# Mosque to be built two blocks from Ground Zero **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 14, 2010, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosque-to-be-built-two-blocks-from-ground-zero/539432 "2010-05-14T14:36:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosque-to-be-built-two-blocks-from-ground-zero/539432/241 "2010-08-12T02:51:32Z")
Thought some of those still in this thread might get a chuckle from [this cartoon](http://www.balloon-juice.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/mosquemadness.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosque-to-be-built-two-blocks-from-ground-zero/539432/242 "2010-08-12T03:59:51Z")
> [@jaxbus4000](#): > > Just another item that will further divide the country and shows how brainwashed people have become. To me, it’s a no brainer, and we should not allow them to build it there. But again, most have allowed “political correctness” to cloud their thinking. I don’t see a lot of political correctness here. If people were saying they should be allowed to build there because to do otherwise would offend them, that would be political correctness. To prevent them from building there despite them having their building permits and whatnot in order just to avoid offending you, that would be political correctness too. I have a hard time fathoming why the people who are offended by this think their opinions even matter. If they have the permits and the i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed then they can build there. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosque-to-be-built-two-blocks-from-ground-zero/539432/243 "2010-08-12T10:14:42Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > > [@jaxbus4000](#): > > > > Just another item that will further divide the country and shows how brainwashed people have become. To me, it’s a no brainer, and we should not allow them to build it there. But again, most have allowed “political correctness” to cloud their thinking. > > Ahh! “Political correctness,” the meaningless phrase that is trotted out when one wishes to indicate that one wants to say nasty things, but does not actually wish to be held accountable for the hatred or illogic that one would display in such statements. It’s an important distinction: When someone wants to prevent you from saying or doing something which offends them, it’s “political correctness”. When you want to prevent them from saying or doing something which offends you, it’s a “no brainer”. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosque-to-be-built-two-blocks-from-ground-zero/539432/244 "2010-08-12T15:48:58Z")
It is 2 blocks away. It was a Burlington Coat factory until it closed 9 years ago. What could be more sacred than an empty Burlington Coat Factory? I completely understand the holiness of a retail shrine in America. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosque-to-be-built-two-blocks-from-ground-zero/539432/245 "2010-08-12T16:47:33Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > It’s an important distinction: > > When someone wants to prevent you from saying or doing something which offends them, it’s “political correctness”. > > When you want to prevent them from saying or doing something which offends you, it’s a “no brainer”. It’s one of those irregular verbs - I’m opinionated, you’re not politically correct, he’s xenophobic, they’re racist :p. ---
**Author:** ![Anduril](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@Anduril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anduril)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosque-to-be-built-two-blocks-from-ground-zero/539432/246 "2010-08-12T21:52:04Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I don’t see a lot of fascist traits among the terrorists who claim to be Muslim. Is there ANY doubt that they ARE muslim? Or is this your way of saying that they are not following the tenets of the “real Islam”? FYI, their actions have absolutely solid scriptural support in the Quran and the hadiths. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosque-to-be-built-two-blocks-from-ground-zero/539432/247 "2010-08-13T10:25:08Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > > [@Gyrate](#): > > > > It’s an important distinction: > > > > When someone wants to prevent you from saying or doing something which offends them, it’s “political correctness”. > > > > When you want to prevent them from saying or doing something which offends you, it’s a “no brainer”. > > It’s one of those irregular verbs - I’m opinionated, you’re not politically correct, he’s xenophobic, they’re racist :p. I believe current conjugational preference is “I’m telling it like it is.” ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@Captain\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosque-to-be-built-two-blocks-from-ground-zero/539432/248 "2010-08-13T10:45:13Z")
I personally don’t care and actually applaud the Mosque. Why not? The USA prides itself on freedom of religion. Islam is a religion. If they buy the property and it is zoned for this, go build it. Are we going to blame one billion Muslims for 9-11? Personally, if we see the true evidence, the USA government and the Mossad knew this was going to happen and probably orchestrated the damn thing. But, oh no. It’s the Muslims, it’s the Arabs, those people are all EVILO. They kill their wives and eat their babies. The Ameriocan press has spread more lies and deceptions upon these people, not to mention the government policy of invading their countries, and raping and killing their innocents in the streets. Why is everyone so patriotic about the United States? The government sucks, there are 20% unemployment, crime and drugs are rampant. I HATE OUR GOVERNMENT BUT I LOVE MY COUNTRY! The government is the country, moron. A country itself is nothing but some arbitrary borders over a landscape that was conquered over time. That’s it. The flag is nothing but a piece of colorful fabric. MY GRANDFATHER DIED IN WWII FOR THAT FLAG! He died in WWII over a piece of cloth? What a moron. Muslims, build your beautiful mosque. Those people protesting you are just a bunch of dried up old hags and men in dresses. Fuck em. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosque-to-be-built-two-blocks-from-ground-zero/539432/249 "2010-08-13T11:19:57Z")
