Your Daily Dose of Park51 Updates and Commentary

In a way, I should thank the planners of the so-called Ground Zero Mosque -- otherwise known as Park51 -- for inspiring and rekindling my writing/blogging bug like nothing has since the 2004 Election. I guess everyone needs his or her own muse, no matter how revolting and life-threatening it may be. Conquering Islamo-terrorists, John Frenchy Kerry, it's all the same!

Look for the Union Label

Via @midlifechick on Twitter comes word that many New York City-based unions and vendors may tell the builders of Park 51 to take a flying leap when RFP time rolls around.



I'm no unionist, for sure, but one cannot imagine without being horrified how many hard-working union members -- construction, police, EMT, nurses, food service, clerical, and more -- were murdered during the attack. It's perfectly understandable -- and 100% well within their consitutional rights -- to refuse to work on this project. And if there are no available workers to build the facility (NY is not a right-to-work state), then it's questionable if Park51 will get built at all. A perfect potential solution, completely legal and free of government intervention.

And how ironic it is, indeed, that the heroic leader of the new Blue Collar Corner's name is...Andrew Sullivan.

Just hope for their sakes that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi doesn't "investigate their financing" as a result.

Rudy Returns!

No less than 24 hours after my lament that the man was gone for good, Rudy Giuliani returned to the political airwaves today, and hit all of the key take-aways with his usual dose of rational delivery.

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Regardless of how he felt on the matter -- and make no mistake, he hit all of the points succinctly and accurately, from legality to sensitivity to a bigger picture -- for a figure so forever entangled with the tragedy of 9/11 to remain silent felt like a gaping void in the debate. Glad to see him again, especially in a fashion which allowed him to rhetorically eviscerate the vapid Ken doll Matt Lauer.

Even Some Muslims Think This Is a Colossal Disaster

Finally, a handful of voices of reason emerge even on the other side of the debate.

American Muslims who support the proposed mosque and Islamic center near ground zero are facing skeptics within their own faith — those who argue that the project is insensitive to Sept. 11 victims and needlessly provocative at a time when Muslims are pressing for wider acceptance in the U.S.

"For most Americans, 9/11 remains as an open wound, and anything associated with Islam, even for Americans who want to understand Islam — to have an Islamic center with so much publicity is like rubbing salt in open wounds," said Akbar Ahmed, professor of Islamic studies at American University, a former Pakistani ambassador to Britain and author of "Journey Into America, The Challenge of Islam." He said the space should include a synagogue and a church so it will truly be interfaith.

Abdul Cader Asmal, past president of the Islamic Council of New England, an umbrella group for more than 15 Islamic centers, said some opponents of the $100 million, 13-story project are indeed anti-Muslim. But he said many Americans have genuine, understandable questions about Islam and extremism.

In light of those fears, and the opposition of many relatives of 9/11 victims, Asmal said organizers should dramatically scale back the project to just a simple mosque, despite their legal right to construct what they want.

"Winning in the court of law is not going to help improve the image of Muslims nationwide," said Asmal, a Massachusetts physician. "You have to win the hearts and minds of the ordinary American people,"

Of course, winning hearts and minds -- at least, by means other than force -- has never exactly been a strong point in a religion based mostly on conquest. Still, it is very reassuring to see that cooler heads do exist and are willing to take a path less provocative and belligerent. Even if some think the whole thing is, of course, part of a vast Zionist Conspiracy. Maybe there's hope for a Great Islamic Reformation after all. Maybe.

H/t to @dorkelina on Twitter for the article above.

Links:

• "Giuliani: If Dialogue and Sensitivity are the Goals, Don't Build the Mosque on Ground Zero" (Hot Air)
• "What Mosque Supporters Won't Say" (Piece of Work in Progress)
• "Some Muslims Question Mosque Near Ground Zero" (The Leaf Chronicle)
• "Top Muslims Condemn Ground Zero Mosque as 'Zionist Conspiracy'" (Pajamas Media)
• "Pelosi Wants Mosque Dissenters Investigated" (Big Government)
• "Workers Pledging Not to Work on Ground Zero Mosque" (Can I Just Finish My Waffle?)

