Mosque

[Lurker]

The "actual investigative report" Fallakin linked - produced for a questionable anti-Islam website - is hillarious. It asserts that Rauf is "second in command" of Perdana with a footnote that leads to the bio page and offers no other evidence. So, based entirely on his name being listed second on the bio page he's accused of being "second in command" of a group he isn't even a member of. Seriously... it's that stupid. That is some amazing investigative journalism. I sense a pulitzer in her future.

[Fallakin Kuvari]

Yes. That is all that is in there.

There are also no footnotes, like many history books nowadays.

If you can't tell I'm being a sarcastic asshole, maybe you should interact with real people more often.

[Harlowe]

Telling someone they need to go and interact with real people while you argue with them on the internet, is ....well it's just delicious.

[Fallakin Kuvari]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantics

Clearly a lot of people around here should also go read this.

[Lurker]

Hey, look... he learned a new word! "Semantics" must have been on his word-of-the-day calendar.

[Ddrak]

I was anti-semantic, but then I found that underneath the silly cap the Jews weren't bad at all.

Dd

[Fallakin Kuvari]

Yep, I totally must've learned a new word... even though I've used it in the past.

[Harlowe]

Once again snark goes entirely over Fallakin's head. Are you kidding, that word has been commonly used on this board, ad nauseum, for years....and years, it's just fallen out of "most favorite term ever" since Rsak stopped posting.

The real problem is that you typically don't use the words from your Word-a-Day calendar correctly.

[Fallakin Kuvari]

I've literally used the word twice on this board. Said snark wasn't very "snarky" because it actually could've been the first time I used the word.

Dd's jackass comment was more effective.

[Torakus]

Looks like the Imam is exploring options.

Now that it appears the Self-Ball-Kicking-Distraction(tm) has moved on, I should answer the biggest question Lurker and Harlowe seemed to want answered; who should the mosque planners approach to discuss options? Obviously not the way out there right bloggers, but perhaps the high profile right supporters of those bloggers like Palin. Even if they won't sit down, it might prove useful to expose their motives to the rank and file following their lead for emotional reasons. How funny would it be to watch Palin get schooled in a live debate by the Imam? I would pay money to see that. In the end though, the target partner for any discussion of middle ground is probably that common Joe that is having that deep emotional reaction based on misconception or misinformation. Those that feel that the project is insensitive, not the ones that feel it is an affront.

Anyway, after reading his op-ed and the web page for the project that Lurker posted, I have a better feeling that they really have reached out more than I gave them credit for. I think more can be done and I think based on the Imam's latest statement that he agrees and continues to explore options that will help diffuse the situation.

[Lurker]

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I agree with you that the target partner for any discussion are the people "having that deep emotional reaction based on misconception or misinformation", and I think that's who the Imam is reaching out to now. I think raising awareness is a better option than simply moving location. Hopefully this can still be a teachable moment leading to Muslim-Americans feeling more welcome in their own country, extremist hateful elements feeling more marginalized, and people operating under misconceptions more knowledgeable.

Now that it appears the Self-Ball-Kicking-Distraction(tm) has moved on

[Fallakin Kuvari]

*yawn*