The developers behind the Islamic center planned for a site near Ground Zero won't rule out accepting financing from the Mideast -- including from Saudi Arabia and Iran -- as they begin searching for $100 million needed to build the project. N.J. Gov. Chris Christie says the president is playing "political football."
The religious organization and the development company behind the center declined to say how much of the $100 million needed to build the facility has already been raised.
"We are in the planning stages," said Oz Sultan, spokesman for the center now called Park51. "We have just started the process of fundraising planning."
Sultan said it would take three to six months to establish a plan on how to raise the needed capital. He said any fundraising campaign would begin domestically, but he would not comment on whether it would extend overseas or to foreign governments.
The board members of Keep America Safe, Liz Cheney, Bill Kristol and Debra Burlingame announce the release of "We Remember," an ad featuring first responders and family members of the victims of the terrorist attacks of 9/11 who are speaking out in opposition to the proposed Ground Zero Mosque. We believe their voices should be heard throughout our country and we encourage you to pass their message along.
Iran cash might fund mosque at Ground Zero By GEOFF EARLE & TOM TOPOUSIS Last Updated: 6:32 AM, August 19, 2010 Posted: 4:47 AM, August 19, 2010
The developers of the Ground Zero mosque are refusing to flat out reject cash for the project from Holocaust-denying Iranian nuke nut Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
“I can’t comment on that” was the reply of mosque spokesman Oz Sultan yesterday when asked specifically if the fund-raising would extend to Iran and Saudi Arabia. "We'll look at all available options within the United States to start."
Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the leader of the project known as Park51, has said at meetings with downtown officials that he would raise money for the 13-story mosque from local Muslims, foundations and the sale of bonds.
But in an interview with a London-based Arab newspaper earlier this year, he admitted his fund-raising would also extend to Muslim nations around the world.
The possibility of tapping the radical rogue Islamic state of Iran for funds comes as the United States is stepping up sanctions on the regime in retaliation for its support of terrorism and what is feared to be an illegal nuclear-weapons development program.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi yesterday weighed in on the controversy, saying she wants to know about the funding for the mosque -- but also calling for a probe into funding for the project's opponents.
During an interview with a San Francisco radio station, Pelosi said opponents are trying to politicize the project. She told the station she wants to know: "How is this being ginned up?"
The demand infuriated mosque opponent Debra Burlingame, whose brother was a pilot aboard one of the hijacked airliners on 9/11.
"This is all out of our pockets. Nobody is funding us a dime," Burlingame said of herself and other 9/11 families opposing the mosque......................>>>>.....................>>>>....................http://www.nypost.com/p/news/l.....dIfsGSyhBFOmsS7S2QOL
Mosque site a tourist mecca By KEVIN FASICK and CARL CAMPANILE Last Updated: 6:17 AM, August 19, 2010 Posted: 4:09 AM, August 19, 2010
Welcome to Manhattan's new tourism hot spot -- the proposed mosque and Islamic center near Ground Zero.
Visitors from around the country -- and the globe -- are flocking to 51 Park Place to take pictures of the former Burlington Coat Factory building and to weigh in on the raging debate on whether a mosque should be erected just two blocks from the World Trade Center.
Philadelphia surgeon Robert Fry, 62, and his wife, Susan, stopped at the site after seeing the progress of construction at Ground Zero.
The couple was incensed that a mosque would be located so close to what is considered sacred ground for Americans.
"It was an insult to our country what their religion did," Robert Fry said, referring to the 9/11 hijackers. "And out of respect to what was done to our country and the people [killed] in those buildings, the mosque should be put someplace else."
His wife said: "I understand both sides of the issue. But this is blatantly in our face."
Others said America should practice what it preaches about religious liberty and allow the mosque to open there.
Amy Sajardo, 18, of Salt Lake City, Utah, said "the controversy of the mosque" drew her to Park Place yesterday.
"Most faiths bring communities together. This is a community center. Every religion has a right to practice in the US," she said.
Her friend Taylor Barnard 18, chimed in, "This is a non-issue. You can't even really see Ground Zero from here. Many of the people who died on 9/11 were Muslims who care just as much about the country as anyone else."
Jack Dee, 61, a Buffalo lawyer who stopped by for a look yesterday, said developers of the property "have the right" to build a house of worship there -- but it's the wrong thing to do.
"This was chosen -- I think -- as a site to provoke controversy and it's disrespectful to the memory of the people who died just a stone's throw from here," he said.
"People have a right to practice their faith. But this is in bad faith," Dee added.
"People have a right to practice their faith. But this is in bad faith," Dee added.
Quoted Text
Main Entry: 1faith Pronunciation: \ˈfāth\ Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural faiths \ˈfāths, sometimes ˈfāthz\ Etymology: Middle English feith, from Anglo-French feid, fei, from Latin fides; akin to Latin fidere to trust — more at bide Date: 13th century 1 a : allegiance to duty or a person : loyalty b (1) : fidelity to one's promises (2) : sincerity of intentions 2 a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust 3 : something that is believed especially with strong conviction; especially : a system of religious beliefs
synonyms see belief
— on faith : without question
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Giuliani backs moving planned mosque The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani on Thursday joined a growing number of politicians supporting a move of a proposed Islamic center and mosque near ground zero to state-owned land farther from the Sept. 11 attack site. Giuliani, who led New Yorkers through Sept. 11 and its aftermath and whose opinion on the mosque could carry considerable clout, made his comments as the imam leading plans for the community center toured the Middle East promoting religious tolerance. “If you are a healer, you do not go forward with this project,” Giuliani said on NBC’s “Today” show, referring to the center’s leader, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf. “If you are a warrior, you do.” Developers want to build the $100 million community center, including a mosque, at a building two blocks north of where Islamic extremists brought down the World Trade Center in 2001. Muslims have been holding prayer services at the building since last year. ................>>>>................>>>>........http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01300&AppName=1
A growing number of New York construction workers are vowing not to work on the mosque planned near Ground Zero.
