Stand up for religious freedom!

[Renew Deal]

I have struggled with my support for the "Mosque" in NYC. I live in NY and was working on a high floor of a building on 7th Ave. on 9/11. The disaster that is 9/11 is unforgettable. I don't think a single day has passed that I haven't remembered what happened. But at my core I also remember the First Amendment. I cannot "oppose" the building of this facility and live with myself. The news has framed the "mosque" as being built in the footprint of the towers, but it's not. It's not a "mosque." It's a community center in a large building that is open to all, and will have a mosque in it. And it's not at "ground zero." It's a couple blocks away in a nice business district in NYC. The opposition to the "mosque" is led by typical republican campaign themes. They are fear, racism, and division. They like to pit people against each other. The opponents of the mosque are fear driven opportunists. This is un-American and un-Christian.

I cannot believe that those that divide this country will someday get to God's doorstep and God will overlook their animosity and cruelty towards their fellow man. It's politically motivated horseshit and it's hurting people. Their promotion of fear and hatred is comfort for the naïve and catnip for the crazies.

The aftermath of 9/11 isn't always what it seems. Yes, we can see a fraudulent war in Iraq. And we're struggling with retribution in Afghanistan. That's obvious. But one of the most harmful side effects of 9/11 is religious intolerance. It used to be that almost any religious figure could walk freely without a second look in this country. 9/11 made muslims public enemy #1. It struck Americans at our core. Our values and principles of religious freedom and tolerance are under attack by the malicious and the easily fooled. We must stand up and defend this country and our constitution. If this "mosque" can be bullied out of NYC, then any church, any synagogue, any order of Odd Fellows can be forced out of any town in this country. That would be a disgrace of constitutional proportions.

Stand with those that have stood for religious freedom. Stand with those that put the constitution first. Remind people that opposition to this mosque makes us more like “them” and less like us.

[uppityperson]

1. k&r

[msongs]

2. stand up for freedom FROM religion first, then take it from there nt

[Renew Deal]

3. What's the difference?

[napoleon_in_rags]

4. The real question is who is the "them" that we become like?

Is a Muslim community center in NYC a product of "them"? Did "they" perpetrate 9/11? OR are the terrorists who did that distinct from the hundreds of millions of peaceful Muslims? Emotionally struggling over this is like struggling over a Mexican restaurant being built in your town, just because you were once mugged in Mexico...You wouldn't do that because you understand the people who serve you burritos are distinct from the people who mugged you. Why is that so much harder to do with Muslims?

[Renew Deal]

6. Framing has been part of the problem.

Like I said, when I first heard the story it was a "ground zero mosque." Obviously that's now what's happening.

[Jensen]

5. K&R... One of my favorite saying is "When the Jesus Bus drives to my corner....

I may not be welcomed in but some of my Bible thumping neighbors will be left behind also due to the hatred they spew out of fear and ignorance"!

[Renew Deal]

8. I don't think it's so easy to predict who will and will not be "let in"

I don't imagine God being as wrathful as some like to portray.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. I am with you

these fanatics are about to give OBL a victory nine years after the attack.