Six Flags Over Islam
By Grace Cangemi
Today is “Great Muslim Adventure Day” at Six Flags in Jackson. As Americans prepare to lower our flags to half staff in preparation for the remembrance of the victims murdered on September 11, 2001, all six flags at Great Adventure are welcoming only Muslims and those willing to “fellowship” with them into the park.
According to the gentleman manning the ICNA (Islamic Circle of North America) stand near the ticket booth, it is the end of Ramadan and “a day of celebration.”
To Patti Ryan-Miller, who, along with her 12 year old daughter and her 9 year old friend, was turned away for Muslim Day, it was “a slap in the teeth.”
“It’s really insensitive and terrible timing,” she said. “To make it worse, my daughter earned these passes doing community service for her religious education.”
Brian from Toms River, who I met with his 2 young daughters on their way out of the park told me that he didn’t have any opinion on Islam but that being turned away for not being Muslim “doesn’t help with September 11th being tomorrow.”
Six Flags just tipped the insensitivity scale. I’m sure that many parks have “fellowship days” for people of different faiths, but to close your facility to the public for a celebration of Islam on the eve of the largest mass murder in our nation’s history – an act committed by radical Muslims – is so unbelievable that I had to see for myself.
If a day out at Six Flags was supposed to be a “fellowship day,” holding it on September 10th didn’t make me feel any fellowship. Just the opposite. Where is the sensitivity to your fellow human beings, those of us, living so close to the site of so many of these deaths, who experienced such devastating loss at the hands of your brethren? Where is the condemnation for radicals who murder your fellow Americans? Where is the spirit of inclusion that would have you show non-Muslims that you really are a “religion of peace?”
As September 11th approaches, I have been increasingly angered that the lessons of that day are being passed over as more and more politicians and pundits have decided to use the occasion and the controversy surrounding it to tell Americans that we are “insensitive” and “discriminatory” toward Muslims and not to mourn the loss of the three thousand souls who perished on that beautiful Tuesday.
I’m not sensitive to Muslims who won’t let little kids who win awards for community service ride a roller coaster with them. I’m not sensitive to people who don’t recognize how important a day September 11th will always be to the Americans who lived through it. And I’m sure as hell not sensitive to anyone who won’t loudly and vocally condemn any piece of human detritus who would slaughter my friends and family in the name of their religious jihad.
When Danny Gallagher was in high school, our church youth group had a day at Great Adventure. The park was open to the public, although people from churches throughout the state had come to join together and spend the day. I’m sure there were some Muslims there. We wouldn’t have known because it didn’t matter as long as everyone was having fun at the park. Perhaps that’s why “Great Muslim Day” outraged me. This smart, bright young man would have been barred from Six Flags today. And he probably would have been good natured about it. That’s how Danny was. I’ll never know because he never came home after that Tuesday morning nine years ago.
If my sensitivity is all used up today, maybe it’s because it’s being spent on Danny’s family and all of those who lost loved ones at the hands of Islamic Jihadists. Maybe some of the folks leaving “Muslim Day” could try thinking about that this afternoon.
More from my site
Today Is Muslim Day At Great Adventure
Rally For America With Scott Sipprelle
Sheriff’s Office on high alert for 9-11 anniversary
Six Flag’s “Last Word” on Muslim Day
Six Flags Responds
Kudos to News12
Congressman Chris Smith’s remarks at the Monmouth County 9-11 remembrance
The Arnone Report: Remembering those lost on 9-11
Memorial Day
Never the same, Never forget
I have a feeling it wouldn’t matter to you what day they had this on…you still would comment on how wrong you think it is.
Good thing they didn’t show up in Highlands…eh Grace?
2 Muslims travel 13,000 miles across America, find an embracing nationBy Wayne Drash, CNN
September 10, 2010 3:21 p.m. EDT
(CNN) — The blue Chevy Cobalt broke down amid the mountains of Montana in an area where there was no cell phone reception. The Muslims in the car, on a cross-country journey for the holy month of Ramadan, approached a bushy-bearded fisherman.
