I have the solution to the Ground Zero Mosque

[jodevizes]

Given the furore over the suggested mosque at Ground Zero see www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/18/ground-zero-mosque-republican-attacks
and given the devastation happening in Pakistan, why don't they donate all the money to help their Muslim brothers and sisters. This way they not only look good but by the time they have raised the money again, things may well have cooled down.

Just a thought.

AFAIK it was the Taliban who were responsible for the twin towers and not the general Muslim population (who at the time were just as horrified as all the other religions by what happened). So why shouldn't they be allowed to have the place of worship where ever they want?

Gorionline

Of course that is the reason - and it is the only reason. Because it would be SEEN as a provocation.

But why? What is, per se, provocative about putting a place of worship anywhere? The only possible reason I can see is that, deep down, lots of people believe that Muslims = terrorists. We see the same in northern ireland - religious groups take on political and often racial characteristics too and are judged accordingly.

Those muslims building the community center/mosque probably meant no harm at all, but you have to remember the other kind.

If you built a mosque on the site then somewhere there'd be a rabble rouser screaming "Allah helped us kill the unbelievers and now raises a monument on the site to inspire us to kill more. Allah says get out there and kill more innocent men, women and children"

If this building is not going to be a mosque (and this may be splitting hairs since I think I was told that most of them are actually community centers in western countries) then it could have gone through quietly. Now there has been a fuss it's lose/lose for everyone.

Unless the Muslims withdrew their request voluntarily.

Incidentally, i say that as a fervent agnostic and no particular fan of places of worship in general - but I do not see that, prejudice aside, a mosque would be any worse than a church.

O dear, I actually though that I'd found the solution to Afghanistan; pull out the entire miltary operations from there and put towards rescuing the people in North-West Pakistan - now THAT would surely have won over hearts and minds, saved a few lives in the process and would have gone a long way towards stabilising the region [naive emoticon]

If you built a mosque on the site then somewhere there'd be a rabble rouser screaming "Allah helped us kill the unbelievers and now raises a monument on the site to inspire us to kill more. Allah says get out there and kill more innocent men, women and children"

Of course there would. Because there are mad bastards in every community.

Since when was it a positive and sensible thing to judge entire communities on the words and actions of mad bastards?

MIFLAW, if you still don't get it then there's no more to be said, but I'm sure others will. In fact others do which is why it's being debated everywhere.

Of course this is coming up to mid term elections in the USA so some politicians are cranking this up for all it is worth and others are too frightened to say anything.

I am quite sure there are churches and religious places of all kinds within 2 blocks of Ground Zero. It seems to me that Ground Zero would be a good place to start building religious and ethnic tolerance.

Why on earth does Mayor Bloomberg (New York Mayor) not get on TV? Take the cameras to where the mosque/community centre is to be built which is two blocks away in a derelict building as others have said and show people that it is not being built on the site Twin Towers.

I really do think the majority of Americans think this is being built on the site of the Twin Towers itself. I believe Muslim citizens in the USA also vote so it would be good to see a Muslim leader and a Jewish leader and a Christian leader come out in support of Mayor Blomberg in asking for religious tolerance. Anything else just plays right into the hands of the people who want to drive a wedge between the Islamic World and the Western World.

Onagar

I do absolutely get it.

I just want someone to explain to me why it's reasonable.

"You have to remember the other kind" - because there are two kinds of Muslim, goodies and baddies. The baddies wear black hats and have eye patches and hooks for hands and all the goodies do community work and talk very quietly.

Here's what I get - some militant terrorists, calling themselves Muslims, blew up some buildings.

Therefore, any peaceful, religious activity by any Muslims in the same area is automatically offensive and provocative - because they might be baddies instead of goodies.

That's what I "get" - now, again, can someone please explain to me how this is reasonable?

Oricella, I really like your thinking!

Well, the name Cordoba I believe was supposed to be reminiscent of the city in Spain which was a centre for enlightenment and religious harmony (Jewish, Christian and Muslim) during the Middle Ages.

If it lives up to its name, it would be awesome.

They've changed it from Cordoba now to the building number.

I thought was interesting.

Thanks gorionine ..

This is such a non-story, and it's typical of the irresponsible grasping media to try and turn something innocent into something vile - I think the people whose families were murdered might do better to ask the media what they hell they are doing hit stirring over this issue, rather than concerning themselves with whether or not there will be a 'mosque' on the site (which there won't).

And by the way, I am sure that the muslim families of people who were murdered in the twin towers might find some comfort in a place of worship on the site.

The term Ground Zero mosque is shorthand that all the media is using. The building, I understand, is already being used for prayer.

I am sure that people of all religions died in that terrible event.

I think the crux of the argument from the people whose knuckles do not rub on the ground is that the fact that the act was done in the name of Islam. How ever misguided this was, it remains a cogent argument.

Nobody is saying that all Muslims are terrorists or are evil but the fact remains that this terrible act was done in its name.

I am sure that there is a fear that perhaps, a year or so down the road, this won't be infiltrated by some fundamentalists who would make this a shrine to the guys who carried out the terrible act.

Perhaps we should sheave our liberal tolerant nature until, after attending morning prayers at our church in down town Riyadh, we can pop across the road for a beer or glass of wine at the local pub. That is our way of life after all.

What, you mean your 'liberal tolerant nature', Jodevizes?

and

Perhaps we should sheave our liberal tolerant nature until, after attending morning prayers at our church in down town Riyadh, we can pop across the road for a beer or glass of wine at the local pub. That is our way of life after all.

uh....wait...what?

Would people stop mentioning Saudi Arabia in every thread about Muslims!

Less then 1% of the world's Muslims are Saudi, so be quiet and go and put some plasters on your knuckles.

I've been to a town in Morocco (a muslim country) where, after walking round the old town, hearing the call to prayer, we walked past a christian church and went for a beer. What exactly is your point jodevizes?

Jodevizes

i fully agree with you.

And, until the day that I can jog down the Falls Road wearing a bright orange tracksuit and a "Fuck The Pope" t-shirt and singing "God Save The Queen", I will vehemently oppose the right of any Catholic man, woman or child to worship or even congregate with others in the City of London, Manchester, Deal, or anywhere else that the IRA ever planted a bomb.

Because that's the kinda guy I am.