Missing the point
As a rule, I don’t usually respond to comments made on my blog, preferring to let the remarks speak for themselves but, in this case, I feel compelled to do so.
Moreover, I’m often bewildered by some people’s proclivity to read something and see only what they want to see, while dismissing (maybe subconsciously) everything else that might challenge their point of view.
To WowSameOld: Yes, it is definitely about placement – and ONLY about placement. Holding an interfaith prayer service (including Muslims) at the Pentagon which, indeed, also was attacked on 9/11, is a positive and healing act – but hardly the same thing as building a 15-story mega mosque and cultural center two blocks from Ground Zero. It puzzles me why people like yourself, seemingly intelligent and well-spoken, can’t see the difference – or even entertain the reasons why it might offend people.
You also mention another mosque nearby, Masjid Manhattan, just 5 blocks from Ground Zero. I could be wrong, but I’m assuming it was there before 9/11. Furthermore, if it was, it’s a testament to American tolerance that’s it’s still standing. In addition, if there’s already a mosque 5 blocks away, why the need for another one? Surely, there can’t be that many Muslims living in Lower Manhattan that two mosques within a 5-block radius are necessary.
For Bert: You left Genghis Kan and Attila the Hun (definitely not Muslim!) off your long and irrelevant list of infamous terrorists! And, if you really want to stretch the definition of ‘terrorist’ to the max, as you seem determined to do – you could probably add the name of our first president – George Washington.
However, I don’t think clouding the issue serves any purpose. None of those groups you mentioned, destructive as they may be, flew two super-jets into towering urban skyscrapers, killing more than 3,000 innocent people – and only by some miracle – didn’t kill thousands more. That act of unprecedented terrorism will stand alone (Please God) for many generations to come.
The sad fact is, and denial and clouding the issue won’t change it, if you look at the majority of trouble spots all over the globe, where people are slaughtering their fellow man in huge numbers, it always seems to be over a Muslim issue. (Please don’t point out the handful of places where the latter doesn’t fit.)
For HamBone and Bert: One last time … objection to the mosque at Ground Zero has absolutely nothing to do with intolerance – no matter how hard you try to spin it that way. It has everything to do with insensitivity. And if you can’t, or won’t, understand that, then there’s nothing left to say.
Speaking about tolerance, those of you pointing fingers at others, accusing them of being intolerant – what about the intolerance of Islam? Try being gay, or a woman, in a Muslim country. And let’s see if a synagogue or church would be allowed in Mecca. Why aren’t you up on your soapbox about that?
And, lastly: this blog is meant for civilized (and intelligent, I hope) discussion and debate. An exchange of opinions. There’s no place on it for mean-spiritedness, viciousness, name-calling or insults. There’s plenty of other places on the ‘net to vent your neurosis – and where you’d be more than welcome. Not here. If you can’t make your point without demeaning somebody, you’ve got a serious problem.
Not only that – you’ll be immediately deleted – and all your hostile venting would have been for naught.
Copyright © 2010, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Shani McManus
Well said Shani, and I agree 100%
shani, wow… wow. So, muslims have enough mosques… they should not build anymore… did i get that right? I will never, never understand why the mere existence of muslims around the trade center site is offensive to anyone who does not insist on conflating islam with terrorism. Truly astonishing whats been said here by shani… i dont think even sean hannity would have the guts to say something like that.
by the way shani… welcome to journalism… if you dont like your work criticized perhaps you should look into other career opportunities.
“Masjid Manhattan, just 5 blocks from Ground Zero. I could be wrong, but I’m assuming it was there before 9/11. Furthermore, if it was, it’s a testament to American tolerance that it’s still standing.”
I hope that’s meant as an exaggeration Shani. In fact, the mosque does pre-date the attacks on 9/11. But to clarify your point: the fact that a mosque built prior to 9/11 has not been torn down, or burned to the ground, or removed from NYC following the attack, that is a testament to America’s tolerance?
In that case, we should actually be patting ourselves on the back for not putting muslim American citizens in interment camps after 9/11. Tough luck Japanese!
FYI moveyourseatnelson: I agree regarding a testament to America’s tolerance. However, the Japanese were not the only ethnic group to be interned during WWII, the Italian Americans, some here more than 20 years, with sons overseas, were interned as well. (In Montana and various other states in the US)
shani….. Apparently, the only one here missing the point is you …. you don’t get the concept of freedom or tolerance…. you also don’t get that religion had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks.
What should we do about that church near Auschwitz……….?
my last visit to Istanbul I came across a place in the old Istanbul that houses a church, a mosque and a synagogue all under the same roof….. It was originally built by the ottomans as a shelter for the poor and a place to pray for everyone….. The ottomans were more tolerant than us?
Yes, you’ve expressed yourself very cogently and the manner in which some people attack you shows how intolerant they are.
Right on Shani – your article is really good! Aren’t there something like 23 Mosque’s in New York already? Why would they even consider building so near ground zero? Have you seen the book “Muslim Mafia?” It’s pretty interesting.
Will be following your articles..
To Honeybee — A widely cited estimate of the New York City Muslim population by Columbia University researchers was 600,000 (later revised to 700,000). While there’s much doubt about it’s accuracy, according to your estimate of the number of mosques in NYC, each mosque should comfortably seat 30,434 worshippers. Yeah, who needs more than 23!!