Last week the Associated Press put out a memo instructing its employees not to refer to the mosque at Ground Zero as the “Ground Zero Mosque.” Because why be descriptive when it might hurt an agenda with which you sympathize? The AP offers various alternate formulations, such as:
- Mosque 2 blocks from WTC site
- Muslim (or Islamic) center near WTC site
- Mosque near ground zero
- Mosque near WTC site
They really roll off the tongue, don’t they?
After almost 9 years of referring to Ground Zero as Ground Zero, the Associated Press decides to change the definition. When they’ve reported about, say, the lingering toxic dust that’s caused so many health problems, have they been so particular about drawing a chalk outline around the affected area? Or was it all just Ground Zero? If you didn’t know better, you’d think the AP just went with whichever definition was most convenient to use against Republicans.
Anyway. All of the AP’s suggestions are boring, because they’re the AP. I’ve also seen people use the awkward, vague phrase “lower Manhattan mosque,” which doesn’t really narrow it down and just makes you sound like you’re avoiding something rather than describing it.
But if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em! I’ve come up with several alternate suggestions over the last week or so:
- The Place of Business That Was Destroyed on 9/11 and Is Now Being Turned into a Mosque, or Possibly Not-a-Mosque
- The Mosque That’s As Close As They Could Get to Ground Zero Without Falling In
- Park de Triomphe
- The Burlington Landing-Gear Receptacle
- The Moderate Muslim Dialog-Building Mosque
- The Shiny Rainbow Unicorn Mosque
- The Sharing Caring Togetherness Mosque
- The Sparkle Magic Group-Hug Mosque
- The 9/11 Debris Field Mosque
- Shut Up
How about yours?
P.S. The best one from the comments so far: The You-Know-What, You-Know-Where.
P.P.S. Imam Rauf speaks: “The United States has more Muslim blood on its hands than al-Qaeda has on its hands of innocent non-Muslims.”
P.P.P.S. Gosh, imagine that: Many More Now Following Mosque Controversy – And Don’t Like It