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 The site of the proposed Islamic center near ground zero in Lower Manhattan.
September 19th, 2011
10:28 AM ET
Islamic center near ground zero touts first big event as center’s grand openingBy Heather M. Higgins,CNN New York (CNN) - Earlier this month, signs of life returned to what was once a gaping pit, frozen in sadness and rife with emotion, as part of the memorial at the World Trade Center opened on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. This week, another grand opening – this one steeped in controversy – is scheduled for just a few blocks away from the site where the Twin Towers once stood. The first part of Park51, the planned Lower Manhattan Islamic community center that sparked an international controversy last year, is set to open Wednesday with an art exhibit that features photographs of children. “It is a huge step forward,” said Katerina Lucas, Park51’s chief of staff. “I hope it shows we are about inclusion, not exclusion.” The photography exhibit, Park51’s first big public event, comprises portraits of children from 169 countries who now live in New York City. The opening coincides with the United Nations’ International Day of Peace. When plans to construct the high-rise Islamic institution were unveiled last year, a heated debate erupted over whether it was insensitive to build it so close to the site attacked by Islamic extremists. Though the interfaith center’s leaders said the project was rooted in a spirit of cooperation and coexistence, it provoked vocal opposition from some families of 9/11 victims, politicians and others. The driving force behind much of this opposition was Pamela Geller, editor and publisher of a blog called Atlas Shrugs. Geller organized a protest of Park51 on the tenth anniversary of Sept. 11 and says she is appalled at the organization’s decision to highlight the photographs of children. “It is an obvious and cynical attempt to manipulate public opinion and divert attention away from the Islamic supremacist ties, shady financial dealings, and contradictory statements of the mosque organizers,” Geller said in an e-mail. But Park 51’s photography exhibit is a reminder that the project is quietly moving forward, despite rumors that it had been put on hold. With $70,000 raised in under two months via KickStarter.com, a funding platform for creative projects, the remodeled space at 51 Park Place will serve as a temporary community center until groundbreaking for the rest of the building. The project’s developers, led by Park51 Chairman Sharif El-Gamal, have hired a staff of six and continue to hold Muslim prayers at the space, just north of ground zero. But they are not speculating about a timeline for construction. In June, El-Gamal parted ways with Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the cleric who had been the public face of Park51, over a difference in vision. At a recent interfaith event honoring 9/11 families, Rauf said his vision to build an American-Muslim identity and enhance multi-faith dialogue hasn’t changed in 20 years. Even though Rauf isn’t associated with Park51 any longer, he continues to focus his energy on establishing a Muslim center in Chautauqua, New York, with the hope it can be replicated in the United States and around the world. Park51’s planners say they are committed to their original Lower Manhattan location. They are now seeking to raise $7 to $10 million in financing. “We have broken some ground, but there are still many hurdles,” Lucas said, pointing to fundraising as the biggest one. Lucas, who graduated from Harvard Divinity School in 2009, said the upcoming photography exhibition is about showcasing the diversity of New York City, which includes Muslims. “Islam is not about extremism,” she said. “We can have a meaningful dialogue across religions.” It’s a message shared by Danny Goldfield, the Brooklyn artist behind the exhibit. He got the idea for his children-focused series while driving from Los Angeles to New York in 2003, right after the war in Iraq started. “I met Danny Goldfield when Park51 was still a new idea. Danny told me about NYChildren and I said his photographs should be the first event at Park51," El-Gamal said in a statement. "I am proud to say the idea has been realized. Opening this incarnation of the community center is a fantastic accomplishment." Goldfield photographed children living in New York City’s five boroughs from countries as different as Japan and Zimbabwe and as far apart as Afghanistan and Argentina. While his pictures have been on display before, this is the first time he has shown them all at once. The exhibit will be open for approximately three months. Over 700 people have been invited to the opening and Lucas said that others are welcome, too. “I bring photos together on a wall the same way a space brings people together,” Goldfield said.
