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Gov Mixed on Mosque, Doofus "Plans" Gay Bar Next Door
By
John Del Signore
Published Aug 10, 2010
Modified Aug 10, 2010
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By
John Del Signore
Published Aug 10, 2010
Modified Aug 10, 2010
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Governor Paterson has donned his trunks and splashed down in the warm, fetid waters of the "Ground Zero" mosque deep end. Of course Paterson is the last one in and a rotten egg, so we're going to have to be patient as he learns that conciliatory, sensitive peacemaking is of no use here. At a press conference earlier, he told reporters:
We have to remember sometimes that it's the fanaticism of religions that have driven people to do what they do, not the worship of the religion itself. And so I don't have any objection to it being built there, but I am very sensitive to the desire of those who are adamant against it to see something else worked out...We’re still suffering in many respects from that horrible day... Frankly, if the sponsors were looking for property anywhere at a distance that would be such that it would accommodate a better feeling among the people who are frustrated, I would look into trying to provide them with the state property they would need.
Meanwhile, Fox News wag Greg Gutfeld has his own modest proposal: He says he wants to open a gay bar next to the site of the proposed mosque in Lower Manhattan, and insists he's dead serious about it. "As you know, the Muslim faith doesn't look kindly upon homosexuality, which is why I'm building this bar. It is an effort to break down barriers and reduce deadly homophobia in the Islamic world. The goal, however, is not simply to open a typical gay bar, but one friendly to men of Islamic faith.
"An entire floor, for example, will feature non-alcoholic drinks, since booze is forbidden by the faith. The bar will be open all day and night, to accommodate men who would rather keep their sexuality under wraps—but still want to dance. Bottom line: I hope that the mosque owners will be as open to the bar, as I am to the new mosque. After all, the belief driving them to open up their center near Ground Zero, is no different than mine." Cute, but even cuter are his commenters' suggestions for the bar's name, which range from the offensive to our favorite, "Ram-a-Dan." (Which is probably also offensive, but fatwatever.)
Tagged
gay bar
governor paterson
greg gutfeld
ground zero mosque
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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