The Virginian-Pilot
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VIRGINIA BEACH
City Councilman Bill DeSteph irked fellow council members and local Muslims on Friday by sending a letter to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg protesting a plan for an Islamic community center near the World Trade Center site.
DeSteph wrote on city letterhead that "the citizens of Virginia Beach and the Commonwealth of Virginia" are opposed to the plan.
"Obviously, he doesn't represent the city of Virginia Beach just because he's a council member using that stationery," Mayor Will Sessoms said. "I'm very disappointed he would do that."
The proposed center, called the Cordoba House, would include a prayer space, a 500-seat performing arts center, a culinary school and a restaurant. The building would expand on an existing five-story building two blocks from where the twin towers, attacked on Sept. 11, 2001, stood.
"I'm not opposed to mosques or Islam," said DeSteph, an at-large City Council representative seeking his second term in November. "I'm opposed to putting a mosque 600 feet from ground zero. It's a slap in the face of every American."
Aziz Khawaja, president of the Muslim Community of Tidewater, said New York City leaders should approve the plan.
"It will send a message that the United States still believes in their forefathers by giving freedom of religion and freedom of speech," he said. "New York is a city that represents a diversified community."
He said DeSteph's letter represents a mentality that unfairly paints all Muslims as terrorists.
"Everybody is not a crazy," he said. "It's only a very small number of people who represent the extremists for which the rest of the Muslim world is criticized."
Part of the six-paragraph letter said, "We find it grossly hypocritical that Islamists and their allies repeatedly lecture Americans about the need to be 'sensitive' to Muslims" yet the people behind the plan "exhibit the ultimate display of intolerance and insensitivity through their disgusting proposal to build a mosque at 'Ground Zero.' "
DeSteph said he e-mailed the letter to about 4,000 people. He said he didn't receive any negative feedback.
"I'm not going to represent every single citizen out there, but I'm going to represent the majority of them "
He said he included the reference to Virginia residents opposing the plan because Virginia Beach is part of Virginia.
"That's a pretty broad assessment of your representation," Vice Mayor Louis Jones said.
Jones said he didn't know enough about the issue to have an opinion on it.
"I've found the best thing for me to do is to keep my nose out of other people's business," he said.
DeSteph said he will ask the City Council on Tuesday to support a resolution opposing the New York community center.
Aaron Applegate, (757) 222-5122, aaron.applegate@pilotonline.com
Document: Letter from DeSteph to Michael Bloomberg
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Who gave Virginia Beach City Councilman Bill DeSteph the right
I would like to know who gave Councilman Bill DeSteph, the right to say he was talking for all Virginia Beach residents. I did not give him permission to speak for me.
When our British ancestors came to this nation, it was for the right to practice whatever religion they chose (for the Spaniards, is was to find a new route to the Indies for trading). Now because some radical Islamic factions attacked us on 9/11/01, some people are making the mistake of combining all Islamic people together and I find that reprehensible.
Do we blame all Christians or Jewish people for the injustices of a few? Of course, we do not, but we are quick to judge all the people of Islamic religion and faith as one. To me that is not right and are not in line with the principles that our ancestors came to this country.
Therefore, I am in total agreement that the Islamic people of NYC be able to build their Mosque wherever they want, even if it is on the site of the terrorists attack. This is what this country is based on and not the other way around. So I ask again, who gave Councilman DeSteph, the right to speak for all the people of Virginia Beach; I surely did not; did you?
What business is it of a
What business is it of a Virginia Beach official to tell New York what they can build in their city? Who is this guy?
You are a little person...
in this world. Stick to local business and keep your nose out of others business. Unbelievable thinking you speak for all. Is your name Obama?
Congratulations to Councilman DeSteph
Posted by the father of one of the almost 3000 victims of Islamic Jihadist Terrorist murderers at New York's World Trade Center on September 11th 2001. NO MOSQUE NEAR GROUND ZERO !!!
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This is one of the best explanation of the Muslim terrorist situation I have read. His references to past history are accurate and clear. Not long, easy to understand, and well worth the read. The author of it is Dr. Emanuel Tanay, a well-known and well respected psychiatrist.
A Holocaust Survivor's View on Islam
A man, whose family was German aristocracy prior to World War II, owned a number of large industries and estates. When asked how many German people were true Nazis, the answer he gave can guide our attitude toward fanaticism. 'Very few people were true Nazis,' he said, 'but many enjoyed the return of German pride, and many more were too busy to care. I was one of those who just thought the Nazis were a bunch of fools. So, the majority just sat back and let it all happen. Then, before we knew it, they owned us, and we had lost control, and the end of the world had come. My family lost everything. I ended up in a
Comments on the comments
It amazes me that people who know nothing of Islam and the Muslim religion make irrational remarks.
If you think Islam is a peaceful religion, you are sadly mistaken. Islam is not a religion or a political adjenda......it is both. Islam guides the Muslim day and night, every waking hour. It his bread and water, etc. I say that if you are a devout Muslim and pray 5 times each day, you are a terrorist! Jihad is one of the prayers each Muslim prays each time. Jihad is about the irradication of all other religions...all infidels. Jihad among other Muslims is for betterment of the person. Do not confuse what they say in English to you.....but pay close attention to what they say about infidels in their native tongue or in hiding in their protected mosques. They are not our friends........far from it!!
Muslims do not consider themselves as terrorist. Only Christians or Jews protecting themselves....or some other religion are terrorists.
We allow the Saudis to spend great sums on their schools and mosques but they would never allow a Christian or Jew to build a church or synagoge in their land. Do not have a Bible or say a Christian prayer over there either. Do not wear a cross or be
BRAVO
Well done, Bill! I support his views and opinions on this all the way. We need more people like him running for government positions. His eyes are open.
Ground Zero Mosque is a Symbol of Victory
Most Westerners who lack a fundamental understanding of Islam believe that the Qu'ran is the Islamic equivalent of the Bible; it isn't. That's why they tend to quote the Qu'ran out of context with no understanding of abrogation or of what the translated passages even mean. The Qu'ran would be largely indecypherable without the Hadiths - which illuminate the Qu'ran - and the Siyar, which are the biographies of the Muslim Prophet and his violent conquest of the Arabian penninsula. It is the Hadiths and the Siyar which inform Muslims what the Recitations in the Qu'ran actually mean in practice, and how Muslims are supposed to conduct themselves in conformity with the example set by their prophet. The reliable Hadiths tell us that Mohamed lied to the infidels, and stated with clarity, "I was ordered to fight all men until they say there is no god but The God (al Lah)." History reveals that mosques are symbols of conquest and, although the symbolism of the planned mosque at Ground Zero is lost on our politicians, it is readily apparent to the Muslims.
Bill DeSteph
As much as I find Councilman Louis Jones to be arrogant, I have to agree with him on his view about minding our own business. I like Bill DeSteph and we agree on most issues, but I think he dropped the ball on this one. If he wanted to write a letter, he should have wrote it on his own stationary and on behalf of himself. We were incensed that Mayor Loonberg sent his weenies to Virginia to try to buy guns from our stores and butt into our states' business and our laws. It's a two way street. While I believe NYC is a sancuary city for illegal aliens as well as a strong possibility for terrorists, we need to butt out of their business just as we want him to butt out of ours.
Keith's coment
You and your like are what is wrong with this country now. Too many people with their heads in the sand or some other dark hole who allowed our country to be taken away...economy ruined, taxed to death, deep in debt, enemies with no respect, friends in fear of our plans for them. We are all to blame by keeping our noses out of the affairs of others....especially politicians.
What are you talking about?
What are you talking about? What's your point?