Bigots Win, NY Islamic Cultural Centre May Move
Jake Farr-Wharton 21 comments
Not so long ago, it was announced that an Islamic Cultural Centre was to be built within a 2-4 block radius of the World Trade Centre memorial site, otherwise known as Ground Zero.
The site was chosen for several great reasons, thought mostly because it is a great location and was available for what is effectively ‘chump change’ relative to other areas in lower Manhattan.
The reason that the building site was so incredibly demure was due to the landing gear which, after leaving one of the planes which struck one of the twin towers on September 11, 2001, crashed through the roof of what was once the great Burlington Coat Factory. The factory closed and has been disused ever since.
To be clear though, this is not a mosque, it is, as it says, an Islamic Cultural Centre, which is complete with: a 500-seat auditorium, theater, a performing arts center, a fitness center, a swimming pool, a basketball court, a childcare area, a bookstore, a culinary school, an art studio, a food court, and a memorial to the victims of the September 11 attacks. The prayer space for the Muslim community will accommodate 1,000–2,000 people.
Nonetheless, after what can only be described as relentless criticism from bigots and Christian hypocrites from all over America who call the proposed centre a “9/11 victory memorial”, the site’s Imam, Feisal Abdul Rauf claims now that he is ‘open’ to other locations.
How sad is it that it has come to this!?! Seriously America, your bigoted few are happy to have 20 churches, multiple banks, strip clubs and burger joints in this same radius, and yet in an inconspicuous and out of the way area, you won't let a cultural centre be built. So disappointing!
Seriously, it has been stated by the Imam (while certainly - and admirably - a moderate, he is still just another religious leader, but that doesn't preclude the building) that there is a population within NY who are Muzzie, who have been alienated and almost cast out (to a degree) since 9-11.
This cultural centre is a refuge, a place where Muzzies can go to hang out, play with other Muzzies and further segregate themselves from a society who is afraid of them congregating together in one place. Nonetheless, they want it, and it would be nothing short of complete bigotry and hypocrisy if it were not allowed to occur.
The only reason I would accept a resolution to not build the cultural centre is if all churches, temples, and community centres in the surrounding areas were also dismantled and handed back to the property.
Don't forget, that the reason they built there was two fold. Firstly, it is inner city and close to all other inner city amenities. Secondly, it is inner city and was available for just over USD$5.5 million, which is spare change.
If the cultural centre is not built, then this block in lower Manhattan sits devoid of anything, with boarded and broken windows.
Seriously, New York, wake and smell the bigotry!
Jake Farr-Wharton
Friday 18th February 2011 | 05:14 PMIs that in the same way that a City Hall is a Church?
Gilly, hugs and kisses to Limbaugh.
Gilly
Friday 18th February 2011 | 05:29 PMSo why the lie Jake, tell me why are they lying to us
Why not call it what it is a Cultural centre and a Mosque
I dont know who Limbaugh is and dont really care, as for your little name dropping point scoring system ....
Or like Dumbo do you believe everything the media says
Henk V.
Saturday 19th February 2011 | 09:15 AMBeing the pedant that I am, whats the problem with a mosque in New York?
You have many American muslims in New York. Jefferson would have deplored this anti mosque buffonery just as much as he would have deplored protestants various at each other's throats.
Same thing.
Henk V
Saturday 19th February 2011 | 09:20 AMIts this insane juxtaposition in the states.. every one points out the second amendment and says, I am Allowed to carry a luger ladies bag.
But point out religion and they say "first amendment"? what first amendment.
Its consistently done but the most pro 2nd amendment crying crackpots are the most anti 1st amendment reformists.
This, I think is what you guys call "moral behaviour".
Henk V
Saturday 19th February 2011 | 10:16 PM...in response to this comment by Gilly. If the majority opinion is based on fucken idiocy like yours.... no wonder they want to move.
I'll be glad to see an island full of fuckwits honouring a tragedy and a nation of people honouring freedom.
Sadly, what I call freedom and Gutless calls freedom are diametrically opposed.
Jake, for once I am in your court. But then we dont walk with our dicks like Pauline Hansons Manhattan Party does.
Gutless? Opened a book lately?.. I heard you have a friend that reads.
Gutless is gutless... Abandoning your nations founding principles for magazine trendy is... gutless
Henk V.
Saturday 19th February 2011 | 10:30 PMto think an american wrote this...I know its a juxtaposition...
All my friends are embryonic
All my friends are dead and gone
All my friends are microscopic
All my friends wake up alone
Girl germs feed your little virus
Revolution come and die
Elitists who eat the virus
Sleep with me wake up alive
Gutless
You're gutless
You're gutless
You're gutless
You can try to suck me dry
But there's nothing left to suck
Just you try to hold me down
Come on try to shut me up
Step and fetch grease my hips
I don't even have to pause
I don't really miss God
But I sure miss Santa Claus
Gutless
You're gutless
Gutless
You're gutless
Gutless
You're gutless
Gutless
You're undressed
You're gutless
You're gutless
You're gutless
You're undressed
Henk V
Saturday 19th February 2011 | 11:11 PM...in response to this comment by Gilly. What media? you are the xtian media slut...
I wouldnt be surprised if you too were dragged out of a Hyde Park toilet with a cock in your mouth... just like your uncle Alan..
lets face it, you have listened to too much Brian in your time... you reflect his views perfectly gutless.
You reflect every right wing position there is... and yet you probably never had a position that you liked..
I dont blame women for that
Hey Dumbo
Friday 25th February 2011 | 03:51 PMWow thats a fairly nasty and bitter little retort. I would imagine that somebody acting that way, is acting that way because he is backed in to a corner and is feeling very insecure.
