Opponents fight plans for mosques from coast to coast

[PhiLandShiR 18]

Murfreesboro, Tenn. -- Muslims trying to build houses of worship in the nation's heartland, far from the heated fight in New York over plans for a mosque near ground zero, are running into opponents even more hostile and aggressive.

Foes of proposed mosques have deployed dogs to intimidate Muslims holding prayer services and spray-painted "Not Welcome" on a construction sign, then later ripped it apart.

The 13-story, $100 million Islamic center that could soon rise two blocks from the site of the Sept. 11 attacks would dwarf the proposals elsewhere, yet the smaller projects in local communities are stoking a sharper kind of fear and anger than has showed up in New York.

In the Nashville suburb of Murfreesboro, opponents of a new Islamic center say they believe the mosque will be more than a place of prayer. They are afraid the 15-acre site will be turned into a terrorist training ground for Muslim militants bent on overthrowing the U.S. government.

"They are not a religion. They are a political, militaristic group," said Bob Shelton, a 76-year-old area retiree.

In Temecula, Calif., opponents took dogs to protest a proposed 25,000-square-foot mosque that would sit on 4 acres next to a Baptist church. Opponents fear it will turn the town into haven for Islamic extremists, but mosque leaders say they are peaceful and just need more room to serve members.

Islam is a growing faith in the United States, though Muslims represent less than 1 percent of the country's population. Ten years ago, there were about 1,200 mosques nationwide. Now there are roughly 1,900, said Ihsan Bagby, professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Kentucky and a researcher on surveys of American mosques.

The growth involves Islamic centers expanding to accommodate more Muslims -- as is the case in New York, California and Tennessee -- as well as mosques cropping up in smaller, more isolated communities, Bagby said.

Zuhdi Jasser, president of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, a nonprofit that advocates for reform and modernization of Islam, said opposing mosques is no way to prevent terrorism.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

As long as the media potrays Islam as such, that's how mainstream American will perceieve them....

It's just like those who treat mormons as a 'cult.'

If it doesn't fit with your beliefs, and all you see in the media is negative, then the only response you're going to get is a negative one...

[alienlovechild 75]

Murfreesboro, Tenn. -- Muslims trying to build houses of worship in the nation's heartland, far from the heated fight in New York over plans for a mosque near ground zero, are running into opponents even more hostile and aggressive.

Islam is a growing faith in the United States, though Muslims represent less than 1 percent of the country's population. Ten years ago, there were about 1,200 mosques nationwide. Now there are roughly 1,900, said Ihsan Bagby, professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Kentucky and a researcher on surveys of American mosques.

The mosque opponents are fools to blindly oppose all mosques. There may be opposition but they aren't stopping new mosques from be built as there are more mosque now than 10 years ago.

The article doesn't mention it but there plenty of churches and synagogues that get vandalized as well. Messing with others' houses of worship is bad on principle and needs to be prosecuted.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

As long as the media potrays Islam as such, that's how mainstream American will perceieve them....

It's just like those who treat mormons as a 'cult.'

If it doesn't fit with your beliefs, and all you see in the media is negative, then the only response you're going to get is a negative one...

I have yet to see the media post pics and video's of massive rally's and marches of Muslims against "Muslim extremist".

LOL... where are those pics and vids ! Better yet where were the rally's and marches...if any.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

I have yet to see the media post pics and video's of massive rally's and marches of Muslims against "Muslim extremist".

LOL... where are those pics and vids ! Better yet where were the rally's and marches...if any.

You don't really give a damn if Muslims march or rally against extremism. We're all terrorists to you anyway. Admit it.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Coservatives just want to control different things. The problem is politicians and politics.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

You don't really give a damn if Muslims march or rally against extremism. We're all terrorists to you anyway. Admit it.

Post those pics and vids and on here and I might be swayed.

btw I have a few Muslim friends from the island of Bali, and them ever being terrorist is unthinkable to me.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Post those pics and vids and on here and I might be swayed.

btw I have a few Muslim friends from the island of Bali, and them ever being terrorist is unthinkable to me.

Not interested in swaying you. You've had since 2001 to notice Muslim protestations against terrorism and you didn't bother. I'm not going out of my way to do what you could do yourself.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Not interested in swaying you. You've had since 2001 to notice Muslim protestations against terrorism and you didn't bother. I'm not going out of my way to do what you could do yourself.

LOL. Your too funny. Better yet let's do a "google" on it and see what we come up with eh ?

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=Muslim+protestations+against+terrorism&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&fp=728ef3750cf3a29c

You lose.

[daboyz 36]

I was talking with a guy from India (Hindu) at lunch the other day. He had the idea that they wanted to build the mosque on GZ. When i told him it was a few blocks away, he said "what's the problem?"

**Rant On

I don't have a stake in any of this, as I think all religion is just a reason for people to kill each other. It would be slightly amusing if so many people didn't die because of it. Pat Robertson and and that nut lady from Tennessee opposing that mosque in Murfreesboro would be even more hilarious if it wasn't so stupid.

**Rant Off

I'm looking to go back to Asia and get residency in a country there. I can't wait to turn my passport in to the nearest Embassy. The US is now the standard for propaganda based on competing cable news networks. Pravda would be proud.

Disclosure: I have voted Republican all my life. Now even they have been hijacked by the crazies.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

LOL. Your too funny. Better yet let's do a "google" on it and see what we come up with eh ?

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=Muslim+protestations+against+terrorism&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&fp=728ef3750cf3a29c

You lose.

Google is your idea of research? Hate sites are your examples? Intellectual laziness, thy name is Why_Me.

Disclosure: I have voted Republican all my life. Now even they have been hijacked by the crazies.

Get in line. I'm a recovering former Republican. If there are a lot more like me, they can stop bragging about their chances in November coz I'm gone.

Edited September 1, 2010 by Sofiyya

[daboyz 36]

Google is your idea of research? Intellectual laziness, thy name is Why_Me.

Get in line. I'm a recovering former Republican. If there are a lot more like me, they can stop bragging about their chances in November coz I'm gone.

At this point I wont even bother. I wont vote for either of the parties. Both parties are filled with a bunch of 4 year olds that cant get along on the playground thanks to their paymasters. I thought Thai politics were messed up when I lived there. I stand corrected. At least in Thailand they have a military coup every now and then. Seems to get the politicians in line for awhile.

I never thought I would condone something like that, but these guys are idiots. On both sides of the aisle. George Bush turned out to be a moron with some executive experience. Obama is somewhat intellectual with zero experience. McCain would have been the right choice, but he got beat down for not being right wing enough.

Let's just get it over with and have a civil war or a military coup. This place is basically a banana republic now. See 2000 elections.