet they are still “ignorant” about Islam so we must build this thirteen story mosque. no wait it is a community center with a mosque in it…no wait it is a community center with a prayer space in it….no wait (stay turned for the next metamorphosis) to be named Cordoba House (until it became public knowledge exactly what that name stands for)…no wait it is to be named ……something or other. Yes it is so sad that Americans are to ignorant to see the true face of islam

Posted by: Evelyn26 “My husband and I just returned to New York from a lovely vacation in Egypt and Israel. The Muslims that we met there were some of the nicest, most welcoming, and sincere people I have ever met”

And what did these “nicest, most welcoming, and sincere people I have ever met” have to say about the slaughter of Coptic Christians in Egypt?

Welton, with all due respect, you have been totally duped by the imam and his slick sales pitch and you(along with Mayor Bloomberg and Andrew Cuomo and other Mosque supporters) have become to the imam(as Lenin would say) "useful idiots". First of all, Cordoba Spain under the Moors was not this utopia of "interfaith" harmony you claim. In fact, it was just the opposite. Cordoba, Spain, under the Moors was a sharia run society where Jews and Christians were second class citizens(and by the way that's what this imam believes in also---Jews and Christians are second class citizens in his mind to Muslims---and he has said so previously in Arabic through his promotions of sharia law). So the guy you Welton are promoting is in fact a stringent believer in discrimination against Jews and Christians(ask yourself Welton why the imam refuses to demand that Saudi Arabia allow churches and synagogues to be built in Mecca or elsewhere---in Saudi Arabia such churches and synagogues are illegal by law and your "interfaith" "progressive" hero imam hasn't the slightest problem with such an arrangement---in fact rather he endorses the prohibition on church and mosque building). Secondly, you've entirely missed the Islamic significance of the name "Cordoba House". Cordoba House is inspired by the Cordoba Mosque(which was built not as a symbol of "interfaith" harmony but rather as a symbol of conquest of Christian Spain). Likewise, "Cordoba House" will be seen by jihadists and Islamic supremacists as a monument to Islamic victory on 9/11(consequently the Mosque has a national security significance to us and its construction will inspire jihadists and Islamic supremacists worldwide who will see it for what it is---a monument to Islamic victory---and proof that America is too weak and guilt ridden by political correctness to withstand Islamic supremacism for long) Third, if your hero imam really cared about "interfaith" harmony, he would not be building at this location and opening the mosque on September 11, 2011. This is such a provocative gesture(and the imam knows it) that it reveals who the imam really is(a slick deceiver who has ulterior motives beyond the stated objectives of his English speeches to people such as you). It's the location stupid. Building a mosque at Ground Zero is akin to building a Japanese Shinto shrine next to the USS Arizona(at a minimum it shows extremely bad taste and insensitivity). One can only hope the dumb, ill conceived, and foolish views of someone like Welton will not prevail and that common sense will.

Nobody's got exclusive rights to Ground Zero? Wrong. We've got exclusive rights.The loved ones of the victims-nice to meet you. Our loved ones paid for those exclusive rights when they died. When all is said and done, it's the victims' families and friends who're gonna have to live for the rest of their lives with the question I have to live with. Did... die quick or did she have to jump to avoid being burned alive? There is no answer to that question as there are no graves, just the Ground Zero site. It's a cemetery, friends, and I hope you all have enough sense to respect that.

Pastor Gaddy,
Thank you very much for your informative and brave article. It's mind-boggling to me how close-minded all of these responses are. Come on Americans - think for yourselves for once. Look into matters on your own. Expand your mind. Muslims are not bad people. Islam is not a destructive and horrendous religion. Extremist Muslims are responsible for the 9/11 attacks, and extremists account for a very very small percentage of all Muslims. My husband and I just returned to New York from a lovely vacation in Egypt and Israel. The Muslims that we met there were some of the nicest, most welcoming, and sincere people I have ever met. Although my husband and I are devout Christians, we are able to learn, share, and grow with and from non-Christians around the world. I am so sick of fundamentalist (or "extremist"?), close-minded Americans giving the United States a bad name. Stop thinking that you know everything, read a book, and educate yourself. Life is not black and white.

