Sunday, there was a demonstration over the proposed mosque to be built near ground zero in New York. Thousands of people rallied and lined the streets (see video below). The demonstrators were demanding that the mosque be moved father away from the site were 2,700 people died on Sept. 11, 2001.
Demonstrators screamed and yelled, but there was no physical fighting. Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" blared over loudspeakers and protesters chanted "No mosque, no way."
"They should put it in the Middle East," said one rallier.
There was another demonstration around the corner of those who were pro-mosque. Fox News reported there were 75 people in attendance.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has defended the plans saying, "to practice your religion was one of the real reasons America was founded."
Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, whose leading the plans for the mosque and whose outreach tour was paid for by the state department said, "American Muslims have the right to practice their religion in accordance with the Constitution of the United States. I see the article of independence as more compliant with the principles of Islam that what is available in many of the current Muslim countries," said Rauf.
The building of new Mosques have also faced opposition in California, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
Last July, there was a protest in Temecula when a group gathered outside the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley to protest a new mosque that is being planned. According to the Press Enterprise, opponents felt that the mosque "was not about religion, but it was about political movement, bent on taking over the world and squelching freedom in favor of strict religious law".
In North County a new $5.5 million Mosque has just been completed in the Santaluz neighborhood.
Currently, there are 20 Mosques in San Diego county.
Comments
created propaganda
this should really be a non-story, non-issue
occasion2b
This is a lie! I was there, they anti-mosque protest did even have 500 people, and the pro-mosque crowd had almost equal that. Really, if you're just watching Fox News and then writing an article on what you saw on television, then you're a terrible reporter. This article is garbage. Also, my friends and I were pushed around by the cops who kept their hands on their guns the whole time, and of the anti-mosque tried to attack us.
If you don't believe me just look at the video footage on youtube.
I did look at many videos of it at it's peak. There are well over a thousand people there and maybe 75-100 in support of it. You're full of shit and you know it.
Islam may be a religion but it technically falls into the cult category also and should not fall under the freedom of religion law. If you let them, they will take over here just like in Europe. Anyone who supports this is a traitor.
You make no sense. You say Islam may be a religion and yet it shouldn't fall under our first amendment which grants freedom of religion. You say that 1.5 billion people in the world are in a cult. By what criteria does Islam classify as "technically" a cult?
When they declare Jihad, you give them a Crusade
when they build a mosque and you'll build a Cathedral middle in mecca
Here is an excerpt of a comment left elsewhere:
. . . A similar quick assessment of history, especially the Crusades, indicates that Western Civilization had long differences with Islam. Let us remember, however, that until recently Islam existed in isolated and closed societies that often used it to suit their needs. While countries like Saudi Arabia remain closed, others such as Lebanon, Egypt, and even Turkey (that sacked Constantinople) have endeavored to harmonize Islam with the modern world.
If it is true that religion needs to evolve in order to stay viable, then Islam is overdue on this task, as perhaps was Christianity before Martin Luther. But the Muslims of Europe, of the United States, and much of the Middle East have shown that the Qur’an can be adapted to the Twenty First Century.
What better place then, for Islam to reassess itself than in the United States where we guarantee freedom of religion. Here, Islam can harmonize itself with the times to better serve its faithful.
But why in an Islamic Center two blocks away from our most recently hallowed ground? Because being front and center, it can serve as a monument to our own free society.
The United States is a matured nation, secured in its system of government and its laws. As a people, we respect all faiths grounded in tolerance, peace and understanding.
Yet, as we should, we will remain savvy and vigilant.
We should be tolerant to a Mosque being built, however, there should be a level of respect that the location is grossly inappropriate. If they build it there, it'll end up being a big middle finger to the rest of us that actually care about this country. For those that can't see that, maybe you should move out of the US and start your own little island of soft, unprideful, disrepecting beliefs. NO matter if it is "Extremists" of the Muslim religion that did the 911 attacks, the fact of the matter is, it is the Muslim religion that practices beliefs of hate towards Americans...Go ahead and call me a liar, or I don't know what I'm talking about...because if Muslims had any compasion or consideration for Americans, they'd realize that the location is not a tackful or appropriate location. Common Sense people!!
I find it absolutely insane that many politicians are in favor of the GZM (Ground Zero Mosque) and dare to call opposing the mosque "Un-American". Really what are they thinking? First America was attacked by Muslims who killed 3000 innocent people. Killing 3000 people in the US today is just as much an act of war as killing nearly as many, mostly military people in Pearl Harbor was an act of war.
The reaction by the majority of sensible Americans, who oppose the mosque, is not because of hate, denial of religious freedom or lack of tolerance. It is a reaction of defending ourselves and self preservation.
Islam, or at least part of Islam, has declared war on the US and proven that it was not grand standing or idle talk. They murdered 3000 people to prove that they are at war and are intend on destroying the US. They proved their point.
The destruction that took place on 9/11 was received with great enthusiasm, celebration and joy in the Muslim world. I wonder how that would be possible if only a very small fraction of them are radicals who cause all the problems. The open public celebrations say otherwise.
The fact that the Quran allows and promotes lying to infidels (that is us) in order to promote Islam makes any agreement with Muslims completely useless and not worth the paper it is written on. Even if there happened to be some honest and sincere Muslims who wanted to live in peace with us, we just could not take the risk to accept and believe them and leave ourselves defenseless against a ruthless murder machine. It has to be that way because of what their religion allows and preaches. Their religion makes them by definition not trustworthy towards any non-muslim.
There is absolutely no good reason to act otherwise as long the so called good and peaceful Muslims have not eradicated the monster they created by not acting many years ago (remember Munich) and supported with their finances and silence. This monster was raised in Muslim mosques and is still being raised there (Awlaki). It is no coincidence that all US terrorists are connected to Muslim mosques.
This fact in itself makes you wonder why the building of any mosque is even allowed. The right to protect our lives is an inalienable human right (given by God) that supersedes the constitutional right to freedom of religion which is given by humans. Not allowing the building of mosques (anywhere in the US, not just Ground Zero) is no more then enforcing our right to self defense!
Please do your research. think about it, how can one aeroplane per building cause the whole tower to crash, just like that? Please do not hurriedly accuse the Muslims of anything, many more Muslims have died because of the Iraq and Afghanistan attacks! Your statements are sweeping and without proper substantiation. Research on the event of 9/11 and on Islam before you talk.
It's offensive to suggest that Americans need to be “sensitive” to 9/11 victims when building a mosque. Muslim Americans should not be expected to endlessly apologize for a few crazies out of the billion or so worldwide. Equating the Muslim religion with terrorism is bigotry. Period.
BTW, our military is over there supposedly helping Muslims. It makes no sense to think Muslim AMERICANS are our enemy.
http://www.examiner.com/accessible-travel-in-manchester/then-they-came-f...
" Ms. O'Rourke. Sorry, but it doesn't fly. That Mosque can be built anywhere, but nope Rauf wants it built near Ground Zero. Are you aware of the Muslim propensity for building mosques wherever they have scored victories in their eternal jihad? Think Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. Think Hagia Sophia in Istanbul (the latter was the main Orthodox Cathedral in Constantinople). They want to rub 9/11 in our noses. Thank God/dess there are sensible Americans who are willing to fight this crap.
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