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Community Center near Ground Zero: we want to hear from you
Intersections supports the Islamic Center to be built near Ground Zero
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"...the media frenzy accompanying this proposal has often distorted the issues, slandered the principals behind the project and played to the fears of a public that continues to misunderstand Islam and the Muslim community...
Intersections has released a statement of support for the proposed Cordoba House Community Center to be built near Ground Zero. Tell us your thoughts on the center.
Intersections has issued a statement of support for the “Cordoba House,” a community center that includes a Muslim prayer space, planned for development near the site of the former World Trade Center. The controversy surrounding the development of the site has taken on national proportions. However, the media frenzy accompanying this proposal has often distorted the issues, slandered the principals behind the project and played to the fears of a public that continues to misunderstand Islam and the Muslim community in our midst. Intersections’ statement of support for this project seeks to balance the equation, correct some misinformation and lift up the hope for reconciliation in the future while acknowledging the pain of the past caused by the 9/11 tragedy.
Intersections’ Director, Rev. Robert Chase and Communications Director Joseph Ward attended the Landmarks Preservation Commission hearing and, despite initial press reports that featured the vocal opposition, most in the audience seemed to support the project. The Commissioners’ unanimous vote to remove the building from the landmarks register brought applause from the audience. Chris Moore, one of the Commissioners who also serves on the Intersections’ Board, was eloquent in his statement. Daisy Khan, Director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement and a principal visionary for the project, expressed sorrow for the losses of 9/11 and made it clear that The Cordoba House would be a place of reconciliation and hope for all the people of New York.
Comments
Community center Issue.. Think..
About the community center issue, I would just say, If Muslims are following the american law to open a community center and not demanding any money from GOV and non Muslims, then why every one is so scared about? Its stupid, coz on 12 warren street, there is already a rental Masjid since 1970. Now they move to another place in the same block. I think all the people are against, ll suport the guy tried to kill Muslim cab driver. Is that what all chiristines are about? No this is the sin of one man, not all chiristines blame for that. Or if some one blame all chiristines then I ll put them in a stupid people list, against the community center. Nothing to angry, Think… cheers
The Cordoba House
What's all the fuss about? The Muslim community hasn't done anything wrong. The terrorists were extremists mostly -15 of the 19 - from Saudi Ararbia. To equate the Muslim community, from a part of New York, with extremists from Saudi Arabia doesn't make sense and is only extreme emotionalism which should not be the basis of city business/policy.
Cordoba is NOT A MOSQUE!!!!!!
IT is or rather WILL BE.... A COMMUNITY Center.....
It is NOT a MOSQUE!!!!!!
It will have a Prayer room...... BUT.... IT will be a cultural center.. Community Center.....
IT IS NOT A MOSQUE!!!!!!
PLEASE people..... Learn about what you are debating.....
I am an ATHEIST..... and do not believe in any god.....
BUT, I RESPECT what these people want to do.....
Here in Sweden... people are shaking their heads and the UTTER ignorance that is being displayed
in the US right now....
MOST Swedes even know what the project is, more so than Americans....
I find that to be quite sad... and quite telling.....
Cheers,
JAG
Just a Gurl IN Seattle...
Honoring America's Muslim Hero at Park 51
After more thought I have changed my mind on this issue that I posted below as Michael Keenan.
At the Park 51 Center opening ceremonies I would like to see either Mayor Bloomberg or President Obama pin a Congressional Medal of Honor on the muslim fellow who turned in the muslim religious apostate who was going to blow up NY Times Square. What are good neighbors for anyway? This fellow has gone unrecognized even in the press. This truth needs to come out and then maybe America own religious apostates will shut up.
Park51 Islamic center
I'm a supporter of Park51 but on my blog on Friday I will be offering an alternative point of view from someone I respect. You can read it after 12:15 a.m. CDT at http://billtammeus.typepad.com.
The Mosque question
I am a neutral observer. I contacted the organization building the Mosque before the big demonstation. I am a Muslim woman living here in new york city. I am wondering how half of pakistan is under water and this pakistani organization is spending 100 milion on an un-needed mosque. They seem to be trying to represent all new york muslims. The truth is they are not and they never bothered to discuss this with the many muslims here. There are many mosques in new york, more than enough for the population of musims here. If they were really interested in showing real Islam they would not be building a mosque. They would just build a cultural community center.
