Obama endorses New York Mosque plan

[stormthebeaches]

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20100814/tp ... 170b4.html

Barack Obama has waded into a bitter controversy over a plan by Muslims to build a mosque just blocks from Ground Zero, endorsing the project on religious freedom grounds. Skip related content
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The proposed site of the Islamic community center near Ground Zero in New York Enlarge photo

* The proposed site of the Islamic community center near Ground Zero in New York Enlarge photo
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"As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practise their religion as anyone else in this country," Obama said late Friday.

"That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances."

Obama's remarks, delivered at a White House Iftar meal for Muslims breaking their Ramadan fast, were the president's first on the controversial project, which has become a test of tolerance for Islam in post-9/11 America and sparked a national debate on freedom of religion.

Republican reaction was swift and negative.

Congressman Peter King, who represents New York in the US House of Representatives, said the Muslim community was "abusing" of its rights and "needlessly offending" many people.

"It is insensitive and uncaring for the Muslim community to build a mosque in the shadow of ground zero," King, a Republican, said in a statement. "Unfortunately the president caved in to political correctness."

A CNN/Opinion Research poll earlier this month showed that 68 percent of Americans opposed plans to build the mosque near Ground Zero, while only 29 percent favored it.

Intended to include a mosque, sports facilities, theater, restaurant and possibly a day care, the multi-story Islamic center would be open to all visitors to demonstrate that Muslims are part of their community, planners say.

But the proposed location, two blocks from the gaping Ground Zero hole, where the Twin Towers were destroyed on September 11, 2001, has touched raw nerves.

Obama acknowledged that the site where the World Trade Center towers once stood remains "hallowed ground," and that the 9/11 attacks "were a deeply traumatic event for our country."

But he said American values required that all religious groups be treated equally and fairly.

"This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakeable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country, and will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are."

New York City has approved plans for the lower Manhattan building to be turned into a mosque and an interfaith venue called "Cordoba House."

But hearings on whether the construction should be allowed prompted furious exchanges, with supporters accusing critics of racism and Islamophobia, and opponents warning the plan insulted the memory of the 3,000 victims of the 9/11 attacks.

Applause erupted when a New York city commission unanimously approved the project August 3, but others shouted "shame," and waved signs reading "Islam builds mosques at the sites of their conquests."

Obama acknowledged the "pain and suffering experienced by those who lost loved ones is unimaginable," but he called on Americans to "always remember who we are fighting against, and what we are fighting for."

"Al-Qaeda's cause is not Islam -- it is a gross distortion of Islam," the president said. "In fact, Al-Qaeda has killed more Muslims than people of any other religion -- and that list of victims includes innocent Muslims who were killed on 9/11."

Before an audience of prominent Muslim Americans, including administration officials, and Muslim members of Washington's diplomatic corps, Obama paid tribute to a US history of accepting and engaging Muslims.

He cited the example of president Thomas Jefferson, who he said hosted the first White House Iftar, more than 200 years ago.

But the appeal to US history is unlikely to convince those most opposed to the mosque, which has attracted increasingly strident criticism, raising fears among US Muslims of an Islamophobic backlash.

A Florida church has already said it will hold a "Koran-burning" on September 11 this year, and Muslim advocacy groups say they have reached out to law enforcement officials seeking extra vigilance.

But Obama said while America's diversity contained the seeds of conflict, US values were stronger and would always overcome difference.

"Time and again, the American people have demonstrated that we can work through these issues, stay true to our core values, and emerge stronger for it. So it must be -- and will be -- today," he said.

Looks like Obama's doing the right thing here.

[bobalot]

He appears to have grown a spine. I didn't think he would wade into this affair.

[Ritterin Sophia]

And cue round two of closet Muslim terrorist accusations...

