NYC community board OKs ground zero mosque plans

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Then why is this a news story?

You know the answer to that. There's so much misunderstanding surrounding this whole topic. The proposed building will house a fitness center, swimming pool, meeting rooms, cultural center, culinary school, library, etc. all of which are open to the entire community.

It's going to be a modern thirteen-story center. The "mosque" is only a part of it. Also, it's not AT ground zero. It's blocks away. There's currently a Christian church closer to ground zero than this building will be.

The mosque that is AT ground zero has been there for 30 years and is not affiliated with the Islamic center we're discussing.

ETA: If you haven't seen this article, I recommend giving it a look: http://www.forward.com/articles/128347/

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

The proposed building will house a fitness center, swimming pool, meeting rooms, cultural center, culinary school, library, etc. all of which are open to the entire community.

What the building consists of is extremely unimportant to me. Jewish centers in many areas hold the same things and most of them are open to the community (some with a minimal fee for some of the faciliites), but that doesn't minimize the fact that it's a Jewish center. I also never forget that the YMCA and YWCA are Christian-based. That's very apparent regardless of whether the entire community can use the facilities. It's also no surprise when the entire community, in some religiously and racially/ethnicity heterogenous areas, does NOT use the facilities.

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

There's currently a Christian church closer to ground zero than this building will be.

So? LOL. Christianity remains the dominant religion in America.

Anyway, I've gone back to not giving a shit about this topic since there's a mosque at ground zero that has been there for 30 years.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

So? LOL. Christianity remains the dominant religion in America.

But it cannot legally be privileged under the law. Not even if it makes some people feel uncomfortable.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

But it cannot legally be privileged under the law. Not even if it makes some people feel uncomfortable.

I know. For the aforementioned reason, it's simply not noteworthy that a Christian center is at ground zero.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

What the building consists of is extremely unimportant to me. Jewish centers in many areas hold the same things and most of them are open to the community (some with a minimal fee for some of the faciliites), but that doesn't minimize the fact that it's a Jewish center. I also never forget that the YMCA and YWCA are Christian-based. That's very apparent regardless of whether the entire community can use the facilities. It's also no surprise when the entire community, in some religiously and racially/ethnicity heterogenous areas, does NOT use the facilities.

You've hit on my point. This facility has been modeled specifically on Jewish Community Centers (JCCs). Titling it a mosque is a half-truth that has been perpetrated by Islamophobes who want to get a reaction out of you.

Perhaps in the not-too-distant future, we'll be seeing Islamic Centers popping up all over the country. Then, after a while, they'll become so common that people will forget that they're Islamic Centers...like many people - other than you - have forgotten what the "C" in YMCA/YWCA stands for.

Originally Posted by Drolefille

But it cannot legally be privileged under the law. Not even if it makes some people feel uncomfortable.

Precisely.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

like many people - other than you - have forgotten what the "C" in YMCA/YWCA stands for.

I would like to meet those people. I guess they were following behind The Village People.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I would like to meet those people. I guess they were following behind The Village People.

I had heard rumors that people didn't realize YMCA was an acronym. I hadn't met these people until very recently. One of my coworkers remarked on the YMCA changing its name to "The Y." In the conversation that followed, I discovered that she had no idea of the former legal name.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

I had heard rumors that people didn't realize YMCA was an acronym. I hadn't met these people until very recently. One of my coworkers remarked on the YMCA changing its name to "The Y." In the conversation that followed, I discovered that she had no idea of the former legal name.

Our YMCA and YWCA merged into "The Y" here many years ago. I think it simply reflects how their mission has changed and move away from the religious orientation. But I'm not surprised that not everyone knows what it stood for if they'd never had a reason to ask.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

I had heard rumors that people didn't realize YMCA was an acronym. I hadn't met these people until very recently. One of my coworkers remarked on the YMCA changing its name to "The Y." In the conversation that followed, I discovered that she had no idea of the former legal name.

Perhaps because the YMCA was always called "The Y" in some areas.