Ground Zero Mosque

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U.S. NEWS
04.11.14
Why the Ground Zero Mosque Is Worth Saving
The developer is walking away from an idea that became a hater’s dream. If a mosque doesn’t return, it’s a loss for everyone who loves America.
As if out of a Muslim hater’s dream, New York City Buildings Department demolition permits No. 121955946 and No. 121955134 authorize the holderto reduce the so-called ground zero mosque to rubble.

But the person authorized to perform the demolition is not Sarah Palin or some other purveyor of junk jingoism.

The destroyer of the mosque will be Sharif El-Gamel, the same real-estate developer who created such a furor when he established it as part of a proposed Islamic cultural center four years ago.Haters back thencalled it “mosque madness” and “Islamic domination and expansionism.” Former Mayor Giuliani denounced it as a “desecration.” Palin tweeted, “peaceful Muslims, pls refudiate.”

El-Gamel had remained steadfast, insisting that he had been inspired by the Jewish Community Center on the Upper West Side and only hoped to bring different faiths together. He even seemed on his way to prevailing as the uproar died down and outrage sputtered into grudging acceptance.

He is still a developer. And to be one he needs money. He now seems to be abandoning that dream because of a lack of financial support from the Muslim community.

“He couldn’t raise the funds,” says a consultant who worked closely with him in the past.

Last April, a team of surveyors discovered a wing flap control from one of the planes hijacked on Sept. 11, 2001, in a narrow space behind the mosque. The surprising find takes on an added twist now that it appears the surveyors were part of the process by which El-Gamel was exercising an option under his lease to purchase the property from its owner, Con Ed.

The sale has hit some snags, but the lease also gives El-Gamel the right to demolish the building. He seems to be in such a rush to do the job that he has filed for the permits before he actually becomes the new owner.

At the same time, he has announced plans to demolish a three-story building at the edge of Times Square that happens to house a synagogue.

But under the terms of its long-term lease, the Garment Center Congregation is guaranteed an interim location following the demolition and a new home once the 23-story building slated to rise in its place is completed.

A spokesman for El-Gamel and his Soho Properties declined to say whether there are similar plans to incorporate a new mosque in whatever building is planned for the site on Park Place two blocks uptown from where the Twin Towers once stood.

The Muslim faithful who presently worship at the mosque seem to have some cause for hope in a report that El-Gamel’s representatives were seen inspecting a vacant space above a bar and grill on Trinity Place on the other side of ground zero.

El-Gamel is saying nothing other than to promise he will announce his plans in the near future. The former consultant, who asks not to be named, says that the developer will most likely construct a high-rise residential building that will not include a new mosque and cultural center.

The present mosque, which calls itself the Park51 prayer space and community center, draws hundreds of worshippers each week with nary a grumble from those who once so angrily protested its presence so close to where Islamic extremists murdered so many innocents. People coming and going from the September 11 memorial can pass the mosque’s uncurtained plate glass windows and see Muslims gathered in peaceful prayer amidst an atmosphere of tacit tolerance.

The murderers’ hope was to terrorize us into becoming less than who we really are. And for a time they succeeded. A reminder of that will come when part of the CIA report on torture is finally declassified.
A test of this tolerance came with last year’s discovery of part of the hijacked plane behind the mosque. Teams of crime investigators came and went, photographing, measuring, recording the Boeing serial number that was visibly stamped in the metal.

Butthe furor of 2010 was not revived. The part was vouchered as evidence and taken away. The worshippers continued going to the mosque, their very presence signaling a defeat for the murderers who hijacked those planes.

The murderers’ hope was to terrorize us into becoming less than who we really are. And for a time they succeeded. A reminder of that will come when part of the CIA report on torture is finally declassified.

But we have since begun to recover ourselves. One proof of that is in the Muslims who now come and go from the ground zero mosque without receiving so much as a glare.

If the mosque is indeed demolished and not reestablished in the building that rises in its place, we should consider it a defeat for all America lovers.

Surprisingly—until you think about it, and then not surprisingly at all—those who passionately love America include the custodian of the ground zero mosque, who prefers to go by the single name Kamal.

In a place now slated for the wrecking ball, Kamal watches freedom and tolerance give daily lie to the extremists who try to say we are at war with Islam.

Whatever happens next with the ground zero mosque, Kamal will have seen the U.S. return to being us.

“The greatest country in the world,” he said this week.

Why the Ground Zero Mosque Is Worth Saving - The Daily Beast

 

[livingdead]

I understand feedom to practice your religion but building a mosque where muslim terrorists killed 3000 people shows insensitivity to other people's feeling, even if it is done with good interntion.

 

[Arabian Legend]

I understand feedom to practice your religion but building a mosque where muslim terrorists killed 3000 people shows insensitivity to other people's feeling, even if it is done with good interntion.

Terrorism knows no religion. Stop trying to link terrorism acts to Islam.

