# Why are the media ignoring the protest against the ground zero mosque? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 8, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-ignoring-the-protest-against-the-ground-zero-mosque/542367 "2010-06-08T00:48:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-ignoring-the-protest-against-the-ground-zero-mosque/542367/41 "2010-06-08T12:25:19Z")
Challenging Valteron from the perspective of “the Christians were as bad or worse” is not really all that productive as he is quite willing to hate Christians, as well. He simply has a deeper hate for his view of Islam. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-ignoring-the-protest-against-the-ground-zero-mosque/542367/42 "2010-06-08T12:29:00Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > (That “Um. . . . . yes” is just _so_ 12 year old girl.) Let’s not go there in Great debates. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-ignoring-the-protest-against-the-ground-zero-mosque/542367/43 "2010-06-08T12:29:41Z")
> [@Valteron](#): > > In the first place I am a left-winger. But as someone who believes in gender equality, freedom of speech (including the right to draw cartoons), freedom of religion, separation of church and state, and as a gay person and an atheist myself, Islam scares the f\*\*\*\*g crap out of me. The reason I am abandoning the left is that THEY have sold me out in the name of political correctness. Tell a leftist that Islam is brutally, murderously homophobic and what do they tell you? You can’t hold them to the same standards, they need time to change, jaddda, jadda, jadda. Why do you think organizations like the English Defence League have an LGBT wing? > > In the second place, has it occurred to you that there is a difference between what Muslims know about Islam and what they are willing to tell you? Liberalism as a political orientation tends to eschew discrimination against groups based on their religion, color, sexual orientation and so on.\* As a result, those who wish to continue to practice discrimination against a particular group often decry liberal behavior as “political correctness” and try any variety of tactics to scare or shame others into supporting their bigoted discrimination. If there was some reason that you believed liberals would or should be supportive of discrimination against Islam, I would contend that you were never really liberal yourself, or you severely misunderstood what I take to be a key aspect of being a liberal. Thus, I don’t really feel, as a liberal myself, much of a loss at your departure. Go in peace and don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. \*Note to the reflexively stupidly oppositional amongst us, before you attempt to **Dio** -ssify me: I’m not claiming that no liberal ever holds a bigoted opinion or belief. I’m saying that if they are surprised that liberals aren’t generally supportive of their bigotry, they severely misunderstood something when they took the brochure. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-ignoring-the-protest-against-the-ground-zero-mosque/542367/44 "2010-06-08T12:46:17Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Let’s not go there in Great debates. > > [/Moderating] Sorry, I’ll try to keep the level of discourse more adult. ---
**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:** [June 8, 2010, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-ignoring-the-protest-against-the-ground-zero-mosque/542367/45 "2010-06-08T13:03:52Z")
Have you ever noticed that the name “Muslims” can be divided into “Mu” (Moo), which is a cow noise made derisively at fat people, and “slims”, referring to thin people. Clearly Islam is a religion which values thinness and hates overweight people. And which country is known for its overweight population? That’s right - America. Muslims want to destroy America for its fatness. I have proven this. WAKE UP SHEEPLE! ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-ignoring-the-protest-against-the-ground-zero-mosque/542367/46 "2010-06-08T13:14:58Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Hmmm, no. Building a mosque is not a first amendment issue, it’s a zoning and approvals issue. Which _is_ subject to the political process. I bet if someone wanted to build a Catholic church on that location, it wouldn’t even be political. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-ignoring-the-protest-against-the-ground-zero-mosque/542367/47 "2010-06-08T13:25:33Z")
> [@Valteron](#): > > If you will read back, it was assumed that I am a right-winger. Anyone who expresses alarm about the spread of this anti-democratic, intolerant and brutal ideology of world conquest that is Islam is automatically hammered with the title of “racist” (even though Islam is not a race) and “right-winger” or “fascist”, even though the fascistic behaviour is clearly a Muslim trait. Actually, I’ve read every word of this thread, as I do any thread that I post to, and one thing that is quite apparent is that you are the sole person throwing around the terms “racist” and “fascist” here. Another thing that is noticeable is that you seem to be arguing something quite different from what you claimed as the subject of this thread. I remind you that you claimed to want to debate whether the media were paying enough attention to a protest against a planned mosque in New York City. Since then, however, it very much seems seems that you have ignored your own premise in favor of generalized polemic against all muslims. If all you want to do is rant about the evils of Islam, just say so; it will save us all a lot of otherwise wasted time. Just so we’re clear, what is it you want to debate? ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-ignoring-the-protest-against-the-ground-zero-mosque/542367/48 "2010-06-08T13:38:15Z")
