And the opening date is slated for Sept. 11, 2011, the 10th anniversary of the day a hole was punched in that city. Mosque is a fine idea -- someplace else. Why there? If the Japanese decided to open a cultural center across from Pearl Harbor, that would be insensitive. True,'rights' are guaranteed by the Constitution but they are not unrestrained.For example,in the matter of freedom of speech,a person simply cannot step into a packed movie hall and scream " Fire",which will be violation of the same freedom,he is entitled to. My objection is --why near ground zero only. KJD
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/mosque_madness_at_ground_zero_OQ34EB0MWS0lXuAnQau5uL#ixzz0wYJK3BPE On Fri, Aug 13, 2010 at 11:14 PM, Ram Sarangapani <[email protected]> wrote: > The President did the right thing. The Constitution guarantees the rights to > build a place of worship on private land - whatever the religion. > > On a practical/political level, may be the President could have kept to the > sidelines. I would have been disappointed if he had not sided with the > mosque building. > > --Ram > > On Fri, Aug 13, 2010 at 10:35 PM, Dilip and Dil Deka > <[email protected]>wrote: > >> This and other actions of president Obama will cost him the 2012 reelection >> but >> he spoke from his heart and from his training as a constitutional lawyer. >> Now >> that the backers of the mosque have got recognition, the proper thing for >> them >> would be to give up the fight for the spot near ground zero if they want to >> see >> Obama reelected in 2012. >> The average American is not ready for the kind of vision that Obama has and >> I >> can predict you will not hear the end of political discussions on this for >> the >> next few weeks. >> My support to Obama on this does not mean I endorse him for 2012 - this is >> senator Deka speaking from Texas. :-) >> Obama backs mosque near ground zero >> * * AP – ** RETRANSMISSION TO CORRECT DATE OF ATTACK ** >> President Barack >> Obama hosts an iftar dinner, the meal … >> >> >> By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer Erica Werner, Associated Press >> Writer – >> 50 mins ago >> WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama on Friday forcefully endorsed allowing >> a >> mosque near ground zero, saying the country's founding principles demanded >> no >> less. >> "As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right >> to >> practice their religion as everyone else in this country," Obama said, >> weighing >> in for the first time on a controversy that has riven New York City and the >> nation. >> "That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center >> on >> private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and >> ordinances," he said. "This is America, and our commitment to religious >> freedom >> must be unshakable." >> Obama made the comments at an annual dinner in the White House State Dining >> Room >> celebrating the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. >> The White House had not previously taken a stand on the mosque, which would >> be >> part of a $100 million Islamic center two blocks from where nearly 3,000 >> people >> perished when hijacked jetliners slammed into the World Trade Center towers >> on >> Sept. 11, 2001. Press secretary Robert Gibbs had insisted it was a local >> matter. >> It was already much more than that, sparking debate around the country as >> top >> Republicans including Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich announced their >> opposition. >> So did the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish civil rights group. >> Obama elevated it to a presidential issue Friday without equivocation. >> While insisting that the place where the twin towers once stood was indeed >> "hallowed ground," Obama said that the proper way to honor it was to apply >> American values. >> "Our capacity to sho not merely tolerance, but respect towards those who >> are >> different from us — and that way of life, that quintessentially American >> creed, >> stands in stark contrast to the nihilism of those who attacked us on that >> September morning, and who continue to plot against us today," he said. >> Obama harkened back to earlier times when the building of synagogues or >> Catholic >> churches also met with opposition. "But time and again, the American people >> have >> demonstrated that we can work through these issues, and stay true to our >> core >> values and emerge stronger for it," he said. "So it must be and will be >> today." >> New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an independent who has been a strong >> supporter of the mosque, welcomed Obama's words as a "clarion defense of >> the >> freedom of religion." >> But some Republicans were quick to pounce. >> "President Obama is wrong," said Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y. "It is insensitive >> and >> uncaring for the Muslim community to build a mosque in the shadow of ground >> zero. While the Muslim community has the right to build the mosque they are >> abusing that right by needlessly offending so many people who have suffered >> so >> much." >> Entering the highly charged election-year debate, Obama surely knew that >> his >> words would not only make headlines but be heard by Muslims worldwide. The >> president has made it a point to reach out to the global Muslim community, >> and >> the over 100 guests at Friday's dinner included ambassadors and officials >> from >> numerous Muslim nations, including Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. Seated >> around >> candlelit tables, they listened closely as Obama spoke, then stood and >> applauded >> when the president finished his remarks. >> While his pronouncement concerning the mosque might find favor in the >> Muslim >> world, Obama's stance runs counter to the opinions of the majority of >> Americans, >> according to polls. A CNN/Opinion Research poll released this week found >> that >> nearly 70 percent of Americans opposed the mosque plan while just 29 >> percent >> approved. A number of Democratic politicians have shied away from the >> controversy. >> The group behind the $100 million project, the Cordoba Initiative, >> describes it >> as a Muslim-themed community center. Early plans call not only for prayer >> space >> but for a swimming pool, culinary school, art studios and other features. >> Developers envision it as a hub for interfaith interaction, as well as a >> place >> for Muslims to bridge some of their faith's own schisms. >> Opponents, including some Sept. 11 victims' relatives, see the prospect of >> a >> mosque so near the destroyed trade center as an insult to the memory of >> those >> killed by Islamic terrorists in the 2001 attacks. Some of the Sept. 11 >> victims' >> relatives, however, are in favor. >> The mosque has won approval from local planning boards but faces legal >> challenges, and New York's Conservative Party is planning a television ad >> campaign to pressure a New York City utility to use its power to block the >> project. >> _______________________________________________ >> assam mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >> > _______________________________________________ > assam mailing list > [email protected] > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org > _______________________________________________ assam mailing list [email protected] http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
