pjthompson (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
pjthompson) wrote2010-08-20 12:56 pm
pjthompson) wrote2010-08-20 12:56 pm
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Using the 9/11 families for political ends
This is a good, balanced article on the subject of the so-called Ground Zero Mosque, from the perspective of a wide range of 9/11 families. Here's an excerpt, but I urge everyone to read the entire article.
Why do I keep posting on this? Because it infuriates me that certain cynical politicians are using this issue as a political football and using the pain of these families for their own ends—whipping up a frenzy just before election season. Take a look at the comments following this article if you don't think the nutjobs are stirring and hate is seething. This is not about Islam, this is not about respect for the pain of these families, this is about politics. If even Karl Rove thinks that tactic is wrong, then really, shouldn't we take a second look at this?
I was not at all a fan of George Bush, but at least he never tried to make 9/11 about all of Islam. He blamed the terrorists, not the entire religion.
Enough said. I won't post again on this. Unless someone else makes me furious.
Mosque near ground zero divides Sept. 11 relatives
By SAMANTHA GROSS, Associated Press Writer Samantha Gross, Associated Press Writer – Fri Aug 20, 10:19 am ET
Charles Wolf, who lost his wife, Katherine, at the trade center, says emotions among family members are especially raw right now.
"This is anniversary season. It's really, really hard," the Manhattanite said. "Passions are up and this is bringing up a lot of hurt in people."
He says he worries that any decision to respond to public pressure and move the mosque would be used by extremists to paint Americans as intolerant.
"The powers of evil were piloting those airplanes," he said of the Sept. 11 attackers.
Now, with the mosque dispute, "here is where we're falling into the terrorists' trap ... trying to tear each other apart. Good people fighting other good people — does that sound like evil at work?"
Why do I keep posting on this? Because it infuriates me that certain cynical politicians are using this issue as a political football and using the pain of these families for their own ends—whipping up a frenzy just before election season. Take a look at the comments following this article if you don't think the nutjobs are stirring and hate is seething. This is not about Islam, this is not about respect for the pain of these families, this is about politics. If even Karl Rove thinks that tactic is wrong, then really, shouldn't we take a second look at this?
I was not at all a fan of George Bush, but at least he never tried to make 9/11 about all of Islam. He blamed the terrorists, not the entire religion.
Enough said. I won't post again on this. Unless someone else makes me furious.
Mosque near ground zero divides Sept. 11 relatives
By SAMANTHA GROSS, Associated Press Writer Samantha Gross, Associated Press Writer – Fri Aug 20, 10:19 am ET
Charles Wolf, who lost his wife, Katherine, at the trade center, says emotions among family members are especially raw right now.
"This is anniversary season. It's really, really hard," the Manhattanite said. "Passions are up and this is bringing up a lot of hurt in people."
He says he worries that any decision to respond to public pressure and move the mosque would be used by extremists to paint Americans as intolerant.
"The powers of evil were piloting those airplanes," he said of the Sept. 11 attackers.
Now, with the mosque dispute, "here is where we're falling into the terrorists' trap ... trying to tear each other apart. Good people fighting other good people — does that sound like evil at work?"