I agree with this group this project would be counterproductive to the healing process and the backers of the project know that

The opposition to the Mosque—actually a community center similar to a YMCA–is nothing but blatant bigotry. So what if it is only a few blocks from Ground Zero? How far is far enough? A mile? Ten miles? It’s idiotic. The Muslims own the land & they should be able to build whatever they want on it. All this “controversy” is just an excuse for the haters to beat their chests and act offended. I happen to be a Christian and I say let the mosque be built!

“In our judgment, building an Islamic center in the shadow of the World Trade Center will cause some victims more pain – unnecessarily – and that is not right.”
And everything Israel does causes unnecessary pain to the surviving victims of the shameful Israeli attack on the USS Liberty. But Israel keeps on doing things, like committing war crimes against the Palestinians and its other neighbors.

The official statement issued by the ADL is disappointing.
It makes one think twice about the positions it has taken on other things and the unwavering support it demands from the U.S. for all things Israeli.
You know, just because an organization touts a reputation does not mean they can’t embassass themselves and I think that is what will be proven here.

nnmns your assessment of Israel is correct but they did not destroy lives at ground zero for Judaism. It was an act to propagate Islamic based ideals. Not that Islam is or is not about what was demonstrated by that horrible act birthed out of the minds of those supporters that made it happen but the victims who are not only those in the towers but way beyond should be supported even now with special considerations.

Is there a Shinto temple at Pearl harbor?

Really NNMS? This statement was made by AMERICAN Jews, not Israelis. Your anti-Semitism and accusations of dual loyalty come to the fore again. You would make such an awesome Xian conservative.
Nevertheless, even if it is allowed, that mosque will never be built – or finished – or allowed to stand.

Scott to you anyone who disagrees with Israel are anti-Semitic, I have never seen one post from you that indicated that it would be good to be you.

The existence of a mosque would instead make everyone realize that Muslims did not carry out September 11th attacks, and that September 11th has nothing to do with Islam.

F F that’s the kind of idea that’s a threat to the Israeli lobby. Part of the reason so many Americans overlook Israel’s misdeeds is that they see Muslims as their enemies and they see Muslims as Israel’s enemies. Of course most Muslims are neither. And we need to keep them not being our enemies, at least. It would be up to Israel to keep them not Israel’s enemies and the way they mistreat the Palestinians does not help.
Scott the mis-statement by an “AMERICAN” (but actually loyal only to Israel) committee was about actions that cause people pain. And of course Israel causes Palestinians pain continually, it causes Lebanese pain when they stumble on one of the hundreds of thousands of cluster bombs Israel left in Lebanon and they cause the survivors of the shameful and shamefully swept under the rug USS Liberty “Incident” wherein 34 US sailers were intentionally killed by Israeli attack planes despite the ship being in international waters and flying an American flag and being identified with “large white letters on its hull”.
Read the Wikipedia article I linked above and see how good a friend of the US Israel really is and has been. This is not a friendly relationship between nations, it’s a parasitic relationship.

nnmns I agree with the notion that the Israel relationship with the US is a parasitic relationship with Israel’s hostile dominance over all indignant people groups at the center of the relationship, but to overlook the powerful agenda of hostile Muslims would be just as big of mistake as too turn a blind eye to Israel. When Islamic threats are birthed, nurtured and launched in and out from Mosques, then the mere presence of one in a place where one of those threats became brutally real the very nature of rising up out of the ashes is a rallying factor for those forces. It will truly be like planting a flag of victory.

I felt also it was a strange place to put a mosque but most mosques are not birth places of terrorism and surely this one would not be. I expect (and hope) that if it were it would be closed right down but Manhattanites don’t seem to be worried about it so I don’t see why we need to be.

Has anyone read the article (link included) that explains how far this not quite a mosque is going to be from ground zero? Or has everyone succumbed to the media scare tactics?