In reply to the Muslim woman above...
It is funny you say they should build a cultural community center.... Because that is EXACT what they are doing.... They are NOT.... I repeat NOT Building a mosque....
I am not sure where you have been getting your information.... but you have been very MISLEAD.....
YOU have been LIED to....
It is heart breaking that when a MODERATE Muslim leader wants to build a community center and focus on building a bridge to UNDERSTANDING the muslim brothers and sisters.... that is gets misrepresented in this manner so much.... it just goes on to create fear where none should live..... and hate for something that just does not make any sense to me.....
PLEASE inform yourself and LEARN about this project.... DON'T go by what you read and hear on the news and TV.....
Cheers,
An American Girl Living in Sweden.....
JAG
Just A Gurl IN Seattle
Not a mosque?
The "prayer room" seats 1000 people. And please remember it is always referred to as a MUSLIM community center. Will Christians or Jews be allowed to step foot in it?
Yup.
The plan includes multicultural areas for Christians and Jews. This is an outreach center. NOT a mosque.
answer to neutral observer
I was glad to read this comment from a muslim within New York. I too believe this mosque is being built more in an effort to prove that it can be built. They are right about the money being needed in so many other areas, especially if there are already plenty of mosques already. This is a group's Pet Project, and it really doesn't matter what anyone, or any group, thinks about it.
Why no permission to REBUILD the Greek Orthodox Church?
Why is permission to build another mosque in this area given, but No permission given by the city government to REBUILD the Greek Orthodox Church which existed there for many years prior to September 11th?
Where is the equality?
Religious Freedom
Regardless of my religious views, I do not object to the building of this community center. This is a local issue that has been handled by NYC. It annoys me that every night when I browse the cable news channels, especially Fox News (and now Fox Business - which has no credibility anymore) which is making this their main news cycle. The majority of the people that oppose this live no where near NYC. What exactly is Palin's interest in this other than rallying the so called "tea party"? People that do not live in lower NYC need to stay out of this. I have no problem with this building as I said, especially if it creates more oppenness in this society. The majority that oppose this (who live in areas other than NYC) represent the real America (ignorant, self-centered, low-class). I'm ashamed at the poor perception that they give this country.
If all else fails...
Build a center no closer than the next closest existing Mosque. A King Soloman solution.
World Trade Center Mosque
I am fully behind Cordoba House's right to build the mosque near the World Trade Center site. It is their right. That being said, however, I question the sensitivity of insisting on building a mosque given the events of 9/11 and the effect on the American psyche. This issue has been increasingly polarizing the community and I question the motivations of Cordoba House to build a mosque on this particular site. Why such adamant insistence when there have been offers of other alternative sites? If anything, a growing number of members of the Muslim community is questioning the insistence of building a mosque at the World Trade Center site at the expense of polarizing community against the Muslim community.
I was very dismayed at viewing the news media's coverage of the weekend protest and counter-protests against the plans to build the mosque. The media's portrayal of many of the protesters was of religious intolerance and bigotry. Unfortunately, on the other side of the coin, the media's portrayal of the mosque supporters seem to denote them as being totally oblivious to the events of 9/11 and the sensitivitiies involved. It's a shame that more moderate views were not noted by the media.
Beyond the Cordoba House Conflict
As you suggest, Cordoba House should be built at the time and place chosen by its sponsors. But rather than stop with this decision, which creates "winners" and "losers" of the debate, why not try to deal with the underlying issues generating the conflict? One of those issues, surely, is that the trauma of 9/11 has not been healed, leaving wounds that are easily exploited by narrow-minded apostles of "Americanism." The question is how to heal those wounds. One answer may be to create a genuine 9/11 Memorial that would permit people to remember, to mourn, AND to study and talk about the causes of the tragedy and how to avoid similar tragedies in the future. (The National Holocaust Museum is a memorial that is also a research and meeting center). At a well designed 9/11 Memorial, we could meet to dialogue about issues that desperately need talking about, including America's role in the world and why it seems to generate so much violent anti-Americanism. I talk about conflict resolution approaches to problems like this in my new book, Reasons to Kill: Why Americans Choose War (Bloomsbury Press, September).