> [@Valteron](#): > > But the Left does not tell me that Bob Jones University or Christian Fundies cannot be held to the same western standard of toleranmce, now do they? And the ‘left’ does not have a good word to say for Fundie Islam either. Wanna provide some cites for your straw-manning? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-ignoring-the-protest-against-the-ground-zero-mosque/542367/49 "2010-06-08T14:31:42Z")
It’s pretty early in the whole process of setting up this center, and that may be dampening media attention. (Although as other posters pointed out, the press hasn’t ignored this.) The Cordoba Initiative already owns the building and does not need any kind of permits for a zoning change, and from what I can tell they are not close to starting construction because they’ll have to raise plenty of money. So this place will not be built any time soon. The stupidity will probably increase when they start construction and the opening date approaches, assuming they get that far. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Call_Me_Shirley)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-ignoring-the-protest-against-the-ground-zero-mosque/542367/50 "2010-06-08T14:34:54Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > Personally I’m surprised we’re even having a discussion about this in America. Well, thanks to these types of jackasses we’re now having to reopen debate on the 1964 civil rights act, so I’m really not that surprised. ---
**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:** [June 8, 2010, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-ignoring-the-protest-against-the-ground-zero-mosque/542367/51 "2010-06-08T14:36:15Z")
By the way, the **Community Board** made up entirely of people who **live in that community** voted to approve the mosque/community center, 29 to 1. [http://www.nyc.gov/html/mancb1/downloads/pdf/Resolutions/10-05-25.pdf](http://www.nyc.gov/html/mancb1/downloads/pdf/Resolutions/10-05-25.pdf) Strangely, actual residents of the area around the WTC don’t fear the magnetic pull of Islam’s public swimming pool and culinary school, as much as some other people. I mean, we all know anyone can get converted to radical Islam just by eating a good falafel. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-ignoring-the-protest-against-the-ground-zero-mosque/542367/52 "2010-06-08T14:49:58Z")
Well, the topic has made it to [Fark.com](http://Fark.com), from a Salon story. So there’s that for media penetration: > **[News: People protesting the mosque near ground zero verbally attack two...](https://www.fark.com/comments/5382982/News-People-protesting-mosque-near-ground-zero-verbally-attack-two-Egyptian-men-Fark-Who-turn-out-to-be-Christians-who-were-also-protesting)** > > News: People protesting the mosque near ground zero verbally attack two Egyptian men. Fark: Who turn out to be Christians who were also protesting ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-ignoring-the-protest-against-the-ground-zero-mosque/542367/53 "2010-06-08T14:54:19Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > By the way, the **Community Board** made up entirely of people who **live in that community** voted to approve the mosque/community center, 29 to 1. > [http://www.nyc.gov/html/mancb1/downloads/pdf/Resolutions/10-05-25.pdf](http://www.nyc.gov/html/mancb1/downloads/pdf/Resolutions/10-05-25.pdf) > > Strangely, actual residents of the area around the WTC don’t fear the magnetic pull of Islam’s public swimming pool and culinary school, as much as some other people. I mean, we all know anyone can get converted to radical Islam just by eating a good falafel. Appropriated outrage. Because something tragic happened somewhere, people who live and work elsewhere somehow feel like they’re entitled to somehow approve what goes on around that site. I notice that there was at least one 9/11 relative at this protest. Does that relative live in the neighborhood? Does that relative even live in Manhattan? Does the fact that his relative died in the 9/11 attack somehow give him the right to tell the people who actually _live_ in that neighborhood what they can and cannot do? And what about people protesting about this mosque who don’t even live in New York STATE? That nasty blogger whose name I can’t remember who was on Joy Behar a month ago about this, for example. I believe she lives in California, but she’s all over these folks like they’re trying to build that mosque in her backyard. How about all the offenderati who don’t actually live in the neighborhood (or in Manhattan, perhaps) shut the hell up? