On 9th anniversary of 9/11, anger and grief swirl in the air amid mosque, Koran burning controversy

SmashMouth · 09-11-2010, 07:43 AM

Saturday, the nation marks the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks - divided over a proposed mosque near Ground Zero and incensed by a preacher bent on burning the Koran.

The calls for unity and somber reflection of commemorations past have been replaced by fierce, politically-fueled debates over religious freedom and free speech.

Plans to build an Islamic center two blocks from where the Twin Towers once stood have ignited anger in the streets of lower Manhattan, pitting 9/11 survivors against each other - and unleashing an ugly wave of Islamophobia across the country.

Fanning the flames of religious bigotry was Florida pastor Terry Jones, whose threat to torch Islam's sacred book today touched off angry riots in Muslim Afghanistan and endangered U.S. forces fighting there.

Read more: On 9th anniversary of 9/11, anger and grief swirl in the air amid mosque, Koran burning controversy

09-11-2010, 07:43 AM	#1
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,550 Blog Entries: 29	On 9th anniversary of 9/11, anger and grief swirl in the air amid mosque, Koran burning controversy Saturday, the nation marks the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks - divided over a proposed mosque near Ground Zero and incensed by a preacher bent on burning the Koran. The calls for unity and somber reflection of commemorations past have been replaced by fierce, politically-fueled debates over religious freedom and free speech. Plans to build an Islamic center two blocks from where the Twin Towers once stood have ignited anger in the streets of lower Manhattan, pitting 9/11 survivors against each other - and unleashing an ugly wave of Islamophobia across the country. Fanning the flames of religious bigotry was Florida pastor Terry Jones, whose threat to torch Islam's sacred book today touched off angry riots in Muslim Afghanistan and endangered U.S. forces fighting there. Read more: On 9th anniversary of 9/11, anger and grief swirl in the air amid mosque, Koran burning controversy