Palin: Ground Zero mosque an 'unnecessary provocation'
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/07/19/art.palin.0515r4.gi.jpg caption ="Sarah Palin said Sunday that plans to build a mosque at Ground Zero are an ‘unnecessary provocation.’"] (CNN) - Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the proposed construction of a mosque and community center near "Ground Zero," the site of the 9/11 terror attack in New York City, calling it an "unnecessary provocation."
"Peace-seeking Muslims, pls understand, Ground Zero mosque is UNNECESSARY provocation; it stabs hearts," Palin wrote in a Twitter post Sunday. "Pls reject it in interest of healing."
The former Republican vice presidential nominee also posted a plea to "peaceful New Yorkers," asking them to "pls refute the Ground Zero mosque plan if you believe catastrophic pain caused @ Twin Towers site is too raw, too real."
Plans to build a $100 million, 13-story center - focused on what backers describe as Islamic, interfaith and secular programming - has sparked an emotional debate.
New York's Landmarks Preservation Commission is scheduled to hold a key vote in August on whether an 1850s structure currently on the site of the proposed center should be granted landmark status. Even if landmark status is approved, however, it may not necessarily halt construction of the center.
Voices opposing the mosque dominated a hearing on the subject last week.
"It would be a terrible mistake to destroy a 154-year-old building in order to build a monument to terrorism," one woman said.
The heckling and intense nature of the hearing got to be too much for some participants.
"I'm ashamed to be an American today," said Rakif Gathwari, a Muslim-American, who reminded the crowd that people from many countries and religions died in the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
"I want to prove to this hall that I am a citizen," Gathwari said, holding up his passport.
Some Muslim community leaders say the mosque could provide an opportunity for improving interfaith relations.
The project, according to a Muslim outreach group called the Cordoba Initiative, calls for the construction of a mosque, a performing arts center, a gym, a swimming pool and other public spaces.
- CNN's Deb Feyerick, Julian Cummings, Ed Payne and Alan Silverleib contributed to this report
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Muslim is a religion the same as christianity. Why would you ban a building because of 911? The ones who committed this vile act were muslim is not a reason. If that is a reason, then christian churches should not be in the same cities that spawned Jeffrey dahmer or ted bundy. People stop the generalizations, they apply to you to.
We can call ourselves a christian nation and act just like the regime in Iran. whats the difference??
HER, AGAIN????? Please go away.
If you can't bring down a 154 years old building,
shouldn't the Government make demolitions illegal?
If an old bridge is rusted so be it.... nobody should demolish it and build a new one because the old one has "character".
That's what Palin fans do best: HATE
I thought Palin was all about small government... is this not overreaching???
Everytime this chick opens up her mouth about conteversial issues the less chances she has of becoming the republican presidential nominee.
Darn.
While it seems that all Caribou Barbie knows how to do is slam other people's ideas, I (God help me for saying this!) have to agree with her on this subject. Although I know that the vast majority of Muslims are not terrorists, I think building a mosque anywhere near the site of the WTC monument would only inflame tensions and lead to acts of violence by the less tolerant members of American society.
Sarah, grow up and stop with the tweets. If you have something to say then say it , but these ridiculous tweets are getting old. And I also think you are wrong about the mosque. I'm not surprised by your stand, but I disagree with it. Let them build it. It is their right in this country. I would think a religious person such as yourself would embrace that and understand they have that right.
What better way to HEAL than to accept and welcome a religion for what it is: a peaceful pursuit of a relationship with the almighty. Stoking fear and emotions is not healing.
Good old predictable Sarah...right out there in front for religious freedom, as long as it's Christianity. She muddies the issues to the detriment of all.
Sarah Palin is the world's largest unnecessary provocation. I refudiate her.
"It would be a terrible mistake to destroy a 154-year-old building in order to build a monument to terrorism,"
Are you kidding me?
First it is sad they have to destroy a historic building, second it's sad that there are Americans who still fail to see that this was an attack on America by an extremist group of people, who are a minority. That quote is like saying that all Southern Baptists are bad because of a small few who evangelize hatred towards other religions, or that all Catholics are Idol worshipping crucifiers.
I do feel that it is not right to place a Mosque at the location but would prefer a general assembly building where people of all denominations could worship in peace and harmony.
The country and all of it people, from all walks of life were hurt on 9-11 and we need to remember that and stand together as Americans regardless of our religious affiliations.
why not just make the entire area completely off limits to ALL religious organizations.
I like a person who will speak their mind. I haven’t always like Sarah Palin, but I like the fact that she will stand up for the heart of America, which is not Muslim, and feel this mosque is a deliberate attempt by Muslims to insult the American people and push their ideologies upon us. America as a Christian nation must question the timing and motives behind building such a place. It will send a clear message to the entire world that if you use force and attach America, you can conquer and move right in. I don’t have a problem with practicing whatever religion, but why this location, now? Why not some other location? Wouldn’t have the same meaning, effect? Um, would it?
I never thought there will an instance that I would agree with this woman, but here it is. I think that the idea of building this mosque just steps away from the ground zero is just crazy and as Sarah said, it will hurt so many people that I think the idea should be withdraw. It really seems provocative. Can you imagine what will happen in Saudi Arabia if for example there are plans to build a Christian church close Medina? That will be the end of the world.
I hate to say it, but I agree with Sarah Palin. I despise some of the crap she says; but, in this case, I think she has articulated it well. I am a New Yorker that was downtown on 9/11. People's nerves in regards to this issue are too raw and the grief is a long way from healed. You can not force people to forgive right away. Forgiveness can only come from a heart that is at peace with itself. Maybe in a few decades this may be possible. Building this would be like building a war memorial to the Japanese soldiers at Pearl Harbor.
Bloomberg and others that are backing this initiative should not ram this down people's throats. The Muslim community and the others who are trying to force this political issue must accept this and try to find other ways to reach out in other ways.
Peace,
The Muslims behind this project may be of the "secular, tolerant" variety, but I'm wondering how (or IF) they are going to handle all of the extremists who will frequent their mosque and consider it to be a sacred site because of what happened on 9/11. You know some of the lunatic fringe will show up and make trouble.
In our country, we have Irish-american, Germany-american, Jewish-american, NAACP, Arab-american and other groups that represent a specific ethnic group of the many cultures that live in our great nation, knowning full well that if you where to visit any of these countries they drop the prefix and see you only as an American especially if you are more than 2nd generation American. 911 proved to us that the group of people that plan this attack, did not care who was in the buildings, they also dropped the prefix and only saw Americans they were killing, so why in GOD's name would we want to highlight the prefix of any ethnic group as the cause of the 911 attach. These people where against the American people not a specific ethnic group of americans. Grow up and learn, or forever be in the darkness of hate.
The only way to please Sarah would be to build the building 1/2 way then quit.
When did this woman start to think that what she has to say means anything to a person with half a brain?? She probably did not know that New York City existed. Look at the people who show up at her events...they are the same people you see coming out of Dollar General and KMart..real bright bulbs! But CNN has got to stop giving her ink...and let that moron organization Fox Noise do it themselves...no one cares about Sarah Palin and neither should CNN.
From what I read this morning, her tweet was just one of several. The first two used words that don't exist in the English language, so they were deleted and what is quoted here is her final tweet. My lord she's a moron.
I have seen and heard enough from this woman.
One liner Palin, where in the Constitution does it state, freedom of religion only to those who follow my beliefs?
Sara Palin- Please run for president. I want to see you gert absolutely TROUNCED.
How does a mosque offend someone who believes in the Constitution and the Freedom of Religon?