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Punch on: Open thread 12/9/10

Lucy Kippist

by Lucy Kippist

12 Sep 05:00am

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Filed under: George W Bush, Open Thread, September 11, War On Terror

15 comments

Welcome to Sunday at The Punch

We go forward to defend freedom. Picture: AP

George W Bush declared the beginning of the “War on Terror” on this day in 2001. BBC World News reported his message also included a warning to the people of the United States to be “patient” and that “any action could be a monumental struggle”. Got something to say? Share it here.

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15 comments

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    • stephen says:

      08:59pm | 12/09/10

      I don’t agree with Mayor Bloomberg’s insistence on establishing an Islamic prayer site close to 9/11.
      Quite apart from our feelings on this, what we may question is why a group may want to press the case. It’s two blocks away, and apparently there were objections early on, but the Islamic authorities maintained their right to building there. Why ?
      I have the highest respect for ex-President G.W.Bush, who said Islam is a peaceful religion. Quite so. But the Americans (and us), should rightly be wary of so much wilful action so early on. The people responsible should have been punished. Have they been so ?

      Reply

    • Dan says:

      11:53pm | 12/09/10

      There were objections, but there was also support, and they won the right to build the centre. They have every right to build the case. To call it wilful is absurd; they have every right to exercise their legal rights. Why should the Americans and us be wary of groups practising their rights in a liberal democracy? Is it wilful when Christian groups build megachurches?

      I completely agree with Bloomberg on this.

      “The people responsible should have been punished. Have they been so ? ”

      You’re talking about 9/11 aren’t you and not the centre? Because otherwise why should people be punished for exercising a legal right?

    • Eric says:

      06:43am | 13/09/10

      Islamists have a legal right to build a Victory Mosque at Ground Zero. Similarly, anti-Islamists have a legal right to burn Korans in front of the site.

      Both actions are designed to provoke anger and evoke triumphalism. There’s really not much difference between them.

    • Macca says:

      08:10am | 13/09/10

      I agree with having the Islamic Prayer site close to Ground Zero. The islamic communities of the Western World have gone through an increadibly tough time as well, and hopefully this will go someway to creating a more inclusive society.
      As previously said, the US (and Australia) is not at war with Islam.

    • acotrel says:

      09:19am | 13/09/10

      I wonder what our local council would say about the building permit, if a similar situation developed on Australia?

    • Macon Paine says:

      09:31am | 13/09/10

      This whole gound zero mosque controversy is just a ridiculous media beat up and a sad inditement on American media in general. I can to a certain degree understand the sensibilities of some people however the rights of muslims to build a mosque in America trumps these sensibilities. Apparently there was an islamic prayer room located on level 17 of one of the world trade centre towers.
      http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/11/nyregion/11religion.html

    • Bob says:

      12:15pm | 13/09/10

      @stephen
      A year ago when the plan was put to NYC and passed. nothing was said. Fox had 1 report about 1min long and that was it.
      fast forward to mid terms. and POW omfg there building a terror centre!
      it’s just the far right using there old play book.

    • Gregg says:

      10:26pm | 12/09/10

      Julia could have to take a leaf out of George’s little black book when dealing with her motley crew ” You’re either with moi or agin moi “
      @ Stephen
      A bit hard to punish those that took over and flew the planes and they’ve been punishing plenty ever since.
      And isn’t ” I have the highest respect for ex-President G.W.Bush, who said Islam is a peaceful religion.” somewhat hypocritical with your stance on the islamic centre?
      If we are to condemm a religion, how many massacres do you think have occurred in the name of religion if you go back through history?
      Crusades?

      Reply

    • 4leaf says:

      10:28pm | 12/09/10

      What is this rambling actually trying to say? 

      “Why a group may want to press the case”?  Because they own the land rights to that particular block of land and like every other lawful owner of land in the US, they are entitled to build what they wish on it (subject to the usual approvals). 

      “The Islamic authorities maintained their right to build there”?  Um, no, the owners of the block of land maintained their right to build there - just as I maintain the right to build on the slice of earth I own.

      We “should be wary of such willful action so early on”?  Willful?  Again, since when is the owner of a block of land seeking to exercise their right to build on said land “willful action” to be wary of?

      “The people responsible should have been punished.”  Indeed.  Quite what that has to do with the owner of a block of land in Manhattan seeking to build on said land is more than a little unclear.

      As the previous and current US President have said with utter correctness - Islam did not attack the US on 9/11.  To suggest otherwise is to suggest the Catholic Church attacked young boys by their hundreds; or all Germans inflicted the holocaust on the Jewish people.  Or that every time a man beats a woman - all men are responsible.  It is utterly nonsensical.

      Reply

    • Eric says:

      07:47am | 13/09/10

      It’s official - in the UK, men are second-class citizens.

      “Judges have been told to treat female criminals more leniently than men when deciding sentences. ... The controversial advice comes from the Judicial Studies Board, which is responsible for training the judiciary.

      “On women accused of crime, the guidance ... [said]  ‘It is now well recognised that a misplaced conception of equality has resulted in some very unequal treatment for women and girls.’”

      http://bit.ly/cM4Wjl

      Equality is unequal! How George Orwell would laugh.

      Reply

    • Macca says:

      10:21am | 13/09/10

      Still on a high after the Roosters win of the Tigers on Saturday night. After Sydney FC, the Swans and Wallabies all failed to get a win, something magical was required to turn the tide of the evening. What a night!

      Also, Tim Cahill scoring against ManU and seeing the Red Devils choke on their 3-1 lead was also delightful

      Reply

    • JJ says:

      10:33am | 13/09/10

      War on terror. Right decision back then, right decision now. The Western World is far too gullible. Extremists in one form or another, will always need to be confronted with force, not a peace pipe.  I take my hat off to true leaders, like Bush, Blair,  Howard and all the other world leaders who make the tough decisions for the greater good. The knockers, will have their place in the history books as sideline noise.

      Reply

    • Helen Hevon says:

      05:49pm | 13/09/10

      I suspect you are ready to grab a gun and go to the stoush then,but why do we struggle to smash these guys apart, the resources of the alliance should be far superior than the relatively under resourced barefooted ragtag militants,they,ve held out longer than the Germans and the Japanese put together. Maybe it,s all about economic stimulus.

    • JJ says:

      10:37am | 14/09/10

      Can’t agree Helen. As ugly as war is, letting psycopaths plunder to the detriment of their own people and the world is uglier.

    • Gregg says:

      05:20pm | 13/09/10

      Did Monday get changed back to Sunday now that it’s Monday or was I just imagining things last night Lucy?
      I didn’t know whether to burn the calendar or build a bonfire!

      Reply
 
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