Not in my back yard ?

[BertiWooster]

Some of the citizens of Lichfield are up in arms over plans being put forward by the Muslim community there, to build a mosque near the Cathedral .

Apparently over 2000 signatures against the idea have been collected .

There are mixed views from people in the city , asked for their opinions , on the local television news .

1. Some say no , fullstop
2. Others say yes but not near to the Cathedral
3. Then there are those who say - what is the problem ?

Is there anything special about Lichfield , as opposed to any other city where there is a mosque ?
Afterall , other faith groups have places of worship in the city , without there being any problems

What is your opinon on the matter - are they right to be up in arms ?

http://www.thisislichfield.co.uk/news/mosque-L ichfield/article-871502-detail/article.html

[VHG]

A mosque in the city attracts more muslims.

More muslims and other "immigrants" means more problems (fact).

Thin end of the wedge, and if I was living there I would fight it all the way.

(Come and see Birmingham if you want to see the awful effect of mass immigration to a city).

There are immigrant parts of Birmingham I refuse to drive through because they are so awful. It is so upsetting to see what has happened to parts of the city.

Lichfield is nice and long may it stay that way.

[jno]

all that story says is that Michael Fabricant doesn't like domes.

Considering the way he decorates his own one, I'm not surprised

http://conservativehome.blogs.com/torydiary/im ages/2007/10/17/fabricantmichael.gif

Sorry to hear immigrants aren't 'nice', VHG, considering I am one myself. What should I do to become nicer?

[BertiWooster]

A bit more on the story here

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/staffordshi re-news/2009/04/16/we-are-not-racists-say-mosq ue-critics-97319-23399994/

[Sgt.Rock]

Some mosques, community centres and bookshops have in the past been Al Qaeda recruiting centres. Have you thought that's what they may really be objecting to?

[jake-the-peg]

In the past some pubs have been meeting places for criminals.

Shall we ban them?

[JimmyCooper]

VHG would it be Green lane lol

[R1Geezer]

Just go to Iran and start building a church, see how far you get. No we don't want any more terrorist training centres, anywhere!

[jake-the-peg]

Like St. Sarkis Cathedral in Tehran Geezer?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Iranians

[daffy654]

It isn't the mosque itself that I would be objecting to,it is the call to prayer that would annoy me.

[anotheoldgit]

It all a matter of planning, listed buildings and all that.

I don't think there would be a problem to one being built in the correct area. But to build one in close proximity to a centuries old cathedral is sacrilege.

Should we have one standing side by side St Paul's in London? I don't think so.

Perhaps it would be ok to build one on the outskirts of the city just as superstores are.

They are visitors to this country and they should build them where we say they can build them. We do not want them building where they would alter the architectural beauty of our land.

[R1Geezer]

Now find me a new build one Jake!

[sandmaster]

We have freedom of religious beliefs. On that basis I can see no problem.
The planning details I cannot comment on - that is a matter for the local authority.
But in many places pubs and other entertainment establishments are open close to churches and cathedrals.

[Quinlad]

AOG,

They are building them where we say they can. They're adhering to the laws of our land - laws that have been imlemented through the democratic process. Not through a 'who can whinge the loudest' competition.

Secondly, they're not building on church land or impinging on churchgoers at all. If you can find me any logical or ecclesiastical reason why a nearby mosque is a problem, do tell. Or is it an architectural complaint? In which case presumably you feel that the NatWest Tower and the Swiss Re building complement Christopher Wren's vision for St Paul's?

If, on the other hand, it's simple up-in-arms pettiness, perhaps that explains why church attendances are falling. Nobody likes a busybody.

[beso]

Like the Christians that lament about poverty while building expensive monuments to their faith, the Moslems are hypocrites.

To be honest the Christians are bigger hypocrites. Jesus said that prayer should be a private matter and derided those who worshipped publicly. Mohammed wanted to see a show of force so he insisted everyone grovelled to Allah together several times a day.

The gaudy Christian monuments to self indulgence are already an eyesore so I would not be encouraging the Moslems waste more resources on further visual pollution.

[jake-the-peg]

Hate to say it but I agree with AOG here

All depends on the building and exactly where.
Chances by the cathedral is a conservation area and you wouldn't be allowed to plop a new building in a sensitive area and a mosque is no different from a methodist hall in that regard.

But it sounds as if the protestors are objecting to one anywhere in the city and if that's the case it's unreasonable.

I think we all rather suspect that the VHG element is at work here

[R1Geezer]

Why is that "unreasonable" jake. Are you saying we should not be delaying project "Britainistan"?

[paraffin]

Are people objecting to the building of a place of worship because:

1. They believe in no Faith themselves and object to religious buildings or any description?

2. Because there are already too many such places in their neighbourhood?

3. Because they are intolerant of religion per se?

4. Because they are intolerant of this particular religion?

5. Because they are intolerant of the followers of this particular religion?

6. Because construction of such a building is unjustifiable for practicable reasons?

7. Because they hold racially prejudiced views against those for whom it would be built?

Food for thought?

[R1Geezer]

I'll go with 1 to 6 on that parrafin. However with 7. I'd modify it to say I am not prejuduced against any race but I am prejudiced against religion full stop because of the amount of agro in the world caused by it.

[jake-the-peg]

I don't think turning down planning permission on a mosque helps that particular battle Geezer.

Better to grant it and open a something like a bowling alley opposite with cheap drinks on a Friday night.

We didn't beat Christianity into a niche interest group over night so you can't expect to do the same to Islam.

Give it another couple of decades and we'll have Friday night prayers down to two old ladies and a dog and what ever the equivilent of the Cliff Richard fan cub is.

[paraffin]

Geezer:

I agree with your opinion about the amount of strife which has been caused since "Jesus was an altar boy" in the so-called name of religion.

However, if it wasn't that, wouldn't it be summat else?