Museum of Tolerance Can't Tolerate "Ground Zero" Mosque

The Museum of Tolerance opened in Manhattan this week, on a mission to help the world transcend discrimination and prejudice. Great timing, because there's been a lot of that lately, with angry opponents to the proposed Islamic center and mosque near Ground Zero deriding the project as a "house of evil" where terrorists will "worship their monkey-god." Thankfully, the Museum of Tolerance is here to ~~advocate for acceptance~~ join the opposition. Looks like tolerance really does belong in a museum, eh eh?

The museum is funded by The Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights organization. Rabbi Meyer May, the Wiesenthal Center's executive director, tells Crain's the proposed location is "insensitive" to the families of 9/11 victims, adding that "religious freedom does not mean being insensitive...or an idiot. Religion is supposed to be beautiful [experience]. Why create pain in the name of religion?"

Rabbi May's criticism echoes the Anti-Defamation League, which last week issued a statement saying that "building an Islamic Center in the shadow of the World Trade Center will cause some victims more pain—unnecessarily—and that is not right." Yesterday, another group of Jewish activists voiced their support for the mosque outside the location where it will be built on Park Place. "Whenever there has been bloodshed allegedly in the name of one tradition or another, it’s necessary to say, ’That’s not what that tradition is about,'"Rabbie Arthur Waskow, 76, tells the Post. "The Cordoba Initiative will keep saying that is not what Islam is about. I was really surprised that the Anti-Defamation League opened the door to that kind of hatred."

And this morning Mayor Bloomberg again defended the principles of religious freedom and private property, telling radio host John Gambling, "People say, 'Well, do they have the money, can they raise the money, where is it coming from?' I don’t know. Do you really want every time they pass the basket in your church and you throw a buck in they run over and say, 'O.K., where did you come from, who are your parents, where did you get this money?'"

Bloomberg also dismissed the mosque opponents as "a handful of people who ought to be ashamed of themselves," and said that he received an email from the president of a company whose workers had died in the World Trade Center on 9/11. The email said, "I was really saddened that you had to make this speech. I was very glad you did. It’s a shame we even have to talk about this."

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By John Del Signore in News on August 6, 2010 3:25 PM

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snickerdoodle

Mayor Mike Bloomberg: ‘Bleeding-Heart White Liberal’

As the battle over the Ground Zero mosque continues to rage in the streets — and on the sides of buses — in New York City, the MSM — taking its cue from the nasty little lifestyle-fascist mayor, Mike Bloomberg — has continued to frame the discussion as one of bigotry instead of cultural self-preservation.

Now comes a Muslim woman, living in Canada, to speak the truth, not only about the significance of the mosque, but the sniveling, accomodationist nature of the pathetic surrender-monkey-in chief known as Hizzoner:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VwL8IqnZ2o

Mordicai

Ah yeah, you raise a good point: the fascists are making us follow the Bill of Rights. When will these totalitarians stop repressing us with civil rights! It isn't about bigotry, it is about hating people who are different from you, why can't anyone see that?

Matthew

Just like the un-needed, overpriced and short lived Sports Museum, this place will be gone in 6 months. Tolerance? What a joke.

Christopher

Bloomberg also dismissed the mosque opponents as "a handful of people who ought to be ashamed of themselves,"--This is a rather interesting analysis by our Mayor. Those handful of people happen to be 60% of New Yorkers. Six out of 10 New Yorkers oppose plans to build a mosque near the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, a recent Sienna Institute poll indicates. Ironic that a similar but actually higher percentage wanted to see the Twin Towers rebuilt. If only Mayor Bloomberg's passionate support of the Ground Zero Mosque were matched by an equal commitment to rebuild the Twin Towers. In both cases the will of the people has been ignored by our leaders. As stated by another blogger, "Tolerance of the intolerant is not virtue. It is suicide."

inoyourider

And further, if you're willing to base the opinions of New Yorkers on 622 (six hundred twenty two if you're slow) people...

NY State has 18,976,457 people according to Wikipedia.

Ny City's population approaches 8.4 million.

So 622 people that will answer their phones for a census...

less people than buy the Slap-Chop in a normal afternoon.

Good job.

Christopher

So now we dismiss polls that illustrate that a majority of New Yorkers are against this Mosque? Yes, Sienna Institute is a conspiracy to misrepresent New Yorkers. I know my way fairly well around New York City, as a life long New Yorker, am fairly well educated and can tell you that a wide swath of New York from all socioeconomic backgrounds and political affiliations is strongly against this Mosque. And furthermore, I am a former Battery Park City resident. The last thing New York City needs is yet another phucking Mosque. You have to love all the liberal idiots who have such tolerance for the culture of Intolerance. What next ISLAMIC FACEBOOK: ith apps that include Hanging Gaysville, Flight Terrorism School, Burka Fashion Week, Stone the Slut in a public square. How does a Society that supports individual rights and freedom fight for a culture that is against everything we stand for. It is insane.

inoyourider

Unfortunately (for you and the other ignoramuses), only the community board has the decision.

The community board is made up of people who, unlike the ASSHOLES that have a problem with this, actually live there.

