New York – Gov. David Paterson said Wednesday that developers of an Islamic cultural center that would include a mosque near ground zero have rejected his offer to help them find a different site.
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While in Manhattan, Paterson said the group apparently wants to remain with its current plans to build near the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
“I think they would like to stay where they are, and I certainly respect that and I certainly respect them,” Paterson said after the group spoke with one of his staff members. “Having said that, how much more foresighted would it have been if the Imam who is the developer of the project had been willing to hear what we are actually talking about?”
The mosque, to be located two blocks from ground zero, would be part of a 13-story, $100 million Islamic center that would feature a 500-seat auditorium, a swimming pool and a gym. It’s a project of the Cordoba Initiative, an advocacy group that promotes improved relations between Islam and the West.
Critics are suspicious of who will fund the project, and developers haven’t released their sources of capital. Opponents also say the religion that fueled the hatred in the terrorists shouldn’t be displayed so near the site.
Wednesday, Paterson described some opponents of the project as “shrill” and said they were acting out of political self-interest. But most, he said, appreciate the Constitution’s guarantee of freedom of religion while feeling “badgered” by pain following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
“I wanted to talk to them (the developers) about what was the possibility of just having a conversation about would there be a way to provide a center for people of the Muslim faith in lower Manhattan, and it not interfere with what is still a memorial to what happened on September 11,” Paterson said.
“I hope that the type of cultural understanding that they are trying to promote when they build this center could be practiced right now,” he added.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who accompanied Paterson, again defended the project.
“I always believed that government should not be involved in deciding who you pray to, what you say or where you say it,” Bloomberg said.
I agree that I don’t see why this location is considered the “heart” of the moslem community. its at the bottom of manhattan. is this a place where more moslems go. or is it an attempt to shine in a place of great travel? That said, i do support their right to have a mosque. Maybe if we support their right to have a mosque on such hallowed ground, Hashem will move us closer to redemption. This would definately accelerate the time towards a Temple on Mount Moriah!
does it not say something about their intentions that they are unwilling to consider relocating in the face of so much controversy?
I think the top ten stories of the trade center should be a mosque so when they crash a plane they will kill their own
I think they should be allowed to build the mosque on condition that they put a huge plaque on the front of the building condemning all muslims involved in the attacks of 9-11
#4 unbelievable, this prooves without shadow of doubt your on drugs or,,,,’if we allow them to build a mosque hashem will move us closer to redempsioin’!!??..what religion do you suscribe to
cont’d #5 but its not surprizeing considering your soine torah (shilcen urech) comments all over, article about that singer who was demonstrated against and the women with the torah scroll ..your comments, among others, about the torah ”taliban’ what is a reform , christian etc doing posting on a torah site?i don go on non-jewish site stating dass torah so why you come here and state your immoral anti torah posts
Why don’t the arabs allow us to pray on the Har Ha’bies (even we some don’t go there) why don’t they allow us?
Kudos to Governor Patterson!
The only politician with backbone to try to resolve the Mosque issue. I fear, the reason , Bloomberg, Schumer, Nadler, Weiner etc are silent/approve of the Mosque is because they are Jewish and fear that: 1) They will be labeled intoleratnt 2) Theat they only speak up for member of their own religion (Jews),
3) That one day it wil come arounfd to bite them (US).
The issue at hand, however has very little to do with Religion. The Cordoba house is a political tool by which those radical Muslims can advance their agenda and their narrative of the 9-11 attacks. Anyone wonder why its called the Cordoba house? isn’t Cordoba (Cordova) in Spain?….precisely.
Cordoba was one of the first places in Europe to be conquered by the Muslims in the early 8th century. It then bacame a Muslim city which paved the way for the Muslim Conquest of Spain. The Cordoba house will be a symbol which will represent Muslim attack and victory on U.S. soil.
Because our politicians are so removed from their own religious tradition, they are unable to act in the face of something disguised as religion for fear of being labeled a bigot. Furthermore, they commit a disservice to their constituents by blurring the line between the political and religious.
If there truly was good will, and a desire to reconcile and heal wounds, the Muslim community would not insist on this particular site in the face of opposittion and pleading from 9-11 families. It’s all political and a disgrace.
I say, if they really care about restoring peace with the west, let them build a Masque in Pakistan or Gaza with a 911 memorial in it.
#7 thanks, the one who it is directed to knows…
Thank you for proving this is a potch in punim to the USA as well as each and every person that died or tried saving people, or cleaned up the Trade Center site.
Reply to #1
Sorry but I fail to see how supporting the building of Mosques, which are known in general as breeding grounds of terrorism and hatred, will bring the Geulah.
#1 and #1 3 i see we are dealing here with a split personality
What everyone is forgetting is that this imam yemach sh’mo is as much a terrorost as the 20 pigs of 9-11!!
He said the USA was responsible for 9-11.
He said the USA should be more sharia compliant.
He REFUSES to say that hamas is a terrorist organization.
The man is evil but you PC libs out there arent focused on that!