Developer: No plans to move Islamic prayer center

[sinkingfeeling]

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39415928/ns/today-today_people/

The developer of a proposed Islamic community center that would be located within a few blocks of the Lower Manhattan site of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks said Wednesday that there are “no plans for moving” it despite the firestorm of opposition that has arisen.

This has been very unexpected. It’s been an eye-opener to see how my country, the United States, views my religion, Islam,” Sharif El-Gamal, chairman of Manhattan-based real estate company Soho Properties, told Matt Lauer live on TODAY Wednesday, referring to vehement opposition to what opponents to the community center have called the “ground zero mosque.” “It’s a very humbling moment and a very sad moment for me personally.”

El-Gamal denied reports that there are discussions under way to move the proposed site to 30 Cliff Street, about seven blocks away. “There are no discussions about moving this project,” he declared.

“This has been an eye-opener,” El-Gamal reiterated. Referring to his Muslim faith, he added: “We are peace-loving Americans. Fear makes people irrational, and our identity has been hijacked by the extremists.”

[The Northerner]

1. GOOD! Freedom of religion and private-property rights must always prevail over bigotry

[bokchoy19]

2. Thank goodness

I don't think middle America understands the diverse racial makeup of New York City

[closeupready]

3. Good! I have been a New Yorker for over 14 years. Please stay right where you are!

I am not offended at all. :hi:

[emulatorloo]

4. Funny how the "GROUND ZERO MOSQUE" distraction seems to have died down.

What is the current one? Obama is a Kenyan Anti-Colonialist Zombie? That one seems gone too.

[dog_lovin_dem]

9. I noticed the

story of the "mosque" began fading after September 11th.

[Scurrilous]

5. Good.

:thumbsup:

[damntexdem]

6. Good, don't give in to bullies.

If you do, they'll just push you harder.

[thereismore]

7. Good. I sure would not want to move. Why? nt

[Karenina]

8. GOOD!

So many of these "so sensitive" Americans have NO CLUE about Manhattan dynamics. The south side of 103rd street is ok; don't walk on the north side. The train emerges on 98th St. On the south side are Park Avenue doormen and on the north side it's slum time. 2 blocks is at least across the border into the next state! :rofl:

They are the same ones who had NOTHING but FEAR and LOATHING for NYC (although they'd never been there) before "their national trauma." To them a simple "get bent" is in order. Kiss my :kick:

NYC ALSO has its fair share of redneck white supremacists who have retained a "traditional" control over blue collar jobs for decades. They're somewhat a rainbow at this point, having opened up a bit. However, I pity the black fool who works undercover in the NYPD. ;-)

They were those on the streets THREATENING one of their own. Boyfriend was REALLY SMART about dodging media access after having been accosted at a demonstration for being brown by HIS OWN UNION BROTHERS. He said, "I WORK with these guys." Anyone else remember that?

How does it feel to be a "problem?" Having integrated my elementary school over 50 years ago, my experiences inform my opinions. So do the experiences of "others" who are really just us...

http://moustafabayoumi.com/aboutthebook.html

[4lbs]

10. Good! If anyone watched "60 Minutes" this past week, they would have realized that

the 'Ground Zero Mosque' has been in full effect and attendance for over a year now. Hundreds of Muslims already pray at this GZM daily.

The whole hullabaloo was over the all-inclusive, for all religions and races, Community Center, of which the 'prayer room' / 'mosque' is only about 5 percent of the space.

Oh, and that "60 Minutes" program showed the prayer room at the Pentagon, where they said Muslims use it much more often than Christians or the Jewish.

Hmmm... the Pentagon, which was also hit on 9/11, and where hundreds of people died, is already tolerant of Muslims and the Islamic faith.

Maybe the idiotic people vehemently opposing this can finally get a clue and go away, redirecting their anger towards the Republicans in Congress for really doing things that damage America.

[tinymontgomery]

12. God I hate looking at those faces.

They are really ugly contortions.

[JuniperLea]

11. Good! We need it to replace the one blown to smithereens on 9/11...

You know, the one that used to be on the 17th floor of WTC 2, NYC.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/11/nyregion/11religion.html

[KittyWampus]

13. After the Election in November the Republican shit-stirrers will let it go for a while

Until they need to start another round of fear-mongering.