Mosque to be Built Near Ground Zero

America was never known for it's subtlety or tact.

It is rather strange and unfortunate. This is the first time that has happened since long before 2001 and it will not occur on that date in the next few years.

It seems that Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr do not follow a set date. The dates for the next 5 days (start of Ramadan) are:
2010 August 11, 2011 August 1, 2012 July 20, 2013 July 9, 2014 June 28, 2015 June 18.

This situation gets stranger and stranger. Regardless, they are within their rights to move forward.

I don't believe for one minute that all muslims are extremists. I come from a city that has a lot of asians in and we all get along like civil people. I have good friends that are muslims and I can tell you they do not support the terrorists. Has anybody bothered to ask these muslims what there intentions are because there lies your answer. Do you really think that they are doing it to make a statement supporting extremists.

It all sounds like there is a lot of hate and fear for the average muslim born out of one act. How many bombs do you think we dropped on them in the east? But do they treat us with contempt? Most muslims living in the west are peace loving and respect the whites. Believing they hate us without no real evidence breeds hate and conflict, tension that has no grounds, don't you think we got enough hate in the world without hating immigrants for something a small group of extremists did.

I meant to say 5 years, not 5 days.

Getting late.

On the other hand it is sensitive and America is a big place. It's still raw and maybe it would be the decent thing to do would be to move it it 6 blocks away. Can we build a church on a bomb site that killed thousands in there country? The victims are still hurting, a bit of sensitivity perhaps.

Just by the way, Caroline, where are you from? I have the feeling I should know, but if I did, it has gotten away from me.

The UK, why?

Just curious. You described America as if you were from somewhere else. Certainly, it isn't going to change my perception of your posts.

I know I haven't read all the posts of this thread but overall I think sensitivity towards the victims and their families should be the first thing and it was a big thing to happen to all the citizens , a lot of people suffered horrible deaths and that would make people angry, rubbing salt into the wound springs to mind and I find building a mosque there is insensitive to a lot of people and the victims. Have some decency and move it further away from the sight, people are still raw. Like I said they wouldn't like it if we built a church on site that saw thousands perish horrible deaths. All muslims are not extremists and are not trying to rub noses in, well that's up for debate but these muslims should show a bit of decency and move it further away. Why can't they do that?

Not sure if that's a good thing?

Now I read that Obama is endorsing the building of the mosque near Ground Zero. I find this totally disgusting. What if a group decided to build a Christian church in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, etc. No way could that happen - heads would roll, literally. I believe we have a monster in the White House.

I agree. Still, I am pretty tolerant of disagreement till it gets to the level of accusing the rest of us of racisim.

Yes considering I haven't read your posts. I apologize for coming across that way I think I just got the wrong end of the stick and diving in with views like that lacked understanding and for that I'm sorry to you all. Please forgive me. It took off with the constitutional rights and I wasn't very considerate, in my defense my first post asked how the victims felt and I went back to that, sometimes I get sidetracked and forget what's really important, I meant no harm. Sorry, I was pretty insensitive myself. I'm sorry for offending you I'm stupid sometimes.

Please forgive me, I did get back to what's really important, I never meant to come across so ignorant I get sidetracked sometimes and I wasn't thinking at all, I'm such a klutz, how stupid I am, I am sorry folks.

Don't be silly. Unless I missed a post, the whole Constitutional issue looked like a big straw man argument to me, as they clearly have a legal right to build their mosque/ymca, cultural center, or whatever in that location. The question is 'should they'. The answer depends on what kind of impression they want to make, and how they want to be perceived. I have no doubt they know what that impression is.

My problem is I like to play the diplomat so much I get distracted from my main point. I honestly didn't mean to offend you folks and feel bad. I was offensive, I made a mistake. Ok I'm going now with heart full of regret.

But the issue is emotional. If you comment at all someone is going to be offended. Someone else is going to be gratified.

Which is why I play the diplomat but my gut reaction was ask the victims and their families what they'd like because it is they who suffered. I don't think that interferes with anyones right to build a mosque because that is not the issue, the issue here is what is decent and respectful toward the victims and their families. The muslims wouldn't like it if we did it to them.

Obuscco was right, I should've read the thread but like I said my first post made it about the victims not about rights.

This has been a learning curve for me, to remember what is right and not to be side tracked into other issues. Thanks. I learnt that in fireflys thread too. I hope I don't do it again as it's costly.