July 30th, 2010
05:25 PM ET
The Anti-Defamation League this week announced its opposition to a proposed mosque and community center at Ground Zero - a decision that is already provoking anger. On Friday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) asked the ADL to retract its Wednesday statement:
"It is shocking that a group claiming to seek 'justice and fair treatment for all' would side with those engaged in one of the most egregious Islamophobic smear campaigns in recent memory," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. "We ask the ADL to reconsider and retract this ill-considered and divisive statement. With its shameful statement, the ADL is exploiting and fueling the rising level of anti-Islam sentiment in our society."
A proposal to build a mosque near the site of Ground Zero, where the World Trade Center's twin towers were destroyed by Islamist hijackers on September 11, 2001, has triggered debates for the past two months.
Critics said building a mosque near Ground Zero would insult the victims of 9/11.
Supporters, like CNN Belief Blog contributor Stephen Prothero, said accepting the mosque would demonstrate religious tolerance and send a message that the U.S. is not at war with Islam.
Here's Anti-Defamation League's rationale:
The controversy which has emerged regarding the building of an Islamic Center at this location is counterproductive to the healing process. Therefore, under these unique circumstances, we believe the City of New York would be better served if an alternative location could be found.
At the same time, the ADL condemned those who opposed the proposed mosque out of religious bigotry:
Proponents of the Islamic Center may have every right to build at this site, and may even have chosen the site to send a positive message about Islam. The bigotry some have expressed in attacking them is unfair, and wrong. But ultimately this is not a question of rights, but a question of what is right. In our judgment, building an Islamic Center in the shadow of the World Trade Center will cause some victims more pain – unnecessarily – and that is not right.
Plum Line blogger Greg Sargent criticized the decision:
That's just amazing. This is basically a concession that some of the opposition to the mosque is grounded in bigotry, and that those arguing that the mosque builders harbor ill intent are misguided. Yet ADL is opposing the construction of the mosque anyway, on the grounds that it will cause 9/11 victims unnecessary "pain...
On this one, you're either with the bigots or you're against them. And ADL has in effect sided with them.
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Dan Gilgoff and Eric Marrapodi, with daily contributions from CNN's worldwide newsgathering team and frequent posts from religion scholar and author Stephen Prothero.
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Mr. Blake: Just to be clear, it is not "a proposed mosque and community center at Ground Zero" but rather (and I know you must be aware of this) it is to be located several blocks away from "Ground Zero." Perhaps you could accurately state that fact. Thank you.
Also....perhaps you could remove the photo above which is Ground Zero...but is not the location of the planned community center. Thanks again!
And one more time "in order to bring order" to all this debate:
Recognizing the flaws in the foundations of Islam, Judaism and Christianity by the "bowers", "kneelers" and "pew peasants" will quickly converge these religions into some simple rules of life. No clerics, imams, rabbis and priests needed or desired. It will be called the great "Pink Slipping" of religion and its leaders.
As per James Somerville, philosophy professor emeritus from Xavier University, Cincinnati,
"The faith of the vast majority of believers (and non-believers) depends upon where they were born and when."
It is beyond disturbing that such religious violence and hatred continues unabated due to radomness of birth. Maybe just maybe if this fact would be published on the first page of every newspaper every day, that we would finally realize the significant stupidity of it all.
Perfect.
Have you read either of Professor Somerville's books?
If you did, you'd notice that you're taking his quote grossly out of context.
Bleheheh,
For some reason, the blog moderators continue to block my innocuous reponse to you. I believe it is because I referenced the work of John Hic-k, using a dash this time to get around their list of forbidden words. John Hic-k is not a hic–k.
John Hic-k is the person Somerville quotes when he says: ""The faith of the vast majority of believers (and non-believers) depends upon where they were born and when."
More about John Hic-k, Professor John Harwood Hic-k (born Yorkshire, England, 1922)[1] is a philosopher of religion and theologian. In philosophical theology, he has made contributions in the areas of theodicy, eschatology, and Christology, and in the philosophy of religion he has contributed to the areas of epistemology of religion and religious pluralism.[2]
Google Somerville theosophical to get his interesting ideas about the convergence of religions. I would give the net address but again said blog moderators for some strange reason do not allow this. Note: there is more than one Somerville.
