“Let me start by saying, I cannot imagine wanting the government to be able to tell me and my faith community where we can build a house of worship on private property. I have opinions on whether it’s a good idea or not, but … compared to the importance of solving the economy right now… this is a distraction of what our biggest priorities should be.” - Virginia 5th Rep. Tom Perriello
Good Friday Morning,
Aside from the fact that Senator Leibell has no say - and should have no say - about the creation of an Islamic Center in Putnam County, New York City or Enid, Oklahoma, he's jumped into the fray by joining the nonsense and badly mangled facts of such. Here is a fact: There Is No "Mosque" Being Built At Ground Zero. There never was one and one was never proposed. The real question is why nefarious forces have spread such an untruth, a play on semantics. Not for one moment will I believe it has anything to do with 'sensitivity' but I will believe it has everything to do with the inherent evil of political gamesmanship and pure, unadulterated racism.
Politifact has this to say: The addresses of the buildings in question are 45-51 and 49-51 Park Place, between West Broadway and Church Street. That's two blocks north of the northern edge of the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan. Two long blocks, in fact. The Washington Post noted that the location is "roughly half a dozen normal lower Manhattan blocks from the site of the North Tower, the nearer of the two destroyed in the attacks."
For those who will say, "well, two long blocks is close enough for me!" had you all done your homework rather than inject yourselves with a daily dose of FOXNews you'd know that there's been an actual, real Mosque four blocks away that has been operating for the past 30 years.
By the way, a "gentleman's club", New York Dolls, has opened just three blocks away. Where's the condemnation for that? Where's the press releases and photo ops and campaign ads and FOXNews reports swarming over that site exposing the tits and ass that are oh, so close, the tented pants of businessmen and salacious groping that goes on all day and night in the shadow of what once was the iconic mark of the American empire?
What's actually being proposed is an Islamic Cultural Center, a $100 million project that will include a swimming pool, gym and basketball court, a 500 seat theater a restaurant and culinary school, space for exhibitions and educational programs, a 9/11 memorial garden, a library and art studio and a day care center, and yes, there will be a prayer hall, all of which will be open to the general community and not just Muslims intent on blowing shit up. In fact, the whole point of the project is to knock some common sense into the heads of Americans who prefer racism and bigotry over truth and tolerance.
While the loudest voices in this intentional misappropriation of the truth have screamed hysterically about how 'insensitive' it will be for the victims of the 9/11 attacks, they've been a lot less sensitive to a) the facts, b) the Constitution and c) the truth. And, as I wrote the other day, the families of the victims I personally know are wondering just where your common sense has gone.
I applaud Congressman Tom Perriello, Mayor Bloomberg and President Obama and all the others who have taken a moment to think before they spoke and take a dim view of Congressman John Hall and all those others who have spoken before they thought and I take an especially dark view of those who spread lies and misinformation as cover to their bigotry and hatred.
Events For This Weekend (and Beyond!)
Friday, August 20 Love in Translation A one-act play written by the students in Lora Lee Ecobelli's acting class at Arts on the Lake in Kent. With Jon Barb, Laura Bellizzi, Suzanne Bohmer, Kathie Freston, Nadia Laffan, Alicia Morgan and Zulie Losada. Suggested donation is $5. Performances will be on Friday, August 20 and Saturday, August 21 at 8PM and on Sunday August 22 at 3PM. This play is a project of the Blue Horse Repertory Company Student Workshop and, as far as this editor knows, no union actors were harmed in its production.
Saturday, August 21 Daniel Nimham Inter-tribal Pow Wow 11AM - 6PM Today and Tomorrow, Sunday, August 22. Putnam County Park, Gipsy Trail Road, Kent Lakes, NY. Parking and admission, Free. Native crafters from all over the country. Native Foods. Story Tellers. Camping Available for Dancers. Tee Pee Display. Local Native History. Dedication of fire pit. Nimham Mountain Singers CD's available at the gate for a ten dollar donation. Mike Bennett from WHUD live on Saturday Afternoon.
Tour the Frank Lloyd Wright Home Join the Putnam Arts Council for an exclusive tour of the stunning Frank Lloyd Wright home on Petra Island on Lake Mahopac on Saturday, August 21, made possible through the generosity of owners Joseph & Barbara Massaro. Limited to 40 participants (2 groups of 20), tickets @$60 for members/ @$65 general are a must and include transportation out to the island. All proceeds benefit the programs of the Putnam Arts Council. Tours begin at 11am. Reserve a spot today @ 845.803.8622 or email to kc@putnamartscouncil.com
Maggie Seligman 4PM - With Martin Aronchick, Jazz guitarist par excellence. A fund-raiser for Temple Taylor, who was severely injured in an accident. At Three Ponds Farm, 155 Finch Road, North Salem, NY 10560. Donations of any sort to the Temple Taylor Fund are expected and appreciated
Dancing in the Streets 5PM - Join the Goose Island Beer Company for an evening of music, food and craft beer in downtown Peekskill. Greg Hall, brewmaster of the Goose Island Beer Company, will be on hand to pedal his wares, many only available in Chicago. Our entire draught tower will be dedicated to Goose Island - a first here at the Birdsall House. We're still working out the draught list with Greg, but it's guaranteed to knock your socks clean off and into the washing machine. In conjunction with the Peekskill Downtown Entertainment Series, the party continues outside at 7pm, featuring the Shanna Sharp Band followed by Julie Corbalis.
