Proposed Mosque Near Ground Zero Stokes Debate

(CBS)  There's a heated debate in New York over plans to build a mosque near the World Trade Center site.

Opponents call it a mosque that's in the worst possible place.

"This site should be turned into a museum," said one New Yorker.

Supporters call it a cultural center in the best spot to encourage understanding.

"If a mosque were built then you guys would know what Islam is about," said mosque advocate Dania Darwish.

At issue, a building in lower Manhattan, the proposed site of a 13-story community center and Islamic prayer space, reports CBS News correspondent Jeff Glor.

"This is the Muslim community's effort to rebuild Manhattan," said Park 51 Project spokeswoman Daisy Khan.

The controversy is that it's only two blocks from ground zero. Tthis week Sarah Palin upped an already raucous debate when on Twitter she called on "peaceful" Muslims to "refudiate" the plan, calling it "a stab in the heart" for America.

Palin's "Refudiate" Tweet on Mosque Draws Fire

Liberal bloggers pounced on the made-up word "refudiate" and Palin retracted her Tweet but not her sentiment, saying Shakespeare "liked to coin new words too."

Grammatical debates aside, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg has come out firmly in support of the plan. "Everything the United States stands for and New York stands for is tolerance and openness," he said.

"My hope is that [the community center] attracts a lot of people who don't understand Islam," said Valerie Lucznikowska of 9/11 Families for a Peaceful Tomorrow

Tim brown, a former New York City firefighter who lost 93 colleagues on Sept. 11, calls the proposal a slap in the face. He has a message for the developers.

"Stop it. Stop hurting the families. Everyday there are stories in the newspaper. They're hurting the families again. They don't deserve it. These American families have paid too much," he said.

Brown and others, including New York gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio, are calling for an investigation into financing behind the $4.8 million building purchase.

Their concerns, spurred in part by comments the center's imam, Faisel Rauf, made to "60 Minutes" in 2001, just weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks:

"I wouldn't say that the United States deserved what happened but United States policies were an accessory to the crime that happened," said Rauf.

Citing anti-Americanism, opponents are pushing to have the building declared a landmark making it far more difficult for any Muslim center construction to begin.

[planetearth1966]

To All Americans,


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib9rofXQl6w

[cotiabir]

You obviosly know nothing about Islam.

[planetearth1966]

I am a citizen that would like to share my opinion about building the Mosque in Ground Zero. Why I really don't approved of this because I work with some Muslims, seriously this people would call bombers and killers their Hero and they are in the American soil... taking advantage with the opportunity that this country provides. This country has a constitution that will allow anybody to practice religion and freedom to build there churches, Mosque or what ever they call it where you worshiped.

Mulsim wants to build this Mosque in Ground Zero to tell the Islam World there Victory over the US Soil. They are not stupid people, they are very calculating and manipulative people. They will use the Constition to practice and wage victory in this US soil. They dont care about the US, all they care about is launching war against infidels. There is no such as an extremist Muslims or Muslim. Muslim is Muslim, read the Koran, they taught in this book how to wage killing spree if you are not a Muslim. Just look at there practices in the Muslim world. They stone woman who are innocent just becuase their husband want a new wife and becuase they cant afford to have so many , so they concocted a story that they cheat.And you know what is the irony about stoning Woman, they even allow children to stone their own mothers, they teach their children how to kill your own Mothers!!! What kind of examples Muslims teaches the world.? They only teaches hatred, before they can come here and built this Mosque in Ground Zero, only to show the world there victory. America wake up!!! Open your eyes, they are blinding you with words, manipulative words and using the constitution to won this War. If you allow this Mosque to be built in Ground Zero, the won that Victory, and Islam world will have a big party and killing spree.

Respect about people who died in Ground Zero-they dont know what respects means, they kill innocent women and children for their own hatred. Just think about it, they are spending millions of dollars just to build this mosque and you know that, they are children and women who needs this money to survive. Why dont they use this money to help the needy in there country? WHY? Spend it in building the Mosque? And you dont hear any of this Muslim community help all this families who lost love ones, you dont hear them will help you.

