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August 3rd, 2010
10:14 AM ET
Panel denies landmark status for Islamic center and mosque site near ground zeroFrom CNN Senior Correspondent Allan Chernoff in New York: New York City's Landmarks Preservation Commission denied landmark status Tuesday for a building at the site of a proposed Islamic center and mosque near ground zero. The commissioners voted unanimously against landmark status for 45-47 Park Place. It and an adjoining building are owned by real estate developer Soho Properties, which intends to build an Islamic center two blocks north of the former site of the World Trade Center. While the public vote was the focus of much debate about the planned Islamic center and mosque, the commission could not have prevented the developers from building such a community center. The commission, by designating the building a landmark, could only have prevented Soho Properties from demolishing the building or significantly altering its exterior. There is a prayer site in the building currently, so Muslims are peacefully praying in the building already. "We will continue going forward with the project. It's a project that will build bridges," said Oz Sultan, spokesman for the Cordoba Initiative, the organization behind the planned center. It says the group is "committed to promoting positive interaction between the Muslim world and the West." Cordoba opposed landmark status for the five-story building because it would like to build a taller, modern building. "It's not minarets," said Sultan, who described a mock-up of the proposed center as consistent with the latest architecture found in New York City. New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and other city leaders support the Islamic center. Opponents, including former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, have argued against a mosque being so close to the scene of the nation's worst terrorist attack. "Peace-seeking Muslims, pls understand, Ground Zero mosque is UNNECESSARY provocation; it stabs hearts. Pls reject it in interest of healing," Palin said last month on her Twitter account. The Anti-Defamation League, an organization that battles anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry, is asking that the Islamic center and mosque be built farther away from ground zero in consideration of families who lost loved ones during the September 11, 2001, attacks. "Building an Islamic Center in the shadow of the World Trade Center will cause some victims more pain - unnecessarily - and that is not right," the organization said in a written statement. The Landmarks Preservation Commission pointed out prior to its decision that it would have nothing to do with the planned use of the structure. "The purpose of tomorrow's vote is to decide whether the building has a special character or special historical or aesthetic interest or value as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of New York City, New York state or the nation," commission spokeswoman Elisabeth de Bourbon said Monday. Most recently the home of a Burlington Coat Factory retailer, 45-47 Park Place was completed in 1858. The Landmarks Commission described it as "a prominent example of the store and loft structures that dominated the dry goods warehouse districts of Lower Manhattan" during the era. soundoff (1,819 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 Next »
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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 Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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Let's not forget Andrew Joseph Stack III.
I find it interesting that comments opposing the mosque keep saying that it would be "a slap in the face of Americans" and that it would "hurt the people who lost loved ones in 9/11".
Whats interesting is that you automatically put any Muslim in some subgroup as if they are not American, or less American than you. Because they are muslim?
Also you say that it would be a slap in the face to those who lost loved ones in the 9/11 terrorist attack, you are assuming that these people who would be going to a church only blocks away from ground zero, didn't lose anyone on 9/11.
These are American citizens who happen to be Muslim, they lost people in the attack just like any other NY'er. They are not somehow less American or immune to the tradgety that was 9/11 simply because they are Muslim.
Open your eyes, remove the hatred from your heart. Living as a bigot is a sad exsistense.
The situation is being clouded by feelings about 9/11 and Islam. Building it in that location may be in bad taste but this group has the legal right to build a community center.
Americans should start a fund to buy a mosque in Afghanistan and turn it into a super Walmart. Now that would be funny!
Maybe some Mullahs paid a lot of moula for the site! I oppose it so close to the site of Ground Zero. Are we building churches in Iraq, Afghanisan, or any other Muslim country we have put our foot in? No. We are respectful of their culture and feelings. The Muslim community is using our laws against us. I have no problem with Muslims who support America and our ways, but I have yet to see any outreach among the community for a "United States." We are having a similar problem in my community. We Americans feel no outreach by the Muslim Community, and not a trickle of a voice during the aftermath of 9/11. Not one. Silence speaks volumes.
Finished! Thsi country is going to Dogs. This is the last straw that will break the camels back. The Arizona law was thrown out and now we allow terrorists to build a mosque next to ground zero and to demolish an important american landmark. If americans do not get their act together and vote these politicians out of office in a few years America will be a third world country and also an islamic nation where there will be no freedoms. This will happene thanks to the illegals, hispanics, muslims and also third world people who come here and want their own culture to dominate here. This would never have happeend in the good old days like 40 years ago. WAKE UP AMERICA before it is too late.
Finally, the USA got it right. This is a start of a beautiful relationship. Now, you the most ignorant ones will get a chance to understand Islam at its finest. Instead of listening to a bigoted Sara Palin and her rhetoric, Chrsitianity and some of its rhetoric (KKK,or any other white supremist groups)
Don't be too happy. We have a way of Americanizing everything. Hehe... I can just see it now, a mosque with the golden arches hanging on the front of it. The Qu'ran with "sponsored by AT&T" printed on the front. Islam meet capitalism American style!
