The host on MN Public Radio always called it the "Islamic Cultural Center" today, so why here at DU

[elocs]

is it being continued to be called a "mosque"? To label it as a mosque and to use that term is an important propaganda point of the hate right wing. Why do we buy into that and why do we continually allow the right wing to define things to their benefit?

On edit: yes, it is not a "mosque", but why is it still referred to as a "mosque" here at DU by people who should know better?

[RandomThoughts]

1. It is a loaded label.

people do that because not enough people like you point that out.

Good point.

Or because people think the label given by the people building the thing is inaccurate, that could be the reason also.


The place means different things to different people. Might depend on what is in the label for mosque for some.

[elocs]

3. As I said, the host on MN Public Radio was very consistent

about calling it an Islamic Cultural Center. The program was not about that specifically, but about places that are considered to be sacred ground.

Meanwhile on Wisconsin Public Radio at the same time they had a guy as a guest that was definitely left of center talking about current affairs and he referred to it as the "mosque".

In this case as in so many others we need to stop allowing the right wing to define the terms and to frame the debate. That constantly puts us on the defensive.

[jberryhill]

9. It's a trap either way

By making the distinction, one is implicitly saying that it wouldn't be okay to have a mosque.

[spanone]

2. they are simply repeating the media mantra..it's been pointed out repeatedly that it is not a mosque

[Igel]

6. It is not a mosque.

The proposed center contains a mosque.

The proposed center does not contain a masjid.

Consider it metonymy, consider it calling the entire thing by the most salient of its parts.

Where I used to live there was an Islamic Center that contained a musallah. The imam called it a mosque when he referred to it as a place of worship in English; he did not refer to it as a masjid, because it wasn't. He referred to it as an Islamic Center when he referred to non-religious functions. He's smarter than both right and left on this, because he was able to accept a duality and know how to refer to it reasonably in context-appropriate ways.

[theoldman]

4. There is a Mosque a few blocks from my house.

There is also an Islamic Cultural Center near my house. They don't look the same and do not provide the same function. People don't know the difference and don't want to know the difference.

[keith the dem]

5. It's amazing how many people have opinions without any

information.

There needs to be far more education on how muslims worship.

Muslims do their prayers five times a day. They can do this prayer anywhere, but prefer to do it in a prayer hall with others. The entire ritual lasts all of 5 or 10 minutes. Close access to such a hall makes it easier for them to complete this important part of their faith.

Years ago we had a muslim man give the prayer, in both arabic and english, at an interfaith service at my church. I will always remember the wide array of clergy seated behind him nodding their heads in agreement with this prayer...including 2 rabbis.

[jberryhill]

8. That's the thing about location

I would imagine that there are plenty of Muslims in lower Manhattan to have a place to go do their thing during the workday. Looking at the general distribution of times, and if they are commuting in, then stopping off after lunch would be more convenient than freaking out their office mates.

[jberryhill]

7. Because it really doesn't matter

It shouldn't matter one way or another if it its a community center, a mosque, or a halal butcher shop.

Your argument works the other way.

By saying "it's a community center, not a mosque" are you really saying that it wouldn't be okay for them to have a mosque?

It's a lose-lose distinction, and playing the language game here reinforces the perception that it WOULD be an issue if it WAS a mosque.

[elocs]

10. I visited a friend in the hospital tonight, but since it had a chapel it must really be a church.

Things should be called what they really are. Words have meanings and should be used appropriately. If they played bingo for money at the hospital is some room there would that make it a casino? Could people then protest that they do not want a casino and gambling in their neighborhood.

A hospital is a hospital and a cultural community center is a cultural community center. A YMCA is not a church even if they might have prayer or Bible meetings there. We've too long let the right wing set the definition for terms such a "liberal" or "socialist", making them into dirty words or at least ones that somehow need an apology or clarification. There's no reason we need to go along with their games, especially here at DU.