The backers of this mosque are certainly not doing anything to show the community at large that they are interested in peace. The imam is keeping himself incommunicado, refusing to answer questions from reporters. The developer/spokesman has adopted an in-your-face attitude and refused all discussion about compromise. Other backers have asserted that they will be open to accepting contributions from Saudi Arabia and Iran, which is like sticking a thumb in the eye of Americans. There have been no attempts to meet with the families of victims or try to win them over.
They appear to assume that the only person they have had to win over is Bloomberg (by what means is a matter of conjecture) and the rest of the community can go fly a kite.
From their actions, you have to assume that the construction of this mosque is meant to demonstrate a humiliation of the infidel, not to serve as a symbol of peace and understanding.
And what Bllomberg isn’t telling the piublic is his position is disigenious. Why? Becasue his company Blloberg LLC made Dubai a financiacial hub for expanding its business into shari’a finance. Can you say protecting his self-interest at the expense of NYC and the 9/11 victims’ families. her is a link entitled “ Ground Zero Mosque Madness: NYC Mayor Bloomberg’s Bloomberg LLC expanding its financial center to a regional hub in Dubai” that lays it out very well: http://emergingcorruption.com/?p=726
Bloomberg could care less about freedom of speech nor religion. He is only protecting his investment in Islamic Dubai.