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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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God laughs at your religious centre from his mountain!
Mosque is 1 million times better than another bar.
There are millions of Jews and Christians whose first language is Arabic. Do you know what they call "God" in that language, they say "Allah" which is nothing more or less than the Arabic word for the one true God we all worship, each in our way. The principles of who and what he is are all the same in all three religions.
LOL! That's funny dude!
Krom still at it huh?!? Conan, go tell it on the mountain!
Geoffrery is now pontificating about other religions that he claims are just like Islam because they acknowledge "Allah" too. I NEVER heard that Jesus married 6 year old girls, or ordered people to cut the heads off of people who refused to convert. I HAVE heard his followers were told to bring the word of G*d to unbelievers; but Jesus' followers were instructed to shake the dust off their sandals & leave if the word went unheeded. Sounds like Geoffery's arguments are building a foundation on shifting sand to me... just sayin'.
The vile racist, ignorant and bigoted comments that I see in this thread really make me weep for my country. How can people say such horrible things about 2 billion persons who follow one of the worlds great religions? None of this bigotry or sly references to harming a religious structures are any more valid than saying the same thing about a church because of the KKK or Abortion clinic bombers or Timothy McVeigh. Every religion has its deviants but that it is false and contemptible to condemn everyone for what a few have done. Robert Spencer and Pam Geller are in the business of lying. The comments in their book are no more justified by a COMPLETE READING of the Quran than they would for the bible which also has seemingly violent passages.
Yeah!
But do the moderates in Islam ever protest, condemn, punish what 'their' extremists do?
Tim McVeigh was tried & executed promptly, and if I am not mistaken some of the others were also executed. The USA does NOT condone violence.
There is a system of FAIRNESS, law and justice here. That is why the Mosque is being 'allowed' to be built in the first place – whatever the general public might feel. Are churches allowed to be build in Saudi Arabia?
"Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. He was buried, He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. He appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve (Apostles). After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time. (I Corinthians chapter 15)
no , not jesus christ, but joshua... and here is some sources for my info being i found them only yesterday all over again after losing them...
http://askdrbrown.org/ask-dr-brown/35-ask-dr-brown/79-what-is-the-original-hebrew-name-for-jesus-and-is-it-true-that-the-name-jesus-greek-isssous-is-really-a-pagan-corruption-of-the-name-zeus
and then some more info just for kicks..
http://www.bede.org.uk/Josephus.htm
Now, would there be any problem if a Hindu or Buddhist temple were to be opened there?
Why not? Because by definition, these religions seek peace, and shun violence. And their adherents know how to live in peace and harmony with rest of the world.
A far cry from Islam.
Islam is not any different from the other religions that you mentioned. Do we condemn Christianity because of what Timothy McVeigh or Abortion Clinic bombers did? No. Your comments are just as stupid as condemning any religion for what a few fanatics did. Your ignorant opinions are vile and disgusting and an embarrassment to whatever religion you claim.
I agree, MarineDad05... Geoffrey, your writing style demonstrates a viciousness that is consistent with how Muslims respond to any comments about the cult of Islam. It seems that there is always a violent response, whether literary or physical, any time someone identifies the amount and level of violence that Muslims commit. It also seems to me that this is a historic aspect of this sick cult.
@Geoffrey
Citing some examples like Tim McVeigh or some abortion bombers do not make the rule. Its the numbers man, numbers.
You cite at the most 5 to 10 examples in recent history of extremism in the US. Now, compare that with what is happening in Afghanistan & Pakistan – just two countries. I am not including the Middle East, and atrocities in other countries by Islam terror groups from Beslan, Mongolia, to a swath of other countries.
Now, just think about it, which religion thinks of beheading people. Several were beheaded in Pakistan, a British woman NGO helping Afghanistan, in Iraq..etc. That is maybe a 14th Century barbaric practice.
It really doesn't matter what Islam or Christianity teach or taught centuries ago. What matters is what their adherents practice TODAY.
