I have been pretty neutral, and often supportive, regarding Obama's words and actions, but this definitely leaves me cold.

Ground zero mosque

__________________
1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

Its not about "tolerance"; it is Muslim tradition to erect Mosques at places of victory over the infidel.
Muslims need to learn about tolerance, too.

__________________
1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

Yeah, this is pretty controversial.

Consider this, the mosque is going to be built on private property 2 blocks away from ground zero. The problem with trying to prevent the mosque from being built so close is that you have to grant and support the government's control of private property. Republicans hate government, so this is a bit of a double edged sword.

Who knows, always two sides to an argument. We shall see who wins this one. With Obama's stance on the situation, my guess is that the mosque will be built at that location.

__________________
2006 BMW M5 "Heidi" @ 109,000 miles
2005 MBZ C55 AMG "Lorelai" @ 165,000 miles
1991 MBZ 300E "Benzachino II" @ 165,000 miles
1990 MBZ 500SL "Shoshanna" @ 118,000 miles

(On the hunt for a good used M103 engine as of 6/10/23, PM me if you have one to sell!)

While Obama and others may be quite right in that legally and on the principle of religious freedom they have every right to build a mosque in that location, at the same time considering what the residents of NYC went thru on 9/11, to say that it would be incredibly insensitive and bordering on callous disregard towards the feelings of the residents to build it at that location, would be a tremendous understatement.

__________________
Just say "NO" to Ethanol - Drive Diesel

Mitchell Oates
Mooresville, NC
'87 300D 212K miles
'87 300D 151K miles - R.I.P. 12/08
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD 67K miles
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club

What denomination of Islam is it?

__________________
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

Perhaps when it is built there, holy warriors of a kind other than those who flew the planes into the WTC will destroy the mosque where it stands......

We are plucking feathers from the tail of the eagle and giving them to our enemy in order for him the fletch his arrows.......

Who are we to worry about pesky details like that?

Do you disagree with what Obama said? Is it really controversial that they should be permitted to build their community center because it includes a religious component?

That's what Newt said and, as usual, his "history" was less than perfect. http://gotmedieval.blogspot.com/2010/08/professor-newts-distorted-history.html

It is controversial because of the proximity of the relgious component to the WTC sneak attack ground zero site, but you knew that.......

Many of the respondents to the blog you posted disagreed with the slant of the blog, and your interpretation as well. It seems not to be as simple as wish to make it appear. Why is that?

__________________
1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

Their proximity to WTC means that they might not be permitted to build their mosque? I guarantee that I did not know that. Their decision to build there is controversial, but I have yet to see anyone explain why their constitutional rights are affected by their proximity to WTC.

I assume you meant to have a "you" (meaning me) in that last sentence.

What did I say that makes you think I want to make it appear simple? These issues are anything but simple, at least to me. You and Newt are the ones making the simple, declarative statement that muslims build mosques at places of victory over the infidel. So far, I have seen no credible historical analysis to back up that clear, simple statement. I also have not seen anyone tie the current mosque plans to any such historical muslim custom. So far, all you have is Newt, and that ain't much.

You and Newt might be right. I just haven't seen the evidence.

I have the constitutional rights to do many things, some of which may offend and anger others. however, I should have the good taste and common sense not to do that. It is not about the right to build this edifice there, but the message that it sends. Like it or not, it is like poking at the freshly healing wound of a person you injured. Muslims flew those planes into the towers, Muslims account for the terrorists slaughtering people around the world, and now Muslims want to build a huge religious site in close proximity to an area they caused to be razed.

Sort of like the KKK wanting to build their headquarters next to the MLK Musuem, or Nazi groups demanding equal time at the Holocaust Museum. The WTC site is a shrine to the fallen and a symbol or America's awakening to the cancer of islamic terrorism. This "cultural center" is strictly an affront to that and nothing more. Even the name alludes to that.....

Right. Which part of Obama's statement disagrees with anything you just said?Bogus comparison, IMHO.Says who? Newt Gingrich? Nobody involved with the project has said any such thing, unless I missed it.