Mosque Plan Is Simply Wrong
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Ours is a nation founded on faith by many who fled religious persecution. That our belief is strong is evidenced by our adherence to the use of the name of God in our mottos, money and public buildings.
Yet we have from the beginning steadfastly insisted on a separation of church and state. We have never had an American religion, nor have we ever opposed any individual religion. We are thus as tolerant as any country in history.
Despite this open-minded approach, there have always been forces determined to destroy our faith and replace it with religious anarchy. And even they have been tolerated. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and religion.
But is there not a line in the sand even in this amendment? Do we not ban crèches on public land and forbid the call of “Fire” in a crowded theater? When I went to school we began each day with a nondenominational prayer. No more. And the politically correct advocates are constantly trying to erode any reference to a higher being in buildings and public organizations.
Atheists have their rights, but they do not include demanding we forsake ours. Lately, however, more and more people are beginning to view political correctness and open-minded acceptance of any and all with growing alarm.
At the moment, the biggest controversy is the proposed mosque near 9/11’s ground zero. The president of the United States and the mayor of New York have both weighed in to say Muslims have a right to build the mosque, but they are in a small minority. Most everyone else views this as an in-your-face insult to all those who died in the Muslim attack on the World Trade Center. And, yes, it was a Muslim attack. They admitted it and they were proud of it.
The first Muslim I ever met was Muhammad Ali. This was at the time when Howard Cosell and boxing’s world champion were promoting each other. Whenever Howard brought Ali to our TV studios, he made it a point to introduce the champ to all of us.
I thus met Ali more than once and was impressed with how handsome (and unmarked) he was and how disarmingly friendly. I’ve never confessed this before but I used to wonder if I could stay one round with him if somebody offered me a million dollars. Fortunately for me, the offer never came. In any event, thanks to Ali, Muslims did not seem to pose a threat.
Perhaps the majority of them still don’t. But the laws of Sharia and numerous jihads point in another direction. There are many mosques in the United States, so no one can claim that we are prejudiced or in violation of the First Amendment if we insist that this one be erected far from ground zero.
The proposed mosque is clearly a symbol of growing Islamic influence here following the increased power in Scandinavia, France and England. Our refusal to permit it can be a symbol of our determination to maintain our country’s strength and standards in the face of those who would destroy us.
The time has also come to say “Enough!” to false accusations. If we point out that Reps. Maxine Waters or Charles Rangel are guilty of infractions of ethics, we are called racists. If we oppose the mosque, we are religious bigots. Enough. Wrong is wrong and it has no color or religion or even political party.
Regrettably, our president seems to be constantly on an apology track that diminishes us in the eyes of the world. It is time we stood tall and surrounded him so he no longer appears to speak for us. And it is time for us to stand up for our faith, which has always been the bulwark of our nation.
As Ronald Reagan so eloquently put it: “If we ever forget that we’re one nation under God, we will be a nation gone under.” Sixty-five days to Election Day.
Allan Jefferys, a former New York theater critic and newsman, lives in Pinehurst. Contact him at oldjeff@nc.rr.com.
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Comments
JimHeim 2 years, 8 months ago
Actually, our nation was founded on liberty. Your faith is your business, not the government's. It's right there in our US Constitution.
As for the building that has stirred such an outpouring of hate and religious bigotry, it's not a mosque. It's simply a center of Muslims which will have a room for worship. The Pentagon has such a room for Muslims. Is it a mosque? Las Vegas casinos have wedding chapels. Does that make them churches?
Are Muslims to be allowed to practice their faith in this country? Are you going to allow it or resort to arson as in Tennessee? Where do you think this intolerance will inevitably lead?
Just how far away from Ground Zero is far enough for you? Seriously, I want to know. And how do you expect a 2% of the population to force Sharia on us? Really.
And speaking of freedom from having others' religious views forced on us, when can I buy beer on a Sunday morning to take for an afternoon picnic in this state?
Matt_Woodruff 2 years, 8 months ago
That was a totally disjointed piece. What exactly is your point?
"Atheists have their rights, but they do not include demanding we forsake ours"
LOL, is this the tolerance of which you speak?
bloscoe 2 years, 8 months ago
Building a Mosque close to Ground Zero is/would be a slap in the face to every single relative who lost someone in that despicable act of terrorism. Take the name 'Osama bin Laden' & re-arrange just 2 letters = 'Obama sin-Laden'. Coincidence?
aub 2 years, 8 months ago
Jim, you said, "As for the building that has stirred such an outpouring of hate and religious bigotry, it's not a mosque."
"I do not understand the impulse to demonize those with whom you have disagreements." I just read that recently, but I can't for the life of me remember who wrote it. Anyway, you might try and truly understand the arguments against the Mosque instead of chalking opposition up to bigots and haters.
