@failures art,
Hawkeye already admitted he is a bigot in an earlier post. So, the weak arguments he is making are simply to support his already biased stance. He doesn't like or trust Muslims--all Muslims. He is essentially arguing for that community center not to be built anywhere.
He has repeatedly denied how this controversy was deliberately manufactured--by Pamela Geller and Stop Islamization Of America--although the information has been repeatedly posted. He has, however, said he considers SIOA to be "patriots" for trying to block the project. That he considers a rabid Muslim-hating group "patriots" tells you all you need to know about his position on this issue.
You are quite right, failures art, there was no controversy about this project until Geller started disseminating lies and distortions about it on her blogs, Fox News, and the NY Post. The Community Board did unanimously approve the project, they thought it was a great idea. As soon as they did that, Geller packed their next open meeting with her group of angry bigots, she dubbed the project the "Ground Zero Mega Mosque", even though it was not located at Ground Zero, and was primarily a community center rather than a mosque, and declared that it was a symbol of Muslim gloating and triumph which was offensive to the feelings of most 9/11 families and to the memory of 9/11 victims. Those are the lies and deliberate distortions Geller created, and that the media continued to repeat, until the general public believed them. That's how the controversy and opposition was created, and it was mainly because the media failed to do its job by questioning those assumptions, rather than just repeating them. And the Republicans, sensing a chance to pick up anti-Obama and anti-government votes, happily jumped on Geller's bandwagon. So this issue has become very politicized.
Rather belatedly, some in the media seem to be recognizing they made a mistake in helping to spread Geller's propaganda, because that helped to contribute to an ugly anti-Muslim climate, that was helping to fuel the controversy. Consequently, there has been more recent exposure of Geller's modus operandi in spreading deliberate lies--particularly about Obama and Muslims, and specifically about the community center/"mosque". When that loon in Florida threated to burn Korans, the media realized what they were fostering by giving Geller an unchallenged platform to spread her message of hate.
So, the media has pulled back somewhat in covering the issue mainly from the perspective of the protesters. And, simultaneously, there has been a backlash to the Islamophobia and message of hatred, so that more vocal and widespread support of the community center is now taking place. On Sept. 10th, a candlelight vigil in support of the community center was held near the WTC and it attracted about 2,000 people. On Sept. 11th, rallies of both protesters and supporters were held near the WTC. This time, there were more supporters (about 2000) than protesters (about 1500), as based on NYPD estimates.
Geller had hoped her Sept. 11th protest would be a major event, with a massive turnout and huge media exposure. Instead, the rally was largely ignored by the media, and the turnout was rather paltry. Geller, responded to this in her usual fashion--she lied about these facts. On her Web sites, and in her news releases, she proclaimed that "tens of thousands" of protesters had showed up. She then accused the media of lying about her turnout. Considering that the media has been spoon-feeding the public Geller's lies for the past few months, her suddenly claiming that the media was now lying about her rally is actually rather ironic. But Geller is really fuming now that her "Mega Protest Rally" really fizzled out and was barely noticed.
The tide of general public opinion about this community center may be turning, and, as more supporters become vocal and visible, and try to correct the distortions, it may continue to go in a more positive direction.
Imam Rauf has been belatedly trying to correct some of the distortions, and, in his most recent interviews, has been trying to make the point that the center is not at Ground Zero, it is at least two blocks away. More importantly, Rauf has said there might be a "delay" in the project, and that is a wise move. This controversy needs time to die down. He needs to slow it down, because that will be the best way of defusing it. His project was never set to move ahead when Geller began attacking in May. Plans and blueprints haven't even been drawn up. The adjoining piece of Park Place property they need for the project hasn't even been acquired yet. He's not in a hurry to get started on building it, because there is still a lot to be done first. He does need to slow this controversy down, mainly by getting it out of constant coverage on cable news and other outlets. And, if nothing is going on, the media will ignore it. Geller and her bigoted followers will be ignored. That is what needs to happen right now. Then, when the project directors are ready, they can present their ideas in a less emotion-fused atmosphere, and without all of the political nonsense that will go on until election day. This community center should never have become a political football, or even a national issue, and the passage of time may help to clear the air. Rauf does need to "delay" the project--probably for several months. As long as the media ignores Geller and her forces, as they probably will (with the likely exception of Fox News), just delaying this project may help to turn the tide of public opinion, because distortions can be corrected, and support can continue to come forward.
