Mosques being built at Ground Zero...Powderkeg?

First of all, not mosques (pl), but mosque (sing). The thought was that the terrorists who attacked the WTC and America on 9/11 attacked American Muslims along the rest of us--which is completely true, btw. It is about honoring those Americans fallen, about educating Americans about how the terrorists were not following the beliefs of Islam, etc. We are Christians, Muslims, Atheists, Hindu, Buddhist, etc., but we are all American, and we can respect each other based on that singular similarity.

yeah, when those terrorists hit WTC, they hit everybody and not just one specific group of people it's good if everyone perceives the building of those mosques as you do poingly . respect is a very valuable asset that should be nurtured and cultivated among as many people as possible. if everyone truly respects each other, i do believe that world peace would actually be achievable i'm just personally a wee bit tired of some unscrupulous people & politicians worldwide (regardless of religious background) who use religion for political & personal gain. i'm sure you know what i mean..

I'm nervous about anything built near or on ground zero other than a monument. Not enough time has passed for the wounds to heal, that is everyone's wounds. I'd be feeling equally squicky about a Christian center.

At least, if your going to put Mosques at ground zero, perhaps you should put Christian Churches and or Jewish temples there too... (How big is ground zero?) Personally, I would be worried about some fruit case doing something nasty... - As yet, Ground Zero has too many hot and bothered emotions attached to it to be building anything other than a monument. For Pete's Sake, I worry about the innocent Muslims who may be hurt because someone didn't look at the psychology of the place! Building anything else is going to call the squirrels out of their trees. - And if there is a nut who does something to one or both of the Mosques, the Muslim community is going to be less than appreciative...

you are right. The unsuspecting people is what I worry about as well.

Technically, the mosque wouldn't be placed ON Ground Zero, it would be nearby. There's a ton of stuff nearby. Both St. Peter, St. Paul, and St. Nicholas all lie closer to the WTC site than this mosque will be (as does the University of Phoenix, strangely enough). Beth Din Zedek is about the same distance from Ground Zero as this mosque would be. So both churches and synagogues are covered. Once again, the fact that these buildings can live (essentially) side by side is so wonderfully American.

Terrorists and terrorist organizations come in all stripes, religions, and political affiliations. Muslims don't have any more terrorists than any other group, you hear more about them. Muslim terrorists may also seem more numerous because Muslims are a numerous group of people. - Islam is also a very diverse religion, having both relaxed and deeply fundamentalist followers.

um, nzinky, that isn't true. a lot of terrorist attacks here were done for example by the irish and i understand in your country they aren't all muslim connected either.

Frankly I agree with you, we should all get along. Mosques have every right to be in America, same as Churches or any other building of faith. Ground Zero, however, is a unique piece of real estate with a unique set of problems. - My primary concern is that there are still plenty of open wounds regarding the specific spot "Ground Zero". To many, it is a graveyard. Graveyards are sacred places. Religious buildings are not as bad as some things that could be put on Ground Zero I agree. Still, I would not want to be in charge of security. - The vast majority of Americans are get along folks, and when offended, they pull forth keyboards and quills for the most part. A tiny minority are not content to express themselves verbally or via penmanship. They use terror. It is them I fear, and I fear for the innocents in these badly advised Mosques. - Terrorists come in all stripes. You have the Islamic Jihadist, the Christian "Solders For Christ", and so called "Patriots" that come to the top of my mind. - The presence of Ground Zero was caused by the destruction of the World Trade Center by Islamic Jihadist terrorists. Placing Islamic Mosques there may be a red flag to the Christian "Solders For Christ", and so called "Patriots" or some other bag of nuts. If the latter groups do something nasty, naturally, that will be a red flag to the Jihadists to swipe back. - The above reasoning, and fervent wish for all to get along, is why I think nothing but a monument has any business on Ground Zero. - If I offend, I offer my deepest apologies. (This amateur psychologist hops off the couch.)

Good Lord, 200 languages? I knew New York was diverse, but I had no idea there were 200 languages floating around!

I'm shaking my head at this factoid, how do you communicate in the Tower of Babel?

Crazy, right?

Those who are security concerned are not bigots. Yes there are bigots putting in their two cents as well. There is a big difference about those concerned about weirdos going off and simple bigotry. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have every one on edge too. - I have concerns about anything being put on or near Ground Zero, as there are fruit cases out there, and they are something to be worried about. People are still healing.

Somebody is always healing, and the world moves on. If we're not only going to halt building at the WTC, but "near" (how near are we going to freeze?) the site, that's a whole lot of people you're talking about telling they can't use their property -- for which they've spent a whole lot of money -- as they see fit. I haven't heard a valid security concern. Someone might get offended and try to do it violence? Welcome to New York. That's kind of old hat to most of us now.

I've never been to New York. I live in an Arizona small town. Even finding an ethnic restaurant isn't easy out here.