Wednesday, August 18, 2010

A Mosque Grows in Manhattan

I did some digging on this one. As it turns out the proposed site is three blocks (better part of a mile) away from the WTC pad. In a city like New York, Chicago, L.A. that might as well be in the next state ... or the other side of the world. As best as I can tell it is private land.

The way the GOP is carping about this proposed site, you'd think the proposed Mosque was on the WTC pad (Ground Zero) and sanctioned by the local city, and state authorities. The way the Republicans are chatting this up, it is as if the Port Authority is inviting the Islamic community to build a Mosque in the alcove of the new structure planed for the site. That is not the case.

Since it is on private land, the and we do still have the First Amendment in tact then the Islamic Muslims (read their history, please) can do what they please.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
As we know from the 14th Amendment, which has also come under attack by the Republicans of late, applies herein that the state of New York cannot and should not be involved in the erection of any religious institutional establish that is on private land ... unless, of course, the state is sanctioning the established site by using public money, or public land for the building.

On a personal level, as you know, I have little use for any of the recognized institutional religions.

4 comments:

  1. Perhaps you can look into why the Greek Orthodox church hasn't been given the permits needed to REBUILD the church that was destroyed in the event. Yet the mosque has received total approval in less than a year.

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  2. Apples and oranges, it, the Mosque, is not on the same pad.

    I would also suggest that if the rebuilding of the Greek Orthodox Church if of such a concern that the GOP rise up in protest that they are not being allowed to rebuild. And not this nonsense about the Mosque which only plays to the innate bigotry of the lowest common denominator of the human condition.

    Once again, the GOP is not showing what it is in favor of only what it is against. Or is it that in all honesty they would rather neither religious institution be anywhere near that site?

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  3. Cliff, you miss the point. This isn't about the GOP.It is about people getting things done WITHOUT the government being involved. It is about a church that was destroyed in the 911 attack wanting to rebuild and to my knowledge it also wasn't on the pad not being given permission to do so.

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  4. Clif, maybe I am naive, but ultimately we are the government.

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