Sidebar: More on Ground Zero Mosque

The fall premier of CBS “60 Minutes” had a segment called “The People Behind The Mosque” on the so-called Ground Zero Mosque. While I suspect they most likely did not delve into the back ground of Sharif El-Gamal, the developer who *owns* the building, to get his cooperation for the interview, they did provide some noteworthy info:

I had heard there was a “strip bar” even closer to Ground Zero than the Mosque is located. Early in the segment, you could see it with a “peep show” featured. With all due respect, I’d rather have a mosque than a strip bar near Ground Zero. In fact, if it was me I’d be protesting the strip bar. I also heard there is a liquor store even closer to Ground Zero than the Mosque.

It was described as an “abandoned, vacant” building on a “dingy” and “seedy” block in lower Manhattan. Supposedly, El-Gamal got the idea for a Muslim Community Center from a similar Jewish Community Center in Manhattan, that he was even a member of (because, as he told Scott Pelley, his mother was a Polish Catholic and “this was New York.”)

And Muslims are already worshipping in the abandoned building …it has been used for this purpose since last year. I didn’t hear anyone complaining back then, it was only when somebody decided to exploit it when they smelled a “cynical fund raising/media frenzy stunt.” It also says Muslims practicing their faith have nothing to do with it, just “the symbol” from a structure (it’s not people, it’s things that matter, especially to Republicans).

At the other Ground Zero at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., there is a type of multi-denominational chapel at the place the plane hit. They showed Muslims worshipping there. So…. why aren’t any protestors there as well—isn’t it hallowed enough?

Then there is this Pamela Geller. Add her to the list of news-hounds and Ann Coulter wannabes. From the looks of her and what I hear she writes about in her blog, I’m sure she will soon be a consultant on Fox News. She had an interesting but obtuse twist on the comment I’ve used in this blog about the debate techniques of Bryan White, hers was “Don’t spit on me and tell me it’s raining” (instead of “don’t piss on my leg and tell me it’s raining) with regard to whether the *mosque* was precisely on Ground Zero. Actually, that’s not the point. You might not realize at first that your leg was being pissed on, but you certainly would know immediately when you’re being spit in the face.   Which makes her remark absurd, and I’m not buying it.