They began in New York, headed south and then cut across the country to California before making their way back, ending today in Michigan in the nation’s largest Muslim community.
The fisherman in Montana became the embodiment of their trip — Ali and Tariq were embraced nearly everywhere they went, from a Confederate souvenir shop in Georgia to the streets of Las Vegas, Nevada, to the hills of North Dakota where the nation’s first mosque was built in 1929.
“After 13,000 miles, I think that America still exists, and I’m happy to know that it does,” said Tariq, a 23-year-old American of Pakistani descent. “It’s really made America feel like home to me in a way that I’ve never felt before. The America that we think about [as immigrants] is still actually there. I’ve seen it! And I’m seeing it still.”
When he approached the fisherman after their car broke down, Tariq says, he didn’t know how he’d be received. He asked if he could hitch a ride to town and the fisherman “happily does it.” When the man asked Tariq what he was doing in Montana, he told him about their 30 mosques journey.
“And he doesn’t flinch and doesn’t get worried,” Tariq said. “For me, it was like, ‘Wow! That America still exists.’ ”
Unless, of course, you visit Grace in Highlands…
Rick,
Grace is from Red Bank
This is one of the most outrageous thing I have ever heard. Not because it is Muslims. This would be offensive if it was Irish Catholic day and they where turning people away. This would be offensive if it where Tibetan Bhuddist day or Evangelical Christian day or Orthodox Jew Day or any type of day where they turned anyone away because of their race, ethnicity or religion.
We don’t do things that way in America.
Shame on Great Adventure.
Yes..I know. But I consider this site and those who contribute (even TR), as being from Highlands.
I found out about this in June and at that point decided never to go to Six Flags Great Adventure again. This is highly offensive at every conceivable level. I can never enjoy myself at a place where I know such gross discrimination and injustice is sponsored. I have advised all my friends that I never intend to go there or allow my kids to go there, and exactly why I feel this way. They generally did not believe me until I showed them on the Six Flags web site. Then people were floored by the gross discrimination and insensitivity.
If you believe this is wrong, vote with your dollars and take them elsewhere – try going to the Shore, like Point Pleasant Beach or Wildwood.
Also call and write the management and let them know you will not go there again and why. Suggest that they just shut shop and go away. And let them know that you are taking your dollars elsewhere and advising others to do the same. In this depressed economy, that will hurt.
We in New Jersey deserve so much better than this.
By the way this insensitivity of Islam to any sensitivities of their own should not surprise us. After all, Muslims wish to build a victory mosque overlooking the graveyard of Ground Zero.
This is the face of ‘peaceful’ and ‘tolerant’ Islam.
So sorry for your loss, Art. Danny is in our prayers.
…sensitivities “other than” their own…
…so upset I can’t type! Logging off.
This seems no more insensitive than Korans being burned in Florida, a mosque being built on Ground Zero or right-wing extremists rallying on the day and location of Martin Luther King’s calling for unity.
Conservatives like to tell private organizations what they can do when they can do or where they can build when its good to get votes and its race-baiting and religion-baitiong and then they spend the rest of their time crying about a broken constitution. Anything else, they preach that government should stay out of it but when it serves their purpose to divide people, than private organizations shouldn’t be allowed to have a ‘Family Fun Day’ or build a private community center on private property.
Conservatives also like to talk about 9/11 and insensitivity whenever they want but some of these same people haven’t lifted a finger in 9 years to help get healthcare responders.
It is articles like this, while even though I agree with many of Republican Party principles, especially economic ones, it is why i will NEVER leave the Democratic Party. Columns like this are the ONLY reason I am voting Democratic and why work hard to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for Democrats every year, because columns like this scare me.
Gosh, why haven’t I seen a Christian Day at Great Adventure during Easter at the end of Lent? Six Flags is beneath contempt for its pandering to Muslims.
