BS from the beginning. We mustn’t let up on this. If regular people hadn’t fought against this atrocious ‘victory mosque,’ I’m sure it would have had smooth sailing. Don’t ever forget how much the establishment pushed for this, and be proud that your resistance and protests have no doubt helped to make it a mess. May their troubles continue. Losers.
The Islamic cultural center near Ground Zero that opened with great fanfare a year ago is now an empty space with no community programs.
And while the developers behind Park51 insisted for two years that the project was more than a mosque, it now appears to be just that. Dozens of worshipers gather at the site on Park Place Friday for prayer services — but that’s the only activity in the building.
Gone are the Arabic classes, workshops in calligraphy, talks on the genealogy of Muslims in America, film screenings and art exhibits. The sole community event is a class in capoeira — an Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines dance and music. The teacher of the twice-weekly class said she has five students…
Park51 organizers repeatedly refused to answer questions about what happened to the programs offered last fall and spring. Sharif El-Gamal, the lead developer behind the project, ducked out the women’s entrance for the prayer space and would not speak to a reporter.
Just two years ago, El-Gamal’s grand plans for the site — a $100 million, 15-story community center and prayer space — generated worldwide controversy because of its proximity to the Ground Zero site.
At the photography exhibit that kicked off the opening of a scaled-down center in September 2011, El-Gamal admitted he erred in not including families who lost loved ones on Sept. 11 in the planning process.
Development plans are now in limbo over fund-raising for the project and a dispute with Con Ed, which owns half the site. In 2009, El-Gamal’s company bought half the property, which once housed a Burlington Coat Factory store, for $4.8 million, and leased the other half from the utility. It is seeking to buy that part of the property.
Background Post:
Tammy Blog: “We Remember” New Ad from KeepAmericaSafe
Never forget.
*sigh* We all knew this was coming. We knew that it was just another example of Islam desecrating a site by placing a mosque on it to commemorate their attack on the Twin Towers. They love doing this kind of thing, just ask the people of Cordoba. The mosque at Ground Zero is to celebrate the murder of more than 3000 enemies of Islam by martyrs. Just as the planned memorial in PA. They want to build an open air mosque there too, complete with alcove oriented to Mecca.
They think that we are weak, because we allow them to do these things with impunity. What would be said if we decided to build a nice big cathedral in Fallujah? Even the Jews in Israel know the pain of this from experience. There is a mosque on the temple mount, built to honor the capture of Israel and the destruction of the Temple itself. I do not doubt that the Jewish people long to tear that mosque down and rebuild the Temple. But then many of us here are biblical scholars or have taken the time to learn the Talmud and also know our history pretty well.
I have no real problem with Muslims building mosques in the US, just not on the sites of terrorist attacks by fellow Muslims.
Yes, throughout their history, they build “victory” mosques. I would say they are like dogs “marking their territory,” but that would be an insult to dogs everywhere.
Mayor Bloomers was a big proponent of the mosque, excuse me, community center. Journalists should ask for his comment on this development.
This is all it was intended to be all along. With obama’s support, this will just be another finger in the eye of America.
I wonder what would happen if Cardinal Dolan decided to put up a “Victory Cathedral” at Hiroshima?
We can all thank Pamela Geller for her tireless efforts to call attention to the atrocities that happen in the name of Islam, something most Muslims dare not call out themselves.
Pamela was at the forefront of educating people at great risk to her own personal safety. I say give credit where credit is due and support her efforts.
Also, you can all contact ConEd and let them know how you feel about any place that discriminates against women ON THEIR PROPERTY. Tell them you will not stand for it.
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O/T, Tammy, have you ever invited Rosa Koire to speak on your show and would you invite her please soon?? Merci, Madame!