Mosque to be Built Near Ground Zero

I live in Maryland about 30 minutes away from the Pentagon. Many of us in this region lost friends and co-workers when the Pentagon was attacked on 9/11. While the Pentagon was being repaired, the Military decided to built a chapel where every religion (including Islam) could hold services. The location of the chapel in barely 30 feet from the site of the plane crash/terrorist attack. OK it is limited to those working at the Pentagon but it recognizes the freedom to worship as one wishes. If the Pentagon is comfortable about freedom of religion, that's good enough for me. So lets support our Armed Forces and the fact that they are willing to serve and sometimes die to preserve our freedoms. All of our freedoms, not just one from column 1 and 1 from column 2.

Well said; many on these boards don't understand why our military men and women sacrifice themselves for the freedoms we enjoy. They believe it only applies to non-Muslims.

Does the proposed mosque/community relations center offer Jewish and Christian service, like the chapel at the Pentagon?

roger, You are confused; the issue surrounds the community center/mosque two blocks from ground zero in NYC. That the pentagon has a mosque at "ground zero" (same building area) so to speak doesn't bother anyone - except maybe those who are bigoted assholes.

The building is to include a 500-seat auditorium, theater, performing arts center, fitness center, swimming pool, basketball court, childcare area, bookstore, culinary school, art studio, food court, September 11 memorial, and prayer space that could accommodate 1,000–2,000 people. It is open to everyone.

Other than that, there is not a lot of comparison to the Pentagon worship area.

roger has lost it; so why doesn't catholic churches and synagogues invite other denominations into their "holy" place of worship? Maybe, it's because they can build them wherever they please within the zoning laws that applies to all.

As far as I know, anybody can visit any place of worship that they choose. I am not Catholic, but I have been in Catholic churches. I am not Lutheran, but I have been in their churches. I am not Baptist, but yes, I have been there too. My own church welcomes anybody and everybody.

All churches have their own buildings, but there is no discrimination, as far as I know.

That's correct; I know, because when I was in the service I attended Catholic mass, because my friends were catholic. I've attended several other denominational churches since then, and was never turned away.

I think the only time I heard a church practiced discrimination was the Mormons who didn't allow blacks to become ministers or enter some of the holy places in Salt Lake City.

While in Turkey and Greece recently, we visited many mosques; nobody was turned away, even some with shorts and women with short sleeves. They loaned coveralls for exposed legs and shawls for those who wanted to enter.

I think Roger was asking about services, though. The chapel at the Pentagon (which is not a mosque) holds services for Catholics, Jews, Hindus, Mormons, Muslims and various Christian denominations, according to their spokesman.

Park51 is a mosque, although their twitter spokesman says it's not.

Whether or not they'll allow services to be held for other religions, I don't know. I think what they're saying is that all -- regardless of religion affiliation -- are welcome to enter the mosque and enjoy the other elements of the center, as well.

See. Even an atheist can go into a church without question.

I know of some religious people in California who invite the leaders of their respective religions to hold combined services. I have also been at events where they had prayers by a couple of different religious sects.

As for Park51 not being a mosque, the people will know if they have a dress code to enter it. However, I have entered many Catholic churches wearing a hat and removed my hat. There doesn't seem to be a consistent code.

I think that's fairly routine for some churches. Good idea, too.

My only point was that comparing Park51 and the interfaith chapel at the Pentagon is apples/oranges.



You'll probably only have to remove your shoes at a mosque. Make sure your socks are new!!

It is also apples and oranges because the pentagon is a government building that is being used for the same purpose as it was before but with the addition of the chapel.

51 Park is a new structure that is being built by Muslims. That seems to be the problem for some people.

It was never a problem until Geller and the conservatives began their hate campaign and brought out the bigots in great numbers.

They sure came out of the woodworks! Nothing like a controversy like this one to bring out the bigots.

Funny thing is, it was the bigots that started the controversy. Wasn't one prior to that.

Frankly folks, someone dumped an ignited a flamable liquid over construction equipment and vehicles at the site in Tennessee where a growing Muslim population was attempting to built a worship center. I'm not sure how close they are to "white folks hallowed ground", but I suspect the arson was attributable to those not fully invested in Freedom of Religion.

Glad to see you posting again, Glitter.

So true!

You like that word "bigot."

No, it is not targeted at Muslim Americans; it is targeted against the placement of a mosque. The reasons have to do with Islam being the reason for existence of radical Islam. And 9/11 has to do with the existence of radical Islam, in my opinion. See the algebraic equivalence:

a) Radical Islam = Reason for 9/11

b) Peace loving Muslims = Mosque at Ground Zero

c) Radical Islam = Trophy mosque at Ground Zero

The conern, I believe, comes from the feeling that truly peace loving Muslims would understand that equation "c)" above may be what anti-mosque folk are concerned about, not equation "b)," even though it might be true. The reality of equation "c)" may "trump" equation "b)," in the eyes of those that lost loved ones on 9/11.

But, do not respond, please. We will not agree. You just do not seem to care about the emotions of 9/11 as a rationale for the mosque builders to voluntarily move the proposed mosque.

You have no idea how sad the evening of 9/11 was when all the local hospitals were ready to take in casualties, and no casualties came; they were all dead.

So, keep your post directed to others, please. I find your inability to relate to what I have been saying as a waste of time on my part. Nor, did you respond to my salient point that freedom of speech is also guaranteed in the First Amendment, and anyone calling anti-mosque folks bigots may just be trying to squelch free speech, using pejorative ad-hominems.

And, again, do we know if Muslims, that would use that mosque, have no concern for the feelings of the families that lost loved ones on 9/11, since few of the first responders were Muslim, but predominantly Christian. So, for political correctness, no one is allowed to question whether the lack of empathy from the Muslim future mosque goers reflects a lack of concern for Christian families. So, this is not bigotry, but it might be a poor advertisement for Islam!

Did the U.S. get involved in Iraq and Afghanistan in the name of Christianity? I was hoping they got involved in the name of Judaism. I think neither faith can claim the involvement in the Middle East by the U.S. Gee, and I would have thought that this could have ended the stereotype of the "timid" Jew!