Generally yes ... in this case given the timing and proponents, it is my opinion that it is misguided to single this one out and attack it ... I may be wrong, but I have yet to see any facts that suggest that the current cultural center is being planned with anything to do with 9/11 (they have made reference to 9/11 and dedication to the lost in the tragedy but that was after the attacks on their project began  ... if one were to listen to the promoter, they would hear the open condemnation of the events of 9/11 by Muslim radicals.

I would suspect that if the opposite were true and the organization had ties to radical Islam during their lifetime citizenship and residency in New York, that SOMEONE would have factually pointed that out by now. But I guess "innocence until proven guilty" doesn't apply to Americans of middle eastern ancestry or Muslim faith for some? I don't know what the answer for the double standard is, but I think it may have more to do with tolerance than distrust when there is nothing obvious to be found to suggest guilt.

This is not pointed at you either Law ... you have good balance in things ... I am speaking to those with the attitude that can be seen by some of:

- there is no such thing as a gentle Muslim -- they are all terrorists -- they should all get deported -- if they are not Christian, they should get out of the country -- etc etc

I think this is what people fear. I am not saying this is going to happen, just this is not just a few extremists, it is wide spread.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojBrzUil0Ig&feature=player_embedded

I have yet to watch this that it didn't bring tears to my eyes.

I agree. It might not be "right." it might even be wrong.

But, this is America. We don't take away Constitutionally protected rights and freedoms from people because we don't like something.

I'm a stickler for that Constitution. I respect it tremendously. We must fight fiercely to protect it and honor it. This is one of those times.

We need to continue to fight against radical Islam. But, we don't fight it by becoming like them. Try going to Iran and building a church. We fight them by showing a better way. A Godly way. The Christian way.

A two-year study by a group of academics on American Muslims and terrorism concluded that contemporary mosques are actually a deterrent to the spread of militant Islam and terrorism. . The study was conducted by professors with Duke’s Sanford School of Public Policy and the University of North Carolina. It disclosed that many mosque leaders had put significant effort into countering extremism by building youth programs, sponsoring antiviolence forums and scrutinizing teachers and texts.

Guess what famous person said the followin:
"As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion,-as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of [Islam],-and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any [Islamic] nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."

In promoting what could be considered an Islamic Reformation in context of supporting non-radical Islam... what exactly are we promoting them to reform to?

The problem I have is that promoting them in any capacity we are still promoting Islam.

I agree the Constitution protects their right to build the Mosque.  But that is a legal issue, not a Biblical one.

We have to remember two things.

1.  It is not us attacking them, it is them attacking us.  And they don't care whether they attack our nations, our states, or any given Christian within range of their weapons and aggression.

2.  It is well documented that non-radical Mosques here in the states do collect money and send it in forms of relief aid to their fellow Mosques in other nations.  Often funneling that money through several hands with some of it reaching Mosques that do promote the violet radicals attacking us.


So, challenge question for us.

In our efforts to promote Christianity over Islam, how do we go about properly treating our Muslim neighbors without actually encouraging Islamic beliefs?

I think confidence in our Lord is a great start ... show them we are victorious and confident in our faith that Jesus is God and He is the Way, Truth and Life for all mankind... show them that in spite of what faith they were born into, we love them and want them to experience the joy and peace that only Jesus can bring.

Our love and tolerance in the name of Jesus is very hard to distinguish when we concentrate primarily on how wrong and evil they are. They miss the message by our hostility toward them. Tolerance for their humanity and worth does not need to be by compromise of our Christian faith ... we are called to love our enemies.

Jesus didn't focus on the typical fear and hate for Samaritans when he reached out to them ... He loved them to Himself. He spent time with them. He didn't compromise, but He did love.

News yesterday was much more encouraging as even the Mayor is endorsing and supporting the Muslim New Yorkers ... one interesting compromise was that an alternate site even further away from ground zero be encouraged ... nice to see the hate subsiding, but when unity and tolerance is on the horizon Satan will not be happy and will seek to divide and weaken with his treachery... Christians have opportunity to show the truth of the Gospel with tolerance and love for all men (NOT compromise, but certainly love!) ...here is an non partisan article from yesterday:

The mosque at Ground Zero
by John Parisella on Sunday, August 8, 2010 11:46am

Living in New York City provides a variety of experiences ranging from the cultural to the culinary to some of the great landmarks of the world. To say that there is never a dull moment in “the city that never sleeps” is an understatement. Politics, however, is not a sideshow; it very often goes to the heart of the character of the city and by extension, the country as a whole. The public debate on the building of a mosque two blocks away from Ground Zero is just one illustration of a local issue with national and international implications.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has endorsed the project to be built on private property. His statement, considering the emotional impact of such a development, was a leadership moment. Whether you agree with him or not, he justified in very unequivocal terms the decision as being based on the US constitution and American values such as religious tolerance and openness to diversity. He framed the issue as such, arguing that on 9-11, American Muslims were also victims and many of the first responders were of the Islamic faith. Bloomberg was firm and decisive; he clearly won the day.

Opponents readily concede that the Mayor is correct on the Constitution and the First Amendment. They disagree, however, on the feasibility of such a project. Emotions from 9-11 remain rightly raw in the Big Apple. They have a point. Prominent Republican Newt Gingrich says it is insensitive and provocative. Others argue that many Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran show no respect for religious tolerance and diversity.

While this issue has not broken totally along party lines, it does create discomfort. Republican strategist and former George W. Bush advisor, Dan Senor, offered a third way—asking the project owner to reconsider another site in NY, but further away from Ground Zero. This kind of compromise is not out of the question, but the common thread to all those weighing in is that the right to build this Mosque is covered by the precepts of the US constitution—private property, First Amendment.

For American democracy, this debate goes to the heart of what America stands for and why American troops are sent to wars to defend. With 9-11 still an unhealed wound, the discussion becomes even more complicated. But living in New York and observing first hand the polemics around this issue makes one realize the American democracy is alive and well. And this is comforting.

I just watched a clip of this Imam saying that 9/11 was America's fault. It was played on Fox and Friends just now.

They also showed that, after coming up $100 million short, he will travel to the middle East on taxpayer money on a "good will" trip. Funny how this didn't happen until he came up short.

This man has been given repeated chances to condemn terrorism, but refuses. He says we deserve what we get because we started it with the dropping of the Atomic bombs in WW2.