Having seen the futility of arguing straight-up the appropriateness (or not) of it (here @ JREF), I'll try a different approach. What about the proposed cost? $100 million dollars? That doesn't raise a red flag to anyone (in any way)? I'll bet you could count on one hand the number other churches/centers (of
any denomination) across
the rest of the country that cost $100 million or more. At least as a single project. And I'll even bet the few exceptions to that are church owned colleges and universities, which are typically ongoing, long time running type projects. In spite of it's modesty compared to trillions, $100 MILLION dollars is a **** load of money. Heck, I'll even propose that there's but probably only a few projects
of any kind going on right now
in all of New York City that are costing $100 million or more. The WTC site being one of them. Which I guess is ironic, but only here at the JREF.
And, so what about
this and
this? We're not allowed to consider that 'inappropriate' either for fear of the dreaded 'bigot' label? <Jack Nicholson> "
...wheww whewww..." I mean, how many exceptions and entitlements and special treatments does this project get before everyone is finally convinced it's been rubbed in enough? Maybe Thunderstein™ should also start a JREF 'Save The Mosque From Bigots' fund to be used (somehow) to stamp out the
most heinous of 'thought crimes' like mistrust and suspicion and doubt. I mean, those are the kinds of notions that threaten 'blind faith' and stuff.
BTW Thunder, given your
literally unshakable belief that Rauf and Company are being 100% sincere, I'll bet you believe whatever the Catholic church says is 100% sincere too, right? Thunder?
Anyway, I propose that there's
never going to be a $100 million dollar, 13 story Islamic Cultural Center with a rooftop pool put there anyway. In part because there's several huge caveats still unmet
including the actual funding. Although I guess it's possible the State Department could pony that up too depending on how it goes on that
taxpayer sponsored trip. I got it, maybe the Saudis could 'accidentally' slip the State Department a fully stocked armored car with that **** load of money in it. They can claim they were just cruising along minding their own business and then poof, there's an armored car sitting in a field in Albany with a note 'For Rauf's NYC Mosque and Burka Free Discotheque' taped on the back door. And of course the State Department would take it straight to Rauf because they're honorable that way. I mean, that's so perfectly legitimate who could argue anything nefarious was going on there?! Also, ConEd still seems to have a say in it all.
Yeah, there's likely going to be
something happening on that site, but I bet (again) it'll be a more humble $30 million, couple stories lesser
attempt at an Islamic Cultural Center with a rooftop pool
maybe.
Does anyone know
for sure (verifiable) who presently owns that property? Is it the ASMA or Rauf personally? Somebody else?