Let The Olive Branch Grow
RE: ISLAMIC CENTER NEAR GROUND ZERO
Technically speaking, perhaps it is time to revisit the United States Constitution and the Bill Of Rights and be reminded of our countries laws stating:
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
... and on a personal thought, the beauty of America has been the openness, heart and soul of our people and we cannot allow the voice of the extreme overpoweer the voice of fairness, justice and peace that is in the hearts of the majority on either side of the conversation. More than 1.5 billion people around the globe are Muslims who are peace loving people that also disagree with any sort of terrorism or voice of negative extremes. They would like to get themseves seen and heard and this could be an opportunity to accept the olive branch that they are extending via their community. To deny this opportunity would be to repeat hate with hate -- and in that case what possible good outcome shall we expect? If nothing changes ... then nothing changes.
It is time to let the voice of fairness, reason, love and respect for each other (regardless of culture, religeon and background) out-thunder the voice of hate that seperates us from one another. This is where an olive branch can grow and this where new possibilites and breakthroughs occur.
The problem is not a mosque or where it is built ... it is the fear of the unkown. Getting to know your neighbors of all colors, cultures and beliefs will be the only way to dismantle the negative stereotypes and come to the conclusion which is evident, that our similarites often outweighs our differences and in the end ... it is the universal law that all people shall have the right to a good quality of life which we all seek and deserve.
Neda Sarmast
www.CultureTalkNetwork.com
Cordoba House
I appreciate the opportunity to comment on the potential Cordoba House Muslim center in lower Manhattan. As a native New Yorker, I was deeply affected by the crimes of 9/11. However, I don't blame the entire Muslim community for these crimes. They were performed by terrorists...extremists...not your everyday practicing Muslim. I believe that a place of prayer near the area of Ground Zero could bring healing. All prayer is good...regardless of your faith. I am angered that this issue has become such a national issue...frankly, an issue at all. In my opinion, the terrorists hate America's freedom...freedom of speech, religious expression, etc. Why would we want to limit anyone's freedoms? If we limit freedoms, the terrorists win and our loved ones died in vain. I pray for peace for our community.
Cordoba House
I support Intersections' regarding their approval of the Cordoba House to be built near Ground Zero. We need a place of reconciliation and hope near the site of this tragedy.
Islamic Center 911
I am totally in support of this happening and think standing for it can and will be one of our nations finest momemnts in history. So behind it and Obama.
Park51 Islamic center
On my daily "Faith Matters" blog on Thursday, Aug. 19, I will present a case for why locating an Islamic center near Ground Zero is exactly the right thing to do. The blog address is http://billtammeus.typepad.com.
Diplomacy at the Ground Zero Site
The press releases, the advocacy and the lobbying from all sides have been intense concerning what is being called 'the Ground Zero Mosque'. This Islamic Center is actually 2 blocks from the Ground Zero site but that doesn't ease my Inbox situation. I can only imagine what went on at the White House. First there was an apparent presidential endorsement, then a presidential smoke-and-mirror moment questioning the wisdom of building this Islamic center. This is a situation full of good intentions, political jockeying, deep emotions and religious diversity amateurs.
Read More ... http://blogof.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=77:diplomacy-at-the-ground-zero-site&catid=4:religion&Itemid=14
Ground zero community center
Hi everyone,
I beleive that Muslims Americans have a right to build a prayer place/community center at a private property just like Americans of any other faith.
I as American beleive in liberty for people of all faiths (or for that matter with no faith at all) including for Muslims.
Peace
Let the city of NY decide this
This is a local issue. Let the people who live in NYC make their decision about whether to allow this or not. The only reason any other authority should be involved is if a law is being broken or their is some constitutional issue at stake. Take Arizona, for example. Arizona made their decision about undocumented aliens. There was a legitimate legal issue raised, so now it is being addressed at the national level. We are a society based on law. If there is no legal issues, the rest of the country can complain, but they can't tell the people of NYC what to do. That is the beauty of a civil society.
I think the backlash against
I think the backlash against the Cordoba House, sadly, has reaffirmed its dire need in the city of New York. I hope that faith-based groups continue to come forward and not only support Cordoba's right to build, which is irrefutable, but its desire to educate, which is essential.
Thank you
Thanks for addressing this controversial issue.