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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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I'm muslim, and I want to say that those bas tards who flew those planes into the twin towers, killing so many innocent, helpless people, are nothing but barbaric satans! I will never identify them as muslims, because they're acts immediately made them "kafirs"-non-beleivers. 9/11 was absolutely horrid and heartbreaking, and I myself as an american-muslim incurred some extreme hatred towards these bearded ****** who claim they are in JIhad and killing themselves and blackeing the name of my religion. Please people, understand that we american muslims search to belong. There are so many beautiful churches, synagogues, temples, and other places of worship. Yes there are plenty, but for the community of lower manhattan we also need this. It'll bring some peace, hopefully, to the surrounding environment. I'm sure the muslim community have no intention of mocking with the potential mosque. We are with you in the fight against these idiots, please consider a little at least...
Ok, let's face it, this isn't science, it's morality.. and therefore we must base our judgement on morality alone. Ask yourself two questions.. one, would an Islamic country let you build a "St. Peter's Cathedral" in their country next to a site that Americans bombed? .. If so, I stand corrected.. build as you wish.. and question two, does the Islamic religion really teach those that do not believe in their religion, to be killed or executed? .. If so, how is this religion not a threat to humanity as a whole? I want a muslim to answer... ~
Angela,
When ordinary Muslims like yourself start getting rid of and challenging Imams who preach the killing of people and talking about demonizing non Muslims then I will have no fear of your religion. But for now the like you said the need to belong is so great in many people that they will join any religion that takes them in irregardless of agenda
I hear this argument from Muslims all the time. That the terrorists don't represent the religion. That killing is not the way of Islam. The fact is that every country on Earth that has acquired a significant Muslim following eventually ended up persecuting and killing non-Muslims. As an Egyptian Coptic Christian about the compassion of Muslims.
So, here's the deal: I'll believe you and support Islam in America as soon as there is a synagogue in downtown Riyad. When there are no more Muslims blowing themselves up. When women in Iran receive the same education as men. When Muslims quit killing non-Muslims all over the world. When there is a Coptic Christian in a significant government position in Egypt. THEN I'll believe you. Until then, your words are insignificant and meaningless.
I have the RIGHT to build a 10 foot fence around my back yard, but part of being a good neighbor is considering the views of those who may not enjoy my fence as much as I do.
Maybe when this mosque is built, it will be taken down like the towers were taken down. LONG LIVE THE U.S.
There goes the neighborhood, and my that I mean the area between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, between Canada and that dump to the south.
Allowing this terrorist center to be built will come back to bite us big time. I'm sure they're already working on the spin to claim yet another victory.
I'm sad that people (including our leaders) just don't get it. The muslims won't be happy until everyone is converted or dead.
To thoes who bomb and kill us, come on in and build whatever you want, plot your next bombing; to the illegals that want to turn the USA into north mexico, welcome. No, you don't have to speak english, embrace our way of life, or pay taxes.
Melting pot or melting pit? What we are allowing to happen is NOT what this country was founded opon and I'm sure the Founding Fathers are rolling over in their graves wondering how we would allow the greatest country in history to come to this.
So? Buy the building next to it and open a pork butcher, slaughterhouse and all. Sell hotdogs all over the place on the sidewalk, and rezone so strip clubs can open up all around it. They will either move or be very upset, depending upon how much money they have put into this. Personally I don't care where they build the thing as long as it isn't next door to me.
Maybe the crazy Rev. Phelps can build his kind of church across the street from this new Kentucky Fried Allah
It's a religion. Plain and simple. Should we say, "Let's not build a catholic church at such and such place because priests are molesters"? Don't judge all people in a religion based on what happened on 911. There are bad people in every religion. Those who are being judgmental are plain ignorant. I am not Muslim so don't go on a rant saying that I'm supporting a Mosque from being built because it's my religion. This is the USA. People should be allowed to practice their faith just like any other religion in this country. How can we deny this religion from building a mosque, but allow those who are Jewish, Catholic, etc. to erect a building so they can practice their faith?
Maybe Rev. Phelps can build a church across the street from this Allah-hut!
As a veteran of "peace keeping" in Beirut Lebanon in the 1980's, I have suffered loss from radical muslims. HOWEVER, as an American, I firmly believe in "freedom of religion" and feel these people should have the right to build a mosque where ever they choose. As a Christian I will try to show these people the same love that Jesus has shown to me.
This use of that building is outrageous. This is a provocation, and a spit in the face of all Americans who are furious about the 911 incident and the expensive and stupid war. We should not be spending ANY money on these "peaceful" Muslims. If they truly were peaceful, they would not have done this. Shame on Bloomberg and NYC for allowing it.