Boiling down any of the major faith traditions down to its most basic moral components (the basis of the modern idea of the "secular"), is the exact opposite of what is/will happen (9/11, rising of the religious right, et al). Liberal Christians might buy into this stripping of the religion of the magic/superstition/what have you but it's not going to catch on.
Yes, I believe that journalists fuel this fire by perpetuating the myth of a "mosque at Ground Zero". It is not one. Journalists who go for the cheap shot to get attention are as guilty as the ADF and other hate-mongers fueling American sentiment against Islam. Shame on you! You know better. Behave.
Objecting to the mosque (which is two blocks away from Ground Zero) would be like objecting to the construction of a Catholic church near a school because a handful of priests are child molesters. I like ADL, but they're wrong on this one.
"...objecting to the construction of a Catholic church near a school because a handful of priests are child molesters."
Now that's an interesting idea.
The really odd part is, I would support such a ban. LOL
I've read the koran- they make it quite clear- convert or die, the world will be Muslim. Treating Islam like any other religion is a huge mistake- it should be isolated. There is a reason you don't see Christian churchers in Saudia Arabia and most other majority Muslim countries- it's illegal. Political correctness is our doom.
I wholly agree. In order to combat the tyranny of those who preach religious intolerance in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere, we need to emulate that intolerance.
Freedom is not political correctness. It applies to everyone or it is worthless.
@snakedart
You said, "I wholly agree. In order to combat the tyranny of those who preach religious intolerance in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere, we need to emulate that intolerance.
Freedom is not political correctness. It applies to everyone or it is worthless."
Our freedoms are what set us apart from these other countries. They do not have the freedom you talk about.
We are a nation of laws. If the Muslims or the Jews or the Christians or the Moonies break the law, then the INDIVIDUALS responsible should be punished.
You are all taliking religion..Has anyone noticed the CNN calendar on this page? monday is not the first day of the week...who is pulling this over your eyes?? Is this to appear as if sunday is the seventh day? The Sabbath
Religious tolerance is an oxymoron. All religions believe that they are God's chosen, and most exclude those whose beliefs are not closely in line with theirs. It's the ultimate and most widespread form of bigotry on Earth.
Unfortunately, most human beings are quivering idiots who live in fear, and require the "guidance" of joyless, impotent, twisted old men to conduct their hopeless lives. But since humanity is not likely to get much smarter in the near future, it makes perfect sense to exterminate any religious rival who threatens you. Live and let die.
Hardly...most religions through history don't even have a "High God" type figure.
Christopher Hitchens once said, "Religion poisons everything". I have found nothing to contradict this statement.
Maybe white American men shouldn't be allowed to own houses in Oklahoma City?
I'm not following this one... some reference to McVeigh I'm guessing.
Why don't you put effort to let Arab Saudi Govt to allow non-moslem entering Mekkah and Medinah....we do not talk about building something there....
I wish the Jewish faithful and The Muslim faithful keep their hate in the middle east. It all started there any way.
The ADL needs to mind their own business.
@alstair
I agree. Quite frankly, the Jews have caused the U.S. tons of trouble in the Middle East. I am not surprised the ADL would try to stir up problems between the Muslims and the Jews in this country.
David Johnson, the ADL is wrong on this issue but there is no need to talk about "The Jews" as if any one organization represented the diverse communities and individual Jewish people. Generalizations like that are unhelpful. I will assume the ADL has good intentions and simply needs to be educated on what this mosque will really means for New Yorkers like myself and the victims ... many of whom were Muslim. (People forget.)
You all who don't live in New York City should mind your own business. The fuss over the Cordoba Center, which is neither a mosque nor being built at ground zero, is uncalled for. This is a local issue, not a national one, so please respectfully stay out.
Oh yeah? At 9/11 this was NOT a local matter, sooo, Omar, zip up !
No, but 9/11 was 9 years ago. This is about a building being built today. Unless you live in New York City, it isn't any of your business what's built where, and using 9/11 as a reason to get involved and oppose it says more about you than it does anyone else.
