During my research on the controversy surrounding the approval to build a mosque/Islamic cultural center/restaurant/swimming pool two blocks from Ground Zero, I happened upon a Facebook group with 60,000+ called "No to the Mosque at Ground Zero." You can find it here: http://www.facebook.com/no911mosque?ref=ts. I perused many of the posts on the site (you had to "like" the group to join, so I did... if only for a brief instant), and most were entirely
vicious, disrespectful, and downright racist. Some of the delightful tasties on there were:
"The British, Americans, Canadians, Aussies and every western country must stand up against this vile wicked cult they call a religion" (liked by 4 people)
"I believe every person who wants 2 come to the USA should have 2 completely renounce their Islam religion and everything to do with it. If they dont then they cant come in. Damned if I'm gonna open my home 2 someone wants 2 smash it down" (liked by 2 people)
"ANYONE who doesn't think this is BULLSHIT....Pack your crap and get the hell out of this country!" (liked by 11 people)
"Deport all of these scum bags" (liked by 5)
"HOW DARE OUR GOVERNMENT EVEN NEGOTIATE THIS......WHAT ASSHOLES!!!! IF THIS GOES THROUGH, THEY JUST GAVE THE OK FOR HOMEGROWN TERRORISM TO BLOW UP THE MOSQUE." (liked by 4)
"Buckets and buckets of pigs blood has to be poured onto the place they wish to build this....." (liked by 4 people)
and my personal favorite...
"FUCK THAT MOSQUE AMERICANS NEED TO WAKE THE FUCK UP AND STOP LETTING THESE FUCKING SAND NIGGERS RUN YOUR LIVES GROW SOME BALLS BACK STAND UP FOR AMERICA OR WE COULD ALWAYS BLOW THE DAM THING UP LIKE THEY DID TO US PAY BACK ITS A BITCH" (liked by 1)
But there were some nice ones too:
"Agree totally there should be no mosque there...but do not stand beside racist people either...this site should be left alone by any religious sect so that anyone of any race or religion can come and freely pay their respect to those who died...remember, there werent just white americans in that building on that day...no to the mosque" (liked by five)
"I'm happy to be a Fan of "No to the Mosque at Ground Zero" & not because of Hating anyone....But because they believe in Goodness and what's right. I just wanted to say..... Thanks for starting this page" (liked by 4)
"Its sad that so many people around the globe have died in the name of religion, the whole purpose of a higher power is to teach us how to live a good life and not to judge or condem others. MY god is a kind and loving God who does not condone murder or hate of any kind. How does your God( whatever you choose to call him) work for you???" (liked by 1)
So, I preceded to post the following on the wall, and within two minutes, I had three or four responses. Read the posts below.
Christopher Hook: Personally, I really respect the decision to build a mosque two blocks from the WTC. Though I also respect the emotions of those who lost loved ones in 9/11, putting our principles of tolerance and love ahead of our hate and fear is a true victory over Al-Qaeda, Bin Laden, and the terrorists who hate us.
J. Anderson: NOPE...WRONG.
Christopher Hook: why?
F. MetaMorphis: Have you gone sideways !!! this is the opening of Pandoras Box so to speak !
J. Anderson: THIS IS A WAR AGAINST ISLAM. YOU JUST HAVE ENTERED OUR BASE CAMP.
G. Vashdi: Christopher this is where it starts , this is their victory against the American people , this is where your muslim president let you down, wake up dude.
V. DeMarco: There's that fucking word again...." tolerance" Christopher....have you ever thought to yourself...where was their tolerance for the victims families of 9/11? After the outcry from the family members that did not want this built anywhere near Ground Zero.....where was the tolerance of the muslims?
Christopher Hook: I just want to know what about this is wrong... are our values not more important than our hate? If we use our hate, instead of our tolerance and respect, to fight this "war," are we not allowing them, the terrorists, to declare victory over our values? If we allow the terrorists to turn us into hateful people, what victory comes from that? I would like an answer to this, if you have one. I respect all thoughts.
Christopher Hook: Gali, though I definitely understand where you're coming from, our system of laws and institutions are so strong that we would never allow Sharia law or other Islamic ones to replace them. A mosque two blocks from ground zero, while certainly a bit distressing, is not the toppling domino to a countrywide takeover by Muslim extremists. My opinion, anyway.
