"Ground Zero" Mosque

In the years since 9-11 I've heard many times that the actions of a few radical Islamists in conducting those attacks shouldn't reflect on the majority, and that "Islam is a religion of peace".

Now, I agree that the rule in our country says that the people who want to build a mosque on privately owned land near the 9-11 site (and I think the entire "ground zero" or "near ground zero" debate is completely specious) have a right to do so. The community also has a right to object (just as in any other case where a controversial construction project is going into a neighborhood), and there is a resolution process to decide the entire result. I'm sure the same thing would happen if someone tried to build a XXX Adult Theater in my neighborhood.

What is more important to me is the views of those who are proposing the construction in the first place. I think that I am learning a GREAT DEAL about the sensitivity - or lack thereof - of the "moderate" Islamists/Muslims who have claimed to have zero affiliation with the extremists. If they cannot or will not see how offensive their actions are to the community they are living in, I now am certain of something about Islam and its adherents which I only suspected previously.

Someday, and remember you heard it here first, some or other of the Imams teaching at that site will refer to it as the site of a "great victory", for in truth I believe that many of the moderate Muslims think of it in that way even if they won't say as much among those who do not share their beliefs. It explains just why they seem not to hear the objections of those who lost family that day, for whom the site still hold very powerful memories and associations.

I can understand and appreciate that. It lets me know with no more room for doubt just exactly who I am dealing with...

Regarding developments on the other side of this issue...

The entire "Burning Korans" thing is completely and totally embarrassing. Yeah, I know you're upset. I know this whole issue reaches your 'hot buttons' and that the deaths of 3,000 Americans at the hands of Muslim extremists isn't something that is going to go away anytime soon. I know that Muslims have been burning American flags and killing Christians all along, and that the "Islam is a religion of peace" is a mantra used when it's convenient, but WHY would you cross THAT line?! WE are BETTER than that! Why do you drag us down to their level?!

Some people need to have a little more faith in the American way, and a LOT more brains when it comes to living it.

And finally, what the President said...and didn't say.

Obama said that he believes "Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country. That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances," he said. "This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable."

The funny part is that I believe the above is absolutely correct - IF accompanied with the caveat that the lack of sensitivity on the part of those wishing to build the Mosque is appalling. The President didn't say that though. What he said a day later when asked specifically about it was:

"I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making a decision to put a mosque there. I was commenting very specifically on the right that people have that dates back to our founding."

Well if he isn't going to comment on the wisdom of putting a Mosque there, why the hell did he bother to comment on the legal right to do so when he isn't part of the legal case?!!!

He needed to say both or neither, but he failed us rather miserably on this one. I've really liked the man until this point, but Senate candidate Jeff Greene said it FAR better.

"Freedom of religion might provide the right to build the mosque in the shadow of Ground Zero, but common sense and respect for those who lost their lives and loved ones gives sensible reason to build the mosque someplace else."

He gets MY vote.

What is the matter with our government?

I like President Obama.

I really do. I don't subscribe to the notion that he is an undercover radical Moslem, or that he was born outside of the USA. I tend to share his idealism, his hopes for our country and his desire to fix what he sees as wrong with the US. The economy is a problem he is doing his best to fix. Things like the gulf oil spill weren't issues he has any expertise at all on, but he is took a leadership role insofar as it was possible for him to do so. The war in Afganistan is a reality he is facing up to, as is Iraq - and he is doing fairly well considering just how unrealistic some of his campaign positions were. He has shown a willingness to make the hard decisions I didn't expect from someone who's positions are far more liberal than mine.

I'm not a fan of his class-war rhetoric though, and the attempts to divide the country into the rich (over $200,000/year earners) vs everyone else is something I find disturbing.

What really has me bothered right now though, is this video.

This is truly bothersome. Why is it we can have ARMED INVADERS from another country illegally entering the USA, shooting our citizens and committing other crimes, and all the Federal government does is put up signs warning residents of the USA not to enter certain parts of OUR OWN COUNTRY, because there may be armed citizens of another country there?!!!

You're kidding me, right?

Isn't this why we have an Army, and Air Force, and the Marines? To protect our borders from foreign invaders? What the hell is going on?!!