Ground Zero

The Multi Tasking President In His Prime: One Week In Barack Obama’s Presidency

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Everyone knows that the American Presidency is a tremendous burden, with the occupant of the Oval Office having to deal with so many issues and problems at the same time, that he MUST be able to multi task with great skill.

So is the case of Barack Obama, who in one week, did the following:

1. Had Hawaii issue his official Certificate of Live Birth to silence his critics, which now have dropped dramatically, according to public opinion polls.

2. Toured Alabama and other states that were victims of the worst tornado destruction in decades, and was praised for the quick federal response to the natural disaster, as compared to Hurricane Katrina uncer President George W. Bush

3. Traveled to Florida to witness the Space Shuttle launch, which was unfortunately delayed, but also to visit Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, wounded in an assassination attempt in January, who was there to witness her husband, Mark Kelly, the captain of the shuttle crew, begin the space mission.

4. Performed great standup comedy at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner, including teasing of Donald Trump, who has been bad mouthing Obama for the past month, including on the “birther” controversy.

5. All of that week, and even earlier, Obama was planning the raid on the compound in Pakistan to eliminate the Al Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden, the most daring action by a President in many decades!

And in the past week since, Obama has also visited the site of Ground Zero and commiserated with the families of victims of the World Trade Center, and also visited the Navy SEALS who were engaged in the most delicate operation possible, the attack on the Bin Laden compound and retrieval of the body of Bin Laden after he was killed.

This period of the last week of April and first week of May, a two week period, will go down in history as one of the most momentous periods in the history of the nation!

A Thrilling Moment Of Patriotism And Pride!

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It was absolutely thrilling to witness on television last night and today a rare moment of patriotism and pride, as Americans spontaneously celebrated the successful military mission to kill Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan!

Seeing college students celebrating on campuses all over the nation; witnessing a large crowd outside the White House gates; sharing the joy at Ground Zero, where the World Trade Center was obliterated on that horrible September 11, nearly ten years ago; and just generally realizing that the young, who were children affected by that terrible tragedy a decade ago, were joining with Americans of all ages singing the National Anthem and shouting “USA, USA”, made one extremely proud to be an American! And the pride at the flawless performance of our Navy SEALS was boundless!

It is so rare to have the American people rejoice in unison about any event, so this is a moment to savor, and to hope somehow that a sense of national purpose can be accomplished to solve our many domestic problems in a spirit of unity and sacrifice similar to those brave young men who promoted justice for the three thousand people who died on that fateful day, September 11, 2001!

Barack Obama, Religious Freedom, And The Ground Zero Mosque!

Ronald 2 Comments

President Obama has just weighed in on the controversy in Lower Manhattan over the building of a mosque two blocks from Ground Zero, the site of the former World Trade Center that was destroyed by Muslim terrorists on September 11, 2001.

The project was approved by the appropriate agencies in New York City, and has been supported by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Obama issued a statement tonight calling for the understanding that religious freedom allows the building of houses of worship, whether they are churches, synagogues, or mosques. America’s values require the right for all people to worship freely at buildings constructed for promotion of their faith, the President asserted.

The author totally agrees with the sentiments of the President, as to the right to worship freely, no matter what religion is involved. The whole concept that some right wing nuts have made, that would refuse to allow the building of ANY mosques on American territory, is totally outrageous and discriminatory!

No one should associate themselves with such despicable evidence of hate and prejudice! It is amazing how so called believers in the Constitution are so easy at destroying that document, and the Bill of Rights, if it is convenient for them to do so!

However, having made clear my agreement with the President, and my denunciation of those who would ban the building of all mosques, I will still, without any pause, make clear my view about the Ground Zero mosque!

My thoughts remain the same: It is NOT a good idea to build a mosque two blocks from Ground Zero, as it fails to consider the sensitivities and emotions of the families of those who died on September 11!

Why is it that there is such insistence that the site must be that close to Ground Zero? There are many other sites further away, not as easily associated with Ground Zero, where such a mosque could be built!

There are already many mosques elsewhere in New York City, but this particular site, so close to the horrible event, should be given up in respect to those who died! Good will would be promoted if the proposed building was moved further away to another site!

Tolerance and good will would be promoted better if this particular project took into account the broader public opinion, which clearly, in New York City and nationally, opposes this project!

Religious freedom does not mean that a particular site MUST be a place for a mosque, considering the history of the area! It is time for reconciliation, and it can be done in a decent manner, with the backing the President has just given to religious freedom!

Should There Be A Giant Mosque Near Ground Zero? NO! :(

Ronald 2 Comments

A major controversy developing in New York City is whether a giant mosque should be constructed a short distance from Ground Zero, where the Trade Center Twin Towers once stood!

There is discussion of replacing an historic building, going back to the 19th century, to make way for this Islamic house of worship. But is this site the proper one? The answer is NO! 🙁

This is not, and should not, be seen as anti Islamic, although it will be seen as such by many Muslims in America and elsewhere. There is no issue that mosques can be built, as much as churches and synagogues anywhere in America. But NOT at an historic site that includes the ashes of many who died on September 11!

This is too sensitive a matter, and the feelings of New Yorkers and Americans must be the prime consideration in this matter. The Landmark Preservation Commission must rule in favor of making the present building protected from demolition!

It is not the point of promoting Islamic phobia, which must be worked against. But this is a sacred location, and must be left as hallowed ground, as a memory of those nearly 3,000 people of all nationalities and religions who died there because of the dastardly deed done by 19 Islamic terrorists!

Build mosques in other locations, as happens all the time, but NOT at or near Ground Zero! This is sacrosanct territory, and must remain as a memorial to remind future generations of the greatest tragedy ever to hit US territory on the mainland of our nation!