[wmzeto]

I am opposed to the building of the "mosque" two blocks from Ground Zero.

I want it built on Ground Zero.

Why? Because I believe in an America that protects those who are the victims of hate and prejudice. I believe in an America that says you have the right to worship whatever God you have, wherever you want to worship. And I believe in an America that says to the world that we are a loving and generous people and if a bunch of murderers steal your religion from you and use it as their excuse to kill 3,000 souls, then I want to help you get your religion back. And I want to put it at the spot where it was stolen from you.

There's been so much that's been said about this manufactured controversy, I really don't want to waste any time on this day of remembrance talking about it. But I hate bigotry and I hate liars, and so in case you missed any of the truth that's been lost in this, let me point out a few facts:

1. I love the Burlington Coat Factory. I've gotten some great winter coats there at a very reasonable price. Muslims have been holding their daily prayers there since 2009. No one ever complained about that. This is not going to be a "mosque," it's going to be a community center. It will have the same prayer room in it that's already there. But to even have to assure people that "it's not going to be mosque" is so offensive, I now wish they would just build a 111-story mosque there. That would be better than the lame and disgusting way the developer has left Ground Zero an empty hole until recently. The remains of over 1,100 people still haven't been found. That site is a sacred graveyard, and to be building another monument to commerce on it is a sacrilege. Why wasn't the entire site turned into a memorial peace park? People died there, and many of their remains are still strewn about, all these years later.

2. Guess who has helped the Muslims organize their plans for this community center? The JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER of Manhattan! Their rabbi has been advising them since the beginning. It's been a picture-perfect example of the kind of world we all want to live in. Peter Stuyvessant, New York's "founder," tried to expel the first Jews who arrived in Manhattan. Then the Dutch said, no, that's a bit much. So then Stuyvessant said ok, you can stay, but you cannot build a synagogue anywhere in Manhattan. Do your stupid Friday night thing at home. The first Jewish temple was not allowed to be built until 1730. Then there was a revolution, and the founding fathers said this country has to be secular -- no religious nuts or state religions. George Washington (inaugurated around the corner from Ground Zero) wanted to make a statement about this his very first year in office, and wrote this to American Jews:

"The citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy -- a policy worthy of imitation. ...

"It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens ...

"May the children of the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants -- while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid."

3. The Imam in charge of this project is the nicest guy you'd ever want to meet. Read about his past here.

4. Around five dozen Muslims died at the World Trade Center on 9/11. Hundreds of members of their families still grieve and suffer. The 19 killers did not care what religion anyone belonged to when they took those lives.

5. I've never read a sadder headline in the New York Times than the one on the front page this past Monday: "American Muslims Ask, Will We Ever Belong?" That should make all of us so ashamed that even a single one of our fellow citizens should ever have to worry about if they "belong" here.

6. There is a McDonald's two blocks from Ground Zero. Trust me, McDonald's has killed far more people than the terrorists.

7. During an economic depression or a time of war, fascists are extremely skilled at whipping up fear and hate and getting the working class to blame "the other" for their troubles. Lincoln's enemies told poor Southern whites that he was "a Catholic." FDR's opponents said he was Jewish and called him "Jewsevelt." One in five Americans now believe Obama is a Muslim and 41% of Republicans don't believe he was born here.

8. Blaming a whole group for the actions of just one of that group is anti-American. Timothy McVeigh was Catholic. Should Oklahoma City prohibit the building of a Catholic Church near the site of the former federal building that McVeigh blew up?

9. Let's face it, all religions have their whackos. Catholics have O'Reilly, Gingrich, Hannity and Clarence Thomas (in fact all five conservatives who dominate the Supreme Court are Catholic). Protestants have Pat Robertson and too many to list here. The Mormons have Glenn Beck. Jews have Crazy Eddie. But we don't judge whole religions on just the actions of their whackos. Unless they're Methodists.

