No Mosque near Ground Zero

I've got news, dude: there are already two two mosques as near to Ground Zero as Park 51 will be. Have been for years. Why? Because there's a Muslim community near the world trade center. Has been for years. The fact that you can't tell a Sufi from a Qutb doesn't mean that Sufis are disrespectful in building a community center near ground-zero, it means you're a bigot who's decided that Muslims all look alike to you. The only callous, thoughtless, and disrespectful people in this exchange are the bigots saying the things you're saying. "It will be a target" has also got to be the second silliest argument against Park 51 I've heard yet: It's the New York Financial District. It cannot possibly be more of a target than it already is, the security there is some of the tightest in the country. Putting Park 51 there will not add to the risk, not putting it there will not detract from the risk. I've asked others, they've all punked out, and I expect you'll punk out too, but here it is: How far away from Ground Zero do you think it should be? Please be specific.

It really doesn't mean a thing to you, does it, that thousands, including Muslims, perished at the hands of al Qaeda, not the Muslim religion? Do you really think it will ease the pain of those who lost loved ones or do any other GOOD for our nation if we continue this unnecessary hate and cause more people to hate US as unfairly as you hate all Muslims? Annie

They might just as well build a Mosque at the Pentagon. Oh, wait, there is one? This is a manufactured controversy engineered by right wing talk show hosts and presidential wannabes. This is not a mosque to begin with. It is a community center that contained a mosque. To characterize it as only a mosque is the same as claiming that a YMCA is a church. There is a mosque closer to "ground zero" than the proposed site so what is all the fuss about?

Hi Netsbridge, For starters, not all Muslims are terrorists. This is the United States and we have freedom of religion here. It is 2 block away from ground zero. There is another smaller mosque that is in the same neighborhood and has been there for years and years. There is a strip club right next door to where this Mosque is being built. You don't find that offensive? In fact, do a little research on a 3 block radius and see what sort of business's are in that neighborhood. Beyond all this, can you imagine the bad-blood that would be created by denying them from building the mosque? Are you aware that within that mosque they are building a memorial for those lives that were lost on 9/11??

It is not as important as to the location of the Mosque, but it is important that they are building another huge Islamic facility. The more they build, the bigger the Islamic community becomes. It is now a common practice in Long Island to stop vehicle traffic around Mosques during prayer hours because the observers spill out into the streets to say their prayers there are so many of them(I have seen pictures). In these large communities, the locals practice as much of Sharia Law as they can get away with. Bit by bit it is creeping into our communities too. Do you want this? Have you read Sharia Law? It is creeping into some of our city governments even now...it has been in the news. You can read english translations of Sharia Law online....Read it, especially you women. It is frightening. It is very detailed. It controls every moment of a woman's day and life. Don't say it cannot happen here. It is happening in England and they are not a stupid country. They were busy being polite and non racist etc... Shalom~Adoniah

I don't want to offence anyone. But I think that people who insist to worship their religion and follow their traditions should care about the faith and the traditions of the other communities. Muslims in America struggle to be respected - OK, they should respect the feelings of the citisens who don't want to see a mosque near Ground Zero.

On this one I have mixed emotions. I can readily understand why New Yorkers are upset. However te proximity of the mosque isn't really that close.(about six blocks away as I understand it) Granted the decision to build it there may not be in good taste but the property owner isn't moslem and he is a wealthy New York land owner with all the rights of a peoperty owner to sell or dispose of his property as he sees fit. He is totally within his "LEGAL" right to do so. Islam is one of the worlds oldest religions along with Christianity. I have over the years and as a project read the "KORAN" and the "Bible" One would be surprise how closely related they are to eachother. In fact the prophets in the Koran and the Bible are the same. They both teach "PEACE" and HARMONY" for all peoples of the world. It is zelots on both sides that have corrupted both religions. In the early tenth or eleventh century, the time of the "CRUSADES" when England under the leadership of King Richard went to the middle east to "conquor" the "infidel" moslem and convert them to christianity when in reality England wanted to establish trade routes with the middle east for the riches that were there. However they did not count on the moslem leader "SAALADIN" being a shrewed business person and under the guise of religion; that is to "CONVERT" moslems to christianity, two very bloody wars were fought for the wealthy city at time oF "JERUSELEM". This war continues to this day. The Islamic religion is by it's very nature based on peace and the same concepts as the christian religion. It is only mankind that has perverted both. This present conflict to me is really unecessary and I feel both sides need to take a step back, take a deep breath and lose all the emotion that causes people to make unsound decisions. In my humble opinion I think the whole thing could be resolved if the owner of the property withdrew his offer to sell the land at this time. "CRISIS OVER"! Again it comes back to good judgment on both sides which I feel neither side is using. What do you think?

This post is callous, thoughtless and very disrespectful.