Ground Zero
In lieu of giving a verbal beatdown to the random internet populace (Oops, sorry stupid poster on Slate!) I choose to express myself here. Or at least, I will NOW express myself here, as I can express myself fully without interuption from either side of the issue. Oh I most certainly DO take a side in this, don't get me wrong, but I am willing to listen to the other side. I can only listen to whining for so long, though.
You want to erect a mosque? Fine. Cool, I'm down with it. You want to erect a mosque two blocks away from Ground Zero? Oh hell no. I don't care how little room is available in New York. I don't care that it's perfectly legal, because it's morally reprehensible. Would southern Baptists like to have KKK members burning crosses two blocks from their church? Um, no. Would Jews want the Aryan Nation to have a "community center" two blocks away from their synagogue? No! Why? Because to them, it is holy ground. It is their sacred place, as it should be. And for all Americans, Ground Zero should be sacred. It IS sacred ground.
Erecting a mosque there is a slap in the face to all the innocent victims (living and dead) of September 11th. Why does it have to be THERE? It doesn't. It just makes me wonder why it has to be there, other than to declare some sort of victory in the US. Bomb their buildings and put a mosque. AND WE TOLERATE THIS?!
I am sick and tired of reading crap like this. I am sick and tired of keeping my mouth shut. The part that makes me the most sick is that some Americans DO NOT CARE. Oh, if there is ever any way to get me riled up, it is apathy. It is not the Muslim community that makes me as angry (although their location choice really was in poor taste) as the fact that people will sit and do nothing about it. We let these things happen. It is much easier to turn the channel than to form an opinion. It is much easier to keep quiet than it is to voice what is right.
To me, putting a mosque there is akin to graffitying a grave. It is sick. It does nothing, but put a bad reputation on a religion that already has enough bad press as it is. I don't condone it and I'm saying it loud and clear, even if you don't agree or don't like me for it. The radicals of Islam are rejoicing, believe me. I mean, if you really want to put up a mosque that teaches tolerance, why not do it in Palestine or Afghanistan? There's a place that actually needs it. If you want to teach tolerance, why not start with your own religion?? Why not tell your radicals to stop flying planes into our buildings? Or bombing random spots in Europe and actually all over the world?
I mean, what's the excuse here? No room in New York? This is the United States of America! It has 103671742065706.34375 square feet! Pick a spot NOT two blocks from Ground Zero! Sigh, only in America.
You want to erect a mosque? Fine. Cool, I'm down with it. You want to erect a mosque two blocks away from Ground Zero? Oh hell no. I don't care how little room is available in New York. I don't care that it's perfectly legal, because it's morally reprehensible. Would southern Baptists like to have KKK members burning crosses two blocks from their church? Um, no. Would Jews want the Aryan Nation to have a "community center" two blocks away from their synagogue? No! Why? Because to them, it is holy ground. It is their sacred place, as it should be. And for all Americans, Ground Zero should be sacred. It IS sacred ground.
Erecting a mosque there is a slap in the face to all the innocent victims (living and dead) of September 11th. Why does it have to be THERE? It doesn't. It just makes me wonder why it has to be there, other than to declare some sort of victory in the US. Bomb their buildings and put a mosque. AND WE TOLERATE THIS?!
I am sick and tired of reading crap like this. I am sick and tired of keeping my mouth shut. The part that makes me the most sick is that some Americans DO NOT CARE. Oh, if there is ever any way to get me riled up, it is apathy. It is not the Muslim community that makes me as angry (although their location choice really was in poor taste) as the fact that people will sit and do nothing about it. We let these things happen. It is much easier to turn the channel than to form an opinion. It is much easier to keep quiet than it is to voice what is right.
To me, putting a mosque there is akin to graffitying a grave. It is sick. It does nothing, but put a bad reputation on a religion that already has enough bad press as it is. I don't condone it and I'm saying it loud and clear, even if you don't agree or don't like me for it. The radicals of Islam are rejoicing, believe me. I mean, if you really want to put up a mosque that teaches tolerance, why not do it in Palestine or Afghanistan? There's a place that actually needs it. If you want to teach tolerance, why not start with your own religion?? Why not tell your radicals to stop flying planes into our buildings? Or bombing random spots in Europe and actually all over the world?
I mean, what's the excuse here? No room in New York? This is the United States of America! It has 103671742065706.34375 square feet! Pick a spot NOT two blocks from Ground Zero! Sigh, only in America.
posted by Ari at 7:45 PM