It's simple, most people in the world have arrived at the 21st Centrury, what about Islam?
You make that call, 'cause if I do, I'll be doing so a bigot (at least according to you).
When they "conquer" an area they put up a mosque in a sign of victory.
It shows such insensitivity and disrespect to the events that took place in this area. There is a time and a place for everything and this move on their part is neither.
Your name "Lady Bacon" is an insult to both Muslims and to Jews because we all do not eat Pigs. Don't tell me how "Viscous" I am.
Allow me to introduce myself. I am Jewish. I grew up 1.5 miles from Ground Zero in the neighborhood of Manhattan called "Chelsea". As a kid, I would walk down to the site where the towers were built and watched them go up. I have made several trips to Israel for business and pleasure. I also know many Muslims and count them among my closest friends.
Islam is not a cult and you will find no main line persons of religion who would agree with a single vile thing that you said. Islam is a religion of peace which, unlike we Jews, holds Jesus in the highest respect equal in stature to Moses and Mohammed.
Marine Dad ... what is happening in Iraq and Afghanistan in fact is that we have killed more Civilians than the insurgents. We have literally killed hundreds of times more civilians, especially in Iraq than died on 9/11.
Afghanistan and Pakistan are considered in the Muslim world to be rather off the faith because few in those countries are literate enough to read and don't speak Arabic. For this reason, they are easily manipulated by dishonest clerics, just as dishonest people here have manipulated you because of your functional illiteracy.
In Iraq the majority are Shia who are a completely different group of Islam from the Sunni who are the majority in the rest of the world. The people who attacked on 9/11 were all Sunni. There has been very few acts of terrorism by Shia.
For someone who is so hateful of a religion, you have no clue. Your ignorance and hatred could be a terrible liability for a team that works in those countries and comes in contact with the locals.
No one publicly cheered McVeigh's actions Geoffrey; not like Islam did in large crowds on 911. Faithful Muslims invaded a cathedral this year at Easter. They killed the priest at the alter plus scores of elderly worshipers, after the Imam publicly whipped up their religious fervor at the local mosque to cleanse the infidels. Look at these "faithful" Muslims. Now, tell me that they do not echo your own stated hatred of infidels unrestrained by American laws protecting freedom of religion. Bigot.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians chapter 2)
Muslims should read the Bible and trust Jesus alone as their Divine Savior in order to be saved. Muslims have no salvation as their filthy good deeds are useless to cover their bad deeds in Allah's sight. The Word of God says God accepts the faith in Jesus alone( the subsequent life becomes new in His Spirit) as righteousness.
Muslims do believe in Jesus as a Prophet equal in stature to Moses and Mohammed. Don't tell other people what they "Should" do especially when you are too ignorant to know the first principles of their religion.
God in the Bible tells mankind to trust in Jesus as the Divine Savior in order to be saved, not just as a Prophet.
@ Geoffery......
If you meant me... About the spelling. Should read up on American political history. I did not coin the word 'suciders'.....
As for being a bigot...oh well!
Ever hear the story of the new entrant to heaven? While touring through the place the entrant and their guide stumble upon a giant building with no doors & windows. After asking the guide what the structure was all about the reply came, "Oh, that's where all the Christians are, they think they're the only ones here."
@MarineDad, I have read very deeply about American History. You cannot even spell the word you refer to. Seriously, go back to high school and take a comparative religion course. You disgrace my country and the marines through your ignorance and your hate. You are a bigot because you choose to believe without cause or reason that 2 billion Muslim faithful are at all like the fanatics of that awful day. As for Suicide, Islam has the strongest injunctions against suicide of any other religion. They also have the strongest injunction against killing civilians. All Muslims but a very few twisted people believe the people who committed 9/11 will go to the deepest pits of Hell and stopped being Muslims the moment they formed the intent to commit their crime.