Update on Cordoba House and Rudy Giuliani as the LeBron James of Politics

Did You Know?

I confess I am not necessarily the most up to date on my Islamic history, so I was caught unawares of the true significance of "Cordoba House," the original name of the Park 51 so-called Ground Zero mosque.

Turns out, the Great Mosque of Cordoba reflected one of the highlights of the conquest of Europe by the Moors in the 8th Century, a grand celebration of Islamic culture built on top of the Christian Church of St. Vincent by the exiled Emir Abd ar-Rahman I of Damascus. Eventually, some five hundred years later, Christians reconquered Spain and the mosque was once again rebranded the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, which stands today.

Only the most skeptical or politically clueless (meaning, I suppose, Barack Obama and most of the Democratic Party leadership) would not see the name "Cordoba" as a deliberate act of provocation, and a strong hint towards the builders' intent. When coupled with the other revelation that there are, in fact, two other mosques in Lower Manhattan it becomes harder and harder to see this as merely catering to a burgeoning Muslim population in the area desperate for a convenient house of worship.

That doesn't mean, again, that at this point the mosque should not be built, or that we need to trample our inalienable rights. It just means that this act of war gets me fired up to resurrect the giant, well-endowed floating pig from the Pink Floyd concerts of the 1970s in preparation for letting it fly once again on Park Place.

What the Hell Is Wrong With NY's Elected Officials?

Meanwhile, my esteemed junior United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has come out full on in favor of building the Islamic Center of Community, trotting out the "it's a local issue yet I still love it unconditionally" line.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand made her position known today in the controversial surrounding the building of an Islamic community center near Ground Zero. “This has been reviewed and considered by the community board…I support the community board’s decision.”

If only my state's GOP was capable of funding and fielding a strong, common-sense, fiscally conservative candidate to challenge her bid for election this November (can't call it "reelection" since she was a selected replacement for former Senator Hillary Clinton in 2008). Instead, of course, three candidates are vying for the job, all of questionable statue and reputation for the task at hand.

Which brings up once again the question, "Where the hell is Rudy Giuliani?" Well, unfortunately, I think it's time for this blogger, one of Rudy's biggest political fans in the world, to come to the realization that the former mayor of New York City will not be riding in on his horse ever again to save this state or party. Giuliani has already well established his legacy, and with his advancing age and history of health woes it's unlikely that he would ever want to rise to another Herculean challenge such as righting the sinking ship that is New York State. It's a completely understandable and human position to want to take, and he should not be begrudged for it. Rather, look at Rudy now as the Lebron James of Politics -- unconcerned with his reputation and happy to merely hang with his buddies and make money for all perpetuity. I lambasted Lebron for it previously, but in this case let's call the decision quintessentially ... American.

Links:

• "Two Mosques/Islamic Centers Currently Within 1.5 Miles of Ground Zero" (Campaign Spot)
• "Sen. Gillibrand: I ♥ Judge Walker's Finding of an Uncontestable Constitutional Right to Gay Marriage, and Now I ♥ the Ground Zero Mosque, Too" (Ace of Spades HQ)
• "New York G.O.P. Selects Candidate for U.S. Senate" (The New York Times)
• Great Mosque of Córdoba (Wikipedia)
• The King of Sports: What LeBron James Taught Us About Business Management, Antitrust Violations, Marketing, and Life as Pro Wrestling (Geek Soap Box)

Planting the Flag: How One Mosque May Change Life as We Know It

Various aspects of this post have been mulling around in my head for days or even weeks now; in many ways, it will be the perfect encapsulation of the story of the Death of the West, a tale of appeasement and surrender in the disguised name of freedom, both of speech and religion. I can barely even bring myself to write about it, as the emotions brought forth are still so raw and brutal that, ten years later, they still shape my every nightmare and paranoia.

