New Bar at Gound Zero

[geekette]

According to my friends who actually live in NYC, putting a bar next to the center probably isn't as weird as it sounds. I've never been to NY, but it's my understanding that it's exceedingly crowded and all sorts of stuff that we wouldn't consider as coexisting next to each other does in NY. Which is why I love the wide-open spaces of the American West.

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by geekette

According to my friends who actually live in NYC, putting a bar next to the center probably isn't as weird as it sounds. I've never been to NY, but it's my understanding that it's exceedingly crowded and all sorts of stuff that we wouldn't consider as coexisting next to each other does in NY. Which is why I love the wide-open spaces of the American West.

That would make sense, that any inch of space in NYC is not wasted. They probably have very interesting combinations of shops together.

BTW is your friend apart of a coalition against the building of the masque? I am really hoping they fight this thing tooth and nail.

[DAII]

Originally Posted by jagwinn

Interesting photo of the Punjabi people who for the most part are not Muslims but practice Sikhism.

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by DAII

Interesting photo of the Punjabi people who for the most part are not Muslims but practice Sikhism.

The women in that photo are dressed much the same as Christians in India-

[geekette]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth

That would make sense, that any inch of space in NYC is not wasted. They probably have very interesting combinations of shops together.

BTW is your friend apart of a coalition against the building of the masque? I am really hoping they fight this thing tooth and nail.

No, he's an attorney who believes that any legal attempt to stop the mosque is doomed to fail under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). Interestingly enough, the same people who are against the mosque have had no problems in the past with churches using the RLUIPA to overcome challenges to church expansions, renovations, etc.

He also lives in Manhattan and personally has no problem with it.

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by geekette

No, he's an attorney who believes that any legal attempt to stop the mosque is doomed to fail under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). Interestingly enough, the same people who are against the mosque have had no problems in the past with churches using the RLUIPA to overcome challenges to church expansions, renovations, etc.

He also lives in Manhattan and personally has no problem with it.

I don't think the issue is a masque being built, it is the fact that is being constructed at ground zero and it's opening is 9/11/11, the ten year anniversary of 9/11.

I am taken a back a little that he has no problem with it-amazing.

[geekette]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth

I don't think the issue is a masque being built, it is the fact that is being constructed at ground zero and it's opening is 9/11/11, the ten year anniversary of 9/11.

I am taken a back a little that he has no problem with it-amazing.

It's actually not AT Ground Zero. It is two blocks away. And there's already an adult club and other not-so-savory enterprises closer.

I'm not surprised my friend isn't opposed; he's lived in NYC most of his adult life and was there on 9/11. He doesn't blame the entire Muslim religion for the acts of a few terrorist nutballs--most of whom were citizens of America's good ally, Saudi Arabia.

[Twisp]

American Muslims were killed in the attacks also. Why shouldn't they be able to build a mosque/cultural center close to ground zero to commemorate all who were lost?

No group should be discriminated against simply because of their religion.

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by geekette

It's actually not AT Ground Zero. It is two blocks away. And there's already an adult club and other not-so-savory enterprises closer.

I'm not surprised my friend isn't opposed; he's lived in NYC most of his adult life and was there on 9/11. He doesn't blame the entire Muslim religion for the acts of a few terrorist nutballs--most of whom were citizens of America's good ally, Saudi Arabia.

2 blocks away is rather close, and you answered my question your friend will not be opposing the construction of this muslim site.

As far as the rest of your comments, I guess it would be better to talk to him directly than to debate in 3rd person. It's hard to tell if you are speaking for him or yourself.

It doesn't matter if you or whoever doesn't blame the other muslims. That is not the point. It is the proximity that is disturbing. They don't seem to mind that Americans are bothered and hurt over their actions. If it is really not an act (the construction of their mosque) that is anyway in related to 9/11 then instead of being 2 blocks away why not 2 or 3 miles away and why on earth is their planned opening on 9/11/11 if the 2 events are in no way related?

Of course my question are rhetorical and do not need to answer-thank you.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Twisp

American Muslims were killed in the attacks also. Why shouldn't they be able to build a mosque/cultural center close to ground zero to commemorate all who were lost?

No group should be discriminated against simply because of their religion.

1. They have over 100 mosques in NYC already.

2. It would be located in too close proximity to Ground Zero and it offends the sensibilities of 52% of NYC residents as per recent polling. 31% are in favor and that would be the more liberal Manhattan residents -1, 629,054 pop.

3. As Newt Gingrich has pointed out - "There should be no mosque near Ground Zero in New York so long as there are no churches or synagogues in Saudi Arabia. The time for double standards that allow Islamists to behave aggressively toward us while they demand our weakness and submission is over." http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/...-mosque/60244/

4. If claiming to want relationship building and healing - why build in an area that offends the sensibilities of the majority and why spend $100 million to do the offending?

5. Where is the funding coming from? Rauf says not from foreign sources, but he tells a London newspaper a different story - "And Rauf is rather vague about where the estimated $100 million is coming from to build this 13-story tower. The imam said the money would be raised here. But he told a London newspaper that Muslim nations would also fund this project." http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local...-99967009.html

6. Why call it the Cordoba House, initially, and then say you are not alluding to the Caliphate of Cordoba, which we know, "The rule of the Caliphate is known as the heyday of Muslim presence in the Iberian peninsula." Caliphate of Córdoba - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliphate_of_C%C3%B3rdoba

7. Why change the name to Park51 after the uproar over "Cordoba House"? “Cordoba,” in Islamic symbolic terms, means Islamic rule in the West. http://lonestartimes.squawkboxnoise.com/?p=3081

Just a few of the concerns with the NYC Cordoba Mosque.