10 years without congressional funding for the emergency workers that have suffered illness and expenses due to the attack. The go ahead vote clearing the way for a Mosque to be built at Ground Zero. I was nowhere near this site at the time of the event. I remember it as if it was yesterday. I remember the people waving goodbye as they were freefalling. Choosing to suffer the fall as an alternative to being incinerated. I remember the people in the Middle East dancing in the streets in celebration. Still, I can't imagine the pain and suffering of the 911 Emergency Workers and families. Can you?
waaah! My magical father could beat up your magical father....
Seriously can we please listen to logic an reason and let religion be released from our bowels like the $h ! t that it is.
Want to build as mosque at ground zero? I dont care but i think your stupid for wanting to build anything for a fake magical man in the sky. Want to kill people over it? I hope you kill yourself and save future generation from your tainted, idiot genes. If christians actually followed Jesus's message of love and not a magical fairyman and a corrupt organization i might even have an ounce of respect for your religion (yeah yeah, there are good christians and muslims just not many).-But i dont because most are hypocrites. religion religion religion stupid stupid stupid. Grow up children, santa isnt real either.
Imam Feisal commented after 9/11 that everything that happened was due to US policies taking lives elsewhere. That Osama Bin Laden is made in the USA. The 9/11 attacks were not attacks against the governement, the were attacks against the people of the US. That being said, we are now allowing this man and his organization to build this trophy? We will reap what we sow!
Good luck "bridging the gap". Stubborn Americans have so much unnecessary pride in their own side of the gap, that even if there is a bridge, they will never cross it even just to see what is on the other side. America is supposed to be about religious freedom, and yet the stubborn right-wing mules somehow interpret that as "freedom of religion...unless it isn't a sect of Christianity".
There are Muslims in Manhattan, and they have every right to remain where they are and have a place of religious worship. Everyone who disagrees doesn't deserve to live in America.
waaah! My magical father could beat up your magical father....
Seriously can we please listen to logic an reason and let religion be released from our bowels like the Sh!t that it is.
Want to build as mosque at ground zero? I dont care but i think your stupid for wanting to build anything for a fake magical man in the sky. Want to kill people over it? I hope you kill yourself and save future generation from your tainted, idiot genes. If christians actually followed Jesus's message of love and not a magical fairyman and a corrupt organization i might even have an ounce of respect for your religion (yeah yeah, there are good christians and muslims just not many).-But i dont because most are hypocrites. religion religion religion stupid stupid stupid. Grow up children, santa isnt real either.
This is so typical of the terrorists....what next? A statue of a little boy in a bomb vest as a tribute to their fallen heroes outside the Mosque? Or how about a mural of 10 grown men raping and stoning a young girl as a cultural symbol? Awesome.
Well, then they shouldn't be surprised if some distraught American blows up their building, should they!!!
We are in a war with radical Islam and as such some common liberties need be suspended.
It sure does sound like Islam is building a victory monument in NYC.
After destroying enemy landmarks, Islam builds its own at those sites. Islam did this in Mecca and Medina and built the Dome of the Rock and its Al Aqsa mosque precisely on the site of the Jews' holy temple in Jerusalem.
The Imam of this center, Feisal Abdul Rauf, sounds like a typical Muslim fundamentalist who will not condemn the Hamas or Al Qaeda terror groups that deliberately target civilians and celebrate it when they kill them (he likely restrains himself from publicly praising them).
It is consistent with that for them to want to open the mosque on 9/11.
Fundamentalist Muslims also have a special lexicon used to mislead Westerners – like being opposed to the killing of "innocents", where they actually mean innocent Muslims; or they say they are opposed to "oppression", meaning they are opposed to the oppression of Jihadist Muslims who want to forcefully convert the world to Muslim theocracy.
Fundamentalist Islam is at war with the US and the West and its values of intellectual and civil freedom and democracy – and it actually takes advantage of those liberties to advance its Jihad "holy war" by using tax breaks for religions to erect edifices or get subsidies for large Muslim families that are used to sway Western democracies, and, yes, suing for the right even to build a fundamentalist mosque at Ground Zero.
If we take any longer to realize that this IS a war that we must fight, and that some liberties have to be suspended, it may become too late.
What is the point of insulting islam folks? Dont write @#$% about Islam please. Is writing nonsense about Islam give you pleasure? This is totally cheap and coward to write such a negative and insulting comments. If CNN allowed you to write comments, write them in a civillized manner...
That is nothing but a slap and spit in the face of the American people whether they recognize it or not....