Ground Zero ISLAMIC COMMUNITY CENTER?

1.No one is opposed to the Community Center. It is the Mosque within it that is being seen as *insensitive 2. If it is truly *interfaith*, then there's really no reason to call it "Islamic" Community Center.

That kind of discriminates against other faiths, doesn't it? 3.No one is disputing the legal right to build 4. The Center (with the Mosque) would be 2 blocks away 5.

There is a Mosque 4 blocks away (on Warren St.) 6. If it is for healing and peace as they so state, why are they so against accepting the proposal of NY Governor to move it in another area (offered even by the State) 7. If for peace, why would they rather see all this havoc and adamantly refuse ANY compromise?

This is really about what NY (and America) went through that day. Wounds haven't healed. Religious freedom isn't in question here.

But on the other hand, throwing that freedom on victims' faces isn't right either. I'm a New Yorker. I went through 9/11.

I lost people of my community in the attack. I almost lost my sister. To top it off, I..taxpayer, am paying for a religious trip for the State funded trip oversea of the developer.

Tolerance yes, but paying for its (or any) religion (forced actually, taxpayers weren't given any other option) is another story. What happened to Separation of Church and State?

In the West.. let's say California. Generally speaking city blocks are much bigger. Longer and wider.

From what I understand in the East Coast.. city blocks are smaller. Shorter and narrower. So, being that I live on the West Coast.. it is hard for me to say, exactly.

But I'd say that within the area that was damaged and affected by the debris and dust from the Trade Center attacks.. is too close. I'm not talking about going outside of Manhattan, outside of New York, outside of the State, etc. NO... just not there... not within the immediate debris field of the attack. Within a few very small blocks of Ground Zero.

IF their motive is to create better Inter-faith dialog and community space.. then I don't see any reason they would not move it. IF there is no political agenda here.. I don't see why they wouldn't move it. IF there is no religious motivation...I don't see why they wouldn't move it.

I don't see WHY they would want to infuriate Americans? -- Why not move 10 blocks down and 2 up and occupy that space? Why FORCE such division and controversy on the American public?

Why so insensitive to the perceptions of the public and push their RIGHTS over what is seen as right? Why, amongst all the controversy surrounding the funding of the building... do they refuse to release any information about it? They don't have to.. but then again.. why wouldn't they IF it would ease concerns and improve the public perception?

Why did they change the name from the Cordoba House to Project Parkway51? ______________________________________... We know that Islam is as much linked to Political systems as they are a Religion. That to Islam.. the link between society and their religion is very strong.

Islam is as much a way of life.. as it is a religion. It has very strong ties to virtual Theocracies in the middle east. We also know that it is part of Islam's tradition to build religious structures on the site of great victories.

We also know that Mosques are often times used as centers for Extremists to recruit the young. We also know that this building is targeting the youth.. as a youth center. And thus will attract many young people.

This forms the basis of grave CONCERNS regarding this initiative. It may seem xenophobic and anti-religious.. but there are very well founded reasons for concern. The backers of this initiative have NOT responded well to public sediment.. and this lack of concern for the Community.. from a Community Center.. seems hard to reconcile and understand.

IF this is a community project... WHY such disregard for what the community as a whole says? Why the assertion of their LEGAL rights and not dialog with the community? __________________________ ::EDIT:: JC~ it is a historical FACT that Islam often times builds Mosques on the site of their victories.

The Crusades saw a lot of this. We don't have the same connection with Christianity and where they tend to place their Churches. That is a cultural and political difference.

Christians tend to place churches where they are most needed.. an impoverished community, near a cemetery which might be near a battleground. But the fundamental difference is in WHY they are constructed where they are. We're not all saying that the Muslims are trying to claim victory... but it seems to fit.. and therefore KNOWING this.. it seems like they, of all people, should be cognoscente of this and address this.. But they have not.

You can turn around everything BACK on Christianity if you want.. but simply reversing the argument and saying.. "OK, well so I guess we shouldn't allow Christian churches because of the KKK" isn't ACTUALLY addressing the issue. Just more mud being thrown. The points are valid.. even if you can't answer them other then turning them back around.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.