 

[livingdead]

Terrorism knows no religion. Stop trying to link terrorism acts to Islam.

you think your empty words will make those whose relatives died in the terror feel happy about it?
Do you think it will be appropriate for christians to build a grand cathedral in bagdad or karbala (let alone mecca) and call it a sign of 'friendship and tolerance'?

 

[SarthakGanguly]

I understand feedom to practice your religion but building a mosque where muslim terrorists killed 3000 people shows insensitivity to other people's feeling, even if it is done with good interntion.

Very correct. Though political incorrect, it is highly inappropriate to build a mosque right there. There is no dearth of places to build another mosque.

 

[Jaanbaz]

Some facts about the so called Ground Zero Mosque.
The Mosque is not built on the ground zero so how can it be called ground zero mosque? Media has been using this as a propaganda to show this mosque has been built on the actual site to celebrate or something. Anyway i think they should build a multi faith building where all religions can come and pray in the same building and share their thoughts.

 

[Arabian Legend]

you think your empty words will make those whose relatives died in the terror feel happy about it?
Do you think it will be appropriate for christians to build a grand cathedral in bagdad or karbala (let alone mecca) and call it a sign of 'friendship and tolerance'?

Many Muslims died in that attack too so your claim is baseless.

This is not empty words. Islam forbid killing of innocent at all circumstance. Open up the book and check your it out yourself. I can educated you on that matter if you want. Indians knowledge on Islam is ZERO and their sentiments are always driven by hate. My earlier post was not whether the Mosque should be built or not as that is not me or for you to deiced.

 

[livingdead]

Many Muslims died in that attack too so your claim is baseless.

This is not empty words. Islam forbid killing of innocent at all circumstance. Open up the book and check your it out yourself. I can educated you on that matter if you want. Indians knowledge on Islam is ZERO and their sentiments are always driven by hate. My earlier post was not whether the Mosque should be built or not as that is not me or for you to deiced.

what exactly is my claim? And what did I say about islam that makes you think my knowledge of islam is zero? Also you did not reply to question about building a cathedral (btw my knowledge of christianity is as much as islam, but do I need to know a lot to say what is insulting to locals and what is not?)

 

[livingdead]

Some facts about the so called Ground Zero Mosque.
The Mosque is not built on the ground zero so how can it be called ground zero mosque? Media has been using this as a propaganda to show this mosque has been built on the actual site to celebrate or something. Anyway i think they should build a multi faith building where all religions can come and pray in the same building and share their thoughts.

if it was a multifaith building then why call it a mosque.

 

[Jaanbaz]

if it was a multifaith building then why call it a mosque.

That is what i said. Just make a multi faith centre.

 

[livingdead]

That is what i said. Just make a multi faith centre.

well I want a children playground but we are talking about a specific proposal from qataris (if I remember correctly) to make a mosque which will act as a multifaith center and work for mutual understanding and tolerance among religions.
And although they have every right, they are (and all who support it) are completely insensitive to other's feelings. Thats all I have to say.

 

[Arabian Legend]

what exactly is my claim? And what did I say about islam that makes you think my knowledge of islam is zero? Also you did not reply to question about building a cathedral (btw my knowledge of christianity is as much as islam, but do I need to know a lot to say what is insulting to locals and what is not?)

you think your empty words will make those whose relatives died in the terror feel happy about it?

That's what you wrote earlier. Those Muslims who lost their lives in the attack have some relatives too.

I have quoted you because you linked terrorism to Islam and now trying to divert the talk. I don't care about building a church in Iraq, Iran or Saudi Arabia. If you want to get an answer then go and refer your question to the governments of those countries you mentioned. Makkah is considered a holy place by Muslims, Karbala is considered a holy place by Shia and the vatican is considered a holy place by Christens. While NY doesn't fit in that equation. Another thing is that Makkah and Karbala have no other than Muslims living in.

 

[EDLdefence]

It's highly inappropriate, build something that will benefit the entire community. Not just Muslims.

 

[The Sultan Erdogan]

@Arabian Legend

Did you see?

Yet again, in a Muslim-related thread, an Indian was the FIRST one to spout anti-Muslim hatred. I have seen this trend again and again all over the internet.

You people must realize the 'true feelings' that these Indians have for Islam, Arabs, and Muslims.

I say, use cheap Indians and build your civilisation on their back...exploit them good...and then send them back to their god-forsaken country.

Arab World already is doing it...and these Indians can only bark propaganda against Islam online. How sad. lol

 

[livingdead]

@Arabian Legend

Did you see?

Yet again, in a Muslim-related thread, an Indian was the FIRST one to spout anti-Muslim hatred. I have seen this trend again and again all over the internet.

You people must realize the 'true feelings' that these Indians have for Islam, Arabs, and Muslims.

I say, use cheap Indians and build your civilisation on their back...exploit them good...and then send them back to their god-forsaken country.

Arab World already is doing it...and these Indians can only bark propaganda against Islam online. How sad. lol

lolz... i respond to whichever thread comes on top... .. now its about some lady complaining about marijuana.
@Arabian Legend just proved my point about being insensitive to other people's feelings when he started going all technical, so I stopped arguing with him..