> [@Anduril](#): > > > [@BobLibDem](#): > > > > I don’t see a lot of fascist traits among the terrorists who claim to be Muslim. > > Is there ANY doubt that they ARE muslim? Or is this your way of saying that they are not following the tenets of the “real Islam”? FYI, their actions have absolutely solid scriptural support in the Quran and the hadiths. Cite for mass murder in the Quran, please. The abortion clinic murderer professed to be Christian, too. Didn’t make him one. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosque-to-be-built-two-blocks-from-ground-zero/539432/250 "2010-08-13T12:36:30Z")
**Captain Midnight** ’s last post there started out well, but after the first line took a right turn at Albuquerque and drove off a cliff. Very odd. > [@BobLibDem](#): > > The abortion clinic murderer professed to be Christian, too. Didn’t make him one. Besides, the Old Testament is all about killing babies. It’s a bit harder to dash a fetus against a stone but we must make allowances for modern technological advances. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosque-to-be-built-two-blocks-from-ground-zero/539432/251 "2010-08-13T12:39:47Z")
Men in dresses? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosque-to-be-built-two-blocks-from-ground-zero/539432/252 "2010-08-13T18:13:43Z")
> [@Captain\_Midnight](#): > > Why is everyone so patriotic about the United States? I don’t think it’s “everyone.” Mostly, I think it’s just Americans. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosque-to-be-built-two-blocks-from-ground-zero/539432/253 "2010-08-14T01:25:02Z")
\*\*Captain Midnight, \*\*you have provided an interesting rant. Unfortunately, rant belong in The BBQ Pit, not in Great Debates. Please dial it back qute a bit and stick to addressing the issues in the OP, otherwise restrict your comments to the Pit. **[/Modding]** ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosque-to-be-built-two-blocks-from-ground-zero/539432/254 "2010-08-14T12:19:07Z")
I haven’t read my way through all the pages of this thread. My opinion is that the mosque should go ahead and no obstructions be put in the way of its construction. The people who were responsible for 9/11 are in no way representative of Muslims as a whole, anymore then the American whacko who celebrates U.S. servicemen being killed is representative of Christianity or people in the West. We are fighting for, amongst other things religious tolerance. Intolerance makes you as bad as any Taliban. ---
**Author:** ![qpw3141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/6bbea6/32.png) [@qpw3141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qpw3141)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosque-to-be-built-two-blocks-from-ground-zero/539432/255 "2010-08-14T12:35:16Z")
Banning a mosque because of 9-11 would just mean that the terrorists have won yet another round. Every single thing they have caused America to do to the detriment of Americans, be it less freedom, more state surveillance, or relinquishing the tenet that all religions are equal under the law is a victory for those that wish America ill. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaptics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Sinaptics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaptics)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosque-to-be-built-two-blocks-from-ground-zero/539432/256 "2010-08-14T13:01:49Z")
And if some misguided Christians blows up the mosque, can we decree that no churches can be built near it? ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosque-to-be-built-two-blocks-from-ground-zero/539432/257 "2010-08-14T18:07:52Z")
[Obama defends right to build mosque near 9/11 site](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10973459). [Link](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZOIBEEvbO0) to video of Obama talking about the mosque. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosque-to-be-built-two-blocks-from-ground-zero/539432/258 "2010-08-14T18:31:59Z")
[New York City’s Mayor Bloomberg on the mosque](http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/html/2010b/pr337-10.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1) \*Whatever you may think of the proposed mosque and community center, lost in the heat of the debate has been a basic question: Should government attempt to deny private citizens the right to build a house of worship on private property based on their particular religion? That may happen in other countries, but we should never allow it to happen here. \* ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosque-to-be-built-two-blocks-from-ground-zero/539432/259 "2010-08-14T21:29:42Z")
> [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](#): > > [Obama defends right to build mosque near 9/11 site](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10973459). [Link](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZOIBEEvbO0) to video of Obama talking about the mosque. Since the proposed building is unpopular around the country, he’s already had to back off this by saying he was speaking about the group’s right do what they want with the property and not specifically endorsing the planned community center. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosque-to-be-built-two-blocks-from-ground-zero/539432/260 "2010-08-14T21:49:45Z")
I don’t think he is backing off; his original statement was framed in terms of religious rights than an endorsement of the mosque itself. TPM has a good [post](http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/08/pouring_gas_on_the_fire.php?ref=fpblg)on this.In any case it was an excellent statement and what a contrast it offers to the stupidity, bigotry and small-mindedness coming from Republican leaders who have truly plumbed new depths. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosque-to-be-built-two-blocks-from-ground-zero/539432.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosque-to-be-built-two-blocks-from-ground-zero/539432.md?page=14)