Open Thread

quote:
On the other hand, how sacred is the ground where men can get lap dances?

i dont know. im not straight or anything, but id imagine that pussy trumps god every single time.

*rob*

“Hall monitor will be here to condemn “bragging” in 10, 9, 8, 7…”

I’m preparing to be chastised twice due to my accidentally posting that twice.

G10, I don’t recall seeing Mac n Cheese on the menu. We ordered a wonderful seafood platter and some green sides and some fried sides. I had the 14 ounce filet with bernaise and au poivre sauces. We also had lots of wine and deserts included chocolate molten cake, key lime pie, carrot cake and tiramisu. I was basically wheeled out of there. I’m still full.

Benson — I did not use the word bigot. But I do believe the onus is on the opponents because they are trying to prevent the developer from doing something he has a right to do, and I think some of the more vocal parts of the media campaign against the project have been somewhat disingenuous with various facts to ratchet up the issue.
For example — at ground zero vs. two blocks and a dog leg away. Mosque v. cultural center (the plans really do sound more like 92nd Street Y than a full-blown mosque like on E. 96).

I would feel better about the national opposition if it articulated a clear set of principles that would guide any attempt to broker a solution. Is a small mosque ok but not a big one? Is 4 blocks away ok but not 2? Nothing below Canal? I feel outrage about what was done to us as a City and a nation on 9-11, and I understand why some who were more deeply and directly affected by it would be angered by this and would not necessarily be analytical and precise about the targets of those feelings. But I think a lot of others are making political hay out of this in a way that does not put themselves on the line. I do think the burden is on those playing a visible media role in opposing this to articulate a set of governing principles not just as to why they are opposed but as to what they would consider acceptable.

“Yes, the problem is really the stupidity of Americans. I see. It couldn’t be that there is a radical movement in the Islamic populations that is bent of destroying the West.”

I’ve got to jump in here. There are radical Christian militias in this country bent on destroying our government, and Catholic priests who rape small children, but I don’t see the people protesting the Islamic Center rallying against the construction of churches near government offices or child care centers, or painting all Christians as terrorists or sexual predators.

Yes, the problem really IS the stupidity of (many) Americans. Witness the tragic stabbing of the Muslim taxi driver. We are allowing right-wing extremists and the likes of Fox News to foment hatred against an entire group of people — Muslims — in a way that can and does lead to violence and ignorance. This is the very definition of prejudice, and it’s not only wrong, it’s dangerous.

Personally, I wish the Islamic Center really WAS at Ground Zero. What a sign of tolerance and healing and religious freedom that would be to the world.