Back in 2010 Temecula made national news as one of the few cities opposing the building of a mosque within its boundaries. Some who opposed the mosque did so out of concern of increased traffic in an already congested area and noise from the minaret (Goodstein). Others blatantly opposed from “not wanting Islam in [their] city”. Due to the increase in growth within the last decade of the proposal, the Muslim community wanted the mosque in order to accommodate their growing size. Leaders of the Interfaith Council of Murrieta and Temecula Valley, along with other proponents, believe that the Muslim community has a right to have their own house of worship to foster their community. While the fear of an unsafe environment (traffic, noise, and extremism) is associated with the building of a mosque in Temecula, providing a solid foundation for the city’s practicing Muslims will allow for the muslim community to grow both physically and spiritually; as well as encourage the need to welcome diversity in a city that is continually growing in order to form a safe and positive environment.
Having a mosque in Temecula builds a solid foundation in both faith and convenience for Temecula residing and neighbouring Muslims. As mentioned by Jane Smith in her book Islam in America, she addresses how having a mosque would “enable the community to have pride in its identification with Islam and its ability to provide its own facility [as well as] make it much easier to gather and perform [worship]” (151). Because the Muslim community currently resides in a “make-shift” mosque consisting around 8,300 square feet for ritual Friday worship and communal gathering, the planned 25,000 square feet mosque provides the space needed for comfort and size (Do...
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...be harmony understanding has to be wanted and enacted by both sides so as not to isolate one group from the next.
Building the mosque in Temecula promotes what is most needed in all cities: diversity. Despite worries about aesthetic impacts to cultural impacts, what need to be done is welcoming diversity in order to gain insight on other people. To allow a community that understands their neighbors and is able to empathize with them instead of judging them. We are getting to the point where we are trying to support our beliefs but we have to consider a broad range of reliable sources in order to give a well-informed spiel about what we are fighting for. The mosque provides the Muslim community the much needed support (both physically and spiritually) through its foundations and the community around it, fighting for its right to worship in their own permanent home.
The mission of LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes is a non-profit organization/museum founded to celebrate and cultivate an appreciation for the enduring and evolving influence of Mexican and Mexican-American culture, with a specific focus upon the unique Mexican-American experience in Los Angeles and Southern California. The museum itself is near where Los Angeles was founded in 1871 and includes a 2.2 anchor campus that includes two historic and renovated buildings (Vickrey Brunswig Building and Plaza House). All surrounded by beautiful public gardens. La Plaza is also located near the heart of Los Angeles surrounded by other ethnic sites like Little Tokyo. (However after visiting one can 't help to realize the homeless problem in the Los Angeles area, and realizing some are even Chicano.)
Heights approved offering the mosque foundation $200,000 to drop its plan to buy the church. Mosque officials agreed, however, Mayor Dean Koldenhoven vetoed the city council's offer. The mosque foundation last month backed out of its contract and filed a $6.2 million civil rights lawsuit against the city.
must make an effort to get as close as we can. Many disputes which occur today are because of petty differences between
In Islam, their communities are called ummah. Their mosque is in the center, and cities are constructed around it. This symbolizes a life built around faith. In the Nation of Islam, their temple is also their sense of community. Though their cities are not physically around the temple, their social and spiritual lives are centered there. With school, religious services, banquets, etc. the whole community of believers sees the temple as a common ground and gathering place.
Different religions have shaped the cultural landscapes throughout history. In most religions, they have what is known as a sacred site. Many of the sacred sites are near the founding of the religion or near a place where something significant had once occurred. The followers of these religions often build temples to worship their gods. One example, would be the Dome of the Rock, where Muhammad, a prophet of God in the Muslim culture, said to have ascended into heaven.The Dome of the Rock is a masterpiece of Islamic architecture and is the "Noble Sanctuary" by Muslims. The place of worship for Muslims is known as the mosque, but the Dome of the Rock is much more iconic and would be best identified as a Muslim shrine. The temple was originally made for pilgrims and took thirteen years to construct. This is also a significant place for the Muslim community
However, for the proponents of the construction of the mosque, the decision represented a commitment by the America to respect the freedom of exercise of religion protected by the fourth amendment of constitution of the United States. Sixty eight percent of all Americans were opposed to the constriction of the mosque .A complacent and polarized media helped perpetuate some false ideas about the construction of the mosque in lower Manhattan at the height of the debate (Gladstone).
