Ground Zero Mosque: Bloomberg Chokes Up During Stirring Defense Of Muslim Center

Salon:

New York mayor chokes up defending "ground zero" Muslim center by citing religious freedom, private property rights

Read the whole story: Salon

Comments

[FDBfloNY]

01:36 PM on 08/20/2010

The man who wants to build the mosque is a member of the Sufi sect of Islam -- about as far from the jihadist Wahabi camp as the Unitarian Church is from Christian fundamentalists who bomb abortion clinics. Building the mosque in NYC would send the strongest possible message to the world, especially the Islamic world, AGAINST jihadist terrorism and could serve as a center for interfaith understanding and tolerance. Sufis are a target of jihadi terrorists too!

[Join or Die]

11:59 AM on 08/04/2010

I am originally from New York.

I have a brother who is a NY fireman and spent days searching the rubble of the WTC.

I am no fan of religion. Any of them.

At the end of the day it comes down to one thing:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.."

If holding up the ideals of the United States of America was easy, everyone would be doing it.

[juicyju]

09:13 PM on 08/05/2010

Yet NJ just pulled 3 kids out of their parent's home because they were named Hitler and Aryan Nation. Seems like we do pick & choose.
Didn't say the gov. should be the one to stop it, just don't think it belongs there, anymore than a GW statue in Baghdad.

[Aquinnah1]

08:10 AM on 08/04/2010

This was a vote for decency, common sense, tolerance, freedom and, above all, the separation of church and state. www.eightfits.blogspot.com

[juicyju]

12:43 AM on 08/04/2010

I wish Bloomberg spoke out against it, just to see all of you "religious freedom" types take racist remarks at him.

[Join or Die]

11:51 AM on 08/04/2010

LOL! What?

[Venicelady]

05:51 AM on 08/05/2010

Does anyone remember the remarks that Mayor Bloomberg made after the almost bombing of Times Square, before the facts were in about who tried to commit this act of terror?

His Honor tried to ascribe the act to some disgruntled person, possibly belonging to some right wing group.

Facts did not bear out the Mayor's statement. It's not the first time that the Mayor has issued inflammatory remarks before the facts were in on sensitive cases.

People that don't live in N.Y.C. don't realize how we are "governed" by this megalomaniacal billionaire that sees the city as his own personal fiefdom. I'm amused by this man who, on the surface, wraps himself in the Constitution, then plays by his own rules.

Can we spell H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E?

[juicyju]

09:08 PM on 08/05/2010

yup!

[disgustedwithall]

07:51 PM on 08/03/2010

Score
Ignorance/hate/intolerance and thier spin ministers/fanciers.
ZERO
Mayor Bloomberg, the move evolved and civilized USA.
ONE.

Thank you Mayor, as with what is going on across USA, the hate, ignorance, fear mongering and nearly a return to 1800-1900's mob hysteria's, promoted by those the do for no other reason then to obtain personal/political powers, I fear that lady, that statute behind you in photo may soon start to weep if such thugs keep up such actions, and some citizen support.

It seems a portion of this once great nation, that small percentage, the ignorant, the fearful, the haters, those whom cast no ethical or moral shadows, are being manipulated, stirred up to scary levels to advance political and in the end, monetary agendas for a small portion of power hungry and the greedy.

Am proud of a Mayor that does not bend to the fires of hate being fueled by very few for personal-financial and political gains. Yet distressed at how easily more then a few, from NYC to AZ and across this once great nation are so quick to shed what made USA lead the world in freedom's, are now being recruited into the fearful destruction of same.

[RIPRNC]

06:10 PM on 08/03/2010

Gotta love the term "Religious Freedom." Thats an oxymoron if I've ever herd one. Religion enslaves minds.

[RIPRNC]

06:22 PM on 08/03/2010

*heard, of course.

[Join or Die]

11:51 AM on 08/04/2010

I agree, but that still doesn't mean we get to pick and choose which ones are allowed to operate in America.