I don't understand why these muslims pushes for building that freaking mosque in that particular and only that one place ? I mean, this makes so many people angry (regardless of whomever thinks whatever!). If there is absolutely no reason behind this planned location for this mosque, which I'm willing to confidently bet my life on it there is (again, regardless of whomever thinks whatever, I have my strong reasons and experience with muslims to know them better), then why don't they just build it somewhere else?!? Isn't their insistance on having it build there a reason enough to make one wonder? Why is it so obviously important for them to have it their way regardless of whatever and whomever? I don't trust them. Europe is waking up and so will be soon America.
9/11 was an attack that most Americans experienced in a way unlike any other. It remains an open wound, especially but not only for those who lost friends and loved ones. As such, Ground Zero is a place of mourning, much like Auschwitz is, just more recent. The attack was carried out in the name of Islam. Even if most Muslims do not share the aims or feelings of the perpetrators of this crime, they do share a religion and its basic tenets. I believe that they owe us sensitivity for our grief. That's basically what IDL's statement pointed out.
A few years ago pope John Paul II called off the building of a convent near the entrance to Auschwitz, out of sensitivity to the grief of Jews who lost an entire world there. Thus he paved a way for reconciliation. It would be good for the Muslim leaders to follow his example. Two blocks away .... it's just too close... there are many other places... even if Islam can be trusted....
Auschwitz is not in Lower Manhattan.
The development of the Ground Zero site is tacky enough, but it will move forward with office buildings, and a memorial and museum. That was settled by the city planning commission years ago.
The mosque is TWO BLOCKS away. That is hardly "at" the site of the former World Trade Center. It's two Manhattan blocks away. There are many, many buildings within two blocks of the site. Why should a Muslim community center not be there as well?
ADL has become a hate group (to demonize those deemed as enemies by Israel)
@Samantha
I agree. I have not one anti-semetic bone in my body, but the Muslims haven't done anything to the Jews in this country. I don't want the ADL or the Republicans to cause problems.
Bleheheh,
"The faith of the vast majority of believers (and non-believers) depends upon where they were born and when."- is actually a quote from John Hick.
Professor John Harwood Hick (born Yorkshire, England, 1922)[1] is a philosopher of religion and theologian. In philosophical theology, he has made contributions in the areas of theodicy, eschatology, and Christology, and in the philosophy of religion he has contributed to the areas of epistemology of religion and religious pluralism.
Professor Somerville's thoughts about the convergence of the major religions can be found at theosophical.org/publications/questmagazine/mayjune2000/exclusivism/index.php and theosophical.org/publications/questmagazine/julyaugust2000/somerville/index.php
and
...I still think you're grossly misconstruing what Somerville (and Hick for that matter) were trying to accomplish by cherry-picking quotes to a hard form of secularism...
why can't organized religions work well for some and not for others?
*cherry-picking quotes to support*
Blehehel,
Obviously, you did not read the references noted. When you do, get back to us.
pluralism does not equal secularism.
I was in the North tower when it was struck on September 11, 2001. I find the objections of a few hurt and confused people to other Americans building a house of worship in our free country to be disgusting. These objections, which clearly come exclusively from a place of fear, need to be called out as unreasonable and un-American.
Keep in mind that many of the objections are not coming from genuinely hurt and confused Americans. Most of the objections are coming from not people who were in New York City that day, or lost someone close, but from people who merely watched what happened on TV from thousands of miles away. Sure, those people were shocked when it happened, and they have every right to be angry at the terrorists that perpetrated the attack, as it was an attack on America at large, but they're not suffering because of the attacks. Many of the out-of-state-non-suffering opponents who will eventually visit New York will probably not even notice the Cordoba Center, just the same as they don't notice 90% of the other buildings they walk past, and there are many of the same that will simply never take the trip. How is it they feel they have any right to speak for those who did suffer, those who were most directly affected? Those people are more than capable of speaking for themselves, as you did.
It is sad that ADL can only support the causes that benefit their side of a story. Again and again they are showing that they don't treat other groups the same way they treat their own. Their thinking is becoming more and more tribal. This opposition to the ground zero mosque and their lack of recognition of Armenian genocide clearly shows their agenda.