I even know some of them are celebrating silently here in US soil while this Ground Zero were attacked. I cant be silent anymore.

Let them build there Mosque far away from Ground Zero.....Do Not Allow them to build it where they can show the world their Victory.

[cotiabir]

Dear Sir, you do not call this racism? I am so sad to see a comment like yours. Every bit of information you have mentioned in your comment is 100% false. I know this for a fact. I am sure you have not met any Muslim "celebrating silently" because there are none. Obviously you do not understand anything about Islam. What is more painful is that you are fabricating statements to support false information. I have lived through 9/11. The fear that I felt that day, and the emotional shock I had was like any other citizen. You obviously do not know that there are a lot of Muslims that were lost on that day too. We went through the emotional turmoil of trying to find a family member working for the pentagon. You cannot come on here and attack a religion just to attack it...there is no victory or loss in an issue like this. 9/11 is a sad day, and we should not turn it into a battle zone with racism. It is one of the saddest days history has seen, there is no question; but if anything, it should bring us together, not pull us apart. Whoever did this was looking to bring this country down, and we are just giving it to them on a silver plate if we start fighting each other. Muslims ARE peaceful people and you can go experience it first hand in any Muslim country. Last time I went to Egypt there was a church everywhere I went, and this is a country with a very small percentages of Christians. If what you are saying had any truth in it, there would be none. It does not matter whether I am a Christian, Muslim, or a Jew, what matters is that we should all be tolerant of each other. There are bad people in every religion. Let us not forget the Oklahoma bombing, and other incidents. May God lead you to peace, and may everyone find the strength not to give in to hatred.

[rgowtham95]

Even though I am not a Muslim, I support this idea. I believe that every religion has rights to build their religious places. This might hurt the Muslims if this does not happen, it is actually being racist. This can also tell other people that this mosque is actually the reason behind the 9/11 attacks. This should be built so that Muslims might feel that they are also part of the Unites States. If our president said that he will build a church, everyone would not have gone against it. People are going against it because it is a mosque. Not all Muslims are bad. There are people who are bad in every religion. That is the point.

[planetearth1966]

"There are people who are bad in every religion. That is the point."

Yes that is so true but which religion that have massacred innocent people? Name me any religion who massacre people just for the sake of religion....Im talking about now this time not ancient time.

That is my point.....

"People are going against it because it is a mosque" No, not really because its a Mosque-its the people who worshiped in it, that cause terror. We respect Mosque as a solemn place of worshiped.

But they made a big mistake because they also teach us a good lesson about trust. They also infected us with HATE.And who should we blame for it? Terrorist Muslim. Don't they even have shame? They parade our dead soldiers on the street to let the world know how inhumane they are, no respect for the dead. And they want us to be so forgiving.

US-is a humanitarian country. Yes, we have bad people in this country. But we also have Justice System, where is the justice of all those Innocent people who were killed in 9/11? And they want us to show Mercy.

Right or Wrong when a crime is committed in US soil, we must punish them with the highest punishment of Justice, to teach them that We Shall Not Allow them to do this ever again.

Dont blame US for Sanctions. You ask for it for not complying with the United Nation's Treaty. And don't blame us if we use caution when you want to enter this country. It is the Muslim Terrorist fault, blame them for this Hatred.

They said, we learn from our enemies-We sure did.

[cotiabir]

And who told us to go to Iraq when they attacked Kuwait, and then again after 9/11 just for the oil...think about how many children were bombed by this country. We should set the example for them if we are to make our argument..we cannot go there, bomb them kill thousands, then say they are bad? evil you are asking about massacres in our days? there are countless, you sould not only be on the offensive...to make our point we should start by fixing ourselves first!

[sahiratiq]

No. there shouldn't be any compromise. Show me where the Christians and Jews have compromised when there was an issue of everybody draw Muhammad (S.A.W.W). All of the so called freedom of speech supporters were united. I will ask them that where are they now. Where is the freedom of speech and freedom of belief now.