[Guardsman Bass]

Here's the full-text of the speech:

Good evening. Welcome to the White House. To you, to Muslim Americans across our country, and to more than one billion Muslims around the world, I extend my best wishes on this holy month. Ramadan Kareem. I want to welcome members of the diplomatic corps; members of my administration; and Members of Congress, including Rush Holt, John Conyers, and Andre Carson, who is one of two Muslim American Members of Congress, along with Keith Ellison.
Here at the White House, we have a tradition of hosting iftars that goes back several years, just as we host Christmas parties, seders, and Diwali celebrations. These events celebrate the role of faith in the lives of the American people. They remind us of the basic truth that we are all children of God, and we all draw strength and a sense of purpose from our beliefs.

These events are also an affirmation of who we are as Americans. Our Founders understood that the best way to honor the place of faith in the lives of our people was to protect their freedom to practice religion. In the....

...Virginia Act for Establishing Religion Freedom, Thomas Jefferson wrote that “all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion.” The First Amendment of our Constitution established the freedom of religion as the law of the land. And that right has been upheld ever since.
Indeed, over the course of our history, religion has flourished within our borders precisely because Americans have had the right to worship as they choose – including the right to believe in no religion at all. And it is a testament to the wisdom of our Founders that America remains deeply religious – a nation where the ability of peoples of different faiths to coexist peacefully and with mutual respect for one another stands in contrast to the religious conflict that persists around the globe.

That is not to say that religion is without controversy. Recently, attention has been focused on the construction of mosques in certain communities – particularly in New York. Now, we must all recognize and respect the sensitivities surrounding the development of lower Manhattan. The 9/11 attacks were a deeply traumatic event for our country. The pain and suffering experienced by those who lost loved ones is unimaginable. So I understand the emotions that this issue engenders. Ground Zero is, indeed, hallowed ground.

But let me be clear: as a citizen, and as President, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country. That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances. This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakeable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country, and will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are. The writ of our Founders must endure.

We must never forget those who we lost so tragically on 9/11, and we must always honor those who have led our response to that attack – from the firefighters who charged up smoke-filled staircases, to our troops who are serving in Afghanistan today. And let us always remember who we are fighting against, and what we are fighting for. Our enemies respect no freedom of religion. Al Qaeda’s cause is not Islam – it is a gross distortion of Islam. These are not religious leaders – these are terrorists who murder innocent men, women and children. In fact, al Qaeda has killed more Muslims than people of any other religion – and that list of victims includes innocent Muslims who were killed on 9/11.

That is who we are fighting against. And the reason that we will win this fight is not simply the strength of our arms – it is the strength of our values. The democracy that we uphold. The freedoms that we cherish. The laws that we apply without regard to race or religion; wealth or status. Our capacity to show not merely tolerance, but respect to those who are different from us – a way of life that stands in stark contrast to the nihilism of those who attacked us on that September morning, and who continue to plot against us today.

In my inaugural address, I said that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth. That diversity can bring difficult debates. Indeed, past eras have seen controversies about the construction of synagogues or Catholic churches. But time and again, the American people have demonstrated that we can work through these issues, stay true to our core values, and emerge stronger for it. So it must be – and will be – today.

Tonight, we are reminded that Ramadan is a celebration of a faith known for great diversity. And Ramadan is a reminder that Islam has always been part of America. The first Muslim ambassador to the United States, from Tunisia, was hosted by President Jefferson, who arranged a sunset dinner for his guest because it was Ramadan—making it the first known iftar at the White House, more than 200 years ago.

Like so many other immigrants, generations of Muslims came here to forge their future. They became farmers and merchants, worked in mills and factories, and helped lay the railroads. They helped build America. They founded the first Islamic center in New York City in the 1890s. They built America’s first mosque on the prairie of North Dakota. And perhaps the oldest surviving mosque in America—still in use today—is in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Today, our nation is strengthened by millions of Muslim Americans. They excel in every walk of life. Muslim American communities—including mosques in all fifty states—also serve their neighbors. Muslim Americans protect our communities as police, firefighters and first responders. Muslim American clerics have spoken out against terror and extremism, reaffirming that Islam teaches that one must save human life, not take it. And Muslim Americans serve with honor in our military. At next week’s iftar at the Pentagon, tribute will be paid to three soldiers who gave their lives in Iraq and now rest among the heroes of Arlington National Cemetery.

