I was perusing the headlines and found a particularly promising piece entitled "Stealth jihad behind ground zero mosque". I knew, right away, that I was in for a particularly gripping work of prize-worthy journalistic prowess.
It didn't let me down. I didn't make it all the way to the end. I just couldn't do it. Honestly, I don't know how I was able to put my eyes in the comments section, other than the need to pressure-test the blood vessels in my head (shamelessly stolen from Tam). I was a bit surprised to find in comments:
The bottom line, a clear two third majority of Americans are objecting to the Mosque and the majority right should be respected. Islam is not a native religion to America and Moslems are not only relative new comers to the States as Immigrants, but they are few in numbers and have no right yet acquired to impose their will so arrogantly on the majority.
His comment was much longer, but I got what I needed from the first couple sentences. I was surprised that my comment lasted more than six seconds:
The bottom line, a clear two third majority of Americans are objecting to the Mosque and the majority right should be respected. "Democracy must be more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner." (James Bovard) It matters not a flying flip what two-thirds of Americans want. Neither the Constitution nor the Bill of Rights works that way. Two thirds majorities and the like are reserved for some passages of some laws or resolutions under some circumstances. The two-thirds majority is not a legally binding way for Americans to decide what they do and do not want in this country or where it should be located. What the Bill of Rights does enumerate, however, is freedom of religion. If we, as Americans, want to continue to practice it, we'd better be willing to extend it. I don't recall any protests of any Christian Church anywhere near the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, do you?
Islam is not a native religion to America and Moslems are not only relative new comers to the States as Immigrants, but they are few in numbers and have no right yet acquired to impose their will so arrogantly on the majority. First of all, Christianity isn't a native religion to America either. Ask an Iroquois. Second, you don't have to have to have been here for a certain amount of time before you can build a church/temple/mosque/etc. This is a free country; you may build a church before you build your home as long as you do so within the bounds of established law. To build such an establishment is not to impose one's will on another, be it an individual, the minority, the majority, or the entirety of the people. Last, it doesn't matter if you have been here for two weeks or two thousand years. In this country, you never have the right to impose your will on anyone. Ever. Full stop.
That pretty much sums up my feelings on the matter, BTW.
tweaker
Well put. To me, the whole "mosque equals symbol of victory" bit is a bullshit argument. The big, smoking hole where two 110-story buildings used to stand was symbolic enough. They got away with that shit once. Richard Reid and his Nikes found out what happens when that shit gets tried again.
ReplyDeleteFor us, for Americans, who are supposed to be lovers of freedom, our symbol of victory is to refuse to allow our beliefs, principles, and way of life to be altered by the hatred and violence of a bunch of cowardly, goat-fucking whack-jobs who like to murder innocents while hiding behind the veil of religion.
It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose.
Here, in this society, the very winds carry freedom. They carry it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom. So that everyone can see, truly see that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely.
It is for freedom's seek that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf and have filed appeals, will go on in their, their representation of you before other judges. We care about it. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. -- Judge William Young to Richard Reid at sentencing
It is because we prize individual freedom so much that we will allow that church to be built, and in so doing, despite the fact that for some it may represent a victory of hate, let it stand as a testament to the principles of freedom upon which our nation was founded and which we refuse to surrender to the hatred of violent men.