Russell Simmons Unveils "Coexist" Banner Near Ground Zero

Good attempt in trying to state the obvious answer to this mosque issue. But I'd say it's definitely a poor attempt on execution because there's just too many dumb people out there to understand the sign. They should have kept the sign plain and legible to get the point across, then again the same people against the mosque would probably be supportive of sending all Muslims to a camp like they did with the American Japs during WW2.

I saw this but didn't even notice that it spelled "Coexist" until someone pointed it out. When you squint.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVZIDaa1eBQ&feature=related

skip to the 6:00 min point

I like Russel Simmons smoking dust and writing songs about sneakers, starting Def Jam and telling people to adopt shelter animals, not this new Bono type character.

good for you mr. simmons, you've really done good since divorcing your wife.

Russell Simmons is a good, smart man.

Another plus for the pro-mosque side as opposed to the irrational lunatics on the anti-mosque side. On one side you have hope, love and understanding, on the other you have hate, bigotry and divisiveness. I'll go with hope, love and understanding anytime!

I'm largely neutral on this entire issue but find the rationale offered across the board, utterly foolish and hypocritical. Why don't you re-read what you just wrote and blush at your own internal logic: stereotype the sides, caricature the views, and take a stand against divisiveness and 'bigotry" while contributing to it. that's rich.

What? Explain please.

Let me try to break it down for you. They country is divided over this issue. One side believes all Americans are equal and our Constitution specifically gives everyone the right to practice whatever religion they please. This side welcomes or at the very least recognizes their right to build this mosque. The other side thinks that all muslims throughout the world (1.5 billion) are guilty of being terrorists and therefore these muslim citizens of the United States should not have the same rights as other Americans.

So I choose to align myself with the first, pro-mosque group and that makes me guilty of hate, bigotry and divisiveness as well? Is that your logic?

No, that's not my logic. It's the "let's paint the population in as broad and caricatured stroke as possible" logic that I resist.

One side vs. the other side? So, how does that ratio work exactly in a land of 300 million? 160 million for, and 140 million against? And out of that say, 140 million, how do you go about verifying, exactly, that each and every one loves to cast aspersions on 1.5 billion Muslims? That's either genius mathematical prowess you have, or the inclination to quote silly news polling data to verify stats. In fact, it's media that loves to do this kind of thing -- they have to, and love to, write these "narratives" for ratings and self-congratulatory grandstanding. And I'm not talking about one media outlet over another either; all are culpable.

In my view, Rupert Murdoch & Fox News are more dangerous to the United States of America than the terrorists themselves. The fear mongering, bigoted "news" the present is tearing this country apart. Rupert Murdoch's numerous media outlets yields too much power in this country and his use of this power to promote divisiveness is really, really dangerous.

But let's analyze that poll the everyone always mention with the "68% of Americans Opposing This Mosque". This poll is flawed and not representative of America. The results can be found here http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/08/11/rel11a.pdf

Please take note that not one American between the ages of 18-34 were polled and surely enough the results show that the older the poll groups the more opposed they were. So the question is why leave out a group that would obviously balance out the numbers more, unless your intention is to skew the numbers in one direction. I'm pretty sure that if they did the reverse and included the opinions of 18-34 year olds and left out the 65 and over (who were 79% opposed) the percentages would be totally different.

Please my fellow Americans don't just accept the propaganda they pass of as news, read, think, get to the source because if you're just accepting it after the spinned it you're only get half of the truth.

Oh, the irony!

Muslims are in conflict with Hindus in India

Muslims are in conflict with Christians in the Phillipines and Turkey (Europe too)_

Muslims are in conflict with Jews and Christians in the Middle East

Muslims are in conflict with Buddhists in Thailand and other parts of South East Asia.

Muslims are in conflict with Zoroastrians and Bahai in Iran.

Coexistence is all they want as long as everybody else is a "dhimmi". Kind of what they had in Cordoba.

Fuck off. You know nothing about the struggles in any one of those countries.

Watch this:

Christians and Jews are in conflict with Muslims in the Turkey, Europe + AMERICA

jchez is in conflict with his sexuality because he is actually gay and refuses to admit it.

