So now the far, far right of the Republican party wants to ban the building of mosques. What then would be next: Synagogues?
Why is it that those who cry out for constitutional fundamentalism are the first to desecrate its principles?
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Bleacherman's Blog 
Nobody is trying to forbid them opening a mosque; people just don’t want it at Ground Zero, especially when it’s to be named in honor of the Muslim conquest, rape, and forced conversion of the people of Andalusia, even more especially when they plan to open it on 9/11.
I’m fairly sure you’d be dead-set against allowing the KKK to open offices near either end of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, name it the Rosewood Center, and open it 3/7. This is fundementally no diffrent.
Three points in rebuttal:
First, let me thank you for thank you for taking the time to read my blog and to respond to one of my postings.
Second, let me make a point of clarrification. There is a new group of right wing fundamentalists that now call for legislation banning the building of any new mosque in America. It is those idiots that I am directing my comment.
Thirdly, I fully and totally agree with you and your comments about the building of a mosque near ground zero. It is both insulting and insensitive. It is offending. But it is not illegal. We live in a land where freedom of religion is the cornerstone of our society and as in many freedoms, there are exceptions that test are tolerance.
Many years ago, in the early 1970’s, a group of American Nazis wanted to march down the center of Skokie, Illinois; which is a city just north of Chicago. Skokie had the largest concentration of Holocaust survivors second to Israel. I hated everything about their intentions. But I could not dispute their right to march. I was there yelling, screaming, throwing eggs, etc; but they did have their right to march.
Just as much as these Muslims have the right to build their mosque anywhere they want.
In the end, my friend, by protecting their right to build, I am protecting my right to build as well.
Such be the way of Freedom…
Then I am forced – somewhat against my will – to respect you, for you are right. There is no way that we can legally prevent them from building their Muslim center at Ground Zero, nor can we ALLOW there to be a legal prohibition.
Don’t expect me to complain about whatever “extra-legal” actions are taken by Americans against them though; that is beyond my capabilities.
I live in NYC today, used to live in that neighborhood, had friends dispossessed by the attack, and spent too many days cleaning up the Pentagon (had moved to MD) – every moment expecting to find the remains of two of my friends – to ever complain about such a reprisal.
You are so right. What they are doing is disgusting and pathetic but if we stop them, then one day someone is going to stop and try to take one of our liberties away. They have a right to build their mosque. You and I have a right to protest, complain and denounce their motives. We can do this today,tomorrow and until they no longer care to hear our anger and move away.
Mr. Bleacherman,
Just for a moment, imagine that your family member is on the wall at ground zero…and right next to his or her name is the name and picture of the man that flew the plane into the tower…
and everytime you walked near the place where this happened you were reminded that because of our freedom, they have the right to eat away at it with their temple of terror.
First, let me thank you for taking the time to read through my blog and to offer your insights and comments. They are much appreciated. Dialogue and debate are the cornerstones of our democracy.
Let me be clear: I believe that building the mosque so close to Ground Zero is just plain wrong, inappropriate and totally insensitive to the feelings of those who lost loved ones on that awful and dreadful day. But their right to do so must not be denied nor disputed.
I do, however, disagree with you when you refer to the mosque as a “temple of terror.” It is wrong to judge a whole religion because of the actions of a few. I venture to say that there is not a major religion that over the course of history has not seen its share of zealots and extremists who have conducted themselves violently and inappropriately.
I just do not buy into the fear mongering that has spread across this country like a virus. I do not fear, distrust nor automatically dislike people based upon their religious affiliation. I judge the individual for who and what they are; as individuals. I do not believe that all Muslims are bad, that they are out to destroy our country and therefore, for our own self defense, we must fear, hate and isolate them into small corners and distance ourselves from them. I leave such idiotic thinking to Glen Beck.
You see, I am a member of a minority religion and what I fear is that in the name of some incident, mishap or tragedy promoted by a few extremists of my religion, my own personal religious rights may one day be compromised and challenged. When will you march down the street denying me the right to build my synagogue or when will you start burning my Torah?
We’ve seen that before. It was called Nazi Germany.
Remember? Please, please; do not forget.