That's why they have a say and dumbshits like you, Sarah Palin, and Newt Gingrich don't.

Maybe all the asshole should read up and realize that:

A) this isn't a mosque,

B) it's not visible from the WTC (unless you're Sarah Palin and can see Russia from your house),

C) there are other relgious institutions (including a mosque) nearby,

D) most 9/11 victim's families DO NOT live nearby (mostly NJ and LI), and finally

E) MIND YOUR OWN FUCKING BUSINESS.

gattopardo

Jesus this story brings out the idiot in everyone. At least we are learning just how racist people really are.

inoyourider

Museum of Anti-Tolerance

JenChungsBaby

Tolerance needs a museum because at this pace it's going to be extinct soon.

adeez

"Yesterday, another group of Jewish activists voiced their support for the mosque outside the location where it will be built on Park Place."

But that won't stop the bigots from proclaiming that all Jews are evil. Just like they keep saying that Muslims never denounced those attacks despite the fact that so many did, and immediately thereafter.

Meanwhile, evidence continues to pour out pointing to the fact that this was perhaps the biggest cover-up in our country's history. For every question with a satisfactory answer, there are about 20 that have no rational explanation.

But that also won't stop others from accusing me of being crazy, despite all of the facts that support what should be a non-controversial point.

It's sad that so many people have bought into the fairytale that the gov. has espoused. But I think the truth is too painful for many to contemplate, so many of the thinkers out there have suspended reality and willfully choose to be in denial.

Rocknrope

Meanwhile, evidence continues to pour out pointing to the fact that this was perhaps the biggest cover-up in our country's history.

Yeah, I was with you until this sentence.

Helen Thomas knows the score

'that won't stop the bigots from proclaiming that all Jews are evil.'

I just want to point out, in the west some of the most out spoken anti-zionists, pro-palestenian people have been jewish.

chomsky, zinn, finkelstein, weiss, blumenthal, http://jewssayno.wordpress.com/

this is totally inline with judiasm from albert einstein all way back to the prophets from bible. Rightous Jewish people, of which there are a LOT of speak against this stuff more than almost anyone.

Mordicai

The term "epic fail" is getting pretty appropriate. Seriously...seriously. Don't name your lobby group something with "tolerance" or "anti-defamation" if you can't stand up to snuff.

BDS=(Boycott.Divest.Sanction)

not surprised.

the ADL, the Museum of 'Tolerance', Wiesenthal....these groups have an easy to swallow 'universal' mission but their real agenda is political.

Look at their press releases,

http://www.wiesenthal.com/site/apps/nl/newsletter2.asp?c=lsKWLbPJLnF&b=4441467

they all deal with one thing, defending the actions of one country in the Middle East and calling everyone who criticizes them anti-Semitic.

That’s their real mission. but, whatever, times tide cant be stopped, justice is going to come Palestine.

Dogsbody

"Rabbi Meyer May, the Wiesenthal Center's executive director, tells Crain's the proposed location is "insensitive" to the families of 9/11 victims"

The existence of Jewish people was "insensitive" to the wishes of some Germans once upon a time...maybe the Jewish people should have been more sensitive in that situation too??

islandmanskn

More intolerance from the "Tolerant"

Opponent Of Cordoba House Is Building A Museum On Top Of A Muslim Cemetery In Jerusalem

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/08/06/marvin-hier-museum/

Rabbi Marvin Hier of the Simon Wiesenthal Center appeared on Fox News yesterday to argue against the Cordoba House project in lower Manhattan. “It’s a great idea, it’s the wrong location,” Hier said. “It’s very insensitive.”

Interestingly, while Hier believes that Ground Zero should be treated as a cemetery, Hier’s own organization is currently building a “Museum of Tolerance” atop an actual cemetery — the Mamilla Cemetery, a Muslim graveyard in Jerusalem “with thousands of grave sites that go back some 1200 years.” The planned museum has caused a huge international uproar, causing celebrity architect Frank Gehry to withdraw from the project.

TimSPC

Oh for pete's sake, I give up. I GIVE UP. Fine. Ok, there will be no Mosque. Let's just build a fucking 13-story Applebee's and make everyone happy. Who needs religious freedom? Fuck it all.

bleeckerite

I'm okay with this :)

Jenniferlayne

My two cents that's been running through my mind whilest I read all the different articles on those against this building? Did not muslims - innocent muslimes - die in the 9/11 attack. http://islam.about.com/blvictims.htm

Yes - I beleve they did. Everyone lost someone, and this country just cannot afford to tolerate - intolerance.

Rocknrope

Amazing. Intolerance and defamation are ok I guess, as long as it's not against Judiasm.

ides_of_march

"Tolerance" is one of the more abused words in the English language and meaningless without specifying what's being tolerated. There's a lot of things that shouldn't be tolerated. Anyway, often people who are demanding "tolerance" are being dishonest. It's not "tolerance" they want, it's approval and sanctification. Tolerating something isn't the same as "celebrating" it.

Perhaps Gothamist can post a thread with Mohammed cartoons and we'll see just how tolerant some people are.