New York City’s Ground Zero was flooded with more than a 100 protesters Tuesday, July 13, with the recent announcement of the Cordoba Project, a plan to construct a 13-story mosque and community center near the area where the Twin Towers once stood.
In the way of the Cordoba Project is a 152-year-old Park Place building, which would be knocked down to make way for the mosque. On Tuesday, the Landmarks Preservation Commission held a hearing to discuss whether the Park Place building is worthy to be deemed a historic monument. If the Commission rules to preserve Park Place, the Cordoba Project will be voided.
While the purpose of Tuesday’s hearing was to discuss the historic significance of the building, the real topic of concern was whether a mosque should be built two blocks away from the area that was attacked by Islamic terrorists on September, 11, 2001. During the hearing, some families of 9/11 victims spoke in support of the building's preservation while others spoke in support of the Cordoba Project and construction of a mosque.
According to DNA info, one man, Gary Phanuf, was removed from the hearing after shouting “Racist bigot” whenever a supporter of the building’s preservation spoke. His sign read: “Stop scapegoating all Muslims for 9/11.” On the contrary, preservation supporter Joseph Reichling compared Muslims to the Japanese who attacked the US during WWII: “To permit this building to be removed would be like removing the sunken ship at Pearl Harbor to erect memorials to kamikaze pilots killed in the attack.”
Republican candidate for New York governor, Rick Lazio, voiced his concerns about the project by calling for an investigation into the Cordoba Project’s funding sources. While the director of the Cordoba Project, Imam Faisel Rauf, would not disclose specific information, the project is known to be a group effort of several mainstream Muslim groups, such as the American Society for Muslim Advancement, whose primary focus is to foster understanding and improved relationships between Islam and the West.
Unlike Lazio, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg supports the building of the Islamic center, asserting that blocking the building of a mosque is un-American, and in direct conflict with America’s religious freedoms.
Debate about the appropriateness of the Cordoba Project clearly took center stage at the Preservation hearing. It’s likely that without the Cordoba project, few people would have been on hand to fight for the survival of the building that has stood in New York for 152 years.
The Landmark Preservation Commission is not expected to vote on the issue until August.
Comments
"Flooded" with "more than 100" protesters? Are you kidding? On any street in Manhattan you can find more people than that lined up for coffee and bagels.
Using the term "flooded" does seem a bit of a stretch but how many other preservaton meetings receive even half that number of protesters? I find this a very interesting debate. Sadly, I learned about this from facebook and it stated the mosque would be built AT Ground Zero but that's also a bit of a stretch since it's 12 blocks away. I side more with Bloomberg and that it is very un-American to block a religious structure just because it's Muslim.
Naive americans, open your hearts to the people who want to slap you every second? Should a christian church be proposed in mecca, or a Japanese war hero memorial be built in pearl harbor, or a statue of Nazi allow to stand in several km away from jewish community? The people who proposes this mosque lost their human senses. For the sake of making peace so that let the victims' families face a landmarked mosque? give me a break.
This country was founded on christian beliefs and we wouldnt have such a nation now if it wasnt for those beliefs. We need to protect those morals and beliefs or i gaurantee this nation will fall. Most of you couldnt possible begin to understand why because you dont know the truth. We have the longest running sustainable government in the worlds history for this one reason. There is no difference between muslim extremist and a muslim that lives in your neighborhood, they base there beliefs off the same book.
It’s a well known Islamic tradition to build on top on an area that you’ve already conquer. This is what they call a Soft Jihad. This is something where there are not doing it in our face, but they are doing it very quietly, very stealthy. There’s something called: Taquia (lie to the infidels for the sake of promoting Islam) in Islamic culture, that says that you are allowed to lie to further the muslin religion. I strongly believe these people are engaging in Taquia, to promote their cause in building this mosque.
This has to fall under the are you f****** me catergory? The world really is going to hell in a handbasket.
What we should take into account is that was really 9/11 Muslims?
Not a good idea. This site is to remember the victims of 9/11. After watching "Remember Me" last night, I still cry at the thought of the loss to all New Yorkers. Putting a Mosk there is a very selfish act and can only bring more pain to New Yorkers. Give them a break.
Not a good idea. This site is to remember the victims of 9/11. After watching "Remember Me" last night, I still cry at the thought of the loss to all New Yorkers. Putting a Mosk there is a very selfish act and can only bring more pain to New Yorkers. Give them a break.