The ADL is totally wrong for its statement. They claim it will cause pain to the victims. Contrary to popular belief, there were more than 19 Muslims who died in the towers. More than a 100 victims were Muslims, some worked as nurses, waiters, janitors, bankers and so forth. Don't they have a say? If you take the most conservative estimate of Fox News which on its website has 30 Muslim names that died in the towers. Other liberal estimates say more than 100. So why all this fuss, please cherish your ideals of religious freedom because there will come a day when they will take yours but in order to prevent that you must take a stand for all religions. And why all this comparison to Saudi Arabia, Is Saudi Arabia the worlds model for religious freedom?
Moe, they are comparing us to Saudi Arabia to show exactly how lenient and understanding the vast majority of Americans are. In Saudi Arabia, any religion other than Islam is illegal, therefore one would never see any Christian church or Pagan alter or (never in eternity) Jewish synagogue.
Also, there appears to be a much larger number of non-Muslims who perished on September 11 than Muslims. Consider too, that the attack was purpetrated with the intent to kill non-Muslims. That would be why the thoughts of those other than Muslims are going to (or perhaps ought to) carry more weight.
Isn't there also some question as to whether or not the funding is coming from Saudi Arabia? Or, am I confused?
The Republicans are trying their hardest, to make the Muslims a campaign issue. They are racist. Look at Arizona and what the Republicans are doing to the Hispanics there. Rand Paul, the Tea Party Grand Wizard, would allow private business to refuse service to non-whites.
Don't fall for this. Register to vote, and vote these Repubican bigots out of office.
I don't think turning it into a political issue, and a partisan one at that, is helpful. Anyone who is incompetent should be voted out of office, and those that get elected should establish term limits immediately so they themselves do not become incompetent. What someone says about the Cordoba Center should not be a litmus test of whether they should remain in office, as it's possible to pander to voters no matter which side you take. Throw out anyone who's incompetent or a bigot.
Of course, this means New Yorkers like me have some serious house cleaning to do...
The Republicans may have been the ones that made it a political issue, but both sides are using their stance on the matter to pander to voters, even though there are much more pressing issues to be dealt with. In my own state, that means passing a budget, which was due all the way back in April. I don't need those fools in Albany talking about anything else right now. I hope they're all thrown out, Democrats and Republicans alike.
How can we as Americans be expected to show so much understanding to islam, and continue to have our feelings and culture stomped upon? How is it unreasonable for us as a country to say no! No, we will not bow to this absured request! Could you imagine a nazi party office opening just down the road from the holocaust memorial? Or could you imagine a kkk rally headquarters being opened down the road from an MLK memorial? This is a blatant attempt to make ground zero a holy spot, and do not be decieved by any other statement! Where are the muslims protesting these terrorist attacks? Nowhere, they simply celebrate them and we are expected to be quite and let them bask in the deaths of Americans? We must not except this!
STFU Paul!!!
The Muslims aren't stomping on American culture, you Christians did centuries ago when the racial extermination and forceful conversions of the real Americans began.
Don't be calling yourself a real American, as only people who have Native blood are eligible to be called such. We are all immigrants , so if you want to complain , how about you shun Christianity and adopt local Native American beliefs or go home to Europe ?
Why shouldn't we support the building of this? We should be vouchibg for tolerance and acceptance of other people and their beliefs. What you are saying is that they should surrender their beliefs and convert?
We need to stop ripping open the 9/11 family's wounds by the adverse disgusting displays of a perverted holiday dedicated to torturing the victims. Let them go in peace. This would be the best
Comparing Muslims to the KKK isn't making your case legit. In fact it makes you look even more bigoted. Muslims were protesting the attacks as much as anyone else so leave them alone already.
The ADA are a bunch of Islamophobic bastards that should be deported to Israel with every other bigot in this damn nation like you. The founding fathers would be ashamed of you people . They wanted a nation for everybody not just White Christians . Get over yourself!
A better view:
Google "Muslims bible burning" to get all said references about Muslims burning the bible but note that once the "bowers" of Islam see how they have been conned by their imams and ayatollahs for the last 1400 years, they too will burn their copies of the koran i.e. The angel Gabriel never existed so there is no way that the warmongering, womanizing, and hallucinating Mohammed got any koranic passages from some god. Tis the great angelic con game. Joe Smith was the latest to pull it off with his "angelic" Moroni. The significant stupidity and gullibility of it all!!!!!
