When it comes to the proposed Islamic center near ground zero, I subscribe to President Barack Obama's position: "Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country...."
But that's old news. Today, the debate is the debate. And this debate is far more consequential.
There are those who continue to make the facile claim that any protest over Park51 is a display in un-American intolerance and contempt for the Constitution. This position treats criticism of faith—religious institutions and symbols included—as tantamount to "bigotry."
Given that there remains overwhelming opposition to the ground zero mosque, this viewpoint would mean that 70 percent of Americans are impulsively hostile to freedom of religion and irrationally narrow-minded.
Could be. Or, maybe a few of these folks believe the First Amendment features more than one clause. Even a newfound reverence for religious liberty on the left does not negate our right to protest and criticize the philosophical disposition of others. And applying public pressure in an effort to shut down a project is as American as protesting the arrival of a new Wal-Mart. Religious institutions, as far as I can tell, are not exempted from these disputes.
In 2008, thousands of gay-rights activists protested the Mormon temple in Westwood, Calif., for its role in passing Proposition 8—the ban on same-sex marriage. This grew into a national protest to undermine the influence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—even though not every Mormon was involved.
I don't recall anti-Mormon protesters being referred to as bigots for targeting religion; it appeared to be just the opposite, in fact. And if I am offended by aspects of Mormon theology, why not voice those concerns? Put it this way: If Mormons proposed the erection of a 13-story community center in West Hollywood or the West Village, I would be happy to join the outcry of protest.
You know, though only a fraction of Catholic priests are pedophiles, the entire church is routinely broad-brushed as corrupt and depraved. I've not heard those who make generalizations about Catholicism referred to as bigots in Time magazine.
Nor have I heard those who regularly disparage Evangelicals called intolerant.
These groups inject themselves into political and cultural disputes of the day—as they have every right to do—so they become fair game. And by building the Islamic center near ground zero, the backers of Park51 insert themselves in a broader political conversation.
As a person with a libertarian political temperament, I would hate to see government shut down religious expression. As an atheist, I am distrustful of religion's influence on that freedom. But, in the end, one is a discussion about the role of government in society and the other is a discussion about civilization. Few people in this debate make that distinction.
As we know, only a fraction of Muslims are radicalized to violence. Most Muslims are peaceful—free to practice their religion unencumbered. All of this is indisputable. Prospectively speaking, unlike many other faiths, ideological Islam has a poor track record of compatibility with liberal ideals. Surely, that's worth a discussion in free society. Or is it a case of intolerance to bring it up?
I've read numerous columns claiming that "allowing" a mosque to be built near ground zero is proof of our tolerant goodness. To be certain.
But surely our ability to conduct a peaceful debate over the meaning of institutions, including religion, is also a reflection of that greatness.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Don't confuse bigotry with freedom of speech. It's not one or the other.
In this country you are free to voice your intolerance and bigotry, as well as speak up against it.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Just waiting for you to defend the Mormon Church and Freedom of Religion, and label the Gay protesters as bigots, as you have been doing with the Ground Zero Mosque and those protesters. Just looking for a little consistency and for you to speak out against Gay intolerance toward Mormon's.
Don't confuse bigotry with freedom of speech. It's not one or the other.
In this country you are free to voice your intolerance and bigotry, as well as speak up against it.
C'mon Box, still waiting eagerly for your position on the issue, are gay rights protesters MORMONOPHOBIC and BIGOTS? Or are they just exercising their first amendment rights?
"Vile Mormons" That's pretty tolerant stuff. I didn't know Gays were such hate filled bigoted people.
Again....it's not about the religion....it's all about fear......dont let fear conquer your mind...........the folks 'worried' about the 911 site are making a what? A CIVIL structure that has NOTHING to do with Islam........if it did their churches would have been flown into or bombed........911 folks are making it a holy war........the people using Islam as a war tool should be ashamed......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Boo Hoo Boom... I just wanted to get down in writing box defending the Mormon's religous rights and call the gay activist bigots for speaking out against the Mormon Chuch as vigerously as he defended the Muslim's Freedom of Religion. I'm sure Box is a principled person and condemns those gay Momonophobe protesters.