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Taxed Enough Already and Stop Government, Stop Government. Stop Government said: On the eve of 9/11 Muslims only at six flags!.http://ning.it/9bL8xS […]
They say they want to Celebrate Fellowship but their actions say they want to supplant and Dominate the West. The point is that we in America tolerate every Religion unless that religion or faction of it is attacking us. We then must demand they cxonform to our laws and customs or leave.
Vin, Am I hearing you correctly? Are you saying you think its OK for Great Adventure to exclude people based on their religous beliefs?
Are you saying Republicans are bad if they object to that?
All the Republicans I know are not saying that the government should prevent a mosque from being built at ground zero. For the government to stop it would be unconstitutional. They are just asking the builders of it not to do it. Do you think that is an unreasonable request?
Please Clarify
Vin, your holier than thou political correctness is directly responsible for the sad state of affairs we Americans find ourselves in.
Why is it insensitive for a Christian to exercise Rights granted us by our Creator of free speech and association, but perfectly acceptable, admirable even, for non-Christians to exercise those same rights?
What the apologist PC crowd constantly and unfailingly engage in is a double standard. You are so convinced that the Judeo-Christian principles upon which this Nation was founded are an embarrasment to the rest of the world, that you are incapable of seeing that those same principles allow you to enage in your fundraising and rag-publishing. Two endeavours, I might add, that would certainly have you beheaded in countries that enforce the law set forth in your beloved Koran/Quran.
As for your promise to stay a Democrat, don’t flatter yourself that the Republicans would have you. Based upon your post, you are perfectly suited for the Democrat party, and you break no hearts with your pledge to stay there.
Enjoy the exercise of free speech courtesy of this blog and your own bird cage liner, since if your Party and President continue our Nation on the current path, you will eventually be writing in Arabic.
Republicans I know are not saying that the government should prevent a mosque from being built at ground zero. For the government to stop it would be unconstitutional.
Well…. Government (through its judicial branch) stopped prayer in many schools… or the display of the Ten Commandments… or putting up Nativity scenes…
Remember, the Constitution is a living document, isn’t it?
@MLaffey
Private organizations have the right to rent out to private parties. Just like a restaurant renting out to a private birthday party and the public is not allowed, there is nothing different by this.
Private religious groups and civic groups rent out the theme park has happened at Great Adventure for years.
http://www.sixflags.com/greatAdventure/groups/Religious.aspx
This is also happening at Great Adventure on October 2nd as they have proudly advertised on their website for several weeks
“Restoring America one State at a Time Rally
Saturday, October 2, 2010 – The Jackson Tea Party along with The NJ Tea Party United will be hosting “Restoring America – One State at a Time” at 3:00pm in the Northern Star Arena. Master of Ceremonies, David Webb will welcome featured Guests including: Hon. Andrew Napolitano, Lloyd Marcus and Jon David Kahn. For more information and to purchase your tickets call 1-888-NJ-PLEDGE. ”
Areas of the theme park and certain days of the theme park are CLOSED for certain PRIVATE events and different groups. That is the way private organizations generally work.
I’m not even responding to Fred whatever because he seems mentally ill and has serious issues with people who are not of his religion. Glad you enjoy the rags i publish though.
Um, Vinnie. Yes, private organizations have the right to rent out to private parties, as you have said. But you believe there is nothing inappropriate in renting to celebrating Muslims the day before the anniversary of the worst atrocity ever commited on US soil by members of that faith? Do you really believe there is no significance to the date chosen? Incredible!
Vin
Yes you are right private groups can rent a facility and exclude people. However apparently that is not what happened here because Great Adventure was still selling tickets
So sorry for your loss, Art.
Danny was not a relative of mine, but thanks. We all lost something precious that day.