Welton Gaddy writes, "I commend and admire Daisy Khan for being so hopeful. "We always take comfort is knowing that Islam's struggle in this country is the same as the struggles of those that came before us," she told me last week. "It's one of acceptance. America remains shining example of religious freedom and acceptance." I, for one, hope she's proven right - starting in New York City."

Most of the comments I have seen on this and other threads about this subject are against building the super Mosque in this specific location and for building it somewhere else that isn't loaded with the religious atrocity occurring on 9/11.

As Daisy and other leaders of the mega-Mosque experience the horrified reaction of millions of Americans to the location, wouldn't it show them in a better light to select another location and thereby show cultural sensitivity regarding the sacredness of Ground Zero?

Since some 3,000 were murdered and well over a 250,000 people injured, is it too much to ask for a shred of sensitivity and understanding by Daisy and her group?

It doesn't take a doctorate in math to statistically extrapolate how directly the 9/11 terrorism event " reached out and touched" almost every American family.

That's right, almost every American family directly experienced the horrifying death or injury of an acquaintance, friend, or family member.

Daisy, if your group really wants to heal the deep, tearing wounds then please build a mega-Mosque at another beautiful location. New York has plenty of them providing spacious grounds to cultivate nature's beauty with reflective gardens. And while building, add a sacred remembrance to those who died horrific deaths as a result of Islamic fanaticism. Inscribe all their names onto a memorial stone.

Now that would be a respectful act inviting a better reception all the way around.

Dearest Daisy, a Mosque at Ground Zero is detestable.

this is so amazing funny,

its all right for america to spend and waste trilions of $$$$$$$$$$$$$ in the islamic world,(in the form of culture invasion and wars)

but if some islamic center spend 100 million $(paid by muslims citizens) (and approved by the constitution) in america to cool and support mutual understanding between america and the islamic world ,then is odd??? .

nothing fail nations like blindness,deafness and dumbness.

nothing fail nations like hypocrisey.
nothing fail nations,
like macaroni and swiss cheess hole/y democracey .

the above not only a disgrace to america but also open the door wide open for culture invasion,
culture travel ,
and good ideology always beat bad ideology,exactly like good money beat bad money,
this is life,not america.

in other word if you want to protect the border of your culture
make sure that your culture is solid not cheessey and hole/y.

oh god bless america soooooo good with some solid unbores culture that doesnot know no race nor color and no ethincs.

Mr. Gaddy, Ms. Khan, & Mr. Reuf:
Could you please explain why are we the US citizens such beneficiaries of you generosity and munificence. Over the years we have been showered (even before 9/11) with islamic generosity to promote the understanding of islam in most of western world. I personally do not object to your cultural center on constitutional grounds. For me that triumphs, however grudgingly it might be. But wouldn't the money be far better spent if similar projects were undertaken in Cairo, Riyadh, Tehran, Karachi, Dacca, Jakarta, Kuala-lumpur. After all NYC already has 100 - 200 mosques. It is not as though we are not exposed to islam and islamic culture. However, appreciation of other cultures is woefully lacking the places I mentioned. Your protestations for promoting greater understanding amongst faiths would be more credible if you were to have first initiated in some of the paradises I mentioned above. After all in this country near 6,000,000 muslims thrive far better than in their own native lands, despite the imperfections as you are so fond of pointing out. If they did not, we would not be seeing a steady influx of muslims from other countries. However, the same cannot be said of those paradises. Apparently those paradises are not so nurturing even for the muslims, who vote with their legs every year. I think the above cities are far more in need of and deserving of your generosity. I bet you, with the $100,000,000 you have earmarked for your NYC project would actually finance at least 5 projects in the aforementioned cities. As we all say here in the US of A we will get "more bang for the buck". Aren't we all supposed to be frugal in these days of tight money, what do you say?

American’s aren’t angry because Islam is building another mosque. They are angry about the location, 600 feet from ground zero, and the timing, the 10th anniversary of 9/11. In Islam a mosque is more than a place of worship. It is a symbol, a symbol of victory over the infidels. Muhammad built a mosque at the Ka’aba, a pagan pantheon, when he conquered Mecca. Muslims erected a mosque over the holiest site in Judaism (the Temple mount) when they conquered Jerusalem. When Muslims conquered the Christian city of Damascus they built their chief mosque (Ummayad Mosque) over the Church of Saint John. When the Muslims conquered Cordoba, they transformed the city's cathedral into a mosque. Similarly, Muslims desecrated the Orthodox Cathedral of Constantinople (Hagia Sophia) when they conquered Constantinople. They transformed the city's chief church into a mosque by painting over the images of Christ and writing verses from the Koran over them. Likewise, Muslims have built mosques over Hindu temples and shrines. Definition of a chump - a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of. Americans are not chumps.