For more insight on this issue and Islam read novel -- king of Bat'ha
By time they get all the approvals needed from NYCDOB it will be 2020 and the controversy will be over
The approvals are in. They have everything they need to start construction. I personally am looking forward to completion of the Islamic center. I think it will be a wonderful addition to the diverse religious culture of NYC and so do most of the ministers, rabbis, priests and preachers of New York City.
Keep in mind whatever they build will have to be approved and permitted by the NYC Dept.of Buildings. That process takes years and is awful
That process has been going on for years and is complete. I am looking forward to the building and the opening of the Islamic Center as are most of the priests, rabbis, ministers, preachers and other religious leaders of the City along with the mayor and most of the City council. It will be a welcome addition to the religious life of the city, despite the bigots who post here.
The irony in all this is that most comments on here, regarding how we should blow up the building, or how all Muslim are evil, etc, are no better than the people they hate. You're just the same, but with a different skin color and a different name on your ideology. You vindicate all the things that radicals believe about us as a nation.
Hopefully, the following note will be posted outside the center's door:=====================>
What instigated the attack on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon? And what drives today's 24/7 mosque/imam-planned acts of terror and horror? The koran, Mohammed's book of death for all infidels and Muslim domination of the world by any means. Muslims must clean up this book removing said passages admitting that they are based on the Gabriel myth and therefore obviously the hallucinations and/or lies of Mohammed. Then we can talk about the safety and location of mosques and what is taught therein.
Until then, no male Muslim can be trusted anytime or anywhere..................................
But to be fair:
Recognizing the flaws, follies and frauds in the foundations of Islam, Judaism and Christianity, the "bowers", kneelers" and "pew peasants" are converging these religions into some simple rules of life. No koran, bible, clerics, nuns, monks, imams, evangelicals, ayatollahs, rabbis, professors of religion or priests needed or desired.
Ditto for houses of "worthless worship" aka mosques, churches, basilicas, cathedrals, cultural centers, temples and synagogues.
---------------------------------------------------–
New York City police force has zero tolerance for religious hate. That letter will last for two minutes and will lead to a full up police investigation. Your "Note" is filled with lies, ignorance and bigotry and is entirely not justified by any fact or by the conduct of the very significant, honest, hard working Muslim community of my city. There has been a Mosque on the other side of Ground zero for 20 years. Priests, ministers, rabbis, preachers, most of the city council all support the project as does the Collegiate Churches of NYC which is the oldest christian organization in the city.
thinking yourself wise,you have become a fool.
Another sign to post outside this "culture of hate" center:
Koranic/mosque driven acts of terror and horror continue: Please Read Before Entering This Building
The Muslim Conquest of India – 11th to 18th century
■"The likely death toll is somewhere between 2 million and 80 million. The geometric mean of those two limits is 12.7 million. "
and the 19 million killed in the Mideast Slave Trade 7C-19C by Muslims.
and more recently
1a) 179 killed in Mumbai/Bombay, 290 injured
1b) Assassination of Benazir Bhutto and Theo Van Gogh
2) 9/11, 3000 mostly US citizens, 1000’s injured
3) The 24/7 Sunni-Shiite centuries-old blood feud currently being carried out in Iraq, US troops killed in action, 3,480 and 928 in non combat roles. 102,522 – 112,049 Iraqi civilians killed as of 9/16/2011/, mostly due to suicide bombers, land mines and bombs of various types, http://www.iraqbodycount.org/ and http://www.defenselink.mil/news/casualty.pdf
4) Kenya- In Nairobi, about 212 people were killed and an estimated 4000 injured; in Dar es Salaam, the attack killed at least 11 and wounded 85.[2]
5) Bali-in 2002-killing 202 people, 164 of whom were foreign nationals, and 38 Indonesian citizens. A further 209 people were injured.
6) Bali in 2005- Twenty people were killed, and 129 people were injured by three bombers who killed themselves in the attacks.
7) Spain in 2004- killing 191 people and wounding 2,050.
