A peace-making mosque is NECESSARY near Ground Zero

If Muslims want us to honor their dead, why don't they honor them first? What is all this Cordoba House nonsense? Why doesn't Imam Rauf name his mosque in honor of one of those wonderful people who died? Why is he provoking violence by building where they're obviously NOT WANTED? Can he guarantee safety to all those thousands of people who're gonna come to pray? Or is he like an emotional five year old who wants what he wants when he wants it? And the hell with the consequences? I'm taking classes at the San Francisco JCC and I can tell you that guaranteeing safety to its patrons is IMPOSSIBLE under the most favorable of circumstances. The security just checks the trunk of our cars, for God's sake! They don't even look in the back seat! I put a parcel in the back seat and covered it with my bag and they DIDN'T EVEN LOOK!!! It could have been a bomb ! I joke that they pretend they're protecting us and we pretend we believe them. Is total disregard for human life part of " moderate Islam "? All it takes is one crazy person and there are gonna be more victims. Haven't we had enough?

What a naive point of view. A mosque at Ground Zero is the equivalent of a tea garden and pagoda at the site of Pearl Harbor to honor the Japanese Kamikaze. The mosque at GZ would be viewed by radical Muslims as a symbol of conquest, not peace. Are many (most?) Muslims peace loving and seeking individuals--hopefully so. My question is, how come there are only "moderate" Muslims"? Are there no "conservative Muslims?" The mosque does nothing, nothing at all to promote peace. Additionally, the Imam who is spearheading this building has ties to terrorism and believes that Sharia law should be implemented under OUR CONSTITUTION!!! Ms. Thislewaite has taken a drink of the Obama kool-aid that makes her think that you can "just talk" with radical Muslims and they'll eventually come around. If Muslims want to honor their dead (the small handful of them) then why can't they accomplish this by doing so in or near one of the MANY mosques already in existence throughout the NYC boroughs. A five to six story mosque is a little much--don't you think? Again, according to the current Administration (and Ms. Thislewaite) the minority opinion should rule the majority opinion--unless of course the majority opinion is liberal/progressive. Mayor Bloomberg is committing political suicide to allow this thing to built. People won't forget...just like they won't forget 9/11.

The issue of faith does not belong to any one faith, or to many faiths. The perfect memorial to all faiths and also to those who embrace no particular faith, would be a building for permanent and perpetual remembrance by all. If the Muslims who want this building located at a place of such great significance to Americans and the world are sincere, they should be willing to be part of an International building of faith where all faiths can share the facilities for remembrance of 9/11 and the suffering, as well as the courage and togetherness that ensued from the dastardly act of terror, resulted.

No single faith (religion) can be expected to fulfill the the kind of memorial that those who lost loved ones on that day (people of many faiths, and some with no particular faith), and as a result of the aftermath of clearing the site, require. A building of universal faith to which all faiths can contribute funds for its construction and joint maintenence would be a better solution. If the Muslim group is serious about mending fences regarding faiths, they would agree to participate with others in a universal (international) remembrance and unity approach.

Dear SisStar;

Please; You & ye Congregation should fly into "MECCA" [Where the ex-idol Kaaba] and proceed N.E. toward the Kaaba. See What the "Religious Police" will do to Ye & Co;!?

As one who has such a Cute face; that today ye writings is NAiVE & NOt so 'Forward Thinking" (aka APOCALYPTIC-on, NOt Pre-Apocalyptic-Off!) at ALL!

where is CHICAGO's "Nation Of Islam & Big Mouth "Mr. Luis Farrakhan"?

Susan B. T., Eboo P. etal; WE [i] art waiting for a reply bout this question, in U.S.A, & Elsewhere, et al, aye!

