Letter of the week, 6/9/08: Build the mosque!

[David]

Of mosque and hope
Editor:

The outrage the proposed mosque has produced is disappointing, to say the very least.

Driving along Wallingford’s Leigus Road and the site of the proposed mosque, I'm shocked to read the “No Mosque on Leigus” signs posted in many front yards.

The protesters said that assigning a religious site will have a negative impact on traffic. Perhaps what they really oppose is having a mosque in their neighborhood. The posted signs and comments from residents speak to this concept rather well.

Is this really the year 2008? Is this actually the town I live in? Are some of the people of Wallingford really this prejudicial? It is not my 22 year experience as a Wallingford resident, who has happily raised a family here that causes me to ask these questions; but rather the posted signs and comments from some Leigus Road residents instead. How can the desire to build a mosque in honor of one’s mother and all that she did for her family be anything less than noble? What her sons are working diligently to accomplish speaks volumes about their character and faith.

Many places of worship in Wallingford are primarily built in residential neighborhoods. This is not uncommon. The mosque will provide a place of worship as well as show Wallingford’s tolerance and multicultural side. I think we should take a moment to reflect and ponder the comments that have been made.

I hope this mosque is built to reach out to non-Muslims, not to convert them, but to educate them in order to remove the racist undertones you hear and read about in the mainstream media. A place of worship should never be seen as a negative influence for a town, but rather as a sign of peace and hope.

LISA ORABI, WALLINGFORD

[speakerguy]

I am amazed at the ignorance that I find on this forum. Because we post signs that say "No Mosque on Liegus" everyone leaps to the conclusion that we are bigots. They reach that conclusion without any FACTS. Here are the FACTS:

FACT 1: The proposed Mosque will be 4900 square feet with a full basement.
FACT 2: The proposed Mosque will offer easy access due to its proximity to I-91.
FACT 3: The Mosque in Berlin is only 4600 square feet, is the same architectual style as the Mosque proposed in Wallingford, offers easy access due to its location on the Berlin Turnpike and regularly (every week) draws more than 300 cars to its Friday afternoon service.
FACT 4: Mr. Farid tells the Planning and Zoning board that it will be a small family Mosque for about 35 families, but tells the Record-Journal that it will be open to all Muslims.
FACT 5: The proposed Mosque has only 135 parking spaces with no room to add any additional parking.
FACT 6: The entrance and exit to the Mosque will be 140 feet from a blind corner. A blind corner that carries school bus traffic around the same time on Friday afternoon as the proposed Service.
FACT 7: No new Church has been built in Wallingford since Zoning Laws were established. Any comparison between this Mosque and any other Church is moot.
FACT 8: The peer review traffic study done by an independent engineer at the behest of the town TOTALLY confirms ALL of the neighbor's concerns about traffic and parking. I would post it here but attachments are not allowed. Visit town hall for a copy if you doubt this fact.



When this Mosque draws the same (or larger) crowds as the Berlin Mosque, the attendees will park anywhere they can, on the lawn, up and down the street, block driveways, etc, just like they do at the Berlin Mosque. Having this parking fiasco once a week WILL bring down property values. ANYONE WHO DOUBTS THIS, VISIT THE BERLIN MOSQUE BETWEEN NOON AND 3PM ON ANY FRIDAY AND JUST WATCH WHAT HAPPENS.

I urge all readers to get the FACTS before leaping to ANY conclusions about our intentions.

[skid02]

There is a simple solution that would make everyone happy...build a Mosque on Northrop Road. It would support the size of the Mosque Farid has originally proposed and it would also eliminate the traffic concerns of the residents surrounding Leigus Road.
It also falls into the same travel radius as the Leigus location.
Farid certainly has the resources and support to do this.
Now is the best time to consider this since the application has been withdrawn and a new application will be drafted.

[destination target leigus]

To Lisa of Wallingford,

Your letter and your views are that of your own and no-one
can take your opinions from you. That's your right as an
individual of this nation.

That being said, I'm wondering if you are a resident that
uses Leigus Road at all; on a daily basis and whether or not
you own property in this very specific area?

Do you have any idea (or have you even thought) about the
traffic (Key word here--traffic...again traffic)
Traffic accidents..pedestrian accidents that WILL happen
in our residential area.....our children, our friends, our
loved ones will be hurt....property destroyed and yes,
unfortunately it's just a matter of time (IF---IF--IF--) we allow
people of your opinion, to change our lives without us
speaking up.

We do not even know the IMPACT of Yes....let's hear it....traffic,
once the "Other" building across the street "opens Up" for business.
Are you going to be utilizing Leigus and surrounding roads a few times per
day to get to work, school, Dr. appointments, lunchtime, shopping, etc.,etc.?

Your opinion is just that, it's an opinion and we are entitled
(right, wrong or indifferent) to have one.

The People of this area (whom oppose) have OUR RIGHTS
TOO! and just because you do NOT agree, doesn't make
you "Right" and all of us "Racist + Wrong".
Shame on YOU!

People that live in communities whom "Oppose"
any type of residential / commercial / clean commercial
applications to build properties; should have their RIGHT
to their Opinions... without being judged.

And yes there are churches in Wallingford that are located
near homes, but can you give me the list of these churches
that also have Commercial Properties with over 1,000
parking spaces with 24/7 payrolled employees, including
outside contracting security guards?

I'd love to see the list, because I can't think of any.

That's my Opinion and I have every right to it and you WILL NOT
take that away from me!

[eds]

Resident 1: Don't build it my neighborhood. There's too much traffic. Build it somewhere else, in your neighborhood.

Resident 2: How dare you! Not in my neighborhood. It will lower my property values. Build it in your neighborhood.

Resident 3: Not in my neighborhood damn you. My neighborhood will never be the same. You'll disturb the little birdies I like to feed every day. Build it in your neighborhood.

Resident 4: Oh yeah! You can't come in here and build anything in my neighborhood you scoundrels. I like to look out at open space and see trees and birds and rocks and things. I'm retired now but I've been through the desert on a horse with no name. I built this house to get out of the rain. Damn it! I know that's a song, you idiot! But it's my neighborhood and its my house and not one of you can change it!

Resident 5: You don't even live here in my neighborhood. We have a lovely and peaceful neighborhood. We welcome everyone equally but not you. Oh no. Not you and that awfully large building. Couldn't you just build a shack instead? And I'll fight anyone who says differently. We don't own your land but we live next to it. That gives us every right to tell you what to do with your land. Go somewhere else with that proposal.

Resident 6: Witch! Witch! Witch! She has got a wart you know!

Resident 7: Hey it's that guy from scene 27!

Resident 8: Obama 08!

[destination target leigus]

a retired wo/man? Not sure?
A Holy wo/man? Probably not?


A judgemental wo/man?
That's your opinion

[Fit 2 Print]

Lisa's letter speaks of hope with regard to the mosque proposal and public reaction.

Hope and kindness are good things.