The New York Mosque Proceeds

Now that the commission in charge of buildings in New York has ruled 9-0 not to give landmark status to the building at the proposed mosque site, the way is clear to demolish the site in preparation for that 15-story Cordoba House (mosque and Islamic center). It appears that there is only one entity that can stop this idea and unfortunately that is the group wanting to build it.

Unfortunately, they show no signs of having any regard whatsoever for the sensitivity of building that center in the shadow of the World Trade Center. Daisy Khan, the wife of Imam Faisel Abdul Rauf, is now telling us that it will include a memorial to the 9-11 victims and that they want to be part "of the healing process".

Nonsense. They are ripping the scab open. I can't speak for anyone else, but I suspect most Americans would tell them to stuff that "memorial to the 9-11 victims."

But public opinion be damned. It's a freedom of religion, freedom of speech issue; they have the ACLU behind them and their message is;

"We're here. Deal with it."

Meanwhile, White House press spokesman and noted comic Robert Gibbs told reporters today that the White House has no interest in getting involved in a "local matter."

I have news for Mr Gibbs; 9-11 is not a local matter anymore than Pearl Harbor was a local matter.

Let us say that Imam Rauf truly intends to build an edifice devoted to peace, interfaith harmony and reconciliation. That goes out the window the first time he stands up in that mosque and repeats statements he has already made about the US becoming "shariah compliant" and US policies bringing on 9-11. Remember this is a guy who has refused to condemn Hamas as a terrorist organization. Furthermore, he still won't own up to where all the money is coming from to build it.

Update: Now, this evening, comes the head of CAIR, Nihad Awad, who tells Bill O'Reilly on The Factor there is no connection between Islam and 9-11, and that the opposition to the mosque is simple bigotry. He would not address O'Reilly's question about respecting the feelings of 9-11 families and others who object to the mosque so close to the World Trade Center site. I trust this guy Awad as far as I can throw him.

In the end, this mosque will be a bad thing for US Muslims because it is reviving the anger of 9-11 and will continue to revive anger every time visitors to the area pass by. The construction of this mosque is an in-your-face provocation.

On a more positive note, this quote comes today at the University of California Irvine (where I teach). It was made today by an Arab (Muslim) student studying at UCI who just returned from New York and is very angry over the mosque issue. He says, "that mosque should not be built. I want those buildings back" (WTC).