Mosques are always built to be the taller structures in relation to other churches in the vicinity, this is done to show superiority. They also build mosques in an area that was conquered. I have no problem with muslims practicing their faith like all other religions in this country, however if hate is being preached against this country by an imman they need to be dealt with. Sharia law must never be given a foothold in this country we have our own constitution. This is the USA

This is a place of worship, llike any other. It is repugnant to vilify 1.5 billion Muslims inthe world and 7 million in the US because terrorists hid behind the religion in a cowardly attack. Bin Laden was not a religion leader and 99% of msulims don't follow his thoughts. Are we at war with Morocco, Albania, Chad, Algeria, Egypt, Mail,Senagal,Indonesia etc? No. Did you turn your back on all christin churches due to IRA religious/power wars in Irelenad or consider the Christian militias of Africa to represent the "true faith". Do you think David Koresh in Waco spoke for all Christians? Don't be blinded by ignorance toward the religion and how it is peacefully practiced. As a man who livedin NYC during the bombingds, condemn the terrorists, not the religion or this mosque

" Daisy Khan, executive director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement, one of the organizations driving this mosque project, points out the need for moderate Muslims, such as the people behind this project, to step forward. "People often say, 'Where are the moderate Muslim voices?' A building like this, with this scale, will be an amplifier for that often silent majority...What most people don't know is that the people who are driving this forward are very integrated into the community downtown. We are nothing to be feared." "
Professor Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite

" Feisal Abdul Rauf's wife, Daisy Khan, executive director of ASMA, has been one of the most assiduous promoters of the lower Manhattan mega-mosque. She spoke on July 6 to the Chautauqua Institution, celebrating the double heritage she claims: "The first, the American faith-based social activism, a legacy that included the abolitionists, women's suffrage movement, and the civil rights movement. Second, I have inherited the tradition of my faith, a faith that has inspired positive social change for over 1,400 years."

Rauf's wife failed to mention another feature of her background: She is the niece of Dr. Farooq Khan, formerly a leader of the Westbury Mosque on Long Island, which is a center for Islamic radicals and links on its website to the paramilitary Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), the front on American soil for the Pakistani jihadist Jamaat e-Islami. "
Stephen Schwartz
" A Mosque Grows Near Brooklyn
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:29:15 EDT "
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/news/stock-alert/zzhui_a-mosque-grows-near-brooklyn-1055949.html

Islam is an intolerant religion.

If Muslims want to be seen as tolerant, then they can BE tolerant.

It is disingenuous for Muslims to shrug their shoulders and disavow any responsibility or guilt for 9/11, while endlessly repeating that Islam is a religion of peace, then seeking to shove a mosque down the throats of people who don't want it.

‘...What most people don't know is that the people who are driving this forward are very integrated into the community downtown. We are nothing to be feared."

Quoting Daisy Khan above should carry no weight. First this woman and her husband are the driving force behind this project which is financed mostly by petrodollars. Secondly such a claim should be expected, especially from a believer in Taqqiya; the Sharia sanctioned deception of “infidels”.

It's discouraging and saddening to see such a lack of understanding and commitment to basic American values. That's the tough thing about being an American -- your freedom means that you must put up with the freedom of others to do things that you don't like or that you find offensive. Yet many posters and commenters seem to forget this basic idea.

" However, my opinion is that ONLY after a thorough checking of ALL the parties involved, it is America where there is a Freedom of Religion. It may be classless, it may be rude and it may be insincere people who are building it; but it is their constitutional right. "

Sorry you are simply wrong. People have no constitutional right to erect a religious building which is a glorification of mass murder.

NECESSARY! THERE IS NOTHING NECESSARY ABOUT IT! I live in Georgia and I want to go march against it. I am so sick of the political correctness bull. We have tolerated enough. All these other countries want us to be tolerant of them and their religion, but murder Christains everyday. Why do we Americans continue to bow down to the immigrants, and continue to conform to them, when they came here, we didn't ask you to come, you conform to American, not American confroms to you. Enough is Enough.

Are you out of your mind! This is a disgrace to the American lives that were lost in 911, and also to the non-American lives that were lost. How dare they even ask such a request. Especailly knowing that the person wanting it built is anti-American, and wants to bring their inhuman law aganist women to this country. ARE YOU CRAZY! Yeah I would like to see Michelle Obama follow such a law, much less any other woman in America. They value rats, and dogs more so than their women. Just makes me sick to think that the city of New York would allow such a thing. Then again let them build it, so someone with guts can blow it up.

