Indeed.

>>Another "Whack a mozzi" post from Proxy<<

Sadly, they are becoming ever more frequent.

And on the flimsiest of excuses, too.

Pericles,
How so flimsy?
If a group of Christian fundamentalists flew multiple passenger jets into skyscrapers
in Riyadh screaming "Jesus Christ is Lord!!" would you grant the inhabitants
of that city the right to raise objections to the building of a 13 storey church near
the site where thousands of their fellow inhabitants had died a fiery death?
Or would they be racist "Whack-a-chrissies"?
But wait.
Problem solved.
The Saudis don't allow any churches to be built in their country.
Silly me, I am a racist.

It is a reasonable question and there is a need to work through the issue to get as many people as possible on board. Thousands are still suffering through the loss of loved ones and many live in constant fear. Muslims must wonder why they are being put in the frame with terrorists and would be concerned what they have to do to ever set things right.

That is not healthy and it is not helped by taking sides.

Americans are a very generous, forgiving and tolerant people, so I doubt that the majority would go along with some of the comments encouraged by shock jocks and media hacks.

Notwithstanding that, Shadow Minister is right in my view to question whether it is the most sensitive thing to do in close proximity to the scene of previous devastation.

The media thrives on sensationalism and we have no idea what is proposed other than the basics. If the mosque had artwork or a message imploring world peace, tolerance and acceptance would that make a difference? It would do so for me, especially if some of the peak churches could come together along with the Muslims to create a symbol of peace outside/near the mosque. Peace has to be made with America's Muslims too - what did they have to do with 9/11 anyhow?

Proxy, don't you know that 9/11 was a CIA/Mossad joint venture, and nothing whatsoever to do with Islam?

>>If a group of Christian fundamentalists flew multiple passenger jets into skyscrapers in Riyadh screaming "Jesus Christ is Lord!!...<<

Ask daggett, or Arjay - they'll put you right.

But leaving conspiracy fantasies aside for the moment, let's have a look at your "justification" for your anti-Muslim diatribes.

>>...would you grant the inhabitants of that city the right to raise objections to the building of a 13 storey church near the site where thousands of their fellow inhabitants had died a fiery death? Or would they be racist "Whack-a-chrissies"? But wait. Problem solved. The Saudis don't allow any churches to be built in their country.<<

As I understand your argument, you would prefer that we adopt the Saudi approach, and allow only one type of church to be built?

I personally prefer to live in a free and tolerant country, that does not impose a single religion - or indeed any religion - on its people.

Fortunately, New York also values these freedoms.

"The 13-story mosque and Islamic cultural center was unanimously endorsed by the 12-member Community Board 1's financial district committee."

Clearly, these folk don't want to become as closed-minded as Saudis, any time soon.

You also omit to mention that the Pope is working with King Abdullah to change the situation.

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/features/index.cfm?recnum=57276

But, back to your original point, re excuses to expose here your fear and loathing:

>>How so flimsy?<<

You have taken a perfectly straightforward real estate transaction, that occurred in another city in another country, one that has received the unanimous support of the local Community Board, and applied to it your own fears and prejudices, in order to make a whack-a-mozzie topic from it.

I call that flimsy.

Have a fearful day.

A proposed mosque near Ground Zero is conciliatory.

I agree with the Americans in that they can't be seen to favour one culture or religion over another in a multicultural country.

Refusing to build Mosques will only further inflame rivalry between Christians and Muslims.

Proxy, do you ever think about any other subject?
Maybe you need to see someone about these irrational fears you have?

suzeonline,

What's irrational about fearing a "religion" which has the stated aim of global domination and exhorts its followers to kill those who don't submit to its dictates?

<<Refusing to build Mosques will only further inflame rivalry between Christians and Muslims>>
That's like saying refusing to ban Mohammed cartoons will only inflame rivalry between Muslims and cartoonists.