So why are you insecure Mr Dumbo. Your arguments? keep getting shot down in flames
You keep asking questions from the Bible and you get the questions wrong, how are you to know the answers when you cant sort out a question. Is it the insecurity of the Middle East and Israel, are ypu scared of dying. Earthquakes, famines plagues getting eaten by elephants
Chill 0ut Brussel sprout, IT hasnt even started yet.
As for this Mosque buisness. I agree with you, the Yanks have to forgive the Muslims if they crashed the plane, they also have to repent of their sin, thats probably more important.
My point you funny little man is that I can understand why the American people are angry, whats more I cant understand why the Muslims (God Bless them) have a dire need to build in an are where they are going to cause anger and trouble because of past history, truely I see it as a deliberate act of agitation
I dont understand why they are building their, I am not judging them or saying they shouldnt I jhust dont understand why they would want to stir the pot as such
You know what else I dont understand, I dont understand the Jakesta and how stupid he can be. He keeps saying its not a Mosque
Emily
Saturday 26th February 2011 | 02:23 PM@Henk: you say "slut" like it's a bad thing.
@Jake: just checking in. Good to see your spelling has improved! ;)
Not so sure the imam is a "moderate" though (whatever "moderate" is supposed to mean). The Hitch wrote an interesting piece on him for Slate magazine.
Anyway, good to see you're still doing what you do.
Cheers, Emily.
Hey Dumbo
Sunday 27th February 2011 | 08:31 PMJust a quick reflection for my little flying pachyderm runaway to the circus friend who seems to have gone all shy coy and missing....
I was speaking to a Muslim friend and to be quite clear I mean Muslim by his admission.
He agreed with me and my position on this NY Mosque
Hey Jake the other fella who has gone missing. I would judge you a coward by your absence, but I seem to see thats your idea of creating debate argument and hate. Make a completely ignorant stupid baseless statement and then run for cover in case somebody expects you to be accountable
Did I say coward? let me reiterate coward =Jake.
I see why you and Dumbo get along so well Jake
Henk V.
Tuesday 1st March 2011 | 07:14 PMHmm, some of us obviously have to ask permission from the RL moppet to go on a few days camping..
Have you read the bible yet?
Hey Dumbo
Tuesday 1st March 2011 | 11:06 PMInferior Insecure Intelligent?
That last one was a joke Dumbo.
Here Jakey jake jake jake
Here jakey jake, here boy
Henk V.
Wednesday 2nd March 2011 | 08:12 AMso you haven't even started to read the bible yet. Yer a lazy cuss.
When the workers of the world unite, Poor Gilly wont be in a position to attend..
Ben Thomas
Friday 4th March 2011 | 05:24 AMIf we could just call people "people", instead of naming them based on their beliefs or habits, the world would be a better place.
P.S. Redback should be a valid answer. I am not a robot.
Henk V
Saturday 5th March 2011 | 12:15 PM...in response to this comment by Ben Thomas. It would be infinitely better that kids weren't taught that its ok to be lazy. By the worlds population you can easily see that lazy is good.
We dont seem to give a shit that some kid in tunisa or peru doesnt get a chance to real schooling and nourishment.
When governments provide educational aid to other countries they get criticised.
I just don't get it, the very people who cry religious freedom here (R/L) would show religious bigotry. Is westboro in New York?
Bugger, my red back looks like a clown fish
Tre
Wednesday 9th March 2011 | 10:58 PMWhat a shame America or should I really say Christians.
It is a fact during slavery and colonization of Africa the european used their religion of christianity to subdue other races particularly africans by telling them it's God will to be inferior. Many horrible things continue to happen by shading them behind the christianity's curtain. The most famous is child molestation by no other than priests from the symbolic place of christianity which is Rome. I strongly condemn any form of terrorism, but would that mean all Muslims are terrorists or the religion itself is to be hatted? I wouldn't think so.
Why there has to be a double standard and such an hypocrisy? I can wait to see the end so we all know for sure who were right about this religion thing.
simon
Thursday 10th March 2011 | 09:18 AMTo be honest, I just think it is insensitive and poorly thought out.
Just leave the space empty until someone decides to build another skyscraper or perhaps a multicultural centre instead
Henk V.
Friday 11th March 2011 | 09:16 PMHey its your constitution that is flouted.
As far as I know, all semitic religions are the same. Of course Chritianity is roman...Right?
Pa-fucking-thetic. Hang your heads in frikken shame. Religious folk say religion is real?
You are all the same.
It's your problem, I just have to deal with the earwax you guys call reality.
If your god is real its everyone's god. Stop behaving like the criminals who denied the lives of so many. Our boys are over there trying to make a life for those people, not trying to make an idealist position for you.
Do you want another generation of ignored Vietnam vets and refugees?
maybe you just want a superior position.
Just sayin'
Tuesday 5th April 2011 | 01:06 AMI don't really know how close all the other churches and religious buildings are close to ground zero, but I don't believe there should be a Muslim mosque right next to the 9/11 site. September 11th wasn't very long ago, I think its kind of an add injury to hurt kind of ordeal to add a mosque so close to ground zero. There should be a simple memorial building for the 9/11 victims be with no religious building near ground zero at all. If they want to add a "Islamic cultural center", there needs to be a church,synagogue, and monastery as well, and they all need to be just as close.
Just sayin'
Tuesday 5th April 2011 | 01:08 AM...in response to this comment by simon. I completely agree with you Simon.
Gilly
Friday 18th February 2011 | 02:23 PMYeah how rude is that
The majority opinion has over ruled a minoritys opinion
Jake wake up and smell your own arrogance and bigotry
Oh and by the way Jake, just FYI a Muslim cultural centre is a Mosque.
Seriously could you be any more of a simpleton to think its not a Mosque.
Do you believe everything you are told by the media. Do you ever have an independent thought Mr Politicaly Correct?