Where will the "Mission Accomplished" banner hang?
Our war is not with the Muslim religion.
Don't forget to put the "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" banner over the front of the mosque.
nowhere because they are not done yet
If anybody believes these muslims have peaceful intentions, I have some waterfront property I would like to sell you, its in the middle of the Gobi Desert. Allowing these people to build their monument to terrorism is a disgrace to America!!! We have no backbone when it comes to telling foreigners "NO!" We will pay for this travesty. This mosque will be a center for terrorist activities!!! Has anybody looked into where they are getting their financing for this building? If they are paying in cash, has anybody checked into seeing where the money is coming from? Once again America has put natural Americans on the back burner in favor of foreigners!!!!!
put a casino there. will solve a lot of problems
God has no religion- Mahatma Gandhi
THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!! First off, the Koran teaches hate (to kill the infidels) while the Bible teaches love (love your enemies). Don't look at the followers but what they're following!! And enough with the Crusades - the reason for the Crusades was to SAVE THE HOLY LAND FROM THE MUSLIMS! Yeah, them again. They are out to take over the world and sometimes WAR IS JUSTIFIED. AND THIS IS WAR!!!
If you think the Christians and Muslims are strange, read about David Icke and his belief that alien lizard people from the 4th dimension are controlling our every action. Now here is the really disturbing part... "He has lectured in 25 countries, his books have been translated into eight languages, his website gets 600,000 hits a week, and his lecture tours attract thousands." Point is, humans are prone to believing some super crazy isht.
What I cant understand is what kind of American company would even agree to build this pile of crap?
This is super awesome! Cant wait for the Taliban training camp to open as well..... America, the land of tolerance. my kid gets booted from school at age ten for drawing a picture of a gun and this stuff passes with flying colors... ultra insensitive! I feel everyone has a place in this world, but this is absolutely the most insensitive place for this. C'mon
m so sick of all the ignorant and narrow minded people making saudi arabia the only example of a muslim country. Your arguments are so weak. Egypt is a muslim country four times the population of saudi arabia that has some of the most beautiful churches. Jordan is another example. Morocco Is a muslim country that has a decent jewish population has more synagogues that Israel itself. By the way can vatican city allow mosques and synagogues be built there?
You know, people, there are already Muslims using the building as a prayer space. UH-OH! They're already there!! HA HA HA! That means even if they make NO altereations to the building, its already being USED as a mosque. Get mad all you want. Let your fear turn you ugly, but this is happening. Take a breath and DEAL WITH IT! Muslims are just people.
Let them build it, let them worship. I'm sure McVeigh thought of himself as a Christian doing the Lord's work. We however all know he was just a murderous nut. Every religion has some like that. 1.2 billion normal Muslims vs a few hundred Muslim kooks. Tolerate the religion but keep an eye on the crazies.
IF THEIR RELIGION WAS A CARING, LOVING, RESPECTFULL AND UNDERSTANDING RELIGION THEY WOULD RESPECT AND UNDERSTAND THE GREAT PAIN AND INJUSTICE DONE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND...
BACK OFF...RESPECT AND QUITE TRYING TO BE FORCEFULL AT GETTING THEIR OWN WAY TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS FOR ISLAM AND A RELIGIOUS MANIPULATING LIE THAT CREATES THE VERY PROBLEM THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT.
IF YOU DON'T LIKE OR WANT TO ABIDE BY OUR RULES AND LAWS AND DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WE WANT...GO BACK TO YOUR OWN COUNTRY WHERE THINGS ARE MUCH BETTER THAN AMERICA.
IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT WE WANT GO BACK TO YOUR OWN COUNTRY...WE DIDN'T FORCE YOU WITH THREATS OF SUICIDE PLANES CRASHING INTO YOUR COUNTRY TO GET WHAT WE WANT.
YOU DON'T LIKE OUR COUNTRY AND OUR RULES AND WHAT WE WANT...
GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM...
AND QUIT CAUSING TROUBLE ALL THE TIME...MUSLIMS KNOW THIS IS A SORE SPOT AND CONTINUE TO POKE AMERICANS IN THE EYE WITH A SHARP STICK TO SHOW THEIR OWN PEOPLE WHAT THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IN AMERICA.
SLAPPING AMERICANS IN THE FACE SEEMS TO BE A BADGE OF HONOR TO THE MUSLIM PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY CONTINUE TO ANTAGONISE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
I'm sure Native Americans could tell all people who killed and slaughtered their people for hundreds of years to go back where they came from too...
I'm sure Native Americans wish they could tell all people who killed and slaughtered their people for hundreds of years to go back where they came from too...
Sorry Dee they're 400 years too late