NYC mosque debate will shape American Islam

Adnan Zulfiqar, a graduate student, former U.S. Senate aide and American-born son of Pakistani immigrants, will soon give the first khutbah, or sermon, of the fall semester at the University of Pennsylvania. His topic has presented itself in the daily headlines and blog posts over the disputed mosque near ground zero. What else could he choose, he says, after a summer remembered not for its reasoned debate, but for epithets, smears, even violence? Read the full article from the Associated Press.

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Mosque supporter: 9/11? Get over it!

Perhaps this isn't the best way to get your point out in a positive fashion, and although at Murray Report we have been rather supportive of the proposal to build an Islamic centre near Ground Zero in New York, there are a few things we simply cannot ignore.

Namely, a video where a mosque supporter is seen telling those involved in the attacks in September of 2001 to simply 'get over it'.

“God d****it, my wife is Jewish. Come on you guys, get over it”, the man said in regards to 9/11 after trying to draw an analogy using the Vietnam War. Right after he says to “get over it”, a lady responded “Oh my God, I’m not going to get over it- it happened right there”, pointing towards Ground Zero. An argument then breaks out between the two. Typically, he later calls her a “racist”. [Via Breitbart]

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Harry Reid opposes Ground Zero mosque

Harry Reid, an influential US politician, has spoken out publicly in support of those who protest the building of a mosque just a few blocks from the former site of the World Trade Centre in New York, where the structure collapsed after terrorist attacks in 2001.

Reid is said to support religious freedom, but thinks the mosque should be built somewhere else.

According to Politico:

“The First Amendment protects freedom of religion,” Reid spokesman Jim Manley said in a statement. "Sen. Reid respects that but thinks that the mosque should be built someplace else. If the Republicans are being sincere, they would help us pass this long-overdue bill to help the first responders whose health and livelihoods have been devastated because of their bravery on 9/11, rather than continuing to block this much-needed legislation."

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Sarah Palin attacks Obama's defense of NY mosque

Sarah Palin took to the internet to publicly bash comments made by President Obama which defended the religious freedom of muslims living in the United States. Using social networks like Twitter and Facebook, the former Vice Presidential hopeful criticized Obama's lack of verbal continuity.

Reports were released today which suggest Obama has changed his view on the matter. See Palin's tweets below:

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Obama: I'm not promoting the mosque, I'm just protecting the right to build it

Barack Obama has responded to criticism this morning that he was condoning terrorism and promoting the building of a mosque near New York's Ground Zero.

The President, having given his support for religious freedom clearly yesterday, sought to clarify his position on the matter, reports Politico.

“I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque there,” he told press. “I was commenting very specifically on the right people have that dates back to our founding. That's what our country is about. And I think it's very important as difficult as some of these issues are that we stay focused on who we are as a people and what our values are all about."

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Fox News hosts agree with Obama on mosque support (VIDEO)

Hosts of the popular right-wing 'noise channel' Fox News have actually taken up busy air time to support the decision made by President Obama on protecting religious freedom. Watch the video below:

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Conservative Party plans anti-mosque TV campaign

New York's Conservative Party is reportedly planning to add a television advertising campaign to the already heavy firepower it is throwing at plans to build a mosque near New York's 'Ground Zero'. This site is where where the World Trade Centre collapsed in September of 2001 after attacks related to terrorism.

The ad, of which the Associated Press has obtained a copy, states rather clearly that "real Americans" want real answers about any proposed Islamic Centre.

It also calls on viewers to contact the partial owners of the land on which the mosque is said to stand in the future, in an effort to have people pressure the company into halting the plans.

This is, however, unable to happen under current agreements. The utility which owns the land has already signed a legally binding document which allows the mosque to be built on the site.

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Ground Zero mosque advertisement sparks controversy

The Transit agency responsible for all advertising within the New York public transport system has approved a controversial ad opposing the building of a mosque near Ground Zero, the site of the terrorist attacks which occurred on September 11, 2001.

The ad, which shows the 'Two Towers' burning alongside a rendering of the proposed Islamic Centre, was paid for by the American Freedom Defense Initiative, a group that opposes Islamic advancement in the United States.

Transit Agency officials were sued by the group before they would approve the ad. MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz says the agency doesn't endorse the ad's views.

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