I was reading the other day about the Muslims who unfold their prayer blankets every Friday afternoon at the Pentagon within feet of the site where American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the building. The Department of Defense even springs for an imam to conduct a forty minute prayer service. Nary a peep has been heard about this. (AFP: At Pentagon, Muslims pray without protests) Why? Because it's an interfaith chapel and memorial where believers of all faiths can pray.
So I was thinking that maybe the thing for the Muslim promoters of the Ground Zero site to do is say to the larger community: "We believe in our right to worship at this site. But our purpose is to build bridges and not divide. So we invite all who share this vision to help us build an interfaith community center." I think that would serve several purposes: 1) it really would serve to build bridges; 2) it would open up fundraising to a larger pool of donors and help the project come to fruition sooner; and 3) it would put the ball in the court of those who question the motives of the people supporting this project. The Muslims could then focus their primary fundraising efforts on building a Muslim community center on a less controversial site.
Cordoba House is a Muslim-led project which will build a world-class facility that promotes tolerance, reflecting the rich diversity of New York City. The center will be community-driven, serving as a platform for inter-community gatherings and cooperation at all levels, providing a space for all New Yorkers to enjoy. This proposed project is about promoting integration, tolerance of difference and community cohesion through arts and culture. Cordoba House will provide a place where individuals, regardless of their backgrounds, will find a center of learning, art and culture; and most importantly, a center guided by Islamic values in their truest form - compassion, generosity, and respect for all. The site will contain tremendous amounts of resources that otherwise would not exist in Lower Manhattan; a 500-seat auditorium, swimming pool, , library, a fitness center, public conference rooms, a basketball court, art exhibition spaces, bookstores, restaurants - all these services would form a cultural nexus for a region of New York City that, as it continues to grow, requires the sort of hub that Cordoba House will provide.
Two floors will be dedicated to space for prayer (where, actually around 500 Muslims already pray every Friday).
Why should the builders of the mosque have to make compromises to make everyone else happy?
My suggestion was that the prayer facility be for people of all faiths.
It's not at ground zero.
It's not a mosque. It's a community centre for public use.
In short headlines, some ways to refer to the project include:
_ mosque 2 blocks from WTC site
_ Muslim (or Islamic) center near WTC site
_ mosque near ground zero
_ mosque near WTC site
We can refer to the project as a mosque, or as a proposed Islamic center that includes a mosque.
AP Standards Center issues staff advisory on covering New York City mosque
Get your facts straight.
So I was thinking that maybe the thing for the Muslim promoters of the Ground Zero site to do is say to the larger community: "We believe in our right to worship at this site. But our purpose is to build bridges and not divide. So we invite all who share this vision to help us build an interfaith community center." I think that would serve several purposes: 1) it really would serve to build bridges; 2) it would open up fundraising to a larger pool of donors and help the project come to fruition sooner; and 3) it would put the ball in the court of those who question the motives of the people supporting this project. The Muslims could then focus their primary fundraising efforts on building a Muslim community center on a less controversial site.
Why? The people building it are Muslims. It's not going to be a universal church.
I think the core of what you are saying is that, as a show of good faith (pun intended), the planners of this new Community Center could designate at least one room to interfaith prayer, be it Christian, Judaic, Buddhist or Hindu. That is actually one of the most reasonable suggestions I've heard from the Right (no offense meant). The fact that I didn't have to correct you that it wasn't a "Terrorist Command Center" or "Tribute to the Taliban" speaks volumes for your tolerant and rational view of the planned project.I was reading the other day about the Muslims who unfold their prayer blankets every Friday afternoon at the Pentagon within feet of the site where American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the building. The Department of Defense even springs for an imam to conduct a forty minute prayer service. Nary a peep has been heard about this. (AFP: At Pentagon, Muslims pray without protests) Why? Because it's an interfaith chapel and memorial where believers of all faiths can pray.
So I was thinking that maybe the thing for the Muslim promoters of the Ground Zero site to do is say to the larger community: "We believe in our right to worship at this site. But our purpose is to build bridges and not divide. So we invite all who share this vision to help us build an interfaith community center." I think that would serve several purposes: 1) it really would serve to build bridges; 2) it would open up fundraising to a larger pool of donors and help the project come to fruition sooner; and 3) it would put the ball in the court of those who question the motives of the people supporting this project. The Muslims could then focus their primary fundraising efforts on building a Muslim community center on a less controversial site.
Antiquities Act
The Act was intended to allow the President to set aside certain valuable public natural areas as park and conservation land. The 1906 act stated that it was intended for: "... the protection of objects of historic and scientific interest." These areas are given the title of "National Monuments." It also allows him to reserve or accept private lands for that purpose. The aim is to protect all historic and prehistoric sites on United States federal lands and to prohibit excavation or destruction of these antiquities. With this act, this can be done much more quickly than going though the Congressional process of creating a National Park. The Act states that areas of the monuments are to be confined to the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected.
Here's the exact description of the 13-story facility:
What gets lost is what this building actually is. Two floors will be dedicated to space for prayer (where, actually around 500 Muslims already pray every Friday).
Why should the builders of the mosque have to make compromises to make everyone else happy?
It's not at ground zero.
It's not a mosque. It's a community centre for public use.
Get your facts straight.
A community centre with a prayer area two blocks away is neither a mosque or at ground zero. Such misdescription feeds the inanity and division.
As I've said before, I'd be willing to work on it just to piss people like you off.They don't have to, good luck getting construction workers to build this ****ing thing and good luck getting the teamsters to cross a picket line. Have fun with that.
As I've said before, I'd be willing to work on it just to piss people like you off.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
already have two scabs volunteering here just in the last 5 minutes. Police will make sure the **** gets from the docks to them (we are dependant mostly on foreign steel and all anyhow nowadays.. so domestic sources is moot).
lol I meant good luck getting the teamsters to deliver it and good luck getting the dock workers to unload the foreign shipped steel. Have fun with that.
yes feel the rage, and grasp desperately at your impotent threats
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