Tennessee Mosque Opens

Finally!  That mosque in Tennessee that seems to have a lot of Tennesseans freaked out, may finally be able to open.  This has been going on for TWO YEARS.  The range of Islamophobia in this country really makes me think of McCarthyism in the 1950s.  It's pathetic.

Ground Zero Mosque Opens!

The mosque at "Ground Zero" has finally opened.  Of course, it's not only a mosque - it's a multi-religious center.  Everyone is welcome.  The current photographic exhibit is by a Jewish photographer.  Maybe now that it is open, its detractors will realize that all Muslims are not terrorists.  That the Islamic Center is actually good for the neighborhood.  We'll see.

Israelis and Palestinians Work Together

This is from last week, but it is worth noting.  Someone set fire to a mosque in the West Bank.  It survived, but many Qur'ans were burned.  So a group of Israeli rabbis visited and brought new Qur'ans with them for the mosque.  And both sides condemned the fire.  See, both sides can get along.  Maybe not all the time, but I believe that most Palestinians and Israelis want peace.  Unfortunately, that is not enough.

Islam is a Religion

Alright, what are these people smoking?  The mosque in Tennessee has been overshadowed by the "Ground Zero Mosque," but it is running into problems too.  The latest incident is over whether or not Islam is actually a religion.  And opponents also claim that Muslims want to take over with Sharia law.

These people are so delusional that it's really hard to argue with them.  They will not listen to common sense or the simple facts of the situation.  They have literally been brainwashed into believing that Muslims are evil and out to take over the world and that Sharia law will magically take over America if they are not stopped.  Really, what can you say to someone like that?

Muslim Conference in NYC

American Muslims are gathering at a conference this weekend in New York City. With all the backlash against Muslims over the "Ground Zero Mosque" and increasing violence against Muslims (the defunct Qur'an burning, the arson at the mosque in Tennessee) Muslims in America are getting rather concerned. I think it's a good thing that they are getting together in a show of solidarity. In the past, new immigrants and beliefs have had a rough start in America. It's disturbing to think that that is still the case.

Anti-Muslim Sentiment III

The Qur'an burning may be cancelled! I'm not entirely sure. The pastor in charge said he is cancelling it, in return for the "Ground Zero Mosque" being moved. Which it isn't. So hopefully, the Qur'an burning is still cancelled. I must say, I was really moved by the number of people coming out against the burning. Even Sarah Palin was against it. Thank goodness so many people seem to understand the significance of a religious book.

Ground Zero Hate-Church

There is a new church being built two blocks from Ground Zero, and this is the first time I have heard of it. Why am I bothered by a church? Because the pastor at this church preaches hate. Hatred of Muslims, hatred of gays, hatred of Mormons. He has even called Obama "Hitler."

The author of this article makes a good point: The new church has a legitimate right to be built. But if the Mosque protesters are legitimate, not just anti-Muslim, they will also protest the Ground Zero Hate-Church.

Mosque Madness Update VI

This topic just won't end. There's a guest commentary on Juan Cole's site that is really worth reading. For all that the Republicans compare Ground Zero to Pearl Harbor, there actually is an analogy. But hopefully we won't start putting Muslim Americans in internment camps as we did to Japanese-Americans during World War II.

What this comes down to is simple racism. During World War II, the US fought Germany and Japan. Germany was white. Japan wasn't. Germany had "good Germans" who might help us. Japan had people living in America for generations who would help them. This is straight-up racism. And the same is true for Islamophobia. It's almost painful to me that even today many Americans just can't see it.

Mosque Madness Update V

A nice article from Yahoo! today about people rallying in favor of the mosque (cultural center). A group of different organizations, including people who lost family in 9-11 joined together in favor of freedom of religion. They also pointed out that this Muslim Community Center is based on the Jewish Community Center.

Mosque Madness Update IV

Okay, this is really getting out of hand. I am sick and tired of hearing about how "Ground Zero is hallowed ground" and "Muslims are trying to impose Shariah law on the US." This is all a bunch of crap! It is nothing but ignorance and racism. What's next, Muslims sit at the back of the bus?!?

1) The "Ground Zero" Mosque is not being built at Ground Zero but 2 blocks away. In the same vicinity around Ground Zero are strip clubs and off-track betting (video on ABC News). So why is it being called the "Ground Zero Mosque?" And how far away is enough? Is three blocks far enough away? What about four blocks? Who gets to decide this?

