I look forward to an equally vigorous and poignant defense of the 1rst amendment and free speech by the President when the billboards of a Koran in a toilet across the street from mosques start to go up. The fact that some, maybe many, might find these billboards provocative and offensive, demanding they be removed is simply un-American. I equally expect to see Americans who are Muslim, now so concerned for the fate of constitutional liberty in the US to censure any attempts to stifle free speech to assuage the feelings of those who might be offended. I understand very well these billboards could be posted someplace else.... Someplace where they might not cause distress, but the important thing here is the First ammendment, the right to free speech.

must understand the hesitancy and fear with which Americans (and Canadians) view the Muslim people residing in their midst. We need to hear, continuously and loudly, that the current Muslim populations are not only against terrorism but are actively combatting it through education, integration with Canadians and Americans and a ceaseless endeavor to root out terrorist activities within their midst. In the meantime, we remain quite jumpy about you as a number of American and Canadian born and educated Muslims have since become part of the terrorist trail. I hope you understand. If I were an imam, I would put my efforts towards uprooting terrorism and educating my people in the ways of democracy and I hope you focus your energies thusly as well.

You must be joking. Many construction project permits are challenged in the US for a variety of reasons, modified, delayed or never built, churches included. Why do you want an exception for a small number of mosques? BTW, have you ever condemned the 9/11 attacks that Muslim terrorists following the Terrorism Manual Quran to spread violent Jihad inflicted on the US? Yes the 90% meaning of Jihad is killing infidels. If you pretend not to know it then I wonder what kind of Imam you are , maybe not a very good one or an Al-Takyia practitioner, also following Terrorism Manual Quran and its companion Terrorism for Muslim Dummies Sharia law.

Allow me to clarify two incorrect points made by #32. 1.The majority of Quebecers sense neither hesitancy nor fear with Muslims in our midst. 2. Judging by Master Haymond's previous post, there was no due respect given. Most anyone who has read a book of their own initiative here is well aware that the term terrorist is a retread from the propaganda of the Spanish Civil War as employed by Franco's side. Greatly overused on this side of the Atlantic. By the way, your religious brethren would number few in this regard compared with Americans and Israelis. I feel no need to apologize for my countryman's insincerity as I doubt you would judge me collectively. Shukran.

THEIR SOIL !!!

While not all muslims are terrorists, the ground zero mosque project 's imam, Mr Rauf, is known for his dubious statements concerning terrorism. This is not a tolerant person looking for reconciliation.

your head in the Quebec bogs given the infamous Toronto 18 and the current case of the young Khadr and his pro terrorist family which still resides in our country (Canada). As to your ridiculous attempt to set apart the meaning of the term "terrorism", I can only guess that you are a failed intellectual who couldn't and still can't distinguish black from white. Your comment with reference to "terrorism" was more than absurd.

The mosque will be named "Codoba". Cordoba was the capital of the first conquered islam territory in Spain and the fisrt real big mosque in a Christian area. So.. There is a full program behind the name and nothing to do with faith freedom. On the contrary !

In the NY City survey ( least we forget NYC was the major victim of the 9/11 terrorist attack) its citizens supported the building of the Mosque. The group sponsoring the Mosque has had a presence in southern Manhattan for over 15year though not at that specific site. There are two porn shops within shouting distance of the 9/11 site, Timothy McVey, who slaughtered hundreds in the Mura Federal Building bombing in Oklahoma City, was raised Christian. If a church was built two blocks from the Oklahoma bombing cite would anyone raise an eyebrow? There are 1.5 billion Muslims in the world and according to our military about 1,000 of them are members of al-Qaeda. That is less than 1 millionth of 1 %. The building of the Mosque in southern Manhattan is not simply a constitutional right. It is statement about Americans rejecting bigotry. Mr. Gilboa like many opportunist Republican politicians would love to fuel it which is frankly a sad statement about his motives for writing this article.

Jewish intellects and thinkers shined during that time. The Age of Christianity was about crusades and superstitions. Hate begats hate.

Ground Zero. I would be more than surprised to hear a muslim say he didn't agree with the mosque on Ground Zero. Obama, you're not wanted. Better stay at home as long as you have the white House as your 'roof'.

once the mosque is up and running with lots of muslims on their hands and knees, maybe, just maybe someone already has the idea to take care of it like the muslims took care of the Towers. Who knows?

Did you not know Steve that their pockets were well lined?

When one wants to build a bridge, one must remember that a bridge has two sides. Both sides must support the bridge. Imam Feisal Rauf has to engage with Americans and negotiate the Mosque with them. If he and his followers keep insisting on rights, it would not create a bridge. It would only create a building that would be a point of conflict forever in the coming years.