[Freenation]

06:00 PM on 08/03/2010

Bloomberg proved he was worth the third time...ADL should be ashamed for caving to right wing nuts like Gingrich

[WichitaDem]

05:45 PM on 08/03/2010

I'm not a New Yorker or a Republican. But, if I could vote for that man to be Mayor again, I would. BRAVO! He is outlining just what it means to really live by by American values. Doesn't mean it's easy. I predict the text of that speech will be remembered far beyond his lifetime. Thank you, Mayor Bloomberg, for showing us the hypocrisy of reactionaries like short-sighted Fox News commentators, who would rather send our constitutional rights through the shredder.

[Truthosaurus]

12:55 AM on 08/04/2010

Sure, lets vote for the guy who wants to extend the Bush tax cuts for the rich. Not surprising since he is arguably the richest person in New York.

Bllomberg's speech was awful. He is a holder of a secular office, and yet was making claims such as "there is no neighborhood in this City that is off limits to God's love and mercy". I guess that is news to the atheists, but who cares about them anyway. Bloomberg spouting religious propaganda surrounded by an assortment of clerics, way to go mayor;)

[Michael in NYC]

05:41 PM on 08/03/2010

I'm not a big fan of Bloomberg (three terms and the rich are getting richer and the poor are being driven out--or at least marginalized to the fringes of the outer boroughs), but I am proud and amazed at the eloquence of this speech. This should be taught in schools as it's one for the history books

[Venicelady]

03:05 AM on 08/05/2010

The Mayor and his Chancellor are too busy trying to fire teachers in N.Y.C. When they're done, there WON'T be any teachers to teach about his "eloquent" speech in the classrooms of N.Y.C.

Besides, he probably had Howard Wolfson ( $200,000 yearly salary) write this speech for him.

[lonngfello]

05:40 PM on 08/03/2010

While the U.S. has never completely lived up to the ideals contained within the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, today we witness the spirit contained within those ideals is very much alive. That was an excellent speech descibing the soul of America. Now we wait for another attempt from those who would destroy that spirit by arbitrarily deciding what it means to live as an American.

[NamSpurs]

05:37 PM on 08/03/2010

Just read the speech in its entirety. That was an awesome speech!!! Have a new found respect for Bloomberg.

[JadedAggie]

05:34 PM on 08/03/2010

It's a great speech and makes the most important points for why the government should not intervene.

[PeanutButterJellyGirl]

05:26 PM on 08/03/2010

I liked the speech. He broke it down to the basics of what role government should play in dictating the use for private property. I also had to reach for the tissues when recounting the history of religious tolerance and intolerance in NY. I was in full bawl mode by the time he got to talking about first responders. Good job, Mikey.

[1234j]

05:25 PM on 08/03/2010

We say no the terriosts win

We say yes, the terriosts feel our strength as a country.

[HekmagaJuximakLives]

05:31 PM on 08/03/2010

No. They win, too. They feel our weakness as a country.
If we were more like Saddam Hussein or Hitler, they would respect THAT.
They do not think like you or me. They are different that way.

[1234j]

06:04 PM on 08/03/2010

You are right. I didn't look at it that way. Thanks.

[newhouse1]

07:04 PM on 08/03/2010

Think for yourself and open your eyes. Both of the examples of supposed strength are worm food now. What you suggest (was) strength was actually weakness masquerading. It takes zero strength, in fact, it is quite cowardly to gas the Kurds, or send people to gas chambers, neither who had the ability or societal character to fight back when challenged. We are better precisely because when challenged, we are capable of responding, but we don't "pretend" we are strong be devolving into insanity because our adversaries choose to act insane. We deal with them, and then we go about the task of progressing as a civilization.

[Troops to Border]

05:24 PM on 08/03/2010

Give the Islamic extremist a permit to build a mosque, 200 miles east of NYC

[Geoffreys]

05:29 PM on 08/03/2010

So, they entire thing about religious freedom and upholding our ideals just slid right past you, didn't it?

[disgustedwithall]

08:00 PM on 08/03/2010

You kind of lack much education in what USA is about... in fact a lot of education. Perhaps you might read a bit of USA and European religious history when you return to Jr HS this fall. Now put away mommy/dads PC and go play before it gets dark.