These Muslim Americans died for the security that we depend upon, and the freedoms that we cherish. They are part of an unbroken line of Americans that stretches back to our Founding; Americans of all faiths who have served and sacrificed to extend the promise of America to new generations, and to ensure that what is exceptional about America is protected – our commitment to stay true to our core values, and our ability to perfect our union.

For in the end, we remain “one nation, under God, indivisible.” And we can only achieve “liberty and justice for all” if we live by that one rule at the heart of every religion, including Islam—that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us.

Thank you all for being here, and I wish you a blessed Ramadan. And with that, let’s eat.

It's pretty good, although there's obviously a rather heavy dose of religious sentiment in it. I particularly liked the bits about muslims throughout American history.

[FSTargetDrone]

And cue round two of closet Muslim terrorist accusations...

And does it matter now? The conspiracists who think he's Muslim already thought so before. He might as well go in full bore on this. He's right, as well.

[StarshipTitanic]

And cue round two of closet Muslim terrorist accusations...

And does it matter now? The conspiracists who think he's Muslim already thought so before. He might as well go in full bore on this. He's right, as well.

Exactly, if this speech convinces anyone else that he's a Muslim then they probably weren't voting for him already.

It would be nice if he could pander to his liberal base with substantial economic and health care gestures rather than this ultimately unimportant and symbolic building that only concerns one city in the country.

[Thanas]

He appears to have grown a spine. I didn't think he would wade into this affair.

I really doubt it. He is speaking out now, when the fight has already been won, the permits have been done etc...this is just a low-cost feel-good measure that will not have any impact and doesn't cost much except the support of people he did not have in the first place.

[StarshipTitanic]

He appears to have grown a spine. I didn't think he would wade into this affair.

I really doubt it. He is speaking out now, when the fight has already been won, the permits have been done etc...this is just a low-cost feel-good measure that will not have any impact and doesn't cost much except the support of people he did not have in the first place.

I would be grimly amused if it ends up hurting the Democrats in marginal House seats where the Obama-is-a-Muslim idea might have traction. We all know Gibbs and Obama, etc. don't seem to care about maintaining a majority in the House. Statements like this one won't help in the South or Midwest where the Republicans frame the midterm elections as a referendum on Obama. Then again, it's not like the Blue Dogs in danger are of any help to the Democrats even while they are in office.

[Thanas]

Then again, it's not like the Blue Dogs in danger are of any help to the Democrats even while they are in office.

Indeed.

I suppose on one hand I should be glad that the Democrats at least embrace their "moderates", but on the other hand they pull the party even further to the right, so I do not really find myself caring for them that much.

[Ritterin Sophia]

And cue round two of closet Muslim terrorist accusations...

And does it matter now? The conspiracists who think he's Muslim already thought so before. He might as well go in full bore on this. He's right, as well.

Depends on what you mean by 'matter'. Is it relevent in the long run? No, of course not. Does it matter in the short term? Yes, because unlike conservatives liberals in America can not as easily isolate themselves from their opposition, so I have to hear it more now that it's become relevant again.

[Lagmonster]

Indeed, over the course of our history, religion has flourished within our borders precisely because Americans have had the right to worship as they choose – including the right to believe in no religion at all.

Surprised he mentioned the non-believers in there, actually. That was a shard of diamond in a glass pane, but still more than I would have expected.

[The Yosemite Bear]

Should we tell them that there's more Sufi and Ba'hai Moslems in the US than in most middle eastern countries?

(though technically I'm not sure what the Ba'hai qualify as, since they hold Ba'allah to be the supuritual decendant of Mohammad, and the most recent prophet in the Abrahamic Chain)

[Themightytom]

I find the sentiment that Obama caved to political correctness woefully misplaced. He's taking a stand on what he sees as right, even though it is NOT politically advantageous, against a group of people claiming special priviliege

[General Zod]

Indeed, over the course of our history, religion has flourished within our borders precisely because Americans have had the right to worship as they choose – including the right to believe in no religion at all.

