OBAMA - Ground Zero's Mosque (NYC)

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6771227n

(CBS) President Barack Obama's comments supporting the right to build a mosque near Ground Zero have sharply divided the right and the left, with Republican strategists continuing the onslaught Sunday on CBS' Face the Nation.

After skirting the controversy for weeks, the president said Friday that a nation built on religious freedom must allow the building of the mosque.

"As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country," Obama told a crowd gathered at the White House to observe the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

He weighed his words carefully on Saturday, adding that although Muslims have the right to build a mosque near ground zero, he did not say whether he believes it is a good idea to do so.


Ground Zero Mosque Supported by Jewish Activists

(AP) A group of Jewish activists and community leaders voiced their support for a planned mosque near ground zero and said opponents, including the nation's leading Jewish civil rights group, are perpetuating misunderstandings about Islam.

Rabbi Arthur Waskow, of the Philadelphia-based Shalom Center, joined about 30 other religious leaders and Jewish activists Thursday at the spot where the Cordoba Initiative hopes to build an Islamic center that will include a mosque, an athletic center, a culinary school and art studios. Waskow says the mosque will help people learn more about Islam.

"Whenever there has been bloodshed allegedly in the name of one tradition or another, it's necessary to say, 'That's not what that tradition is about,'" Waskow, 76, said. "The Cordoba Initiative will keep saying that is not what Islam is about."

The mosque and community center would be located two blocks from the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. SoHo Properties, a partner in the effort, purchased the property for nearly $5 million. Early plans call for a 13-story, $100 million Islamic center, of which the mosque would be a part.

11 September 2001 Conspiracy Theory
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1231780/jesse_ventura_debates_the_9_11_conspiracy_theory/

Obama dikecam sokong masjid Ground Zero

2010/08/16

WASHINGTON: Kumpulan anggota keluarga mangsa serangan 9/11 semalam mengecam tindakan Presiden Barack Obama mempertahankan hak masyarakat Islam di negara itu membina kompleks masjid berhampiran ‘Ground Zero’ – lokasi serangan pengganas ke atas New York pada 11 September 2001 itu.

Kumpulan Safe & Strong America yang mewakili beberapa anggota keluarga mangsa, berkata mereka ‘terperanjat’ dengan kenyataan Obama mempertahankan pembinaan masjid itu.

Menurut kumpulan itu Obama “sudah lupa bahawa tapak berkenaan adalah tempat di mana hati rakyat Amerika terluka sembilan tahun lalu.
“Kini presiden kita mahu mangsa dan keluarga 9/11 menanggung beban tambahan iaitu berdiam diri atau jika bersuara dikecam sebagai membelakangkan toleransi agama.”

Kumpulan itu menganggap pembinaan masjid berkenaan adalah tindakan provokatif.
Bagaimanapun Mei lalu, sebuah lagi kumpulan yang mewakili mangsa 9/11 September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows berkata ia menyokong kuat pembinaan masjid berkenaan.

Tinjauan pendapat yang dilaksanakan CNN/Opinion Research awal bulan ini mendapati 68 peratus daripada responden membantah pembinaan masjid dan pusat Islam itu, manakala 29 peratus menyokongnya.
Ahli Kongres, Peter King dari New York berkata masyarakat Islam menyalahgunakan hak mereka dan dengan tanpa sebab mahu “menyakitkan hati orang lain.”

Pada majlis berbuka puasa di Rumah Putih Jumaat lalu, Obama berkata: “Umat Islam mempunyai hak yang sama seperti orang lain untuk mengamalkan agama mereka di negara ini.

“Hak itu termasuk kebebasan untuk membina masjid dan pusat masyarakat di tapak persendirian.”

Suruhanjaya Bandar Raya New York meluluskan pembinaan masjid dan pusat Islam itu 3 Ogos lalu.

Datuk Bandar New York, Michael Bloomberg mengalu-alukan tindakan Obama mempertahankan hak beragama itu.

Katanya cadangan masjid itu adalah “ujian penting kepada konsep pemisahan agama dan kerajaan di negara ini,” katanya.

Isu berkenaan mencetuskan debat penuh emosi di negara itu dengan sebuah gereja di Florida merancang mengadakan majlis “membakar Al-Quran” pada 11 September yang juga jatuh pada 1 Syawal tahun ini. – AFP