As there is a concept that the WTC was attacked by Muslims and all the Muslims are terrorists, this is such a narrow minded thinking. Such groups are also present in Christians and Jews but it doesn't mean that all of them are bad. So be positive and be realistic.

Sahir Atiq
Peshawar

[anti-ignorance]

Has the majority of ppl here lost there minds.. I am extremely sympothetic to families and victims of 9/11.. I personally lost my wife and mother in law that day.. But I am also a GOD fearing man ( no i am not a muslim) so I teach my children that the creator plan is greater than mine/ours.. I thought America for the most part had moved past her ugly history of racism, disrimination, and ignorant hate but I guess i was wrong.. What the majority is suggesting is the same as telling a Christian to hate jews for okaying the death of Christ.. or a black man not be-friend a white guy because its possible his ancestors where slave owners.. or for americans not to support japenese establishments because of Peal Harbor... I pary for you America... May GOD bless You

[billyjack615]

Let me 1st make this clear, I'm against the site at this point as it clearly causes pain to the families of the 9/11 victims. That said, if one searches for the page ?No To The Mosque at Ground Zero? and takes the time to read, note by note, they will find that the site contains over 80,000 American extremists who, to a person, categorize Muslims as evil. Almost all of them are promoting violence in some way. Purely racist, profane comments are joyously praised everywhere. The entire page represent sickness. I?ve been reporting, page by page, to facebook in hopes that the entire filthy page be removed for it is a very dangerous thing as these people intend to meet at ground zero, some insisting that they act out on their hatred and bais. Facebook is either ignoring the calls, refusing to read or perhaps more attention needs to be brought to them so that this vile, dangerous page be removed.

[gixxer998]

Will you please explain to me what an "American extremist is."

If it is someone who will speak out against those wishing to harm America, I am an "American extremist." If it is someone willing to fight for America and American interests, I am an "American extremist" If you mean someone who doesn't give a damn about political correctness in fear of hurting some feelings to defend America, I am an "American extremist" If you mean someone who prays for our great country to not fall to those plotting against us and our men and women, who happen to be muslim at present moment, I am an "American extremist"

Please define American extremist for me.

[Gaspee1]

Although I do try to keep an open mind, I cannot in this instance. My wife was in the tower when it was attacked. I cannot forgive those who committed this act nor their people who do nothing to stop future attacks!!

[sly_64]

Sounds like Islam is an Alpha dog, marking it's terriroty at the 9/11 site.

[chuck101101]

OK. Not all Muslims are terrorists. However, doesn't it seem that so many terrorists are Muslims? Why attempt a slap in the face by building a Muslim place of worship near GZ? A shrine of repentance for what some Muslims did, maybe.

It's kind of like when I visited the Pearl Harbor Memorial. A solemn place to be sure. Ropes and stantions, signs to indicate the solemness of the site.... yet there were little kids of a certain persuasion running about uncontrolled in the area that was set aside as "sacred."

I don't see anyone trying to set up a Catholic church or other seemingly US-defined place of worship near the A-Bomb dome in Hiroshima!

[danestaples13]

of course most terrorists are going to be muslims its the 2nd largest religion in the world with 1 billion people practicing it and we shouldn't be surprised if some of them hate the u.s and take action on that hate

[Username276]

Building a mosque next to ground zero has no merit to it at all. There is plenty of space to build a mosque somewhere ELSE! It's only going to attract crime anyway. Let's do some math... There are approximately 20,000 people who are immediate family members of the 9-11 victems and about 1 in 200 people who have suffered a traumatic event (like losing a family member) will commit a felony (like burning the mosque to the ground) so there if those numbers hold true, there will be about 100 people who will try to do something like that. Personally, I hope one of them suceeds.

[pinoytimo]

This article helped me actually understand the view of both sides on the mosque debate and im sure that some of you will still disagree this article actually helped me understand what was going on http://numeroten.com/numeroten.com/Writers_Blog/Entries/2010/8/4_Mosque_Near_Ground_Zero.html i tihnk you guys should read it