8. UK in 2005- The bombings killed 52 commuters and the four radical Islamic suicide bombers, injured 700.
9) The execution of an eloping couple in Afghanistan on 04/15/2009 by the Taliban.
10) – Afghanistan: US troops 1,385 killed in action, 273 killed in non-combat situations as of 09/15/2011. Over 40,000 Afghan civilians killed due to the dark-age, koranic-driven Taliban acts of horror
11) The killing of 13 citizen soldiers at Ft. Hood by a follower of the koran.
12) 38 Russian citizens killed on March 29, 2010 by Muslim women suicide bombers.
13) The May 28, 2010 attack on a Islamic religious minority in Pakistan, which have left 98 dead,
14) Lockerbie is known internationally as the site where, on 21 December 1988, the wreckage of Pan Am Flight 103 crashed as a result of a terrorist bomb. In the United Kingdom the event is referred to as the Lockerbie disaster, the Lockerbie bombing, or simply Lockerbie. Eleven townspeople were killed in Sherwood Crescent, where the plane's wings and fuel tanks plummeted in a fiery explosion, destroying several houses and leaving a huge crater, with debris causing damage to a number of buildings nearby. The 270 fatalities (259 on the plane, 11 in Lockerbie) were citizens of 21 nations.
15 The daily suicide and/or roadside and/or mosque bombings in the terror world of Islam.
16) Bombs sent from Yemen by followers of the koran which fortunately were discovered before the bombs were detonated.
17) The killing of 58 Christians in a Catholic church in one of the latest acts of horror and terror in Iraq.
18) Moscow airport suicide bombing: 35 dead, 130 injured. January 25, 2011.
19) A Pakistani minister, who had said he was getting death threats because of his stance against the country's controversial blasphemy law, was shot and killed Wednesday, 3/2/2011
20) two American troops killed in Germany by a recently radicalized Muslim, 3/3/2011
21) the kidnapping and apparent killing of a follower of Zoraster in the dark world of Islamic Pakistan.
22) Shariatpur, Bangladesh (CNN 3/30/2011) - Hena Akhter's last words to her mother proclaimed her innocence. But it was too late to save the 14-year-old girl. Her fellow villagers in Bangladesh's Shariatpur district had already passed harsh judgment on her. Guilty, they said, of having an affair with a married man. The imam from the local mosque ordered the fatwa, or religious ruling, and the punishment: 101 lashes delivered swiftly, deliberately in public. Hena dropped after 70 and died a week later.
It is time for the CIA to blow up the building. Please wait until it is full though, and NO planes!!!
Meh, I'd much rather they target the Church of Scientology.
Neh, just march some swine and let some dogs "do their thing" on the property. That will make it "unholy" for the islamics. hehe
Quite the opposite. The CIA and the FBI have outstanding agents that are Muslims, decorated and brave men who serve their country. The NYC police force has an anti-terrorism unit that rivals that of many countries and also includes dedicated Muslim agents, many of whom work overseas in very dangerous conditions. Your ignorant, bigoted and childish comments are an embarrassment to this country and to decent people. You genuinely offend me.
Yeah, it's always smart to put salt into a wound. Good show.
The Islamic Center has no more to do with the 9/11 attack than a church has to do with that of Timothy McVeigh. You cannot see the Islamic Center from Ground Zero, even when all buildings are complete. There has been a Mosque there for 20 years. It takes 10 minutes to walk from one site to the other. A "Block" in NYC is a square mile. Now stop with your disgusting hatred and bigotry. It offends me, please don't come to visit NYC, it is my city and I don't want to see grotesque and thoughtless whiners such as you there.
Too bad Geoffery, he has a valid point. Pig blood spray at the property should do it. . .
Why a Muslim can not have four wives at time in USA ? This will be temptation to convert. Bonus easy divorce , no alimony and no child support. Any taker ?
Only if they also give the authority to beat your current wife until she agrees to the idea. In case you're wondering, that was sarcasm.
