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New Yorkers fight for jobs, nation battles over NYC mosque
Published: 24 August, 2010, 21:06
Edited: 26 August, 2010, 12:55
Protesters with the NYC Coalition to Stop Islamophobia, rally near the proposed Islamic Center August 22, 2010 in New York (AFP Photo / Don Emmert)
(21.3Mb) embed videoTAGS: Religion, Protest, Politics, USA, Economy
The proposed development of a NYC Islamic Cultural Center two blocks from Ground Zero has fueled a heated debate. But, who is paying attention to crippling economic issues like joblessness and homelessness?
If there had to be a dirty word this summer that word would arguably be Mosque. Hundreds turned out in lower Manhattan on August 22, as dueling demonstrations pitted Mosque opponents against supporters.
In a country that prides itself on religious tolerance, Americans like Joyce Aries say Muslims shouldn't be praying in the shadows of the World Trade Center site.
“We have them all over long island. We have them all over the United States. Put it somewhere else,” said Aries.
Retired police officer Michael Fandal believes the Islamic Cultural Center would be a monument to the September 11th terrorists,
“The nineteen extremist are the tip of the iceberg. There is a whole industry behind the destruction of western civilization,” he said.
Just one block away, Mosque supporters, like Matt Sky, rallied for religious freedom.
"A lot of politicians have demonized the Muslim community and we’re here to say no to that," Sky said.
With midterm elections approaching, Sky says it's no coincidence that the New York issue has been politicized around the nation.
Sky added, "We’re in tough economic times and when people are in tough economic times, people turn to desperate measures to gain power.”
The proposed development of a New York City Islamic Cultural Center two blocks from Ground Zero has fueled heated debates throughout the nation, leaving little discussing about crippling economic issues like joblessness, homelessness and home foreclosures.
Inside New York City's largest Department of Labor Office, you'll find unemployed Americans like Valerie Ferguson, fighting to keep food on the table.
"You’re talking about a mosque and there is no home for people. Still people living on the street,” she said.
Homelessness in New York City is at a staggering high, nearly ten percent of the country is out of a job, and 1.9 million homes are expected to be foreclosed on this year.
Unemployed New Yorker Edna Norman said angry crowds should be flooding the streets to demand improved economic conditions.
“There are bigger things, tike this unemployment, here in New York; everywhere,” she said.
Although times are hard, some among the employed are refusing to work.
Constructions workers opposing the proposed mosque near Ground Zero signed a "hard hat pledge" vowing not to build the Islamic Cultural Center if it is to rise.
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1 comment
US recession deepens as home sales fall, foreclosures riseThe sale of previously owned homes in the United States dropped 27 percent in July to their lowest level in 15 years and US foreclosures are up. |
I forgot to mention that Islamophobia is a word invented by Muslims to convince us all that there is nothing to be concerned about. Read the Q'uran and you will see clearly that there is plenty to be concerned about
The houlabalou raised by the proposed construction of an Islamic Center near ground zero is nothing but a fabricated hate issue used by certain segments of the American society to divert the people's attention from the real mess the country is in. Just because the World Centers were destroyed by some moslems does not make Islam a hate religion. Islam is second only to Christianity and the most populous religion (1.5 billion). To banish all moslems from their constitutional rights just because terrorists in this particular case happened to be of their faith goes against the very heart of the American constitution that is supposed to protect individual rights and the right of the freedom of religion of every American. The rabble rousers should not be allowed to dictate policy in America nor should they be allowed to trample the Constitution treasured by every American. Only irredeemable hatemongers and unprincipled politicians would engage is a religious sabotage unheard of anywhere, let alone the US. How would these gangsters opposed to the building of the mosque feel if all churches or synagogues in all Arab or Moslem countries were wiped out?
Whilst I believe strongly the all Church, Synagogue,Mosque's should be converted to a residential buildings , i.e. Flats , to house homeless people , but watching News, seeing an American shouting ,Muslims are trying to destroy western civilization , firstly what history of civilization you have a century ? secondly you had shown civilization at the Guantanamo Bay prison , how badly and inhuman they have behaved , and that you call it WESTERN CIVILIZATION ? shame on you .