That's even better. :)

I figured since he's been on here for a while that he meant it in a general sense. As for your bolded, I tend to agree but it's been going on before we got here and will go on long after we die. Hell, a lot people happily and enthusiastically throw themselves into categories.

So apparently Obama did what he does best and got involved in a issue he should have left alone. Now both the GOP and Democrats hate him.

This is not in the realm of the Federal government, correct? Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I've tried to keep up with this but I care less everyday.

Obama doesn't know when and how to be quiet but it's not completely his fault. Someone who was always touted as a charismatic speaker (not leader, just speaker) has every right to run his mouth. All he has to do is invite everyone to the White House for beer.

(With all due respect, Mr. President. :D)

He really should of left it alone, and NO it's not in the realm of the Federal government. The only instance where I could see the Gov's getting involved in this is if NYC or the state had banned the construction of the mosque, which they didn't. This muslim group itself confuses me. They claim to be a community outreach center devoted to the understanding of Islam yet they seem oblivious to the outrage they are stirring up with all of this. Talk about getting off on the wrong foot.

I honestly think they are well aware of things. For so long people have been wanting Muslims to make an effort to openly stand against the the extremists of Islam, and to me that is what they are attempting.

Now that they are doing so they are being told "Not here" please.

As fare as the President goes...learn when to be quiet man! It's not a federal issue at all.

right.

I just really don't think that a JCC or a YMCA (or "Y", now) would meet this type of criticism. So I don't think they need to care about the relative proximity to Ground Zero.

I can understand why people who lost someone in the attacks, for example, feel so strongly about the location. I see that viewpoint, I just don't agree with it because you're right, if it was a JCC or YMCA it wouldn't cause this type of uproar. They have the right to worship where they please.

The fact that it's not a federal issue is sort of beside the point. It's definitely a political issue, and the president is a political as well as a governmental official. Then there's the whole bully-pulpit thing.

It's a no-win situation. If a he says nothing, he'll be pilloried by political opponents (and perhaps by political allies) for not taking a stand on the issue. If he says something, he'll be pilloried for what he says. If he says "it's not a federal issue" he'll be criticized for not taking a stand.

It's politics.

There are also people who lost loved ones who are in favor of it. Calling on the memory of the victims as a means to decry this effort is emotionally abusive and one-sided.

Well, of course, and I don't understand why people keep bringing up the JCC and YMCA. Agree or disagree, there are some basic concepts that should be understood:

This is a topic because it is a Mosque.
This is a topic because Muslim is not the dominant religion in America.
This is a topic because terrorists who claim to be Muslim committed a terrorist act.
This is a topic because a new Mosque (what it will include doesn't erase the religious component) is going to be built where many consider to be near Ground Zero.
This is a topic because it pisses many Americans off, including those who are well informed about the topic.

This is arguably not just about Islam and a mosque being built because a mosque being built in an area with a Muslim population and where "Ground Zero" is not in the same sentence may not have received so much attention. Similar would happen if terrorists who claimed to be Christian committed a terrorist act in a country, where Christianity is not the dominant religion, and planned on building a church a few blocks from the attack. And, no, "Christian outreach gone awry" doesn't count.

It's not ON ground zero, it's near it, just as close as any other building could be. I would have a problem with it if it were on GZ though, because I think there should be a 9/11 memorial.

I understood you to this point. What does this mean?

:eek: Ya don't say!