This Community Center is going to be two blocks from ground zero. It is not a Mosque (though, if it were….I would still support it) and it is not at ground zero.
I guess the actual facts would make it hard for some conservatives and/or bigots to get others really upset about this. So, a slight change in facts…Community Center to Mosque and two blocks from becomes ground zero.
http://www.cordobainitiative.org/?q=content/cordoba-house-new-york-city
And, let’s not let the fact that there has been a Mosque four blocks from ground zero for years and years….and, another eight blocks from ground zero.
It would appear to me that some Republicans realized that their much used tactic of vilifying gays and attempting to scare people with gay-marriage was not going to work this time around. The communist fear has also been pretty much played out. So, what a great ploy….rally the faithful around fear of Islam, the other religion besides Christianity that has it’s roots in Judaism. This along with the exploding, imminent danger from Mexicans is apparently all they have got this time around.
BTW, in AZ, violent crime, murder, and migration of Mexican nationals were all down in 2009 compared to 2008. And, all three were down in 2008 compared to 2007. Yet, to hear some politicians and some Republican/Conservative celebrities speak one would think that the demise of our great nation were upon us by this every increasing (though in reality it is decreasing) threat. And, I use the word “threat” with hesitation because I am not convinced it is a threat.
As a gay/bi-sexual man…I am glad that things have for the most part moved on past gays being the largest threat to the safety of life as we know it for Americans. Though, my heart goes out to Muslims and Mexicans.
Peace!

The building is two long NYC blocks from the site of 9/11. That means it is almost 2 miles from it. This comes from city dweller, by the way. The bldg. has been used “as is” for a mosque for quite a while anyway. People wanted the site to be classified Historical so it couldn’t be torn down. The decision is it can’t be, and now the Soho Builders can take it down and put up the size this Muslim group wants. Mayor Bloomberg reminds all the dissenters that we have freedom of religion in America, and it’s going up. Some place else on BN I posted that I read a list from a commenter on CNN that said 59 Muslims were killed on 9/11 at the Trade Center and on the planes. One of the men in the TC was a N.Y.P.D. cadet. There is too much hate being forwarded on the net concerning a lot of people and subjects that our Republicans like S. Palin and co. keep going, including about our President and the First Lady. They are always “crying wolf”, and you all know what happened to the little boy who did that all the time, don’t you?

Unfortunately sometimes when Republicans keep crying “wolf” a lot of people act stupidly and vote for them. In this case the got the nation in financial and other troubles and as President Obama and the Democrats try to dig us out the Republicans dig in and prevent things that would help us all.
They want times to be bad for the election. They don’t care about us, just getting elected.

They are the weirdest Repubicans in my lifetime, that’s for sure. After eight years of all the loss and hardship Bush’s administration caused us they still are against helping people who need help. The far-right religious ideas mixed with radical political ideas has spawned hate, distrust, lack of respect for one another, and lots of fear. Why anyone would vote to continue this mindset and lies is unbelieveable.

Henrietta22-
Another one of your wise posts!
I have been an independent my whole (voting) life…and, have voted for republican presidents, governors, senators, congresspeople, etc in the past. At this point, I can not think of any Republican that they could run in 2012 that I would vote for for president. This year, here in CT, the three Republicans that are vying for Sen Dodd’s seat are all people I could never vote for. And, the one running against our incumbent Congressman Larson also is someone I could not vote for.
Though I voted for our last Governor who is Republican….I don’t think I can vote for either of the top two Republicans vying for that office either.
In other words, the Republicans have moved so far from where they were…..I find I can not even consider supporting any Republican candidate this time around.
Do not misunderstand, I have no problem with change. I do have a problem with racism, fear-mongering, “Holier-than-thou”…until I get caught with my mistress, fiscal irresponsibility, obstructionism, etc…
How any unemployed person can even consider voting for almost any Republican for congress/senate is beyond me. How any Hispanic/Latino can even consider voting for almost any Republican for almost any Republican for congress/senate is beyond me.
But then, I guess some people have rather short memories!
Peace!