This project has lots of support that the media hasn't reported on. You can't judge this issue solely based on public opinion polls, and that's what the media has been going on. There are other indications of support that the media isn't covering, which do add some balance to the total picture. For instance, I found this one, which I had never heard about before. Why did the media ignore this?
Quote:
PRESS RELEASE - Veterans Back Park 51 Muslim Community Center in Open Letter, As Petraeus Warns Against Anti-Islam Displays
By VoteVets.org | Press Release
PUBLISHED: September 08, 2010
Letter signed by over 14,000 includes 450 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans
WASHINGTON, DC - As the commander of troops in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, is warning against anti-Islam displays in the United States, the largest progressive veterans group in America, VoteVets.org is releasing an open letter of support for the Park51 Community Center, in Lower Manhattan.
The letter from VoteVets.org is signed by 450 Iraq and Afghanistan members, and co-signed by over 14,000 others, including nearly 5000 veterans of other eras, and just over 4000 veteran and military family members. The full text of the letter is below.
In the letter, addressed to Sharif el-Gamal, the developer of the community center, the veterans write, "For all the talk these days from some quarters about the importance of protecting the Constitution and allowing the free market to work unfettered, those same people are fighting against your community's right to buy property and worship freely... For our Constitution and for the safety of America and our troops currently in the field, we are writing in full support of your project."
The Iraq and Afghanistan veterans say there are two reasons they are supporting construction of the community center. First, the veterans say their experience in Iraq and Afghanistan leads them to the conclusion that if efforts to stop construction of the community center are successful, it would be a powerful recruiting tool for al Qaeda.
"Defeating al Qaeda will take the use of force. But, it will also take destroying their ability to recruit, and that means winning hearts and minds. As veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, we know all too well the importance of having the people on your side," the veterans wrote.
That point was echoed yesterday by General David Petraeus, in regards to a planned "Quran Burning" on September 11th by a Florida Church. Of that event, Petraeus said to the Wall Street Journal, "It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort. It is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems. Not just here, but everywhere in the world we are engaged with the Islamic community."
Second, the veterans note that their oath to protect the Constitution did not end when they left the service. They explain that construction of the community center is about freedom to worship, and that "It's up to us to stand up for the right for all Americans to enjoy the Constitutional freedoms that so many around the world don't have."
VoteVets.org began asking veterans and civilian supporters to sign the letter last week and quickly gained thousands of signatures.
VoteVets.org is a pro-military organization of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, dedicated to the destruction of terror networks around the world, with force when necessary. It primarily focuses on education and advocacy on issues of importance to the troops and veterans, and holding politicians accountable for their actions on these issues.
# # #
Dear Mr. Gamal,
As veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, we are writing to support your right to build a community center on the property you purchased in Lower Manhattan, and urge you to continue on with your project. We encourage you to distribute this letter to all those who may be interested, so they know that veterans like us see this as an important issue of our very Constitution and our national security.
There are two very important reasons we are choosing to speak out. First and foremost, when we signed up for service, we swore to uphold the Constitution. For all the talk these days from some quarters about the importance of protecting the Constitution and allowing the free market to work unfettered, those same people are fighting against your community's right to buy property and worship freely. Our duty to protect the Constitution didn't end when our service did. It's up to us to stand up for the right for all Americans to enjoy the Constitutional freedoms that so many around the world don't have. So, we are standing up for you.
Secondly, allowing the Community Center to move forward will deal a blow to the propaganda of al Qaeda and Islamist extremists, who recruit on the talking point that the United States is in a war against Islam. Of course, we're not. But, if those forces of intolerance win, it will certainly appear that we are in a war against one religion - Islam.
As Matthew Alexander, a former interrogator in Iraq, and VoteVets.org member wrote at the Huffington Post, "Imagine an al Qaeda recruiter attempting to sway a potential charge by citing an imaginary American war against Muslims but having to face the counterargument that Americans built a Muslim community center near the site of the former Twin Towers. The Cordoba House would be a powerful symbol of U.S. tolerance and freedom that will stand in direct contradiction to al Qaeda's narrative that Americans hate Muslims."
That's the point. Defeating al Qaeda will take the use of force. But, it will also take destroying their ability to recruit, and that means winning hearts and minds. As veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, we know all too well the importance of having the people on your side.
For our Constitution and for the safety of America and our troops currently in the field, we are writing in full support of your project. As veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, we believe the construction of your community center isn't "anti-America" at all. In fact, building your community center is about as pro-America as one can get.
Sincerely,
[Over 14,000 Signees Attached Here, Including 450 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans]
http://votevets.org/news?id=0358