2) It's not a Mosque! It's a Muslim Community Center that has a mosque on one floor. But somehow, that makes it a mosque. According to Rush Limbaugh, a prayer room in the Pentagon is not a mosque, just a room for Muslims to pray. Therefore, this is a community center with a prayer room, and not a mosque.

3) Apparently all of the plans for every single room in the "mosque" are not available, which has some right wing conservative wacko bloggers (whom I will NOT link to) saying that there is a hidden agenda for these rooms. And that agenda is to impose Shariah law on the US. Gasp! Somehow this minority group of Muslims is going to take over Congress and force enough States to change the American Constitution into Shariah. We cannot even get a women's equal rights amendment or flag burning amendment passed, but watch out for those Muslims.

The main impetus for the Shariah brouhaha seems to be the Cordoba Initiative's Shariah Index Project. From what I can tell, this project is designed to come up with some answers about how the governments of Muslims countries should be run, and to rank them according to Islamic governance principles. Maybe I'm going crazy, but in the past, hasn't the United States ranked countries based on how democratic or socialist they are? And haven't independent panels ranked countries based on how Christian they are? And aren't all these Christians in America constantly talking about how we are a Christian Nation? But one mention of the word Shariah and these same people freak out.

You know what? I miss the Cold War. We used to be concerned about the "godless communists" whereas now we're more concerned about the "godfull Muslims." If you really want to send a message to the terrorists, especially the ones who perpetrated 9-11, then let the Ground Zero Mosque be built, and also build a huge new building complex at Ground Zero, right up into the sky. THAT would show people that America will not be pushed around. THAT would show the world that we are NOT in a war against Islam, that we DO believe in freedom of religion, and that a terrorist attack will NOT change us for the worse.

If you still have energy to read about the mosque situation, I highly recommend Roger Ebert's post on the subject "Ten things I know about the mosque."

Mosque Madness Update III - Links

As if you haven't heard enough already, here are more links about the mosque:

Crooks and Liars: Mayor Bloomberg Addresses Planned Islamic Center in New York - video and transcript.

PrawfsBlawg: The Mosque at Ground Zero: Religious Freedom, saved by the usual lawlessness of land-use regulation - about the laws and land surrounding the mosque issue.

BallonJuice: When they came for Ishmael, Abe grabbed a rope... - on the bigotry in the Anti-Defamation League.

The Week (Yahoo! News): 'Ground Zero mosque:' Who's for it - and against? - the main people on both sides and some quotes. (Also some good links at the end of this article.)

Mosque Madness Update II

I finally found a picture of where the mosque is located (on Wikipedia of course). It is a little closer to Ground Zero than I had thought, but that still does not change my argument that a mosque and cultural center have a right to be built there. (Mosque is at 45 Park Place, near the top of the picture.)

Picture from Wikipedia.

Mosque Madness Update I

Yes, the Mosque Madness is still going on in New York City. Luckily, it looks like the mosque will be built. Here's my original post on the subject. Things have gotten hotter with Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, and even Rudy Guiliani weighing in against the mosque. For me, this just shows how deeply anti-Muslim sentiment runs in this country. But if you asked, it wouldn't surprise me if old Newt and Rudy claimed they weren't anti-Muslim. They're just anti-organized-Muslim. Muslims may be okay in the abstract, but "we don't want their kind around here." Does that sound familiar to anyone?

Slate has a really good breakdown of the situation here (I highly recommend this article). And an explanation of some of the legal hurdles too. And a panel in NYC just ruled that the building to be demolished for the mosque isn't historical, so it can go ahead.

Why is this such a big deal? I could understand it if the mosque was actually being built on top of Ground Zero, but it's not. It's several blocks away. Let me try a reverse scenario. A fundamentalist Christian blows up an abortion clinic, killing doctors, nurses, and patients. A Christian group wants to build a church down the block, but I decide to oppose it because the bomber was a Christian. I would be laughed out of town for trying that.

Mosque Madness

Two mosques are causing some Americans a lot of concern. The big issue is the one in New York City, which even has Sarah Palin weighing in. Apparently it's two blocks from Ground Zero, and some people think it's a slap in the face to the victims of 9-11. These people keep referring to it as the "Ground Zero Mosque." Although if it's two NYC blocks away, it's hardly near Ground Zero. Click here for an excellent article by John L. Esposito for CNN.

The other mosque is in Temecula, California. It will be across from a Baptist Church, which seems to really upset their preacher. Apparently all mosques are home to sleeper cells that breed Islamic terrorists. I didn't know that. But I have heard that all churches are home to conservative evangelicals who breed Christian racists.