The need to understand each other better and live in harmony is a reality and must be approached using multiple techniques including conversations. We must talk to each other to smooth out or differences and embrace our common attributes. Most conflicts are resolved after some form of dialogue. To stop discrimination or negative stereotyping of individuals or groups of people we should try to embrace conversations which will eventually lead to new laws that can protect the basic human rights of people and allow for people to be true to themselves without having to hide, cover or pretend to be what they are not,.Yoshino suggests using “reason-forcing conversations to address people forced to cover”(557) this conversations should occur informally and intimately in settings such as restaurants and should underscore certain reasons which include illegitimate issues such as homo phobia opining that such discourse are where tolerance can be made or unmade. The laws that govern our society should be dynamic allowing for changes that accommodate our human sensitivity and allow us to live together in better harmony with each other and our
Many non-muslims after 9/11 have judged and criticized Muslims for their ethnic, religion, and the Islamic terrorist groups in America. (4) Surprisingly, most Muslim Americans in our population are completely against Isis. Together as a country, we must create more unity and peace within Muslim communities in the United States. Building Mosques for Muslims is a great way to bring communities together! A Mosque is a Muslim place of worship like a church. (1) The first Mosque structure built in America, was in North Dakota, 1929.”The number of Mosques built in the United States has risen up to seventy-four percent since 2000 and there are over two-thousand Mosques built today. (1) “Mosques help Muslims integrate in U.S. society, and in fact have a very productive role in bridging the differences between Muslims and non-Muslims in the United States.” Mosques encourage social and political speech. (5) “Many American Muslim leaders and non-Muslim organizations have spoke out against terrorism and extremist violence.” Working together to prevent terrorism plays an important factor in uniting Muslims and non-Muslims. American will continue to help increase unity with Muslims and non-Muslims across our
Driving along the highway, all eyes are drawn as a magnet to the unique building with its golden dome and unusual architecture. The Islamic Center is located at the base of a residential street in a small neighborhood. The center houses an Islamic school, a community center, an international school and the Mosque, which is the place of worship for Muslims.
“Culture belongs to the imagination; to judge it rationally is to misunderstand its function” (Wilson 79). In “The Butterfly Mosque” by G. Willow Wilson, she acknowledges culture and explains why cultures can differ so greatly. She emphasizes why its highly inconclusive to try to find a meaning behind ones culture. As a young American Muslim women she is faced with cross cultural ironies as she tries to find her identity and where she fits in. Her conversion to Islam brings into light her internalized prejudice and the different perspectives of Westerners towards the Middle East and vice versa. In her memoir, she depicts both positive and negative aspects of both cultures and, her struggle to find a common ground between the two.
When a place like this is built, it shows the people that there is hope and that...
Committing to religious beliefs is one of the strongest factors influencing the preservations of a Muslim identity. A mosque has a huge role in society and it has to maintain this. Generally, a mosque is somewhere where people can come to pray and contemplate. It is a place away from all the hustle from our day to day busy lives.
Preservation of the historical sites along with the religious institutions of different cultures enhances the community. If government starts taking a stand for the minorities in Pakistan and provides funds for their worship places, this will enable new construction projects and originate various activities including heritage tourism, economic development, and social betterment.
Our world is constantly changing and it requires a society that is well versed in understanding the problems deriving from culture differences and tolerance of one another’s beliefs and perceptions. We are dealing with systemic problems in education, economic, government, religion and culture differences.