I think the position of Bill Donohue of the Catholic League is right on the money on President Obama’s statement that he supports the right of Muslims to build a mosque near Ground Zero. Donohue states that “President Obama is certainly right to insist that Muslims have the right to build a house of worship on private property. But the real issue here is not whether Muslims have a legal right to build a mosque at Ground Zero, it is whether they should do so.” I agree with most Americans and most New Yorkers who do not want a mosque to be built there. It should not be, nor should any other church be built there, even though the mosque supporters agree that it is designed to bring people together. It certainly looks to me that it is doing the opposite
It's like listening to Druggy Rush... the drone of the Conservative mantra... .just keep saying it and it will come true.
It would appear that the only part of the US Constitution that these brain dead Conservatives can find is their holy 2nd amendment!
Jest Gimme A GUN En Ill Fix It, Jeb! How pathetic.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
NY mayor: Stopping mosque compromises terror fight By CRISTIAN SALAZAR Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- Mayor Michael Bloomberg delivered an impassioned speech at an event marking the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, saying that not allowing a proposed mosque to be built near ground zero would be "compromising our commitment to fighting terror with freedom." "We would undercut the values and principles that so many heroes died protecting," Bloomberg said at the dinner Tuesday in observance of Iftar, the breaking of the daily fast during Ramadan. The mayor said he understood the "impulse to find another location for the mosque" but a compromise won't end the debate. "The question will then become how big should the no-mosque zone around the World Trade Center be," Bloomberg said. "There is already a mosque four blocks away. Should it, too, be moved?" Sharif el-Gamal, the mosque site's developer, and Daisy Khan, a co-founder of the group planning the mosque, were also at the dinner attended by about 100 people, including members of the Muslim community and city officials such as police Commissioner Raymond Kelly. After Bloomberg spoke, el-Gamal said he was "very honored and blessed" to be an American and a New Yorker. "Mayor Bloomberg's speech embodied the values and the mores that we as Muslim Americans live and cherish," el-Gamal said. Khan said Bloomberg "delivered a passionate speech in defense of our deep American values." Meanwhile, the heated rhetoric surrounding the proposal for an Islamic community center and mosque two blocks from ground zero drew concern from Archbishop Timothy Dolan, who said Tuesday the tense climate could put New Yorkers in danger of losing their sense of tolerance and unity, values they embraced in the days after Sept. 11. "We're just a little bit apprehensive that those noble values may be a bit at risk in the way this conversation and debate about the site of the mosque is taking place," Dolan, the leader of the area's Roman Catholics, said after a meeting with Gov. David Paterson about the issue.....................>>>>.................>>>>...............http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_NYC_MOSQUE?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US
I have been following Carl Strock’s discussions regarding the Islamic cultural center near the site of the World Trade Center tragedy with some interest. First, I do not always agree with Mr. Strock’s opinions, but in the areas of human rights and religious freedom I usually fi nd his ideas well considered. For a country founded, in part, on freedom of religion, I find it particularly troublesome that some people find it acceptable to offi cially and legally favor one religion over another — in direct opposition to the intention voiced by the founders of our country. For those who blame Islam for the 9/11 tragedy, I would note that I recently saw a man in my age group (60s) wearing a Tshirt that stated: “All I need to know about Islam I learned on 9/11.” Blaming Islam for 9/11 is like blaming the outrages of the Ku Klux Klan on Christianity. For those who have not looked into the KKK, I encourage you to do so — they seem to sincerely feel that they are doing God’s work and see Jesus as their personal inspiration. Extremism is the enemy here, not Islam or Christianity. When we start setting one religion above the others, we have not only disenfranchised and abused the rights of some of our citizens, we have disrespected what our country stands for.
Logged
