tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973938108988281018.post5685019970236191979..comments2024-02-06T03:23:37.329-08:00Comments on No Jesus, No Peas: If you are liberal or atheist and you oppose the Park51 community center, you have been bamboozledJames Sweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17212877636980569324noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973938108988281018.post-50080763900016879012010-08-22T22:03:13.353-07:002010-08-22T22:03:13.353-07:00uh, I meant to type 'xenophobia'. Damn.uh, I meant to type 'xenophobia'. Damn.cynthia ryanhttp://www.mavenandmeddler.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973938108988281018.post-70744831660936367812010-08-22T22:01:52.163-07:002010-08-22T22:01:52.163-07:00Loved the post. But I'm not in the least baffl...Loved the post. But I'm not in the least baffled.<br /><br />For anybody who went through the emotional wringer - watching 9-11 unfold, it's tough to be the one to stand up and say it's fine to build a mosque/community center thingee and not feel just a bit like some kind of traitorous swamp scum. Especially when the mainstream and internet media sound machine is thrumming with so much noise about it.<br /><br />We secularists and liberals get comfortable preaching to our own choir, but standing strong in the public square can be daunting to say the least.<br /><br />'Framing' is right. This kind of reticence to call things what they are is what results when we let the 'right' frame the issue in the shadows of their own fearful zenophobia.cynthia ryanhttp://www.mavenandmeddler.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973938108988281018.post-56937683778727445292010-08-22T14:49:41.122-07:002010-08-22T14:49:41.122-07:00This is a great post. I too am baffled at the oppo...This is a great post. I too am baffled at the opposition to this community center by the liberal and secular set, as well as the general misinformation that is going around. I guess it's a lot more comfortable for people to believe it's some vast conspiracy, and it's a juicy bone for politicians to gnaw on.Katrinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09580426011947315153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973938108988281018.post-37900855223572087002010-08-20T11:59:25.174-07:002010-08-20T11:59:25.174-07:00Yeah, I don't understand it either. I have a g...Yeah, I don't understand it either. I have a general opposition to the building of religious buildings of all creeds, and this doesn't rise above the background level of opposition. And of course, it is a personal opposition, not the legal kind.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973938108988281018.post-82726676059535551062010-08-20T11:58:10.559-07:002010-08-20T11:58:10.559-07:00Well said. Perhaps a bit long for the payoff. I a...Well said. Perhaps a bit long for the payoff. I agree that it's baffling how anyone that considers them either secular or liberal could possibly oppose the community center. Framing at work, I guess.Paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973938108988281018.post-3976589703209228322010-08-20T10:33:36.222-07:002010-08-20T10:33:36.222-07:00You're right that would add more force to the ...You're right that would add more force to the post -- but I think I'm too lazy to do so exhaustively :)<br /><br />The facilities are described <a href="http://www.park51.org/facilities.htm" rel="nofollow">right on the Park51 website</a>. Oh wait, but that's an Islamist conspiracy...<br /><br />The fucked up thing is that <a href="http://nojesusnopeas.blogspot.com/search/label/islam" rel="nofollow">I'm an outspoken critic of Islam</a> myself. I think there are aspects of Islamic theology that make it particularly dangerous, even when compared with some of the other world religions, in that it runs a very high risk of mutating into extremism. (It should be noted that I think Christianity has many of the same traits, just to make it clear that I'm not singling out the Scary Brown People).<br /><br />And despite all that, I <i>still</i> can't fathom the secular/liberal opposition to this community center. In fact, given my concerns about the volatility of Islam combined with the fact that the billion-plus Muslims on this planet are not going to convert overnight, it seems like initiatives like this -- which let's face it, are <i>de-emphasizing</i> the theology aspect in favor of the community aspect -- are exactly what we need!James Sweethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17212877636980569324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973938108988281018.post-36256947296178359202010-08-20T10:01:11.822-07:002010-08-20T10:01:11.822-07:00Nice post. It would have more force if you were to...Nice post. It would have more force if you were to link to the description documenting its intended uses and lack of restrictions and modest religious facilities.<br /><br />As for the location, Nate Silver at fivethirtyeight did a good walking tour, so you could link there for that. http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/08/street-level-view-of-ground-zero-mosque.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com