" Together with his wife Daisy Khan, Imam Feisal envisioned devotees to Islam sharing space with other communities to enjoy arts, culture and dialogue. Inspired by the struggle of other religious communities seeking acceptance in America, they set out to establish Cordoba House, named for the Spanish city where Muslims, Jews, and Christians together created one of the most fertile and creative civilizations in the world."

Here is a possible slight contradiction, Pastor Gaddy. Jews and Christians were not always well treated in Muslim ruled al-Andalus, ( Spain ), but there were certainly times that they were well treated and that stands to the credit of Islam but during the instances where Jews and Christians were treated fairly, that is unlikely to have been accorded the approval of the Wahhabis of today. It would seem conflicted to claim the inheritance of the positive aspects of al-Andalus, if one is going to tie oneself to the Wahhabis, where is the money coming from to fund this project ?

This is a Persian saying,
اسب ترکمنی است، هم از توبره میخوره هم ازآخور
You might better know it's Anglo-Saxon counterpart,
Runs with the hare, hunts with the hounds.

I can't think of a more offensive, tasteless maneuver. Wonder what Bloomberg et al are getting in their campaign contributions to go along with this one. I'm just sayin'....

If you're a registered US voter and you think the idea of a mosque ANYWHERE *NEAR* Ground Zero is offensive, check out
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/killcordoba/

The Peace of Jesus Christ to you Pastor Welton Gaddy.

A question for you Pastor Gaddy, do you believe that Christians who preach the Good News to Muslims that Jesus Christ God's only begotten son, born of the Virgin Mary of Immaculate Conception, was crucified, died on the Cross, was resurrected to life and ascended to heaven should be killed ?

The Twin Towers were on a parcel of land that was at least 2 blocks long. How do you think that a 13 story building wouldn't be seen from less than a quarter of a mile away. That's about the length of my driveway!

The furor over a Ground Zero Mosque is misguided because instead it should be directed at making Congress wake up and stop all Muslim immigration except for very limited exceptions, subject to deportation. Once they're here, they have a right to set up mosques as long as their public form of worship doesn't trample on others' rights, such as loud prayer towers and public prayers, veiling, etc. The bitter truth is that there is an irreconcilable culture clash between Islam and the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights that individual Muslims have no authority to countermand, since it comes straight from the Quran, which commands them to subvert all infidel govts. and set up Muslim-superiority Sharia like since day one in the 7th century. Whether they do it by force or after they are invited in like the Trojan Horse, that's what they must do to please Allah, and unless the U.S. wants to commit cultural suicide it must treat Islam like Communism or Nazism, a religion that's also political and whose adherents are potential enemies of the U.S., and protect the people here now. Muslims make up one-quarter of the Earth's pop., and the U.S. must make a collective decision now. Take time to study the little-known history of Islam to see how the Muslim superiority is built into the holy writings and can't be taken out now, and how in country after country the result is always the same, total failure at assimilation followed by ceaseless attempts to set up Sharia, always violent and bloody: http://go.to/islamhistory

Please check out this interesting article:

http://www.islamicsolutions.com/if-it-is-extreme-it-is-not-islam/

Daisy Khan, the American.

Listen to Daisy Khan soft soaping Muslim polygamy.

""I also explain to them that as a woman, you have certain rights, and as a man, he may one day exercise his right to have a second wife," Khan says."
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90857818

With all due respect Mr. Gaddy, these are Muslim Americans.

The Saudis finance Feisal Abdul Rauf. There's no two ways about it.

"C-100 Projects Endorsed and Funded in 2005
Through the generosity of HRH Price Al Waleed of Saudi Arabia, the Xenel Corporation, and others, several C-100-endorsed projects were funded .