You see how easy it is to make connections out of nothing?

Too bad for his wallet Russell couldn't "coexist" with his gold-digger wife. She got booted from her own label by the way.

Russell is on record claiming Christians bombed WTC in 1993 but as nobody blames them any longer for it, so we should extend same to Muslim after 9/11. I never realize he was retarded.

Actually, I'm pretty sure he prefers men.

yep, attacking the guy disproves the need for peaceful coexistence and mutual respect. you win at ideas!

OK, you mosque-teer. Find a better informed spokesman for your case. Someone with Russell's dazzling intellect & charisma contributes little to your cause.

Good on Russell. I'm glad he's taken a stand.

Andy Sullivan needs start listening to his brain instead. Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf seems about as scary as a Deepak Chopra. Heck Joel Osteen and Kreflo Dollar seem scarier. And those right-wing televangelists burning Korans...they're um, well...[runs to a corner and shivers].

Andy Sullivan needs start listening to his brain instead. Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf seems about as scary as a Deepak Chopra. Heck Joel Osteen and Kreflo Dollar seem scarier. And those right-wing televangelists burning Korans...they're um, well...[runs to a corner and shivers].

"Right-wing televangelists burning Korans.." who of course represent most reasonable, sensible and peace-advocating Christians .. Right. So, caricature one group, and stand to defend against the caricatures of Muslims. What foolish contradiction and hypocrisy.

Russell is not the spokesman you need if you're in the pro-mosque contingency. He sounded downright confused and incoherent on one of CNN's programs, trying to make his case.

Actually, his interview was the best PSA you can have for why you need to stay in school.

That's why mankind has been in conflict since day one, the hippie bumper stickers weren't big enough. Glad somebody finally figured it out. Whew.

Mankind has been in conflict almost always because of people like you who cannot recognize that whole races/religions/etc. are not responsible for the actions of specific individuals in that group.

While I agree with you, I've noticed that a lot of people on this site that like to hate on the NYPD for the actions of a few are the same ones that cry when people hate on Islam for the actions of a few. I'm just saying.

Ugh. It's that stupid logo you see at U2 and Madonna concerts as part of their shows, and at the anti-Israel hate parades. What a farce.

The only countries where all the major religions do not coexist are Muslim ruled.

They're progressing quickly, but we're not helping them any by coddling their intolerance under the guise of it being a religious freedom.

Hey local people; try not to be giant morons. If you are going to be, try not to say it out loud. If you say it outloud, try to whisper it in private. If you aren't going to be in private, try not to say it to a reporter. If you say it to a reporter, try not to give them your name. Seriously, you rubes. You absolute doorknobs.

So your solution is to add the USA to that list of countries? Real clever.

You're supporting an Islamic institution that aims to instate Sharia law, and your only defense is to equate our opposition to that with.... oppressive sharia states.

Stop pretending you're promoting coexistence when you marginalize REAL moderate Islam by supporting such divisive moral equivalency.

Yeah, I read what you said a couple of times, & it still doesn't make any sense.

"You're supporting an Islamic institution that aims to instate Sharia law,"

That is the secret purpose of Park51? I guess when I looked on their website I must have scrolled past it. Good thing you're around to totally fabricate stuff!

"...and your only defense is to equate our opposition to that with.... oppressive sharia states."

You know that oppose & oppress are from the same root, right? Anyhow, no-- my whole point is we AREN'T an oppressive religious state, & I have an interest in KEEPING it that way. & the way we do that is by not oppressing people for their religion. QED.

"Stop pretending you're promoting coexistence when you marginalize REAL moderate Islam by supporting such divisive moral equivalency."

This is the thing that really befuddles me. By...not...wanting...to violate the First Amendment rights....of a community center...I'm....punishing the REAL Muslims? Yep, I'm the actual oppressor here, why am I such an Islamaphobe. Remember, whenever you support the Bill of Rights, the bad guys win!

How original.

Yawn.

Like your typical neocon inane ramblings are any more original.

yawn.

Right now my gut says quit going to lunch at Chipotle. I'll check back later to see if it has anything to say about the Ground Zero Mosque.