-Time: ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ Imam a ‘Person of the Year’?
by Dr. D ~ November 26th, 2010
(Image via Wikipedia)
Time Magazine along with CNN and NBC has named Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf as one of those in running for their “Person of the Year” for 2010. Imam Rauf is the developer of the Cordoba Mosque also called the Park51 project referred to by many as the ‘Ground Zero Mosque’.
In their justification for putting forth the Imam they make the claim that he is a ‘moderate Muslim’ promoting ‘interfaith dialogue:
“…dedicated to building bridges between the Muslim world and the U.S. and was a leader in efforts to promote interfaith dialogue with Christian and Jewish leaders. For his part, Rauf has said Park51 will promote an interfaith agenda and argues that locating it near (but not, as many falsely claimed, on) Ground Zero is essential to the center’s message of healing the wounds of 9/11 and promoting moderate Islam in the U.S.”
Response: It is incredible that Time, CNN, and NBC have chosen to honor Imam Rauf in the midst of all of the controversy he has single handedly caused. It demonstrates why these news organizations continue to lose influence. Their reporters only present the most positive views of the imam and do not include any of the past radical statements or beliefs of this religious leader.
This so-called ‘Moderate’ Imam has been quoted as saying: "US has more Muslim blood on its hands than al-Qaeda has the blood of innocent non-Muslims". He is also a supporter of Sharia and has taught that eventually the USA will have to be subject to Islamic law.
He claims that his project will promote ‘interfaith dialogue’ yet refuses to consider all of the opposition to putting the "The Cordoba House” so close to ‘Ground Zero’ in a building that was damaged during the attack (the landing gear of one of the planes crashed through the roof). So many of other religions who have lost loved ones in the 9/11 event are offended by the project yet the imam refuses to even consider moving it to another location. To many it is like pouring salt on the wounds.
It is a tradition in Islam to build mosques near major victories over enemies of the religion. To Muslims around the world, the project is cast as a ‘triumphant’ mosque and the building design that includes a façade of broken and falling crosses and ‘Stars of David’ lends credence to that designation.
Rather than being a project that promotes ‘healing the wounds’ of 9/11, the Cordoba House is creating further controversy and division. Even the choice of ‘Cordoba’ as the title for the center reflects on a time when Islam dominated Spain and Cordoba was the capitol of the Islamic government. To Muslims it is like a banner calling for Islam to dominate in the West once more. *Top of the Blog
November 27th, 2010 at 9:12 pm
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November 27th, 2010 at 10:28 pm
[…] -Time: ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ Imam a ‘Person of the Year’? (answersforthefaith.com) […]
February 22nd, 2011 at 3:47 pm
[…] -Time: ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ Imam a ‘Person of the Year’? (answersforthefaith.com) […]
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