I agree, our country (the American family) was founded on the Christian belief - the christian churches should be the guiding "Light houses" in our country. VISITING faiths are welcome but should we let them have our HOUSE no, of course not.....Give away our house....
i'm willing to donate money ( i'm not rich but i can afford 50-100 dollars from my paycheck monthly to invest in the piece and safe future of my country and kids)to buy tickets for all muslims and send them back to their countries..
There were no kamikazes at Pearl Harbor...
9/11 wasn't just a Christian tragedy, it was a human tragedy where people of many faiths lost their lives, from Christians to Jews, to Hindus, Atheists, and yes even Muslims. Plus, using the reasoning that a Mosque shouldn't be built near the 9/11 site because the terrorists were Muslim is like saying Buddhist Temples shouldn't be allowed in Honolulu because the Japanese pilots who bombed Pearl Harbor were likely Buddhist. Or, better yet, let's not allow any future Christian churches in Oklahoma City because Timothy McVeigh was raised Catholic and is a follower of the Christian Identity Movement. McVeigh had radical views, based on some skewed religious beliefs, much like the 9/11 terrorists did. Blaming an entire religion for the actions of a few crazy pants believers is bigoted and completely illogical. By the way, the majority of tips about potential Islamic terror activity in the U.S. comes from Muslims who live in, work in and love this country.
Donate money to send the "Muslims back to their country"? This is the kind of comments that spurs hate against America is the first place. Want others to be more accepting of us? TRY ACCEPTING THEM. FOR MANY MUSLIMS, THIS IS THEIR COUNTRY. Maybe we should send you to Texas with other like-minded folk.
What is most amazing about this report is that nobody in the meeting would remind the audience that 9/11 was a false flag, even though this is well known among New Yorkers. This would have put the debate in its proper perspective. Was the debate somehow censored? Or the reporting?
Love,
These redneck conservatives who's main goal has become bashing Islam . The mosque is stand there and i will make my pilgrimage from Canada to pray. How do you like it now?
queers and stinkin muslims are taking over the country.. if muslim led politics and government is so great why dont they go back to their muslim countries and enjoy it OVER THERE!!! i'm all for freedom, im also all for protecting freedom.. everything that islam stands for goes against freedom... a dead religion that worships a dead leader.. islam will spread like a cancer if we allow it this much liberty and influence in our country... wake up...
Common Sense - That's the problem with your crazy conservos. You pretend that you are all about freedom and loving our country. Yet, you do not believe Muslims have the right (or freedom) to be an American? People that are hardworking, intellegent, and pay taxes? Telling people to go back to their "country" is an opponent of freedom. You know why Muslims do come over here? Because there is no freedom in "their country". Who are you to say what Islam stands for? Have you ever had an intelligent conversation with a Muslim? Yet again, have you ever had an intelligent conversation ever? Looking at your comment, I can say with 100% certainty NO. Muslims are just as much Americans as a Christians. Until people like yourself stop spreading negative stereotypes and alienating Muslims, maybe we can progress as a nation and embrace TRUE freedom.
We should allow them to build it, if they allow us to build a church or temple in Mecca or Jedda
While I don't particularly care if <i>a</i> Mosque is built near Ground Zero, I have grave doubts about one naming itself after a city that hasn't been Islamic for 500 years. I'd be similarly doubtful over a Christian organization calling itself the Constantinople project. It has the tinge of revisionism.
Can you defend a religious regime who’s agenda is to ultimately descry liberty, destroy freedom to worship what you wish and and ultimately enforce sharia Law
It appears to be a clear case of hypocrisy justified by the sins of the past religious leaders. A hypocrite acts in a way contrary to what they profess to be true or believe. The Jews enforced the law of the Torah, it resulted in followers with out faith or as we say a hypocrite. When the Christians enforced the laws of the new testament it resulted in followers with out faith, or as we say hypocrites. When the Muslims enforce their laws, it will result in the same, .... hypocrites.. Time after time the wave of apostasy and hypocrites have bought death and destruction, upon man kind. . If the Muslim’s way... is not the idea of Love and peace at its critical mass, (when they have achieved there domination of a land) , then is an apostate religion of hypocrites.
True religion is to care for one another , the homele
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