Issue #1 -- War and the Conquering Religion

To borrow one of the president's favorite phrases, let's be clear right off the bat: the Park 51 mosque and community center has absolutely nothing to do with promoting tolerance or taking advantage of underutilized office space in Lower Manhattan. The building is located one block from the site of the most deadly and successful Islamic terror attack in history, one that was responsible for the murder of thousands. It's also scheduled to open on the very tenth anniversary of the attack, to the exact day. If that isn't deliberate provocation and of an incendiary mindset it will be hard to locate any in history.

This building is going up as a landmark, a deliberate sign of a perceived victory, and as another gateway into the eventual conquest of the infidel in the name of jihad.

"Oh, but we've always been just as bad...look at the Crusades!," someone remarked to me just this week. Firstly, the Crusades occurred over 500 years ago, get over it. It's not a Christian cathedral that stands in Jerusalem on the arguably holiest site on earth, it's the Dome of the Rock, a mosque built over the original Temple Mount with the express purpose of celebrating the conquering of the Middle East by Muslim forces. Only one religion still looks to convert the unwashed masses by force or death.

Let's just start calling it for what it is, and not pretend otherwise with some absurd prehistoric moral equivilence mental gymnastics. That mentality is going to only, literally, get us killed.

Issue #2 -- Our Mayor Is Full of Shit

I guess, for writing this post, I should be ashamed of myself.

Opponents of the proposed construction of a controversial mosque just blocks from Ground Zero "ought to be ashamed of themselves" for opposing it, Mayor Bloomberg said this morning.

Bloomberg said he also doesn't care where the people behind the mosque and Islamic cultural center will get the money to build.

"People say, 'Do they have the money? Can they raise the money? Where does it come from?' " Bloomberg said during an appearance on his WOR-AM radio show. "I don't know and government shouldn't. Do you really want every time they pass the basket in your church and you throw a buck in, they run over and say, 'OK, now, you know, where do you come from? Who are your parents? Where'd you get this money?'

Bloomberg then added, "A handful of people ought to be ashamed of themselves."

Earlier this week, with the Statue of Liberty as a backdrop, Bloomberg gave an impassioned plea in support of the mosque for what he said was trampling on religious freedom. "I believe that this is an important test of the separation of church and state -- as important a test as we may see in our lifetimes -- and it is critically important that we get it right," the mayor said.

It should come as little surprise that a self-loathing Napoleonic figure such as the current mayor of New York would feel this way. After all, in many aspects Mike Bloomberg's worldview dovetails nicely with the entire scenario. For starters, he is a totalitarian elitist unconcerned with the will of the electorate, having undone the popularly elected mandate for term limits in a naked grab for a third term in office. His administration and cronies are among the most plausibly corrupt since the days of Tammany Hall. His unconditional love for real estate developers and passion for tearing down every classical landmark and one- or two-family home in favor of gaudy monstrosities that overwhelm and destroy what's left the City's neighborhoods will forever serve as his undying legacy. It's no wonder that a mega-million dollar development deal perpetrated by a fascist faux religion would be right up his alley.

How ironic it will be that, when sharia law is imposed in NY, the Jewish Bloomberg will be among the first led off to the concentration/stoning camps.

Issue #3 -- Our President Is Even More Full of Shit

First, it was a local issue, and he was going to stay out of it (a classic example of voting "present" that has always been his hallmark). But not it turns out that President Barack Hussein Obama is actually full-on in favor of the development, and touted once again his absolutely absurd belief that "Islam has always been a part of America."

Obama said that Ramadan is a reminder that Islam has always been part of America.

"The first Muslim ambassador to the United States, from Tunisia, was hosted by President Jefferson, who arranged a sunset dinner for his guest because it was Ramadan — making it the first known iftar at the White House, more than 200 years ago."

