by Bill O'Connell on August 21, 2010
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church stood in the shadows of the World Trade Center until September 11, 2001. It was destroyed when one of the towers fell on it. For nine long years the congregation has been trying to rebuild the church but has been stonewalled by government officials. In 2008 a deal was struck with the Port Authority where the Port Authority would provide land and $20 million to rebuild the church, but the deal appears to be dead. According to the Port Authority:
“the church was making additional demands — like wanting the $20 million up front and wanting to review plans for the surrounding area. They say the church can still proceed on its own if it wishes.
“’The church continues to have the right to rebuild at their original site, and we will pay fair market value for the underground space beneath that building,’ a spokesperson with the Port Authority told Fox News.”
The church sees it differently:
“But Karloutsos [assistant to the Archbishop] called the Port Authority’s claims ‘propaganda’ and said the church has complied with all conditions. He said the government should honor agreements that date back to 2004, under former New York Gov. George Pataki.
“Pataki, speaking with Fox News on Tuesday, agreed that the church should be rebuilt.
“’I don’t understand it,’ Pataki said. ‘Why the Port Authority now has so far put roadblocks in the way of its reconstruction is beyond me. It’s not the right thing to do.’”
Contrast this nine year marathon to the sprint that the mosque at Ground Zero is running. The proponents are waving the flag of religious freedom, but is that the real flag? Or is it a triumph of the radicals who knocked down the World Trade Center and now want to plant their victory flag in its place? Consider the following:
- It is called the Cordoba Initiative. Historically speaking Cordoba was the high point of Islamic advance in Europe in the Middle Ages. They built their grand mosque on the foundation of a cathedral. If nothing else it’s an interesting choice of names.
- The Imam behind the project said, only days after 9/11, that the US was an accessory in the attack and that Osama bin Laden was “made in the USA”
- Who is funding the project? If this is to build bridges between Muslims and non-Muslims in America, why isn’t being funded by all the moderate Muslims in America? It is believed that money is coming from Saudi Arabia and Iran. Why is that necessary?
The primary objection to the mosque is not that they don’t have a right to build it but that in building it so close to Ground Zero that it is incredibly insensitive. How do you begin to build bridges by sticking your thumb in the eye of the people you are trying to win over? It seems to suggest other motives. Remembering the glee around the Middle East immediately following 9/11, I can imagine a similar celebration upon the completion of a mosque at Ground Zero. If that is their real motive and it gets built, it will forever be a stake piercing the hearts of the families of those who died.
by Bill O'Connell on August 20, 2010
The controversy surrounding the Ground Zero mosque remains at the top of the news. The battle over who stood where on the issue is shaping up to be a key campaign issue for November. In New York, one of the candidates, Randy Altschuler has been pounding the Democrat incumbent Tim Bishop to say where he stands. After considerable foot dragging, Bishop finally came out as opposed to the mosque being built in the shadow of Ground Zero. Why did it take so long? Was he putting his finger in the air to determine which answer would score the most political points?
What about some of the other politicians? Altschuler is strongly opposed as is indicated on the front page of his website. Chris Cox, who is running against Altschuler and Bishop, it is not so clear. It doesn’t appear on his website, at least not in any of the obvious places. Newsday gives a rundown on those already in office.
- Those opposed: Peter King (R), Tim Bishop (D), Steve Isreal (D)
- It wouldn’t be fair to say the following politicians favor the project, they more judiciously say they are not opposed;
- Kirsten Gillibrand (D), the unelected Senator appointed to fill Hillary Clinton’s seat is in a special election this fall
- Carolyn McCarthy (D) takes no stand other than to say it is emotional. Ms. McCarthy was propelled into office on the sympathy she garnered when tragedy struck her family at the hand of LIRR gunman Colin Ferguson. Afterwards she felt compelled to travel the country and fight for gun control, making it harder for her fellow law abiding citizens to protect their homes and families. But when 3,000 of her neighbors are slaughtered in the name of Islam, she has no opinion about a mosque being built nearby other than to say it’s an emotional issue.
- It has been said that the most dangerous place on earth is the ground between Chuck Schumer (D) and a television camera. Chuck’s been in hiding on this issue, but through a spokesman he says he’s not opposed.
- Gary Ackerman (D) is on vacation and apparently his office doesn’t know his position or how to contact him to ask.
The more interesting thing is an article in the Daily Caller that reports about moderate Muslims who are opposed to the mosque on the same grounds as most Americans. They feel it is insensitive and inappropriate. There may be a majority of Muslims here and around the world who are appalled by the actions of the radical extremists, but they are not very outspoken. They were not outspoken on 9/11 nor are they very outspoken regarding the mosque. Their voices are muted at best, when they should be screaming from the rooftops that these miscreants are hijacking their religion. It could be for fear of reprisal from the radicals, who will kill anyone at the merest provocation. However, if they don’t speak up, their silence will speak for them. The radicals will become more strident and non-Muslims will take the moderate’s silence as acquiescence. If the moderates truly believe what this article says, the mosque would not be built and healing the rift between Muslims and non-Muslims could begin in earnest. They need to be more vocal and take the lead in the War on Terrorism, to root out this evil from Islam.
