a mosque at ground zero

[altezon]

There are three problems with your suggestion.

first off, i'm not saying the gov should build it at that specific place, i'm saying they could build it at ground zero.

Yes, but that was when you thought the "mosque" was to be built at Ground Zero.

The project has already been approved by the city. My sense is that the only basis for denying permits would have been zoning laws and building codes.

the gov can stop whatever the shit it wants. it has the ability to put so many orders against something the mosque would never see the light of day.all it has to do is say it's unsafe for pedestrians, it's a fire hazard to neighbouring buildings. the noise pollution from the loud prayers isn't acceptable.

What government do you mean? city? state? federal?
In any case, you're confusing us with nazi Germany, I think.

It's being built on privately-owned land. The Government (the United States and the State of New York are separate governments) can't arbitrarily take the land and decide what to use it for except in cases of eminent domain, which doesn't apply here

the fact land is privately owned doesn't mean it can automatically be used as a church or place of worship. it can be stopped simply because building it where it is would cause traffic congestion. it's as easy as that.

No it isn't. The permits have already been issued by the city,
presumably because the project meets the zoning and building code requirements.

Both the state and federal constitutions forbid government from being a religious referee, except where alleged constitutional violations of "the separation of church and state" are brought to the attention of a court.

the gov doesn't have to be a religious referee.

I think you should listen to yourself:

wouldn't it be good if the gov said yes you can have a mosque there to pray in as long as you also have the next four biggest religions. i think if such a place does get built it has to be done from government funding.

You're saying "the government" should stop the project by threatening to drown them in frivolous orders based on "it's unsafe for pedestrians, it's a fire hazard to neighbouring buildings. the noise pollution from the loud prayers isn't acceptable" unless they share with four other religions of the government's choosing (the "biggest" ones, or whatever).
And if the project managers agree to that the government will take over and fund the whole project? to build a religious center? This is forbidden by our Constitution.

i think the problem is that the person or group who want to build/start the mosque at zero has a bad past when it comes to showing peace and harmony. he's said some pretty inflammatory things as well. anyway, i think the idea is good but the person formulating it might not be.

Can you be more specific?

Zahar is a co-founder of Hamas and its chief on the Gaza Strip.

New York Sen. Chuck Schumer says Zahar's comments don't carry any weight because Hamas is a terrorist organization. Schumer hasn't taken a stand on the mosque.
source:

something i agree with. build it by all means but at least make sure those in charge are'nt going to be ex hamas leaders. as leader of hamas he said and did too many nasty things to make him a believable person (his position which is fact, means no source of his hatred for jews and the west is needed, it is and was always a given) to front such a project in such a place. if anything his past makes his motives highly suspect.

a bit like the ss wanting to open a bar or meeting place for prayer in Jerusalem

I hate to break this to ya, but Zahar isn't "the person or group who want to build/start the mosque" that you referred to. The center is a project of the Cordoba Initiative, an advocacy group that promotes improved relations between Islam and the West. The group was founded by Kuwaiti-American Feisal Abdul Rauf, who has been Imam of another New York City mosque since 1983 (see my earlier post).
http://pigpenpoetry.com/showthread.php?t...4#pid36654