The enemy is among us and we just allow them to do whatever in the name of freedom. STOP letting these assholes into the country for a start.They come piling in and then want to kill us. Religion is the root of all evil not money!!!!!!! The muslims are a hateful bunch and should be dealt with as other hatemongers have been in the past Hitler had the right idea he just chose the wrong sect.
Which Sect should he have chosen, the one you disagree with?
History might help: Historically, the cult of islam based on tribal battles over land, camels, water, and even women in deserts of Saudi Arabia. Then, it developed an attitude of ‘revengeful mindset’ shaping the pattern of hate-wars to which the adjective holy added later. The frequency of those violent relations formed the basis of this ism obsessed by numbers vs. each individual life. Maybe one reason why their clerical books (including. Qoran) filled with the stories of heartless interactions among main leaders, awful betrayals, raping underage teens, brutalities (e.g. brother killing brother), negative thoughts abt others, ending with a superstitious promise. Well, the center for the start of all these? mosques.Mosque's not NOT a community center; nor a house of meditation & peace. This more seems as an attack rather than anything else.
Maria, you know you just describe Judaism and Christianity as well. The same labels lay at the feet of all three, and why shouldn't it, they all started from the same group of people, it's a large highly dysfunctional family.
Here's an idea whereby the Muslims can show the world their true peace-loving aspirations. There was a Greek Orthodox Church that was destroyed in the 9/11 attacks. Why not let the Muslims contribute the funds that would have been expended in the Mosque/Cultural Center project to an Orthodox Christian Cathedral/Cultural Center? This would show the lie of those who slander Islam as anti-Christian.
I dislike the ADL immensely but I really hate the inflammatory, extremist idea of a mosque within 100 miles of ground zero. Muslims could not have picked a worse way rub American noses into their dirty, arrogant, violent ideology. I support the ADL completely in this. If through the idiocy of the NYC commissioners it is started, I predict it will fall in short order in the same manner as the WTC. Good riddance to the worst piece of crap idea ever dreamed up by man. The muslims are deliberately stirring the pot. Let them all go sit atop a minaret and perish from the face of the earth in this manner.
I'm a Muslim and am fed up of people attacking Islam because a few, yes a few out of 1.5billion choose to use my religion for their extremist ideologies. I live in the UK and never thought America would become such an Islamophobic society. Just replace the words "Islam,Muslim,Mosque" with "Jews,Blacks,Synagogue,Church" in the sensationalist media headlines and maybe you'll get an idea. I believe Hitler was Christian right? Are all Bishops and Priests pedophiles? Oh by the way there is a church a stones throw from my grandfathers home in Lahore,Pakistan so please do your research before labelling us all as intolerant.
I understand you are fed up and I cannot blame you there. I have Muslim friends that are both American and from other Islamic countries. I do think that perhaps a Mosque should be built further away. It does feel like the 'powers that be' are wanting to rub Americans (particularly New Yorkers) noses into what was a terrible attack and something that is still sensitive considering it is barely 9 years ago. Perhaps if they withdraw the plans, find another spot much further away, that would do much to appease Americans. It is respect, nothing more, nothing less. Would you not wish to receive the same treatment if extremist Christians had bombed an important landmark in Lahore (where many people died needlessly) and then decided to build a Church over/near it?
dsdsdsds
All praises due to Allah , the Merciful , the Wise , the Omnipotent and the Powerful.
I would like to say a few words about this long debate , first of all today Islam religion reached every in the world from east to west , north to south. From Fidji to Newzealand Masjids ( Mosques) are built with the permission of Almighty ALLAH.
WHATEVER EFFORT YOU SPEND , HOW MUCH YOU TALK , ALLAH PROTECTS AND GLORIFY HIS RELIGION.
IT IS NOT UNDER YOUR CONTROL , THEREFORE PLEASE DONT WASTE YOUR TIME.
Perhaps if the Muslim community was to call this building by a name other than that of the city in Spain that the Muslims conqured, it might not be so offensive.
It's as though the Muslims are spitting in the face of America and telling us that they will conquer us too.
Hey CNN get some cojones. Leave this video up and stop deleting it.
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/06/pat-condell-on-ground-zero-mosque-is-it-possible-to-be-astonished-but-not-surprised.html
What are you afraid of? Let people decide for themselves.