the word Mecca has no negative connotations and this is its meaning and etymology: 1823, from Arabic
Makkah, sacred city of Islam, birthplace of Muhammad, which every Muslim must visit at least once. Origins have been proposed in Phoenician
maqaq "ruined" or Arabic
mahrab "sanctuary." Fig. sense of "any place one holds supremely sacred" (usually with lower-case
m-) is from 1850.
the link is:
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?...earchmode=none