Many protesters held American flags. Many carried signs.
“A Mosque at Ground Zero Spits on the Graves of 9/11,” one placard proclaimed. Another sign depicted a toilet, with this message: “This is a Mosque. Do You Want it Built at Ground Zero?”
At one point, a portion of the crowd menacingly surrounded two Egyptian men who were speaking Arabic and were thought to be Muslims.
“Go home,” several shouted from the crowd.
“Get out,” others shouted.
In fact, the two men –** Joseph Nassralla and Karam El Masry — were not Muslims at all.** They turned out to be Egyptian Coptic Christians who work for a California-based Christian satellite TV station called “The Way.” Both said they had come to protest the mosque.
“I’m a Christian,” Nassralla shouted to the crowd, his eyes bulging and beads of sweat rolling down his face.
But it was no use. The protesters had become so angry at what they thought were Muslims that New York City police officers had to rush in and pull Nassralla and El Masry to safety.
“I flew nine hours in an airplane to come here,” a frustrated Nassralla said afterward.
It doesn't surprise me...Americans are not the most intelligent of humans on this planet...one step up from an amoeba. With so much intelligent info about 9/11 and the hands behind it they still believe its the Muslims!
Re: People protesting against mosque in Manhattan are not racists. Really!
How can Qum (or any other religious city) be comparable to what happened at ground zero in Manhattan?
While khariji terrorists were from Muslim families, Islam itself is not held responsible for 9/11. So a mosque has nothing to do with ground zero.
I think even majority Americans understand this obvious distinction.
Another point is that this mosque is not being built on top of ground zero. Rather** it is two blocks away from it**. And in a busy place like Manhattan, the whole scenery changes in this distance.
Re: People protesting against mosque in Manhattan are not racists. Really!
I actually talked to someone about this - they said the reason they wanted to build it there is to show and prove that the muslim community feels as much about the 9/11 atrocity as anyother community.
I am not sure if the same cannot be achieved another less controversial way. However America is America, if someone has the money to buy & build a place and it does not violate zoning laws, nobody else can stop that.
I can see the otherside as well and why some protest - a majority of the family & friends of 9/11 victims I think fully associate 9/11 terror to islamic extremism and therefore anything islamic is something they'd object to. One person in an interview said 'this is a in your face insult on the victims of 9/11'.
All of the hurdles against the mosque have been removed. Yet people still get their pants on fire. Most of Muslims in this area are law abiding and decent citizens. It's not what is Shown in the Muslim world and you equate that to one mosque and imam. pretty lame. Bashing the whole religion.
This may inshallah give a different view and aspect to Muslims rather than what the mainstream media or newspapers post.
Re: People protesting against mosque in Manhattan are not racists. Really!
While I am against these protestors telling muslims they cant build a mosque.. I don't like this attitude:
"It doesn't surprise me...Americans are not the most intelligent of humans on this planet...one step up from an amoeba. With so much intelligent info about 9/11 and the hands behind it they still believe its the Muslims!"
I thought the 9/11 conspiracy theories were squashed convincingly. It is depressing to see some people still trapped in that mindset. Denial doesn't help anyone.
Re: People protesting against mosque in Manhattan are not racists. Really!
So you are telling me if somebody moved into your neighborhood and blew up your neigbor commerce building in the name of Jesus Christ and built a Church on it, you wouldn't be offended by them building a Church on ground zero?
All conspiracy theories aside, this is a really in-your-face thing to do. In other words, it is very offensive to the victims and their families who "believe" that it was carried out by Muslim terrorists.
Don't you remember Idols were destroyed by Muslim conquerers who then built mosques on top of the same ground? This is really no different.
So you are telling me if somebody moved into your neighborhood and blew up your neigbor commerce building in the name of Jesus Christ and built a Church on it, you wouldn't be offended by them building a Church on ground zero?
All conspiracy theories aside, this is a really in-your-face thing to do. In other words, it is very offensive to the victims and their families who "believe" that it was carried out by Muslim terrorists.
This mosque is not built ON ground zero. It is two blocks away from it. Get your facts straight before blurting out.
Just because those terrorists happened to be Muslims doesn't mean that the religion of more than 1 billion people is responsible for it.
Besides, the Qaeda kharijis did not do it for their religion, they did it due to politics. They only used the name of religion.
How do you know if it was offensive to the victims and families? That's just what you think. And even if it IS offensive to some victims and families, still it does not mean that they are right. Who cares what some people think?
This thread is not about whether it is justified to build a mosque. This is about racism from the likes of tea-baggers.
Re: People protesting against mosque in Manhattan are not racists. Really!
2 blocs from ground zero is not very different from ground zero. Remember - the REASON the mosque is being located THERE is BECAUSE of the proximity to ground zero. Which is what the people are offended about and protesting.
Re: People protesting against mosque in Manhattan are not racists. Really!
Common sense and thousand press reports? Well done Sri. :D
What would these "common sense and thousand press reports" say if mosque was being built three blocks away? four blocks away? ... where is the "mosque free zone"?
[quote]
Yes I am offended for the simple reason these people are not being sensitive to public backlash and prolonging the clash
[/quote]
There is no public backlash. Just racist Muslim hatred from some.
Some people would be offended even by the very sight of a mosque or a Muslim. ;)
Re: People protesting against mosque in Manhattan are not racists. Really!
nothing magical or complicated - lower Manhattan especially around world trade center is widely identified with 9/11. Given the high profile nature of the attack and the impact on America after that, why would you do an insensitive 'in your face' thing?
As I remarked right upfront, this is America and if someone wants to legally build a mosque, nobody can stop it - doesn't mean they have to like it or cannot protest it.
Ofcourse protesting a place of worship is some sort of racism but don't forget these people fully believe that their near and dear were killed for islamic cause!
…
Palin: Ground Zero mosque an “unnecessary provocation”
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the proposed construction of a mosque and community center near “Ground Zero,” the site of the 9/11 terror attack in New York City, calling it an “unnecessary provocation.”
“Peace-seeking Muslims, pls understand, Ground Zero mosque is UNNECESSARY provocation; it stabs hearts,” Palin wrote in a Twitter post Sunday. “Pls reject it in interest of healing.”
The former Republican vice presidential nominee also posted a plea to “peaceful New Yorkers,” asking them to “pls refute the Ground Zero mosque plan if you believe catastrophic pain caused @ Twin Towers site is too raw, too real.”
Plans to build a $100 million, 13-story center – focused on what backers describe as Islamic, interfaith and secular programming – has sparked an emotional debate.