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-ignoring-the-protest-against-the-ground-zero-mosque/542367/54 "2010-06-08T15:12:57Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > By the way, the **Community Board** made up entirely of people who **live in that community** voted to approve the mosque/community center, 29 to 1. > [http://www.nyc.gov/html/mancb1/downloads/pdf/Resolutions/10-05-25.pdf](http://www.nyc.gov/html/mancb1/downloads/pdf/Resolutions/10-05-25.pdf) Just for the sake of being thorough, I’ll note that this approval is not required for the project. But you’re right, of course, that most people in New York City just don’t give a shit about stuff like this. If we got worked up about everything that was within two blocks of something historic, we’d never get anything done and nothing would ever get built. > [@jayjay](#): > > Because something tragic happened somewhere, people who live and work elsewhere somehow feel like they’re entitled to somehow approve what goes on around that site. Right. Seriously, the protesters here need to get a life. I expect people with a connection to the events to be upset about things like this - although the ones who do this kind of NIMBY crap always get more attention than the ones who don’t protest everything or who don’t make a spectacle of themselves at every opportunity - but they don’t get veto power over everything that happens in downtown Manhattan. I can understand that they have a little input over what happens on the WTC site, but this is not on the site. It’s nearby. And New Yorkers are perfectly capable of getting outraged, and do not need other people get upset on their behalf. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-ignoring-the-protest-against-the-ground-zero-mosque/542367/55 "2010-06-08T16:27:35Z")
If I’m not mistaken, I believe that Cordoba is also the source of fine Corinthian leather. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-ignoring-the-protest-against-the-ground-zero-mosque/542367/56 "2010-06-08T16:31:25Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > If I’m not mistaken, I believe that Cordoba is also the source of fine Corinthian leather. I have no idea how it’s possible to do a Ricardo Montalban impression in print with standard orthography, but in my mind, you just did. Congratulations! (Although I think that should be “rich Corinthian leather”.) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-ignoring-the-protest-against-the-ground-zero-mosque/542367/57 "2010-06-08T16:37:01Z")
Hmmm. Making leather out of the rich. No. That would be going too far. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-ignoring-the-protest-against-the-ground-zero-mosque/542367/58 "2010-06-08T16:57:42Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I expect people with a connection to the events to be upset about things like this Er, why? Why should somebody who suffered a personal tragedy as a consequence of 9/11 be upset that a liberal Muslim group advocating for interfaith understanding, multi-cultural dialogue, social and political liberalization of Islamic societies, and women’s rights in Islamic countries is planning to build a mosque and community center near the 9/11 site? I would think such a person would be especially glad to see an Islamic organization actively repudiating fundamentalist hatred and oppression, and reaching out to other faiths and cultures. If the group were a militant Wahhabi extremist organization formed for propagating anti-American sentiments, I can see why not only 9/11 victims but everybody else too would be repulsed by their actions. Even then, I would have to say that if they were the legal owners of the property and they were not actually violating any laws, then they’d be legally entitled to go ahead and build their mosque and nobody would have any business trying to stop them, no matter how unenthusiastic we feel about them. But **this** group, the Cordoba Initiative? What has anybody in the world actually got against this group, other than a bunch of bizarre conspiracy theories about secret Muslim code names and the fact that they’re Muslim in the first place? Are the Cordoba Initiative folks actually somewhat dodgy or suspect in verifiable ways that I haven’t heard about, or is this protest phenomenon just a pack of run-of-the-mill Islamophobes finding an excuse for a freakout? This protest seems more or less on a par with picketing a Quaker meeting house because you’re mad about the excesses and abuses of the Inquisition. “What the hell, they’re all Christians, right? Down with the murdering oppressors!!” “Friend, are thee sure that thee has the right address?” ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-ignoring-the-protest-against-the-ground-zero-mosque/542367/59 "2010-06-08T17:07:28Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Westboro Baptist Church does not get national coverage for every one of their “rallies,” so why should these nuts get national coverage? If they had actually prompted a riot or had actually collected a crowd, I guess I could see it Yeah – if they want attention, let them earn it, by gum! [QUOTE=Unca Cecil] [I’m disappointed. Whatever happened to going to the U.S. embassy and setting yourself on fire?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/841/how-do-i-go-about-renouncing-my-u-s-citizenship) [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-ignoring-the-protest-against-the-ground-zero-mosque/542367/60 "2010-06-08T18:12:16Z")
I think the OP’s beef should be with the teabaggers and Arizona lawmakers. Those are the people who used up the mainstream media’s allotment for crazy assholes. It’s not as if you can stick a newscamera in front of every group of reactionary dickheads; we’d never see anything else! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-ignoring-the-protest-against-the-ground-zero-mosque/542367.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-media-ignoring-the-protest-against-the-ground-zero-mosque/542367.md?page=4)