Park51

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(Arguments against the "mosque": I know, I know...)
(Batshit ignorance)
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The entire furore over the "Ground Zero Mosque" would be a mini-storm in a teacup, and a fairly boring one at that, if it wasn't for the misinformation and rumors about it. Among the crazier rumors spread are:
 
The entire furore over the "Ground Zero Mosque" would be a mini-storm in a teacup, and a fairly boring one at that, if it wasn't for the misinformation and rumors about it. Among the crazier rumors spread are:
  
*That the center is, in fact, a mosque.
+
*That the center is, in fact, a mosque.{{fact}}
*That it would be built on Ground Zero itself.
+
*That it would be built on Ground Zero itself.{{fact}}
*That the mosque would be ''taller'' than the World Trade Center.
+
*That the mosque would be ''taller'' than the World Trade Center.{{fact}}
*That Barack Obama will open it personally.
+
*That Barack Obama will open it personally.{{fact}}
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==

Revision as of 21:29, 1 September 2010

Wingnut.jpg
Wingnut.jpg
Warning: Extreme Wingnuttery
This topic may or may not be bullshit, and is either nonsensical or idiotic.
May damage the mind and lead to drinking of the Kool-Aid.

Park51, previously Cordoba House, is a proposed Islamic community center in New York City. In most media outlets, the building has been nicknamed the "Ground Zero Mosque." The term is interesting because the center is neither a mosque (although it will contain a prayer room) nor actually at "Ground Zero", the place of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, being a good few minutes' walk away and completely out of sight from the area. The butthurt and misinformation from mostly right-wing media outlets is arguably some of the most deranged and delusional shit-stirring of the last decade.

Contents

Arguments against the "mosque"

In general, the objection to the community center, or "mosque", is because it was Islamic terrorists who destroyed the World Trade Center (silly conspiracies not withstanding) and it would be distasteful to turn the area into a center to promote Islam.[citation needed]

Objectors have noted that the former name of Park51, the Cordoba House, is a thinly veiled reference to the luxurious Chrysler Cordoba, which has been alleged to symbolize the upscale personal luxury that Muslims believe the 9/11 attackers now enjoy in heaven.[citation needed]

Why this is bullshit

The first and most obvious objection to the above arguments is that they fail to draw a line between a knot of extremists led by Osama bin Laden and millions of Muslims who not only are disinclined to blow things up, but are actually opposed to bin Laden, believe in freedom of religion, and think much better of America than many non-Muslim Americans. Of course, if the right-wingers keep up the mud-slinging, this bright outlook might be considerably dimmed; nothing alienates people more than being stereotyped and assigned collective guilt.

From the legal standpoint, another issue facing the community center's opponents is where they think it is acceptable to build such a center. Two blocks? Three blocks? Outside of Manhattan Island? This theoretical limit and distinction is never really discussed. This limit certainly can't stretch as far as the mosques already in New York, or even the Halal shop that's situated closer to the World Trade Center site than Park51 itself.

Additionally, it is highly ironic that people who call themselves "patriotic" Americans, and claim to believe in the rights secured by the U.S. Constitution, should be urging the government into a violation of the Free Exercise Clause of that constitution's First Amendment.

Batshit ignorance

The entire furore over the "Ground Zero Mosque" would be a mini-storm in a teacup, and a fairly boring one at that, if it wasn't for the misinformation and rumors about it. Among the crazier rumors spread are:

See also

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