"It's a very touchy thing because they want to do this on sacred ground," said Dave Kaiser, 38, a blaster who is working to rebuild the World Trade Center site.
"I wouldn't work there, especially after I found out about what the imam said about U.S. policy being responsible for 9/11," Kaiser said.
The grass-roots movement is gaining momentum on the Internet. One construction worker created the "Hard Hat Pledge" on his blog and asked others to vow not to work on the project if it stays on Park Place.
"Thousands of people are signing up from all over the country," said creator Andy Sullivan, a construction worker from Brooklyn. "People who sell glass, steel, lumber, insurance. They are all refusing to do work if they build there."
"Hopefully, this will be a tool to get them to move it," he said. "I got a problem with this ostentatious building looming over Ground Zero."
A planned 13-story community center and mosque two blocks from Ground Zero, Park51 has exploded into a national debate.
Louis Coletti, president of the Building Trades Employers' Association, said unions have not yet taken a "formal position" on Park51, but he understands why members would be hesitant to work there.
"It's a very difficult dilemma for the contractors and the organized labor force because we are experiencing such high levels of unemployment," he said. "Yet at the same time, this is a very sacred sight to the union guys."
"There were construction workers killed on 9/11 and many more who got horribly sick cleaning up Ground Zero," Coletti said. "It's very emotional."
L.V. Spina, a Manhattan construction worker who created anti-mosque stickers that some workers are slapping on their hardhats, said he would "rather pick cans and bottles out of trash cans" than build the Islamic center near Ground Zero.
"But if they moved it somewhere else, we would put up a prime building for these people," he said. "Hell, you could do it next to my house in Rockaway Beach, I would be fine with it. But I'm not fine with it where blood has been spilled."
Spina, who sells 9/11 apparel on his website, said he's printed thousands of stickers and plans to produce thousands more.
"They're going all over the country," he said. "They got pretty popular fast."
This is exactly what I have been saying..............talk to the 'real people'!
This mosque will NOT be built on this site!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
So is it by faith that 'GROUND ZERO' becomes a holy site???? we gave it a name and life based on DEATH......I say hold our heads high, get the politicians UN-INVOLVED and grow some cajones..... because IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOUR NEIGHBOR IS....they could be Hannibal Lechter for all you know but you dont stop living for the 'JUST IN CASE I'M OFFENDED'.......
Dumbass govenment union sheeple thinking......I dont like Jewish extremists like Howard Stern.....WTF!!!!!!
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Great Video Bumble... but AlQaeda terrorists flying into the WTC has nothing to do with Muslims building a Mosque... nothing except political exploitation of course.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Bumble these are amazing videos. Yes we should not forget what happened. But can we begin to forgive? That is another subject.
The subject is about building the mosque. They have the right to build it. Good and peace loving Muslims do not need to run away because of what terrorists have done. Al Qaeda did not ask to have a community center built. Those who are a bout peace did.
I dont care about forgiveness or the "I understand"......it happened it's over with.....either you move with me or your dead......final answer......mosque does NOT equal offense......if that is the case then their plumb line is the ONLY plumb line for the rest of us?????? GET OFF MY BACK....my 401k was affected just as much as your dead family member and so was my insurance premium.........SO LET ME TELL YOU HOW MY LIFE HAS BECOME MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF THIS.....YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE.....MY DREAMS HAVE BEEN INTERUPTED BECAUSE OF THIS....AND MY DREAMS ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS YOUR DEAD RELATIVE........GET OFF MY BACK,,,,GET THE HELL OUT OF MY POCKETS (I understand you receive payment for your 'suffering').....THE MOSQUE STANDS YOU NARROW MINDED FOOL......Faith????....who's faith and for what? and who's is more important? your relative or my dreams and plans?..................
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
By RACHEL ZOLL, AP Religion Writer Sat Aug 21, 12:56 am ET
NEW YORK – The furor over the planned mosque and Islamic center near ground zero has put Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf in a curious position: At the same time he is being vilified in the U.S. for spearheading the project, he is traveling the Mideast on a State Department mission as a symbol of American religious freedom. Some of the imam's American critics said they fear he is using the taxpayer-funded trip to raise money and rally support in the Muslim world for the mosque. "I think there is no place for this," said the Rev. Franklin Graham, who is the son of evangelist Billy Graham and opposes the Islamic center and mosque. "Can you imagine if the State Department paid to send me on a trip anywhere? The separation of church and state — the critics would have been howling." At his first event Friday in the Persian Gulf state of Bahrain, Rauf refused to discuss the uproar over plans for the community center two blocks from the World Trade Center site. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley has said Rauf understands that he cannot solicit funds for the project on his 15-day tour. The $100 million, 13-story project is modeled after the YMCA and Jewish Community Center. Rauf and his wife, Daisy Khan, a co-leader of the project, have a long record of interfaith outreach and insist the center will promote moderate Islam. Opponents have condemned the plan as an affront to families who lost loved ones on Sept. 11, 2001, and the sensibilities of a nation still dealing with the wounds of the attacks. Some critics have accused Rauf of quietly harboring extremist views. The dispute has sparked a national debate on religious freedom and American values and is becoming an issue on the campaign trail ahead of the midterm elections. In New York, Khan said organizers are sticking with their plan and are not considering scaling it back or changing locations. "Dropping the plan is definitely not an option at all," she told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Friday. Rauf has not commented on the controversy since it erupted earlier this summer..........................>>>>........................>>>>.................http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100821/ap_on_re_us/nyc_mosque_imam_18
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