1. ASMA Society: Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow
American Society for Muslim Advancement (ASMA)’s Cordoba Initiative proposed to convene young Muslim leaders from the US and the broader Muslim world to expand its network of Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow "
http://www3.weforum.org/en/initiatives/c100/Projects/index.html

Here are the names of other royals, and wealthy Saudis, that are associated with Fiesal Abdul Rauf's "initiatives".

H.R.H. Princess Lolwah Al Faisal
Khalid A. Alireza
H.R.H. Prince Hussam bin Saud bin Abdulaziz al Saud
H.R.H. Prince Turki Al Faisal

What do you call an Saudi financed American who wants to build an Islamic monument in connection with Ground Zero?

A Muslim American.

Doesn't Feisal Abdul Rauf seem more interested in Sharia law, than in the Bill of Rights?
http://www.cordobainitiative.org/?q=content/shariah-index-project

Well, that's because he is a Muslim American, and so is Daisy Khan.

wow people. the reason for this mosque is to bring peace and understanding. most people dont understand what islam is so they start spreading lies based on ignorance and fear. this mosque will help people to understand other religions also. its a center in which people can have intelligent conversations about faith and its somewhere where people can learn about religion and god. all i hear is that this mosque "supports the terrorists." what the bleep?! terrorists use religion as an excuse to kill innocent people and gain political power. the terrorists that destroyed the towers are not a member of a religion but a member of a cult. so blaming islam and muslims is totally unfair.

Robicon and Cherubim, did you even read this piece before commenting?

This essay explains that the purpose of the center (even the name) is for interfaith understanding. It is NOT located "at" Ground Zero, but two blocks away.

After reading this, I cannot understand why you would object.

I don't want a mosque, a church, a temple, a synagogue , or any kind of religious symbol at the site of the 911 tragedy. There are alternatives. I want peace, enlightenment, LOVE, and healing at ground zero.
At the site of 911 I want a monument with the words and music of this song.

"Heal the World":
In this place you'll feel
There's no hurt or sorrow.
There are ways to get there
If you care enough for the living
Make a little space, make a better place.

Chorus:
Heal the world
Make it a better place
For you and for me and the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place for
You and for me.

Michael Jackson sings it better than I can write it.
Please click on the video link below and read, listen, and be at Peace:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WJrtms8EoQ&feature=related

Thank you, Michael Jackson.

NYC contains multitudes of locations and buildings where this "cultural center" could be located.

A scheduled opening on September 11, 2011?

To be named "Cordoba" house?

Next to a site where 3,000 innocents perished due to cowardly actions of Islamic Extremists?

You people in favor of this have forgone principle in the name of political correctness. You have eagerly handed over your collective backbones in an effort to appear "open-minded" and "sensitive". Your actions fly in the face of what it truly means to be an American.

I take no issue with Muslims building a mosque/cultural center anywhere else. The site chosen is inflammatory and crude. For a religion that wishes to be seen as peaceful, the construction of this thirteen story "middle finger" will generate the opposite response.

I don't support the building of a Mosque at the Ground Zero site. The proposal, however, is for something two blocks away. I really don't understand how something that can't be seen from the site can be so objectionable. I'm a Jew and liberal. It would be very easy for me to oppose any proposal in favor of Islam. But I support attempts to understand each other, and this center appears to foster such understanding.

The religious freedom argument is a canard. No one has a right to build anything wherever they want it. If the local citizens want it, it should be built. If they do not, then it shouldn't. The spinning of the issue by national media and conservative commentators (who make it sound like its intended on-site) is at the least "unhelpful."

YESUWILL - Yes, Islam is a religion whose followers are known as Muslims and they comprise over 1.5 billion people nearly 25% of the world's population. The proposed community center is about 2 and 1/2 blocks from Ground Zero separated by many tall office buildings precluding anyone in the center from seeing the former site of the twin towers. If the perpetrators of 9/11 had been Christians would we preclude a YMCA with a chapel from being built? How about a Jewish community center with a temple? Do get the drift? Newt and Palin aside let's not focus on the 24 hour news cycle that produces this stuff and acknowledge that we have a Constitution that is pretty clear about the separation of religion and the state. Grow up!

whether it's a church, mosque,hindu temple or whatever, it's a house of worship. what i would like to know,- is islam a religion?