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There can't be legislation or any official rule stopping the mosque from being built in that area. That would be ridiculous. Having said that, I don't support it or agree with the mosque being built there.

^Good example. Though blaming German for everything a few decades ago was much more accepted than blaming radical muslims for anything at all these days in Europe. Even when the whole Theo Van Gogh murder happened, I think they blamed him rather than the radicals. 

Edited by The T - July 26 2012 at 22:14

Perhaps it wouldn't be so controversial if a lot of them wouldn't go on mouthing off about the grand plan being Islam taking over the world.
Where I live I have to listen to this sort of stuff a whole lot more than I'd like to.

Some of you people need a reality check.

npjnpj wrote: @ Blacksword: I'd be careful with what you're saying. Although I agree that the West is probably just as morally corrupt as the lunatic fringe you mentioned, it does look as if you're actually saying that it's this small lunatic fringe versus the entire Western  civilization. Very infllamatory stuff. Put that way the majority will immediately take the side of this fringe: what a brave bunch of resistance fighters and bugger the methods.We also have to take into account that what we're looking at is a conflict with religion on the one side and blind reckless profiteering on the other. Actually, come to think of it: both are religions.

I think we need to be very clear about the wests relationship with Islam, the way the media portrays the wests relationship with Islam, and how our leaders take advantage of our fear of Islam.

I believe there is a lunatic fringe within any religion. In Islam I suspect there are young men all over the world, who DO consider themselves to be against the entire western world. It doesn't automatically follow that they are a threat to the world. In most cases they are probably 'bedroom revolutionairies' who have watched some Youtube clips about how evil Israel is, and some films of men, with scarves around their heads, holding rifles and talking to a camera, about how the west is going to get whats coming to it.

I don't think I need to be careful what I say, I think our leaders need to be careful who they arm and fund to overthrow their adversaries, with whom, in the case of Mubarak and Gaddafi, they were all to happy to not only tolerate, but actually work with, a year or two ago.

The situation is far more complex than it may appear, in my opinion. It's all too tempting to see the world in terms of good vs evil. Which is which, is subjective depending on where you find yourself in the conflict. All there really is, is different perspectives.

GaryB wrote: Some of you people need a reality check. Community center? Interfaith dialog? Stop calling it a mosque? Small lunatic fringe within Islam?

Dean wrote: GaryB wrote: Some of you people need a reality check. Community center? Interfaith dialog? Stop calling it a mosque? Small lunatic fringe within Islam? That is the reality - A YMCA is not a church, a jewish community centre is not a synagogue. If you choose to call a prayer space in a comminity centre a mosque that is your choice, but it is not "reality". GaryB wrote:   To answer the question of how far away should it be to be in good taste? Oh, I don't know, How about Albion? So what you are saying is that no islamic building are welcome at any physical location on this Earth because that would be in bad taste (since Albion is a fictional location). Okay, fair enough, since I now know what kind of person I am dealing with here I think any further discussions between us on any subject are now closed.

Slartibartfast wrote: If you post enough crazy opinions we most certainly can presume what kind of person you are.

That's how we know so much about you, Slarti!

Slartibartfast wrote: thellama73 wrote: Slartibartfast wrote: If you post enough crazy opinions we most certainly can presume what kind of person you are. That's how we know so much about you, Slarti! Here's what we do know for certain: Real Name: Not Given Gender: Not Given Date of Birth: Not Given Age: Unknown Location: Not Given Homepage: Not Given Occupation: Not Given Interests: Not Given

I disagree with him but I don’t think it’s fair to hold his profile against him (supposing he’s male, of course). Many people choose to be anonymous on the internet, and I don’t even think they should have to justify it.

Pat and Robert, you guys need to be nicer about what you say to your students, or else. 

Edited by horsewithteeth11 - July 27 2012 at 11:25