Memorial Day
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“Happy Memorial Day “ seems to be all you hear in the week prior to
Memorial Day. When the very definition of memorial is to remember, it seems
odd to say ...
9 years ago
- L S. "Spencer" Olsen
- I don't really care if you agree or not. Just saying what I think.
Monday, August 23, 2010
- It's not a Mosque. - True. Not technically a Mosque, but it is a "cultural" center. Yes I am aware that cultural diversity and Islam go together like peanut butter and ladies, but let's call it what it is. It would be like the difference between an LDS Temple and a Visitor's Center. Sure, there's a place to pray... But it's not a Mosque in the true sense.
- Republicans are trying to stop it. - False. The GOP has no plans to actively stop the installation of the "Cultural" Center. Conservatives recognize the Muslim's right to freedom of religion and expression, however they are quick to point out that the placement and timing is in pretty poor taste and it should be reconsidered by those who are installing it. It has been interesting to see articles from the press presenting this idea that the GOP is using as its campaign platform this notion that Muslims shouldn't be allowed to build a Mosque. The articles I have read usually cite lots of Democrats, liberal professors and the like, but fail to actually prove this assertion as fact. Most of the Conservative saber-rattling is coming from people like John Cornyn who have express disgust for Obama's "For 'em/Against 'em" statements and not taking a hard line stance on the distastefulness of building an Islamic Center at or Near Ground Zero.
- Well, There's a Christian Church close to the OKC Bombing site. So What? I have heard this argument for the last couple of weeks and I have a few problems with it. First of all, Timothy McVeigh was born into a Roman Catholic family but there is no real, hard evidence that he was a practicing Christian. Some documentation exists that shows he may have tried to gather support for his bombing from some Radical Christian Fundamentalists, but in the end, he ended up going through with it alone. Some other points of note: One - Timothy McVeigh's pastor (if he indeed had one) didn't tell him to blow up the Murrah building in the name of God to punish the non-believers. Timothy McVeigh did not receive any direct funding from any Christian organization. Timothy McVeigh was very clear on his reasons for doing what he did. They did not include religion. This argument is a dishonest tactic used by those who cannot argue the facts and must turn to personal attacks in order to try and come out on top of the argument.
- It's not Ground Zero, It two whole blocks away. Wow, 1000 ft. - It's not a fifth of a mile. Besides, part of one of the planes went through said building as well as parts of the trade center.
- Who are you to say where Ground Zero is? Who are you to say where it isn't? A strong majority of Manhattan dwellers and firefighters/police would disagree with you on where you think it is not. This isn't about geography, it's about tact. Kind of like, not wearing your "Daisy Dukes" on casual Friday - you've just got to think it through.
- Building the Mosque is a Constitutional Right. False. The Constitution states that "CONGRESS shall make no law..." Clearly congress has made no law in this case, nor is the US Congress attempting to directly stop the installation of this "Cultural" center through legal means.
But it doesn't quite end there. Many states, after the ratification of the Constitution continued their traditions of state sponsored religion. Massachusetts, for example, retained its religion laws (including that every citizen of the state had to belong to a religion) until 1833. Connecticut held a state religion until 1818, and several states (including Tennessee) still have laws on the books forbidding atheists from holding public office (though these laws have been held unenforceable by the Supreme Court, see Torcaso v. Watkins). The point here is that building a place a worship is not a constitution matter - it's a local matter. A good example was the building of the Nashville LDS Temple. When it was originally announced in 1994, it was announced as a full sized temple. However 6 years of political struggle later it became a mini temple in Franklin, TN on the Stake Center grounds. The LDS church was NOT ALLOWED to build it's temple in Nashville, TN where it wanted. Despite the first amendment, you are not allowed to just build your place of worship anywhere you darn well please. You still have to go through zoning, city councils, etc.
Leave Muslims Alone!!!
They are just trying to worship how they please!!! Sure they are. But honestly? A "Mosque" or "Islamic Cultural Center" at the sight of one of the worst tragedies in American History that was perpetrated by radical Islam? If you fail to recognize that the placement and timing of this center is not in some way calculated to cause controversy or is in extremely poor taste then you are either stupid, or you just want so bad to be on one side of the argument, you are willing to ignore certain facts. Let's not pretend that this opposition was not expected. You all knew full well going in to it that this would stir it up. So sit down, shut up, and enjoy the protesting.
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