Krauthammer puts it better, "a comeuppance is due [those] whose undisguised contempt for the great unwashed prevents them from conceding a modicum of serious thought to those who dare oppose them."
You also said, "It's simply a center of Muslims which will have a room for worship. The Pentagon has such a room for Muslims. Is it a mosque?"
No, the Pentagon is not a mosque, but it's also not a center of Muslims. You might try using YMCA as an example next time.
Finally, you said, "Just how far away from Ground Zero is far enough for you?"
I don't speak for anyone else, but for me, the building should at least be far enough away to not have the landing gear and part of the fuselage from Flight 157 come through the roof during the attack.
JER 2 years, 8 months ago
bloscoe: Rearranging the letters in your moniker gives us "locoes". Coincidence?
JimHeim 2 years, 8 months ago
Prometheus, It's not a mosque. The fact that there's a mosque just one block further away from the non-mosque Islamic Center being planned is irrelevant.
So far no one has presented a legal or moral argument against the building of this center. To blame American Muslims for the actions of Saudis is absurd.
fugitiveguy 2 years, 8 months ago
"So far no one has presented a legal or moral argument against the building of this center."
No one has presented a legal argument but that hasn't kept liberals such as yourself, Obama, Bloomberg and others from repeating ad nauseum that there is no legal argument. The moral argument has been presented in many forums by many people, the trouble is that liberals in their fall all over themselves tolerance just do not get it and I suppose they never will.
madstork 2 years, 8 months ago
Mr. Heim,
Islamic Center vs. Mosque is really not the issue. The discussion is not one of religious freedom either. This country was founded on religious freedom. We don’t apply an asterisk to that charter. They have a right to build that building on that location. That does not mean it is the right thing to do.
This is a matter of humanity. The passion around this issue is based on respect for the souls who went to work one day and never came back. Respect for their families. Respect for the public servants who ran towards the flames and smoke to try and save human life and perished as the towers crashed to earth.
Next time you are in an airport terminal with a clear view of the nose of a 757 aircraft parked at the gate…imagine that view as the last image you will ever see. Imagine the sheer horror of sitting in your office with your colleagues and for that split second, you know you are dead. Imagine walking down a crowded stairwell filled with smoke and knowing you still have 78 floors to get down to the ground. Imagine you are lucky enough to get out of the building only to be crushed by one of your colleagues, who was in such a state of mind and pain, they jumped to their death.
I am a New Yorker…I have imagined my friends just like that.
Imagine that sir.
teufelhunden 2 years, 8 months ago
Ya'll hear about the 2 muslims going from Chicago to Amsterdam?
ewpguy 2 years, 8 months ago
@ teufelhunden
Surely this is pure coincidence -- I always carry a few inoperable cell phones securely fastened together with tape, a box cutter, a knife, and my pepto/cell phone combo, actually got a patent pending on the pepto cell hybrid.
My opinion is this is a dry run or some sort of test. Simply my opinion.
Be aware, pay attention to your surroundings.
ohreally 2 years, 8 months ago
@ madstork
Very well said. It is not a matter of rights, constitution, legality, etc. It is a matter of respect for the dead, and the living. Don't add insult to injury.
commonsense77 2 years, 8 months ago
Prometheus- No one has suggested prohibitions on box cutters was "Islamophobia". You don't win an argument by misidentifying the issues of those who have different views from you.
commonsense77 2 years, 8 months ago
Prometheus- Then why do you do it? I have yet to see a post from you where you do not try to define your opponents argument, rail against them for the very things you do.
fugitiveguy 2 years, 8 months ago
" You don't win an argument by misidentifying the issues of those who have different views from you. " - - commonsense77
I have found that this is a common leftist trait that is similar to use of "F" word in gangsta rap.
commonsense77 2 years, 8 months ago
Prometheus- There you go again, doing exactly what you accuse liberals of doing. If you had faith in your argument you could let it stand on its own two legs. Instead of labeling people's comments as red herring, straw man argument give people your point of view. Give them your opinion with any supporting details!
teufelhunden 2 years, 8 months ago
...and the attack on the Israelis in the West Bank?
IT
WILL
NEVER
END
They feel entitled to dominate the world with violence.
commonsense77 2 years, 8 months ago
Prometheus- Thanks for the lecture on debate techniques. I am still curious why you feel that you argument is so weak that you chose to criticize other person's debate technique.
commonsense77 2 years, 8 months ago
Prometheus- Logical Fallacies are a debate technique as your link so aptly pointed out. But pointing out other people's logical fallacies (or what you perceive to be a logical fallacy) doesn't actually make a point. In fact you used logical fallacies in your response.
Yes, my opinion is your argument is weak. That is because you refuse to actually discuss your opinion.
teufelhunden 2 years, 8 months ago
Oh and I just saw pictures of muslim children celebrating the attack on Israelis in the West Bank...pictures of kids with automatic weapons cheering Hamas...
