"Towering symbol," from the Pasadena Star News, with thanks to EPG:
Sunday, February 20, 2005 - SAN GABRIEL -- Masjid Gabriel is undergoing a transformation that will add a minaret and domed roof traditional elements of Islamic architecture to the mosque.But the changes are more than cosmetic.
The renovation also illustrates the changing nature of the American-Muslim identity, mosque leaders say. It reflects the pride Muslims share in their religion, a commitment to rediscover their historic roots and teachings and a desire to ensure Islam is passed to the next generation.
"We are doing this for the children who come here so they can identify themselves with their faith and their symbols,' said Imam Nissar Hai. "We may be immigrants, but they were born here and they have to feel that they belong here and to their faith and this is a symbol of our faith.'...
Even before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks or the war in Iraq, local Muslims said they felt occasional unease during difficult times such as the Islamic Revolution in Iran or the Gulf War.
But Hai said Americans have deepened their understanding of Islam in recent years and understand that most Muslims are not radicals, he said.
Great. Now why didn't the reporter, Marshall Allen, ask a few questions about this mosque's funding, and pick up some of its literature? There's no indication from this article that he looked at what was being taught there -- and plenty of indication that he should have, based on what is being taught in other American mosques.
The demand for new space is driven in part by the mosque's burgeoning children's after- school program. Children study Arabic and the Quran for several hours every Monday through Thursday. The number of students, toddlers to teens, has more than doubled to about 50 in the past two years, Hai said. The increased demand for children's education is partly a result of the Sept. 11 attacks, Hai said. Initially, the mosque's membership declined after the attacks, but then the Muslim community seemed to take them as a wake-up call, he said. The American-Muslim community was feeling comfortable before Sept. 11, and then faced criticism of Islam, Hai said."So when you feel under attack you want to go back to your roots,' he said. "It made us stronger.'
"You want to go back to your roots." They study Qur'an for several hours for four days a week. Why don't reporters ask them at such points what they think about the roots of Islam that involve working to impose Sharia rule? Why don't they ask them what they do about the Qur'an's harshness toward non-Muslims and commands to make war against them?
The time is long past for more intelligent reporting on Islamic issues, but we aren't even close to getting it.
Mosques can be made over. What cannot be made over is Islam itself, and all the bright talk about "reform" has come, is coming, will come, to naught. It is simply a method of diverting Infidel attention, and Infidel scrutiny, of Islam, and to buy time, while Da'wa and demography work their sinister effect.
If they wanted to return to their roots why don't they return to christianity,hinduism,buddhism,judaism and zoroasism.
Return to SA, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, etc.,etc.,etc.
And the mosque's exterior is finished with the most beautiful FALSE FACADE ever seen by man, the people from Guiness book of records are still looking for it to put it in the book, they just cant see it, they just cant see it, they just cant see it.
CNN probably has a story by now of the exquisite detailing on the exterior as never seen by mankind? The report further states that our foreign correspondants have seen this account in detail?