Daisy Khan and her husband are far from kindly, brave individuals. The kindly brave individuals were the members of the FDNY and the NYPD who gave their lives for the sake of rescuing others!
Kindly is the people who came out in candle-light vigils to mourn the victims. It is the people who were willing to assist in the clean-up efforts of the disaster.
The actions here are FAR from kind. It will bring back memories and fears for many people that are unnecessary. It will be USED (whether intended or not) to reveal an Islamic victory in NY by the extremists who did these acts.
However, my opinion is that ONLY after a thorough checking of ALL the parties involved, it is America where there is a Freedom of Religion. It may be classless, it may be rude and it may be insincere people who are building it; but it is their constitutional right.

Peace does not fall from the sky!!! Is it possible to start off with a worse comment? No peace does not fall from the sky you idiot, terrorist flown jets do! The problem with this country is we tolerate people like Susan Brooks!

Once again, this article sounds so nice - aren't we all so tolerant - except for the Muslims. They are building a victory mosque that proclaims to Islamic people everywhere that this is their moment of triumph in a war that Americal politicians have no concept of. There is no moderate Muslim voice because they are afraid, very afraid. And the news media? They are also very afraid. This mosque built on ground zero would be like Japan building a Shrine in Pearl Harbor. It's nothing but Islamic bravado and would send a powerful message to the Islamic world that we can be co-opted into silence. Common America! You are smarter than that!

I don't know what the writer is thinking. he word Tolerance has become just another political buzz. Allowing this to happen is not showing tolerance. Tolerance is already covered in the fact that freedom of religion is in place in the United States. I, as an Iraqi Freedom and Afghanistan veteran, am completely outraged at the mere thought of this. When I go to other countries, we without any tolerance, WILL adhere to local customs. There is no tolerance there... It is time we all grow up and stop thinking that allowing the world to bully us into losing out identity will be the downfall of this nation. I mean, would you allow a guest in your home act inappropriately in front of your children? Or would you be tolerant?
This is in very bad taste, and our political leaders should be ashamed for even entertaining this ridiculous idea.

The only problem I see with the mosque is the people inside the mosque may believe freedom of religion means they can kill others at their whim. To many people use our laws and great American system against us. We have the obligation to first protect our children and ourselves. It's about so much more than a building. Never Forget 9/11

This is a life-long liberal speaking.

The thing that bothers me about this is whether or not the mosque will broadcast the adhan, the Muslim call to prayer, so that it can be heard at Ground Zero five times per day. (The muezzin, a man appointed to call to prayer, climbs the minaret of the mosque, and he calls in all directions, "Hasten to prayer." Many mosques no longer require the muezzin to climb the minaret. Instead, a loud speaker carries the message. http://www.balaams-ass.com/alhaj/calltoprayer.htm)

Imagine being the relative of someone killed in the Twin Towers, coming to Ground Zero to visit the place where your loved one died, and hearing THAT. (I am a Methodist. If some fool had blown up the Saudi embassy in the name of John Wesley or Jesus Christ, I would not be in favor of building a Methodist church two blocks from the rebuilt embassy and playing "Onward Christian Soldiers" over a loudspeaker five times a day, either.)

If calls to prayer will be kept inside the mosque and it is not visible from Ground Zero, I see no problem with it, but dedicating it on September 11, 2011? Please. Good will may not be at issue here, but good taste and common sense seem to be in perilously short supply.

Honestly, how can anyone know the danger involved with constructing a MOSQUE in this sensitive location? especially one of this magnitude? The only way to really know the danger involved with this is to understand the teachings of the Koran and the Religion "Islam". I know many good people who are Muslim, and I also know that they do not follow the teachings of Mohammed totally and absolutely at a purely literal level. I challenge the writer of this article to read the koran and judge for herself how "peacful" it is. What people don't realize in this situation is that the building of a mosque does not communicate peace and tolerance, if it is built in the name of, not american muslims, but in the name of islam, which is the purpose of any mosque on this planet.