10. If I should ever, God forbid, perish in a terrorist incident, and you or some nutty group uses my death as your justification to attack or discriminate against anyone in my name, I will come back and haunt you worse than Linda Blair marrying Freddy Krueger and moving into your bedroom to spawn Chucky. John Lennon was right when he asked us to imagine a world with "nothing to kill or die for and no religion, too." I heard Deepak Chopra this week say that "God gave humans the truth, and the devil came and he said, 'Let's give it a name and call it religion.' " But John Adams said it best when he wrote a sort of letter to the future (which he called "Posterity"): "Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present Generation to preserve your Freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven that I ever took half the Pains to preserve it." I'm guessing ol' John Adams is up there repenting nonstop right now.

Friends, we all have a responsibility NOW to make sure that Muslim community center gets built. Once again, 70% of the country (the same number that initially supported the Iraq War) is on the wrong side and want the "mosque" moved. Enormous pressure has been put on the Imam to stop his project. We have to turn this thing around. Are we going to let the bullies and thugs win another one? Aren't you fed up by now? When would be a good time to take our country back from the haters?

I say right now. Let's each of us make a statement by donating to the building of this community center! It's a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization and you can donate a dollar or ten dollars (or more) right now through a secure pay pal account by clicking here. I will personally match the first $10,000 raised (forward your PayPal receipt to webguy@michaelmoore.com). If each one of you reading this blog/email donated just a couple of dollars, that would give the center over $6 million, more than what Donald Trump has offered to buy the Imam out. C'mon everyone, let's pitch in and help those who are being debased for simply wanting to do something good. We could all make a huge statement of love on this solemn day.

I lost a co-worker on 9/11. I write this today in his memory.


"The man who speaks of the enemy / Is the enemy himself."
-- Bertolt Brecht http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mike-friends-blog/if-mosque-isnt-built-no-longer-america

Exactly, freedom of speech and religion go both ways. The mosque should be built and the Korans should be burned. Do you agree with Moore?

[provigil]

Fuck no. He's a communist piece of shit and he hates America to begin with. His idea of the American dream is incompatible with what America actually stands for. No wonder he openly says he prefers Canada.

The mosque shouldn't be built on ground zero, or near ground zero. Nobody's saying that it should be illegal, but that it's insensitive and a bad idea. Of course, with MM, he takes it to the nth degree.

[Hinigyday]

No I totally agree...burn korans aswell as build the mosque on ground zero. That is what makes America great...

btw I like how the pastor pussied out of burning the korans, I guess he was all hot air. He couldnt handle the freedoms his constitution has given him, so he pussed out because of some 'death threats'. Seems like some Americans dont have nearly as much faith in their freedoms that the 'terrorists' have in their religionm. Terrorists are willing to die for their cause, but that preacher was all hot air and attention whoring. I have nothing but contempt for the coward, let him call Islam evil all he wants...empty gestures, that's all he and alot of these vociferous bigoted Americans have.

[Cersdog]

The fact that doing these things is legal is what makes America great. The fact that society frowns on both and tries to discourage them is also what makes America great.

If we were nonchalant about this shit, that would be completely amoral.

[indianstory]

I'd agree if the mosque/center was actually built on ground zero, but those who frowned upon a community center that was going to be built several blocks away were discouraging Muslims from feeling like they belong in America. MM's comparison to how the jews were denied a synagogue until 250 years ago for the same reason was very apt.

Besides, (to my chagrin) the community centre and its owners and imam made all sorts of concessions, did not get in people's faces about their property rights or whatever, and still they were slandered and smeared, and people suggested all kinds of nonsense to offend their sensibilities and dignity. They tried so hard to reach out to Americans, and still they were painted as if their motives were to gloat.

How does that compare with some red neck doofus with a handle bar mustache wanting to commerate 9/11 with a hateful ritual "burn a koran day"? Where was his outreach?

[ionitiesk]

The mosque shouldn't be built on ground zero, or near ground zero. Nobody's saying that it should be illegal, but that it's insensitive and a bad idea. Of course, with MM, he takes it to the nth degree.

