Should we be like Saudis re Religious Freedom?

[ugabuga]

Palin, Gingrich, Boehner & other prominent Republicans are fond of telling us how much they love the Constitution & how judges should be strict constructionists.

But...in the case of the proposed mosque near Ground Zero, they say the 1st Amendment guarantee of freedom of religion doesn't apply, because the 9/11 hijackers were Muslim & it would be outrageous to let members of that religion have a place of worship near where some Muslims did a terrible thing.

I guess Palin/Gingrich/Boehner et. al. love the Constitution & want it strictly enforced--unless they disagree with it.

 

[ugabuga]

IF committing acts of violence by adherents of a particular religion resulted in barring that religion from building places of worship in the area, Christians would be barred from building churches in many parts of the world. (Remember the Crusades?) (Remember the Inquisition?)

 

[Lake View Too]

Palin, Gingrich, Boehner & other prominent Republicans are fond of telling us how much they love the Constitution & how judges should be strict constructionists.

But...in the case of the proposed mosque near Ground Zero, they say the 1st Amendment guarantee of freedom of religion doesn't apply, because the 9/11 hijackers were Muslim & it would be outrageous to let members of that religion have a place of worship near where some Muslims did a terrible thing.

I guess Palin/Gingrich/Boehner et. al. love the Constitution & want it strictly enforced--unless they disagree with it.

I'm not sure which is worse: That people like P, G, & B (from above) really harbor a bigotry against Muslims (and perhaps any religions and races they don't agree with) or that they will, without concience, use this issue, and incite this bigotry, just to further their political agenda. These guys, and Limbaugh and Beck, have no qualms about using fear and bigotry to make sure that the rich get richer.

 

[Selkie]

These guys, and Limbaugh and Beck, have no qualms about using fear and bigotry to make sure that the rich get richer.

News networks need to make money. Sad to see, that today, fear is what sells the soap.

We see it so much we get numb and even more xenophobic.


You think its bad here? Imagine what they see in places with less political and financial freedom than we do. Some of the questions I have been asked, while overseas, by Muslims, about 'us' boggled my mind. Many were very nice and polite, they honestly just wanted to know. Their media rides the fear wagon just as much as ours does.

 

[LuciferSam]

This video is very funny and makes some great points. "Why not the upper west side in Woody Allen's building?" :funn:

Municipal Land-Use Hearing Update - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - 08/10/2010 - Video Clip | Comedy Central

 

[Andy A]

I see you're keeping your tin foil hat well polished.

And I see, as usual, your keeping your head buried in the white sand.

 

[ugabuga]

GOP Senator Suggests Mosque Will Be Election Issue

GOP Senator Suggests Mosque Will Be Election Issue

There's plenty of opportunity for demagoguery on this issue:

Our natural human instincts of fear of "the other" & desire for revenge will be pitted against ecumenism, & the 1st Amendment's guarantee of freedom of religion.

The smart money's on natural human instincts.


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/08/15/us/politics/AP-US-Ground-Zero-Mosque-Obama.html?hp

 

[LuciferSam]

Poppy, you confuse freedom of religion with an agenda against victims and a country. Explain to me, if you can, why the building immediately next to the one to be torn down and basically exactly the same, has been declared a "historical building" by the zoning board and the one necessary to be demolished for the mosque has not? Though I can't prove it, my thought is that there is a whole bunch of money involved somewhere. There is no change to the Constitution in mind nor any denial of one's freedom of religion.

How about we declare that building to be historical, and then demolish it. Wouldn't that make everyone happy? It's the Burlington coat factory I believe. Maybe they can preserve the bargain basement.

 

[poppy]

And I see, as usual, your keeping your head buried in the white sand.

Since you constantly need fear in your life and religion seems your latest focus don't forget the one based on human sacrifice, blood drinking and flesh eating.

 

[Andy A]

Since you constantly need fear in your life and religion seems your latest focus don't forget the one based on human sacrifice, blood drinking and flesh eating.

I'll consider the source of this spurious utterance and let it go at that.