JimHeim 2 years, 8 months ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
JimHeim 2 years, 8 months ago
Teufelhunden, You mean like the cheering among students in the American South the day JFK was assassinated?
JimHeim 2 years, 8 months ago
Teufelhunden, "Ya'll hear about the 2 muslims going from Chicago to Amsterdam?"
Ya'll hear they were released without charges as they are not suspected of any crime?
fugitiveguy 2 years, 8 months ago
"Teufelhunden, You mean like the cheering among students in the American South the day JFK was assassinated?"
I know that was only yesterday but it seems like over 40 years ago.
fugitiveguy 2 years, 8 months ago
"The terrorists on that day were mostly Saudis with a couple of other non-Americans."
They too were "innocent" on 9/10. A little more vigilance and a little less PC and maybe 9/11 could have been just another day. True all Muslims are not terrorists but I don't think the violent onces are in as few numbers as you and the other leftist guarantors would have us to believe.
dustyrhoades 2 years, 8 months ago
"Oh and I just saw pictures of muslim children celebrating the attack on Israelis in the West Bank...pictures of kids with automatic weapons cheering Hamas..."
Glad they're not the ones building the mosque, then.
But then, to you, they're all alike, right?
dustyrhoades 2 years, 8 months ago
"I know that was only yesterday but it seems like over 40 years ago."
And Robert Byrd's membership in the KKK was longer ago that that, but the right wing brought it up at every opportunity.
madstork 2 years, 8 months ago
Heim Comment "Maddork, What has any of this 911 stuff to do with American Muslims? The terrorists on that day were mostly Saudis with a couple of other non-Americans. Where do you get off punishing the innocent?
And what do you have against our people in uniform? Serving America in the armed forces is a good thing, and those who serve deserve your respect."
Nice typo - Maddork vs. Madstork Child Please!!!
I will not debate my feelings on 911.
As for me being "against" people in uniform...where in the world did that come from? I have served...you?
fugitiveguy 2 years, 8 months ago
Robert Byrd was a known KKK member? That cannot be true! Dusty, please...go on. Wait a minute...I thought Byrd was a Democrat.
blake 2 years, 8 months ago
Mr Heim writes: "You mean like the cheering among students in the American South the day JFK was assassinated?"
Okay, I was born in 1974 so I admit I am fairly ignorant in this matter. I have never heard this piece of history nor can I find any evidence through Google or Bing. Did this really happen?
JimHeim 2 years, 8 months ago
Madstork, You made some snarky references to my wife's status as a military retiree in another thread. I still would like to know why.
JimHeim 2 years, 8 months ago
Joanna Shields, a teacher at Lake Highlands Junior High in 1963, heard a group of students cheer when the president's shooting was announced. Her call to a Dallas radio station reporting what she had witnessed brought national attention to her and her school. (from the archives of The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza)
I heard the story recently from a man who was in Mississippi at the time and confirms that this was a common reaction.
JimHeim 2 years, 8 months ago
Sen Byrd sincerely repented the errors he made when younger. But since America is a "Christian" country, he can expect no forgiveness.
teufelhunden 2 years, 8 months ago
Some of you seem dead certain that there is no way possible there can be any more muslim terrorist attacks here in our country. You make me wonder about you...
teufelhunden 2 years, 8 months ago
Mr. Heim- that "Christian" comment was uncalled for, sir.
JimHeim 2 years, 8 months ago
Madstork, Thanks for mentioning my "typo." If you hadn't it would have been lost when the moderator pulled it down.
So tell me, are Christians not supposed to be involved with forgiveness, given our sinful nature? I've always heard that forgiving and turning the other cheek were hallmarks of Christianity. Tell me where I've missed the real message.
MooreNorth 2 years, 8 months ago
Mr Heim~ The people that wish to build the Hamosque call it a mosque. Maybe you should give them a call. Straighten them out.
madstork 2 years, 8 months ago
Heim asks "Madstork, You made some snarky references to my wife's status as a military retiree in another thread. I still would like to know why."
Never snarky that was your buddy Dusty word.
My comment was that it would be understandable you favor government largesse as you posted you receive excellent care through the VA. You referenced it was because your wife was retired military MD. Never did I “snark” you, your wife and NEVER the military.
Not snide, sarcastic nor irritated.
recondo 2 years, 8 months ago
We fully support the Jedi Building a Temple but not so close to the ruins of the death star lol. I find this entire debate to be quite entertaining i say let em build the mosque at least several times a week we would know where we could find them all in one place if they were needed for questioning
JimHeim 2 years, 8 months ago
Madstork, I receive exactly nothing from VA, not have I ever. I assume you've never been in the armed forces.
JimHeim 2 years, 8 months ago
Madstork, What military members and retired military veterans receive is not government largess. It's what's due them (and their families) for their service and sacrifice. There is a difference and you would do well to remember it.