Tuesday, August 24, 2010

We Need More Practice

My own personal feelings about the negative reaction to a Muslim community center in Lower Manhattan are disgust and anger. Notice I said community center – why? because that’s what it would be. Notice I said Lower Manhattan – why? because that’s where the building is located.

Not a terrorism hive dripping in blood constructed on the remains of firefighters.

I googled and binged (yes I am a research dynamo) “9/11 families feelings about Ground Zero Mosque”

After half a page of crap about Obama turning his back on “the families” and idiotic suppositions about his religion I found Frank Tatum.

From this ARTICLE ...

Frank Tatum lost his mother on 9/11.

"I think about it everyday. I miss her warmth and her smile. She was probably the most unselfish person I've ever met in my entire life" says Tatum.

Mr. Tatum goes on to say …

"I think it's important not to give into the hysteria. We do have religious freedom. I know the wounds are still very open, myslef included but you have to look at the big picture. You can't practice these freedoms only when it suits us. You have to practice them all along"

If you visit the link above you can see and hear Mr. Tatum talk about his Mom.

You have to practice them all along. Maybe that’s what’s going so wrong in this counry. We are so complacent yet arrogant about our freedoms that we don’t truly consider them.

Perhaps we need to practice more.

I also came across Donna Marsh O’Connor. She lost her pregnant daughter on 9/11. She is a founding member of September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows
.

Ms. Marsh O’Connor points out that …

“ …few of the people who originated the fight were actually affiliated with the 9/11 families.”

"There is no simple, singular 9/11 group who really should or could speak for all 9/11 family members"

This ARTICLE has more from Ms. Marsh O’Connor along with a slideshow that gives you a view of the entire Lower Manhattan area. It is much more than Ground Zero and I think it’s important to know that.

Finally – I link you to THIS PIECE where actual family members pro and con are quoted.

May All Gods Bless All Americans


aerial view of the neighborhood that is Lower Manhattan

25 comments:

DJan said...

Right on, Dianne! I just finished reading Robert the Skeptic's post about this same thing on Plead Ignorance but with a much less positive slant. I appreciate you doing this research, and it's hopeful to me that I can find intelligent and interesting people here in Blogaritaville, if not in the mainstream media...

jaycoles@gmail.com said...

Excellent take as always. I just added you to my links on this subject. This is truly a sad thing.

Daryl said...

I am right here with you on this and as always you express yourself far better than I .. I, who have been yelling at those racist fools on the TV ...

Its really sad that most of the protesters dont remember where their families immigrated from or why ... if they did they'd shut up or a least stop pretending that is about 'heroes' and 'ground zero' ... its not.

While I think its a disgrace what Bush/Cheney did to this country that we've arrived at this moment so divided; I wish The Decider would speak up and repeat the words he shared shortly after Sept 11 .. Islam: "The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. That's not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace. These terrorists don't represent peace. They represent evil and war."

Jay said...

Unfortunately there are always going to be people who prey on people's fears and hatred and turn everything into an emotional issue. Then it no longer becomes possible to talk reasonably about these things because they're so wrapped up in their emotions.

ellen abbott said...

These self righteous groups who are against the muslim community center just make me sick. do they think no muslim americans died in the attack? Do they think that muslim americans weren't just as filled with grief and loathing for what happened as christian and jewish americans? If the attackers had been some right wingnut christians would they be protesting the building of a christian church on the same spot? Doubtful. For all the country's bluster about welcoming all, about the great melting pot, the fact is that white christian americans think they own this country and would be just peachy happy to see everyone else leave.

Dianne said...

DJan - I'm so glad I wrote and re-wrote my post
I was on a rant for a spell but then I thought - there's enough ranting, how about some quotes and facts
thank you

jay s - thank you for the link, it always means a lot to me since I respect your opinion and soul so much

daryl - I assume the Decider would need to be re-coached before he could repeat anything he ever said
I also wish Obama and Chuck Schumer and others "on our side" weren't so damn silent or flip-floppish
this endless screaming about the dead makes so many remain silent
as Cheney once said - "9/11 is the best thing that ever happened for the Republican Party"
fucking scum that he is

jay - exactly!! and then nothing ever gets done and nothing changes - it's so frustrating

Dianne said...

ellen - and that's so sad and so scary to me
and they're getting louder and more powerful because - as I said to Daryl - they have no qualms about using 9/11 and victims and families for their own purposes

Anonymous said...