Surprised he mentioned the non-believers in there, actually. That was a shard of diamond in a glass pane, but still more than I would have expected.

You shouldn't be. He used practically the same line in speeches before. (I think the first time he used it was during a State of the Union, but I'm not 100%.)

[Lagmonster]

Indeed, over the course of our history, religion has flourished within our borders precisely because Americans have had the right to worship as they choose – including the right to believe in no religion at all.

Surprised he mentioned the non-believers in there, actually. That was a shard of diamond in a glass pane, but still more than I would have expected.

You shouldn't be. He used practically the same line in speeches before. (I think the first time he used it was during a State of the Union, but I'm not 100%.)

I'm a canuck who hasn't listened to all of his speeches, admittedly, but I was under the impression that atheists were somewhere below gays on the US political acknowledgement scale.

[General Zod]

I'm a canuck who hasn't listened to all of his speeches, admittedly, but I was under the impression that atheists were somewhere below gays on the US political acknowledgement scale.

They are for the most part. But I remember people on the board going on about that particular line quite a bit when he first used it.

[Gil Hamilton]

I'm baffled why the President has to weigh in on this at all.

These guys transparantly had as much to do with 9/11 as I did, their building is completely in check with local laws and ordinances in Manhattan, they already own the property and will only be removing a partially damaged abandoned Burlington coat factory, AND they'll be injecting a huge amount of money into the area in the process.

This is completely cut and dry a positive thing for Manhattan. The only objection you could possibly have rests SOLELY on the notion that all Muslims are somehow behind 9/11 or supportive of 9/11 and also that this represents some sort of victory monument. That's clearly completely asinine, because it basically states that this group is a super secret, secret extremist group that's carefully pretending to want to dump substantial amounts of money into that community for some nefarious reason. I've heard of jackasses wagging their finger and digging up bits of the Koran that say that Muslims are allowed to be super secret, secret Muslims and trick non-believers if they think it will further their aims, but that's paranoid conspiracy theory stuff here and anyone who plays that card probably should clean the inside of their tinfoil hat.

[Lonestar]

You shouldn't be. He used practically the same line in speeches before. (I think the first time he used it was during a State of the Union, but I'm not 100%.)

First time he used it was during his inaugeral speech.

[Elfdart]

I'm baffled why the President has to weigh in on this at all.

Because with the exception of the mayor and the Congressman who represents the district that includes the ruins of the WTC, the political leaders in New York have either been pandering to the bigots or are too cowardly to stand up to them.

[Vympel]

Some local resident did a mocking blog post where he did a tour of the so-called "hallowed ground". Wish I could find it - he went past the sacred adult DVD stores, for example.

[Lord Relvenous]

Some local resident did a mocking blog post where he did a tour of the so-called "hallowed ground". Wish I could find it - he went past the sacred adult DVD stores, for example.

Oh man, I hope you do find that eventually. That sounds like a hoot.

And yeah, this speech and the recognizing of Ramadan convinced my mother Obama is totally hardcore Muslim. So yeah, I guess some of the more ignorant will be fooled by the Repubs press that weren't (amazingly) already.

[LapsedPacifist]

Some local resident did a mocking blog post where he did a tour of the so-called "hallowed ground". Wish I could find it - he went past the sacred adult DVD stores, for example.

http://daryllang.com/blog/4421

Let's not forget the sacred Express BBQ or the sacred Vitamin Shoppe.

[Vympel]

Same concept, but no, different blogger.

[SirNitram]

TPM has a lovely slideshow of the area. But I vaguely remember the place, when it was still open. And just another corridor of nondescript towers. NExt to more nondescript towers. There's nothing sacred about that ground. Heck, I think there was or is a strip club(Well, 'strip club' as they existed after the purity ranting.).

[Elfdart]

Same concept, but no, different blogger.

Loonwatch mentioned the nearby strip club (a 5-star strip club at that!):



Daniel Luban uses Google Maps to show how full of shit the Ku Mosque Klan really is.