Vin, You completely miss the point. Muslins, Christians, Jews Whites Blacks. it is all discri mination. If the park had really been rented out for the day you would have need a pass to get in. It was open to the public as long as you adheared to Muslin. rules. This is a form of Jim Crow. You can vote if you pay the poll tax. You can vote if you can pass this test. You can come in to Great Adventure if you adhear to our policy for the Day. No whites allowed day, no black allowed day, no Jews allowed day. Get it you liberal weenie….Not the AMERICAN WAY…..Sorry it is KKK day, no hoods, sorry not allowed in.
Forgot to include DICK Ambrosia. So you insult a writer and a whole town in one insipid letter. You migh be DICK Ambrosia but I will just refer to you as DICK
@MLaffey and Kevin
There are a lot of things that are insensitive. Building a Muslim community center is insensitive and offensive to many in the 9/11 community. Burning Korans is offense to many in the Muslim community. Glenn Beck picking MLK’s spot and anniversay to have his rally is insensitive to African-Americans.
This has nothing to do with insensitivity. This has to do with whether private organizations have the right to rent out to whom they want even if its distasteful. This date has been blocked off as PRIVATE for several months by Six Flags.
Furthermore, at one point, billions of Muslims lived by the Koran when it had nothing to do with 9/11. I think that Muslims worldwide, billions of peaceful Muslims, feel that burning the Koran is an insult to their faith. There are crazy Muslims, crazy Jews and crazy Christians and crazy Hindus – None of the crazies represent the overwhelming majority of hundreds of millions and billions of those in their respective religions who live in peace. I don’t believe in attacking an entire religion based on radicals in that Muslim. Given that everyone should be sensitive to different issues such as building a Mosque near ground zero – regardless of the insensitivities, they have right to do it just as the pastor in Florida had every right to burn those books, no matter how insensitive it was.
Sorry Kevin Feehan, the name is Patrick..see, Rick is right in there. Dick is a nickname for Richard, or Feehan, whichever fits. As a matter of fact asshole is a nickname for Feehan too.
Vin,
Let me be clear about something. As far as I am concerned this has nothing to do with Muslims. I would be outraged if this were a Christian group excluding Muslims.
Again, I go back to the question, If this was a private group that had rented the facility why was Great Adventure selling tickets?
Great Adventure can not have it both ways and their statements and conduct have been contradictory.
Vin,
Let me be clear, This is not about Muslims. I would be equally outraged if it had been Christians keeping out Muslims.
Great Adventure was selling tickets. They can’t do that and say it is a private event. they can’t have it both ways.
As a former venue operator, I rented theatres to numerous religious groups to hold events. In one particular case, a group was holding a fashion show and fundraiser. They wanted my box office to sell tickets but only to members of their religious community. I refused as I felt that having my staff inquire as to the religious affiliation of a ticket buyer was offensive. Instead, the group sold the tickets themselves to their own invited guests. This would have been an appropriate way to handle “Great Muslim Day.”
Additionally, for many years, I was involved with a church group. We had fellowship days at various amuesment parks. We did not close out members of other religions in the name of fellowship.
Six Flags has the right to do whatever they want – I question the wisdom of using their staff to sell tickets exclusively to members of a particular faith.
Believe I’m intolerant if you want to, but be aware – I have NEVER turned anyone away from an event on the basis of their religion. The organizers of Muslim Day and Six Flags can’t say the same.
@Vin – I’m guessing you don’t have to wear red, white, and blue or show your NRA membership card to get into the October 2nd event.
If they are selling tickets to the public that is a different issue, but they have it listed as the park privately rented out and not open to the public on their website.
Buring a Koran is insentive and i know of no rational person who thinks otherwise. Building a Mosque on that site is not a good idea. But no one is saying do not build a mosque. Glenn Beck did not run a KKK rally or anti-black rally in DC. Who was excluded that day? The bottom line is that common sense, respect went out the window with Six flags whan it came to money. Not an anti Muslim rant but an anti Six Flags rant. Done all wrong and no thought put into the date….Or was there? Another big F*** You to the America.