This mosque is supposed to be for the community, to honor those lost in the 9/11 attacks. Let other religions worship inside the building as well. That would be a great step toward saying that this is not some "flag in the ground" for worshipers of allah, like a lot of people are making this out to be.

That is the only way I see to make this acceptable for all sides.

America. Land of the free, home of the brave.

What is CAIR's position on the Cordoba Initiative's plan to build a thirteen story monstrosity Ghoul Mosque to celebrate the murder of approximately three thousand people on 9/11 as an Islamist victory over the Citadel of the Large Satan, ( the United States of America ), the World Trade Center, NYC NY USA, ( bizarrely in Islamist theory, Britain is the greater Satan, go figure, LOL ),?

Progressive Islam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-07g8nwIv4

I find it unbelievable that this location was NOT chosen without intent. To me this is like a red flag in front of a bull and then to dedicate it 911, really takes the cake. Perhaps it would a great idea to sell pork sliders in front of the Great Mosque in Mecca, in honor of ramadan. Better yet, sell pork sate's in front of this mosque in New York when they dedicate this sucker and all year round!!! I truly believe that there are those who are pushing it in the face of Americans who care as Islam feels that this is the year of Islam. If those muslim, who want to build this mosque had any class, they would not do this but they know Americans are cowards who will ultimately let people walk all over them just to be PC.

In many cases peace has happened because one side or the other in a conflict emerged victorious.

In many other cases conflict has dragged on for years or decades or because neither side was willing to submit to the will or values or demands of the other side.

The irony here is that Ms Thistlethwaite in other contexts judges harshly the people who interpret the Christian Bible literally. Yet Islam's base texts are far more problematic for a free society than are Christianity's. Yet Ms Thistlethwaite ignores this fact at our peril.

" It is also a terrible thing for Muslims to not have their losses on 9/11 acknowledged, and this Islamic site, I believe, should honor those innocent victims of the terror attacks. "

A Freudian slip on the part of the author of the article Professor Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, perhaps. Everybody who wasn't a Muslim in the North and the South Towers of the WTC on 9/11, presumably wasn't innocent and presumably deserved to be killed.

One thing that can be said about Anjem Choudary, is at least he is honest.

Anjem Choudary talks of 7.7.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C73ePf_2KVw

please check out http://www.islamicsolutions.com/do-they-even-know-what-islam-is/

what condescending twaddle. A mosque at ground zero is neither necessary nor desirable and the intentions of the owners to hold the opening ceremonies on september 11, 2011, is purely provocative.

It is an often-heard complaint from muslims that Western freedoms need to take account of muslim sensibilities. Like drawing cartoons of mohammed. Or allowing closed sessions at public baths for muslim women. Or allowing muslim bus drivers to refuse to carry guide dogs. One could go on. However, the concessions demanded by the dozen with regards to islamic religious sensibilities are seldom, if ever, reciprocated, and this mosque is a perfect example. Anyone considering it must realise that it will cause genuine pain to people and thus be devisive. It is a mounment to a religion in whose name terror attacks are carried out daily around the world. And no, "daily" is no exaggeration. It will be viewed by many in that religion as a symbol of victory. And it is being built with shady money by an iman who has supports the spread of sharia law in America. At what point are American citizens allowed to take offence? Or is the answer to that simply never?

This is simply too much. Please, Ms Brooks, lay off the ridiculous hyperbole. "Necessary" this is not. What it represents is salt in a still-raw wound.

I agree with CCurl1. It is absolutely NOT necessary and it will cause so much animosity. It is a bad idea. Write to your congressional leaders and the NYC Community Board to stop this from happening.

NO IT IS NOT!!!! Necessary stuff is like donating money to hospitals or supporting our troops. But this DOES NOT go under the necessary list!!! If u really want to build something on the 9/11 site the build a MEMORIAL!!! necessary....don't know the meaning of the word.