NEW YORK —Ground Zero or Zero Tolerance?
"Infidels" Protest Mosque in NY, at Ground Zero
Mitzner joined about 500 others not far from New York Harbor, in Manhattan to protest against a proposal to build a mosque and Islamic cultural center near the site of the attack on September, 11, 2001.
Sadly, Ground Zero is not much more than a place for protests.
In the nine years since that September morning when terrorists flew hijacked jetliners into the World Trade Center, that killed over 2,700 innocent people, Ground Zero has become a place for another kind of "Zero" -
ZERO TOLERANCE - from everyone.
Some say it is a "House of Worship" - Others call it a "Slap in the Face of Freedom"
"It's the epitome of an insult," says a retired New York City teacher, standing near Sunday's protesters, holding a handmade sign saying, "A Proud American Infidel."
The proposed mosque and center have already been approved previously in council meetings, with all but one vote "For" the construction.
The location is a few blocks away from the Ground Zero site and was thought to be a good jesture on the part of the New York Muslims, hoping to demonstrate their support for America and their position against terrorism, especially radical Islamists.
The site of an old coat factory was chosen as the place for the large structure to be built if funds are raised in the amount of over 100 million dollars. Perhaps ironically, the center would be located around the corner from a Roman Catholic church which displays the Ground Zero "cross" of steel beams that were left standing after the trade center fell.
But for many, having a mosque even a short walk from Ground Zero is too close.
"It's not a question of building a mosque. It's where they're building it," said Glenn Corbett, a former Waldwick deputy fire chief.
"It's insensitive to the 9/11 families because Islam's faith was so central to the actions of 9/11," said Corbett, who also drove to the protest rally, held on a plaza across from Ground Zero where families have gathered in recent years on the anniversary of the attacks to mourn loved ones.
In North Jersey, many Muslim leaders say they support the mosque — and, indeed, see it as a way to present a much clearer view of Islamic theology and counteract what they feel is the warped spirituality of the 9/11 hijackers.
"Islam was hijacked by the terrorists," said Aref Assaf of Denville, who is president of the Paterson-based American Arab Forum and who has donated funds to the Ground Zero mosque. "It was not Islam that caused the events of 9/11. It was the terrorists."
"I disagree with what they are protesting. It almost seems as if there is a denial of religious rights," added Salaheddin Mustafa of Clifton, who runs the New Jersey chapter of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.
Such views were unfortunately not on display at Sunday's rally. Indeed, in tone and in the personalities it attracted, Sunday's rally was far different from the many Ground Zero gatherings and memorial services of recent years.
Only a handful of victims' relatives came on Sunday.
Sunday's crowd included representatives of the conservative Tea Party movement, some of them wearing anti-tax T-shirts that had nothing to do with Ground Zero, Islam or terrorism.
"We must take a stand and we must say no," shouted rally organizer Pamela Geller as the crowd roared approval. Moments later, another keynote speaker, Robert Spencer, sparked more cheers when he asked, "Are you tired of being lied to?"
Spencer, however, did not explain precisely what lies he was referring to.
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?"
SO WHAT DO YOU SAY? ANY COMMENTS? TIME TO SPEAK UP...