Sunday, August 22 Trail Work in the Catskills  On Sunday August 22nd we will be meeting at the Spruceton Trail head at 9am at which point we will get a ride up Hunter to John Robb lean-to in the Ranger's truck. The work plan for the day is to have a small crew stain John Robb lean-to and the new outhouse. For those people who are not interested in staining the lean-to we will have another group continue up the mountain (again riding in the rangers truck) to the top at which point we will be doing trail maintenance down to devils acre lean-to. The trail down to devils acre is very over grown and needs a lot of help so we could use a large crew for this so we can accomplish it in one day. If time permits we would also do a small amount of work down at the Devils acre lean-to but the main focus is clearing the trail.
If you are interested in helping out with either of these projects please let me know asap. If you are interested in staining please make sure to wear clothes you do not mind getting stain on and a pair of gloves would not be a bad idea either. If you are interested in clearing the trail please bring clippers/saws and again gloves. Don't forget to pack your lunch and plenty of water as who knows with the way this summer has been if it will be hot that day or not. I hope you all can make it! Contact: Laurie Rankin laurierankin@hvc.rr.com or Doug Senterman dws246@optonline.net
Into the Future Monday, August 23 Costa Rica Slide Show 7PM - Pat Bolgosano presents a slide show of her recent journeys in Costa Rica. At the Cultural Center on Lake Carmel. Free!
Tuesday, August, 24 Moonlight Hike on Mount Beacon 6:30 - 10:00 p.m. Mount Beacon, Beacon. Trek to Mount Beacon's fire tower to enjoy a glorious sunset and views of Manhattan's skyline, then amble under a full moon. Contact Anthony Coneski, 845 473 4440 Ext. 273, http://www.scenichudson.org.
Wednesday, August 25 A Night of Baseball with ARCS  Join ARCS at a special HIV/AIDS Awareness Night at Dutchess Stadium on Wednesday, August 25, 2010 for “Go ‘Gades, Fight AIDS.” The Renegades take on the Tri-City Valley Cats and we know you’ll want to be there to cheer them on! To purchase your tickets, go to www.gadesgroups.com and enter the password “ARCS” for the special ticket package. Tickets are limited, so order yours today!
For just $20, you’ll get your general admission ticket, a free hot dog, a free soda, and a Renegades baseball cap. Plus, you’ll be making a donation to AIDS-Related Community Services’ programs and services for Mid-Hudson HIV-positive clients and their families. Cheer for the local team and help local people in need!
We will also be collecting non-perishable food items, toiletries and household cleaners for our Poughkeepsie food pantry. The more you bring, the more we’re able to hand out to hungry families.
Saturday, August 28 Gallery Talk at Dia:Beacon: Tobi Maier on Imi Knoebel 1pm. Tobi Maier is the curator at Ludlow 38, the downtown satellite space for contemporary art of Goethe-Institut on New York's Lower East Side. He was previously curator at the Frankfurter Kunstverein and also collaborated on Manifesta 7 (Rovereto, Italy) as curatorial adviser (2006-2008), and was curatorial intern at the 27th Biennial of Sao Paulo (2006). He holds an MA in Curating Contemporary Art from the Royal College of Art in London. At Dia:Beacon, Riggio Galleries, 3 Beekman Street, Beacon, NY 12508. Call 845 440 0100 or visit www.diaart.org.
Friday, September 10 Michelle LeBlanc 7:30PM - 10:30PM - At the DIvision Street Grill, 26 North Division Street, Peekskill. 914.739.6380. Featuring Pianist Tom Kohl. Join us for an evening in Michelle's favorite small city at the jazz club that sparked the Peekskill jazz renaissance.
Sunday, September 12 Ride to Remember Jeff Coursen 11AM - Motorcycle Ride. 1PM - Picnic at the Pawling Fire Department (South Street in Pawling, just north of route 55) A 100 mile motorcycle ride and picnic to remember Jeff Coursen’s dual passions: Motorcycles and helping alcoholics and addicts overcome addiction. Everyone’s Welcome! The Event and Picnic are sponsored by Jeff Coursen’s family and friends. Your tax deductible donations will benefit St. Christopher’s Inn, a treatment facility that has been providing hope and compassionate care to alcoholics and addicts for 100 years. For more information and to register contact: Ed and Mary Mahaffey at The Annex Florist Pawling, 28 Charles Colman Blvd, Pawling NY 12564 845.855.9612 or email: ridetorememberjeffcoursen@gmail.com
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