As someone form beyond your shores, I'm personally not sure how I would feel about the whole thing if I came from New York...but it's all rather ironic seeing as how the WTC and Pentagon were attacked by your own Government in the first place. Many will think I'm one of the 'crazies' but it's the only possible conclusion any right-minded person could come to - inside job. So, who cares where the put a Muslim community centre/ mosque? The more important question is when are you going to nail Bush and Cheney? Probably never.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Wonderful post Dianne. So well said, as always....!
This is the kind of thing that really tests who we are and what we truly believe as people and as Americans.
I find the continual mis-informaationn that passes for news incredibly disheartening. We seem to be getting less and less tolerant of EVERYTHING our constitution stands for and it feels as if we are going backwards and not forward any longer. The amount of Hatred and Vileness that passes for News is deeply frightening and, again, most disheartening. It is really good to read what some of those most deeply effected by 9/11 have to say on this subject and I thank you for that, my dear...

Noe Noe Girl...A Queen of all Trades. said...

Well done Diane.
<><

Jackie said...

Absolutely.

I can't imagine how uncomfortable it must be for those people with their knickers in a permanent knot.

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

I support the right to open the center....freedom for all means freedom for ALL

Linda Reeder said...

I am appalled when I read that 65-70 per cent of Americans oppose the building of the center near ground zero. Then I realize that many of them are ignorant of the facts. And it's so easy to get the facts straight if you try. Willfull ignorance is what I detest most. That and political fear mongering.
I ask my 88 year old mother what she thought, and she said "Let them build it!" She's got it figured out and she can barely see or hear.

leendaluu said...

love your post, my thoughts exactly. Democracy is not a once from column a, one from column b menu. Take it all, apply it equally or leave.

Queen-Size funny bone said...

Fear is a powerful thing and usually overcomes the head and heart.

Anonymous said...

As someone in Europe, I - along with many others - can only shake our heads in amazement at the media frenzy that is feeding people's fears and prejudices.

It's a community centre that happens to have a prayer room. The neighbourhood also contains strip clubs and sex bars.

Scott Oglesby said...

Of course these people aren’t from the 9/11 families. They are racists and xenophobes hiding behind fear to showcase their ignorance and hate.

I pray that you’ve been watching the Daily show over the last several days. Stewart absolutely destroyed Fox News. If you don’t know what I’m on about tell me and I’ll send you a link.

Arkansas Patti said...

Thank you for voicing my frustratiions and it was great hearing words of reason from actual victim's families. Wonderful post.

Dianne said...

singing bear - I don't know how I feel/what I think about the 'inside job' theory
I do know that Cheney said "9/11 is the best thing that ever happened to the Republican Party" and I do that a 3rd Bush brother is off the grid and I do know that the Bush family has very strong financial ties to the Saudis and to the Bin Laden family
and that none of that was ever investigated which is, to me, a war crime

oldold lady of the hills - I share your feeling of us going backward and your frustration

noe noe - thanks :)

jackie - I do believe they enjoy their knot

vinny - Amen brother

linda r - willfull ignorance indeed, it's becoming joyful ignorance - they know and love that they make no sense

leendalu - so fantastic to see you!! I commented over at your wonderful post about this subject

queen size funny - and it is also a powerful tool and weapon

ladyfi - our media is a joke!! hateful and ignorant and greedy

scott - of course I've been watching TDS
Jon is a god to me
I loved his little Beck like highlighted card
and him running to the blackboard
and the graph that shows that Fox is really a terrorist command center
brilliance beyond brilliant!!

patti - thank you :)

Reb said...

From the map in the link from Ms Marsh, it looks like the centre will be a few blocks away from the WTC. I can see people being upset if it was planned for right in the middle of where the WTC used to be, but come on folks!

BTW, it always seems a shame to tear down a building of that calibre, those columns are beautiful pieces of art and I hope they are saved.

jabblog said...

Well said, Dianne. The fanatics shout loudest and longest but hopefully this time they will be silenced. Every religion and none were represented in the twin towers.

Martha Z said...

I think that all the hysteria over the community center just shows how much it is needed. We need to see Muslims as people, individuals and part of a culture, not boogey men. I take the proponents of the center at their word, that they hope to promote understanding between the cultures and this would be good.

Unseen Rajasthan said...

Your posts are always worth reading !!Thanks for sharing !!

Bobkat said...

Of course, the underlying cause of all of this is fear and that is exactly what the terrorists want. So, when this kind of thing happens they win a little more.

Hilary said...

You're preaching to the choir with your readers. You attract an intelligent, reasonable bunch. Of course look who we're here reading. :)

Well expressed. I'd expect nothing less from you.