Long Island City Sunday morning Memorial Service for Mumbai victims

Why do people keep acting like LIC had no community before the condos got here?

Any idea when Dutch Kills opens on Jackson Avenue? Dying for a $15 drink.

how was this? Did anyone go?

Hey, No. 7, it’s No. 5 here. Let’s get this straight. I did not intend to wind up everyone and think you are rightly going to get slammed for your comment.

I am more interested in how a private organization — I don’t care who they are Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Wiccah– is allowed to use public facilities for a religious service. It’s just not kosher, pardon the pun, to be hosting religious services in taxpayer-funded schools.

A religious organization is not a community organization. Community is all inclusive, religious is not. A religious organization has no place in a public school. Where should they hold their services then? Well of course at their own place of worship. There are thousands of exemptions and credits for religious use of real estate in this city. I’m with #5 totally.

Any idea when Dutch Kills opens? Dying for a $15 drink.

13, they should hold their meetings and services on their own property. If they don’t have the proper facilities, then they should pay for use of a private space somewhere. It’s a simple legal issue of separation of church and state and has nothing to do with the organization involved. Religious groups do not have a right to use public property for free. You are inviting all kinds of potential conflicts if you establish this precedent, which is why someone in this country was smart enough to enshrine these protections in the Constitution.

That’s good to hear they did the right thing, 15. And as Jake would say, this thread is over.

I’m frankly amazed that anyone could take a remembrance for an unspeakable event and get bent out of shape as to how and where the memorial is held – especially when the appropriate channels and procedures are used. I’m not sure when the last time anyone saw a Muslim or Hindu remembrance that included Jews or Christians. They are memorializing something incredibly tragic that happened to one of their own. Is anyone raising a stink about Christ’s birthday celebration decor on Vernon Blvd?

Also #7 you clearly have issues. The remark about “chosen people” was IMO uncalled for and offensive.

18, I was agreeing with you until I read your gratuitous swipe at Christmas. If you’re going to chastise people for remarks you consider offensive, you should be careful you don’t do the same yourself. Just saying.

#18 – Since when are non-religious Holiday Lights in “commeration of christ’s birthday”? It is the same type of secular seasonal lighting used in most communities and across the city to celebrate the Holiday Season. If you bothered to take notice, there is both a Menorah and a Christmas Tree at 50th & Vernon. The Menorah will not be lit until Hanukah beginning 12/21.

22 and 23, I already explained I’m not taking a swipe at Christmas or any religious observance. I don’t really mind seeing creches, menorahs, crescent moons, buddhas, or whatever once in a while. The Holiday lights brighten Vernon. This doesn’t have to be wound up any more.

The simple point was that there seemed to be an enormous amount of hostility directed toward a one time event commemorating a tragic event. I believe that any group in this situation who follows the proper procedures for use of public space has the right to commemorate a loss to their community.

25, it’s 23 here. You got yourself in such a lather, I think you didn’t realize I was just making a lighthearted comment about the gigantic neon Jesus. And forgive me for not knowing as much as you do about Xmas trees. I need to bone up on my pagan history it seems.

I agree with you that everyone needs to stop being so quick to give offense. But at the same time, it would be great if everyone wasn’t so quick to take offense too. I swear, living in a multicultural city is like navigating a minefield. All these potential hurt feelings waiting to explode in our faces. I have an idea: why don’t we all just knock off all the religious talk (it’s so boring anyway) and just relax and look forward to enjoying whatever the hell holiday we like to celebrate this time of year?