"Ground Zero" "Mosque"
 

Is this the worst abuse of words to misrepresent something?

Worded to make it sound like a mosque were going to be built on the still-smoking remains of the WTC ... ridiculous.

Wikipedia has what appears to be a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park51]nice, balanced summary[/url] of the planned Islamic community center (i.e. it's neither at ground zero, nor a mosque) ... the only possible genuine issue I could see would be if major sources of funding proved to b e dubious, e.g. from extremist Wahhabi elements in Saudi Arabia or Al Qaeda-linked groups. (I've seen nothing to suggest this is the case).

Hey, if it's "insensitive" for Muslims to build such a community center near Ground Zero, why not take that to its logical conclusion: It's "insensitive" for any Muslim to even *be* anywhere near the WTC site ... or New York City, for that matter, since after all the WTC was "the symbol of New York City" or some such nonsense.

But this is exactly the kind of emotional-laden, phony-values-displaying, politics-of-distraction issue politicians - especially those on the right - are gonna be trampling all over each other to make hay from. Right-wing radio host Glenn Beck must be having a 24/7 perma-boner from "covering" the story.

[QUOTE=ewmayer;225961]

Hey, if it's "insensitive" for Muslims to build such a community center near Ground Zero, why not take that to its logical conclusion: It's "insensitive" for any Muslim to even *be* anywhere near the WTC site ... or New York City,
[/QUOTE]

This is a slippery slope argument.


[QUOTE]
But this is exactly the kind of emotional-laden, phony-values-displaying, politics-of-distraction issue politicians - especially those on the right - are gonna be trampling all over each other to make hay from. Right-wing radio host Glenn Beck must be having a 24/7 perma-boner from "covering" the story.[/QUOTE]

Yep!!!

NYT Op-Ed: "Our Mosque Madness"
 

NYT's Maureen Dowd has an op-ed about this today, which takes the president to task for first speaking out strongly on the issue, then backtracking into wording-parsing in the face of the predictable response from the right. And I forgot to note yesterday, NYC mayor Bloomberg deserves kudos for his unflinching support of the building project:

[url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/18/opinion/18dowd.html?_r=1&ref=opinion]Our Mosque Madness[/url][quote]So look where we are. The progressive Democrat in the White House, the first president of the United States with Muslim roots, has been morally trumped by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, two moderate Republicans who have spoken bravely and lucidly about not demonizing and defaming an entire religion in the name of fighting its radicals.

Criticizing his fellow Republicans, Governor Christie said that while he understood the pain and sorrow of family members who lost loved ones on 9/11, “we cannot paint all of Islam with that brush.”[/quote]

States' rights!
 

I think that any conservatarian outside New York State should butt out. It is the business of New York, and their business only.

Since the state of Georgia is free to fly the Confederate Flag, the Swastika, or a photo of Rush Limbaugh over their statehouse, I believe that the City of New York is free to build a fountain of Osama urinating on Jesus Christ while flipping the bird to the rest of America.

Dear states'-rights, original-intent, sound-science conservatives: slither back to your dens, crank the Fox News, and enjoy a nice cup of Shut the F___ Up!

[QUOTE=FactorEyes;226061]Since the state of Georgia is free to fly the Confederate Flag, the Swastika, or a photo of Rush Limbaugh over their statehouse[/QUOTE]

Why would you want to limit my ability to comment on what the state of Georgia would fly over their statehouse?

[quote=CRGreathouse;226166]Why would you want to limit my ability to comment on what the state of Georgia would fly over their statehouse?[/quote]Yup. The Caucasians can fly whatever they want for all I care.

Paul

[QUOTE=CRGreathouse;226166]Why would you want to limit my ability to comment on what the state of Georgia would fly over their statehouse?[/QUOTE]

I'm lost: did you think that I was not being sarcastic, or are you trolling me right back for my sarcasm? :unsure:

(It is really hard to know in the Internet, what with all the Minnesota/Wisconsin residents online.)

[QUOTE=xilman;226195]Yup. The Caucasians can fly whatever they want for all I care.

Paul[/QUOTE]

Are you suggesting blacks and other ethnic minorities are not free to fly flags of their choice?

[QUOTE=xilman;226195]Yup. The Caucasians can fly whatever they want for all I care.

Paul[/QUOTE]

I'm not asking about their freedom, I'm asking about mine.

[QUOTE=FactorEyes;226198]I'm lost: did you think that I was not being sarcastic, or are you trolling me right back for my sarcasm?[/QUOTE]

It's a serious response to your sarcasm.

[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Georgia.svg"][SIZE=3]საქართველოს სახელმწიფო დროშა[/SIZE][/URL]