G. Vashdi: it's not about being hatefull Christopher, with all due respect it's about common sense , when at war use your weapon not tolerance. this is a war against the west, i should know i'm dealing with these fuckers ever day in Israel. You don't wanna give them the upper hand.
Christopher Hook: Victor, yes, I feel for the victim's families as much as you do... I promise. I watched the 9/11 footage on YouTube today, and had tears in my eyes. How horrible. That said, I still stand by my conviction that the triumph of our values (tolerance, equality, etc.) will be ten times the victory not allowing the mosque to be built would be. We are on the same side here... more or less.
G. Vashdi: look what happened in London! they have big plans, there is no room for "tolerance" there is no "equality"
Christopher Hook: Ok, I see your side Gail... I would perhaps add though that the "War against the West" is only being fought by a small small minority of Muslims... Muslims in the US, in France, in Morocco, in Indonesia... 99% across the world, do not follow Bin Laden's extremist ideology, and denounce the 9/11 attacks. I think one of the errors here is conflating mainstream Islam (and the parties building the mosque in NYC) with the 9/11 hijackers. I know people are gonna jump me on this one...but it's my belief, and i've studied islam for years.
P. Greenman: 1% times 1.5billion is how many exactly?
If you've studied the subject, you wikll be aware of what Dar al islam and Dar al harb are?..You will be aware of the eternal jihad? You will be aware of the koranic exhortations to fight kill and slay the unbelievers until there is only islam? Somehow, I think you talk out opf your arse when you say you've studied it for years. I've been at it for about ONE, and I know enough to be worried. Have you read of 'The Project'? No? Let me enlightne you...study this..
http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/2671
S. Garrett: Christopher. You mentioned muslims in Indonesia do not follow extremist ideology. Tell that that to the families of the Sari Club bombings in Bali. Indonesia is rife. It targets Bali as Bali is not a muslim country. Also what about the Madrid bombings!
Christopher Hook: Hook Scott, my answer to you is exactly what I said before. MOST Muslims in Indonesia are not violent Muslims, and in fact reject the terrorist ideology. The goal of terrorism, in fact, is to make the institution they are attacking crumble... an...
Christopher Hook: Puck, it is surely less than 1%. I wasn't being exact, you are right. But I meant to emphasize that is a VERY TINY minority who embrace Bin Laden et al's ideology. For most Muslims, the Islam practiced by the radicals has no semblance to the Islam they practice at home and at the mosque. Yes, the Koran says some terrible things about killing "infidels" and whatnot, but most Muslims, like I said, choose to NOT follow these parts and focus on peace, the most important tenet of the Islamic faith. Just like our Bible has some pretty awful things to say (mostly in the Old Testament) about non-Christians, most mainstream Christians overlook these and instead concentrate on other aspects of the religion... the messages of peace, love, equality, family, etc. Christianity and Islam come from the same roots, both exalt many of the same values... admittedly, the Koran has more to say about infidels and Islamic empires and whatnot, but again, for most Muslims, these parts have no application in today's world. The Muslims I know, the Muslims I have met with and studied, are peaceful, democracy-loving, rational individuals.
It's the radicals, the idiots, the promotors of Islamic empire and violence and the oppression of women, that we really should concern ourselves with.
Let's stop spending our energy attacking the peace-loving Muslims, the one's who denounce 9/11, and attack the ones who really hate us and wish to see us and our way of life die. God Bless America.
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There the comments stopped. Guess I showed them? Probably not... But later on, I got an uplifting email from a Muslim in Indonesia who, similar to me, had seen the group, and was saddened by some of the comments going around. A lovely message, and his broken English indicates a sweet innocence. Uplifting :)
I.B. Asianmiller: Christopher, i saw your comments on "NO TO THE MOSQUE at GROUND ZERO"
and i'm proud of you, i think you are 1st person who understand that the group is only a a hater group, and not about religion. not all muslims is terrorist, they are not a nice muslims, their ways is wrong. even in my country: indonesia, we hunting terrorist. and i'm indonesian muslim, i hate terrorist because of them always mention my religion "islam" in their criminals. real muslim is not terrorist and love realitation, respect at all religions in the world with peace...
thank you for you'r understanding christopher, i'm proud of you. :)