I agree he's an extreme, but I agree with him to a degree. I don't think a mosque should be built on Ground Zero (I'd personally be against it), but there's nothing wrong with it being built nearby.

[StitlyDute]

I'm going to make a youtube video of the Bible, Torah, and Koran being thrown in the toilet. Then I will give a sermon of the true religion: Amber Lampology. The religion of indifference.

[SypeKifef]

Michael Moore speaks wise,"again"...

[comprar-espana]

I agree he's an extreme, but I agree with him to a degree. I don't think a mosque should be built on Ground Zero (I'd personally be against it), but there's nothing wrong with it being built nearby.

The landing gear from one of the planes that hit the WTC crashed into the window of the building they're tearing down to build the Megamosque. It's not "nearby". It's part of Ground Zero. It's just 2 blocks from where the buildings fell.

[bQXHsKzS]

Michael Moore is a crook.

[NvrNoNowX]

The landing gear from one of the planes that hit the WTC crashed into the window of the building they're tearing down to build the Megamosque. It's not "nearby". It's part of Ground Zero. It's just 2 blocks from where the buildings fell.

Building dust fell in some kid's koolaid... must be ground zero too?

[CedssypeEdids]

Way to trivialize something that New Yorkers care deeply about.

People say that it's no big deal because of proximity to where the buildings fell. The landing gear argument brings it closer to home. If it were moderates who hate terrorists and speak out in favor of America, I wouldn't personally care... but the Imam involved refuses to condemn terrorists because "He doesn't want to be seen as taking a side". Fuck him.

[Fhgzmftq]

Why can't they build the Mosque elswehere? I think at this point they are just being stubborn

South Manhatten is very near and dear to the history of America, the last British ship left from Battery Park and George Washingtons inaugural address was just off of Wall St, very close to the World Trade center site. If they want to live in America they have to adjust to the sensitivities of the people who built the country, fair is fair

[mxzjxluwst]

I burned 10 Qur'ans today in my yard and it was great, I invited all my neighbors over, and then we drew pictures of Muhammad and burned them too. It was spectacular.

[Gintovtosik]

I burned 10 Qur'ans today in my yard and it was great, I invited all my neighbors over, and then we drew pictures of Muhammad and burned them too. It was spectacular.

You made some Muslim bookstore pretty rich, purchasing 10 Qurans from them.

More people ought to buy Qurans so that they can burn them...shit, I might get into the publishing biz and jump on this potential gold mine.

[CsFLhGNp]

I'd rather people buy Mein Kampf. Same content, same quality, but at least buying it doesn't fund terrorists.

[gugqgbyzlp]

Way to trivialize something that New Yorkers care deeply about.

Oh wait... think I see a spec of dust in that kid's eye. Guess it belongs to the "American People" now.

Why can't they build the Mosque elswehere? I think at this point they are just being stubborn

South Manhatten is very near and dear to the history of America, the last British ship left from Battery Park and George Washingtons inaugural address was just off of Wall St, very close to the World Trade center site. If they want to live in America they have to adjust to the sensitivities of the people who built the country, fair is fair

The muslims here are Americans too. They have every right to build where they build. They bought the land fair in square, it wasn't stolen. Not to mention the fact that it's in a decent area... what, should they have built it in Harlem, Queens, the Bronx???

---------- Post added 2010-09-11 at 15:52 ----------

You made some Muslim bookstore pretty rich, purchasing 10 Qurans from them.

More people ought to buy Qurans so that they can burn them...shit, I might get into the publishing biz and jump on this potential gold mine.

Lmao... that's exactly what I though when I heard about the Pastor burning Korans. They're only funding their enemies.

[SpyRemo]

You made some Muslim bookstore pretty rich, purchasing 10 Qurans from them.

More people ought to buy Qurans so that they can burn them...shit, I might get into the publishing biz and jump on this potential gold mine.

[Derrida]

If the Imam is hot then I would say build away

[jojocomok]

Micheal Moore and Noam Chomsky are basically the same person, retaining that the latter games with more sophisticated (thus unlikely) ideals.