I suspect, this the 'hidden' reason many Muslim men have gone crazy. Four wives could make any sane man to crash a plane or make them 'suiciders' 🙂
Don't be stupid. You are a bigot who cannot spell, doesn't know what he is talking about and cannot compose a sentence. You are the face of bigotry.
@Geoffery – He was being facietious. Methinks you need to quit being so easily offended by everything. Are you an islamic, since you are SO EASILY offended??
islam is not about extremisim but extremisim is about islam.
Not really. Every religion has their extremists. Islam, Christianity, etc.
@ Daelda
While every religion may have their own extremists, Islam seem to lead the way. Further, Islam has the fewest moderates, or at least moderates who have the guts to talk sense to their extremists.
Salman Rushdie and a few others tried... and they had to lead a life hiding from fatwas.
Also, which other religious extremists use beheading, fatwas, sucide bombers, using young children to do their dirty work, and also murdering young children (remember Beslan).
It's no use really...even moderate Muslims are not willing to reason....all they have are excuses, and comparing what's wrong with Christianity or some other religion... what about your own?
MarineDad, again with the awful grammar and bad spelling. Obviously you know nothing at all about Islam or about the few fanatics who were responsible for 9/11. As with most bigots, you take the actions of a few as relevant to the entire group. That is not logical or real. It is no more thinking than your ridiculous comments are good English. I don't think that all Marines are blood thirsty murders who torture their prisoners or cut the ears off opponents in the battle field. Some Marines are deviants but most are brave. I don't think that you are one of the brave ones. You are merely a thug and that comes through in your righting. You are a disgrace to the corps and I genuinely mean that.
Islam is a religion of peace. This a political slogan created to get Muslim vote
New York will be subject of jokes. What New Yorker does when.....?
No it will not. The Islamic center is one of many religious centers of the city including many Mosques. Bigots such as you will be the subject of ridicule. Believe what you like but PLEASE do not visit NYC. It's a place of grace, intelligence and refinement and it is not for you.
in future, role will be reversed in NY. New Yorker will bomb New York. Most vitims would be Muslim. Homeland security will be chasing New Yorker to catch a terrorist.
New Yorker, don't you have enough ? How many more Muslim do you want ? Are Paki OK ? Paki will guarantee security of NY.
I have read many different things about Muslims and Islam, but without much experience concerning either. I have encountered a few Muslims in the workplace or in an eating establishment but that is about it, probably less than 20. I have to say in all honesty I did not like any of them and I came to that feeling before learning what they were. I have read about Islam, from Muslims, that it is a beautiful religion and I have seen their architecture and heard some of their music and agree that those two things are very beautiful, however, buildings and music do not a religion or people make. I see in the news about Islam, the oppression of women, intolerance of other religions, self perceived superiority over other religions and the people who practice them, archaic and inhumane punishments under law, fanaticism leading to suicide bombings of innocent people worldwide on an almost daily basis, death warrants issued by their religious leaders against writers, journalists, artists, comedians and naive youtube users. Where is the beauty? The beauty needs to emanate from the people and it is not happening that way.
My beloved George,
It was not Islam perfections that fits the beauty but it was because previous culture before Islam. This previous culture set peoples mind about peace, tolerance, beauty, art, and all good things.
When Islam came, it destroy all good thing. It destroy all previous culture to makes Islam is the last culture in that region. It wipe out and brainwash all culture.
So when you see Turkey, Indonesia, and Malaysia, you see that Islam hadn't been conquered previous civilization but the fact was previous civilization conquer Islam.
If Islam was so peace and good, why they afraid losing faith? why they afraid for USA, China, Russian, and all western doctrine.
In fact, Islam are afraid that their influence between their goat flocks will lost to sheep shepherd, Christian missionary.
This answer why they are so afraid with communist atheist China Russian and to Hindus India. Because only Christian and Buddha that will not fight their immoral act. Muslim are afraid for being killed by atheist.
EXACTLY!!!
Best stop watching the 'news' then!