Well, sure, if by that you mean our way of life has been at war with it since the days of the Barbary Pirates, then sure. Is it lost on the Commander in Chief that there's only one unifying characteristic behind the two wars the United States is currently prosecuting in Iraq and Afghanistan? Much like his obsession with submission and bowing, does he not believe that the entire world is watching every time he speaks?

And what's up with the annual shout-outs to Islam as part of our way of life? I don't recall the President giving similar praise and reminders for all sects of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, or even Zoroastrianism. The man doth protest too much, doesn't he?

In coming out so completely and publicly in favor of Park 51, though, the President has actually wound up making what will turn out to be the gravest political mistake of his life. Individuals I never even considered as political are coming out every day on sites such as Facebook and Twitter expressing their disgust with this entire turn of events. In one swift move, Obama has exposed himself and his political party as the enemy of the American Way of Life, more than any bailouts, stimulus packages, or socialized healthcare bills ever could. He has also rekindled every unfair and inaccurate accusation against him -- that he's a closet Muslim, wasn't born in the United States, etc. -- and given all of his most fanatical opponents the causus belli they could only previously dream of.

Obama has inadvertantly cultivated a groundswell of popular revolt and unrest, and in doing so has set himself up for one of the great midterm electoral defeats in American history. So, in this regard, I guess I should offer the President a hearty "thank you" for destroying his own political career and potentially setting up a return to power of the party I nominally support. Provided the Republicans don't fuck it up, of course.

Issue #4 -- Right, So We Can't Do Anything About It, Now What?

It should never have even come to this. Forget talk about freedom, when our leaders first heard about the Park 51 plan -- and believe me, they knew long before we likely did -- it should have immediately been kiboshed by any means necessary. But now that it's here, and will be built, our Constitution and law reign supreme and the Islamic Community Center can and will and should be built.

But that doesn't mean we can't have a lot of fun along the way. That's why Greg Gutfeld, of FOX News' Red Eye, is proving himself to be my total hero. His concepts for the first Muslim Gay Bar, Heaven and Halal, located right next door to Park 51 is a work of sheer genius. If our leaders want to hold up this building as a teaching moment, and a shining example of our committment to tolerance and diversity, let's see how and if they welcome Gutfeld's project with open arms. After all, isn't provocation an important and integral part of free speech?

Greg, I love you in a totally masculine and macho way. Keep up the great work, and thank you.

Let's keep this up. Let's build on Gutfeld's momentum and do everything we can to capitalize on our rights and freedoms. Let's hold routine protests every time a Muslim allegedly murders a daughter in an honor killing. Let's celebrate every Saudi Arabian woman stoned to death for daring to expose an ankle. Let's post videos of every instance of Pakastani goat/human sexual intercourse on YouTube and link them across Facebook, Twitter and the whole world. Let's have weekly contests depicting the human form / portrait of the Prophet Muhammed at his most noble and magnificent.

I mean, we are free to do so, right? It's not like we aren't reminded of every failure of a Roman Catholic Church ultimately run and composed of flawed human beings, right? This is all in the name of education and awareness.

Last Exit Question

Where the hell is Rudy Giuliani throughout this mess?  His silence is positively deafening, and almost worrisome.

Links:

• "Mayor Bloomberg Says Ground Zero Mosque Opponents Should Be 'Ashamed' of Themselves" (New York Post)
• "Expensive People in Unnecessary Jobs" (Queens Crap)
• "Obama Votes Present, Continues Failure as Alleged Leader of America" (Riehl World View)
• "Terror Ties: Ground Zero Imam Attended Hizb-ut Tahrir Conference" (Pajamas Media)
• "The Stunning Decline of Barack Obama" (Big Government)
• "Collapse: The Left Is Unpopular, Undisciplined, and Ill-Tempered" (Weekly Standard)
• "Crist Backs Obama on Controversial Islamic Center" (CNN)
• "Muslim Gay Bar: Why Are the Intolerant Preaching Tolerance?" (Big Hollywood)
• "Obama on Islam in America" (Ace of Spades HQ)