What, me bigot!? Part two

Apparently, being opposed to the construction of one building in a certain place makes me entirely hateful to and intolerant of a world religion comprised of over a billion people. This doesn't make very much sense, to me at least. I publicly ask any that would accuse me one thing. Does the imam that you stand with unconditionally believe in gay rights? In women's rights? In the right of everyone to choose their own religion and way of life? Because if those like me, like most Americans, most human beings, are shut down by the moniker of bigotry, silenced by the accusation of Islamophobia, and any opposition to anything less than religious extremism vanishes, how do you expect these beloved allies of yours to treat gays? Women? Atheists? Are they the tolerant ones and us the ones unable to accept others' differing opinions? Ask yourself how a caliphate would treat freedom of lifestyles. Do this first, and then accuse ME of being intolerant. Is Iran such a liberal paradise? Palestine under Hamas? You tell me.

What, me bigot!? Part one

Being opposed to the construction of the Ground Zero Mosque, I have been following the activities of various protestors on both sides. One thing strikes me as a bit silly. It seems "Islamophobia" is the most popular current accusation tossed at the side against the building of said mosque. Constantly. This has set me wondering.... I'm conservative, yes, in my own way finding that the most appropriate tag for my views. I happen to differ decidedly on many things from most conservatives, but I'm not one to tow a party line anyhow. What I do believe in, though, are inalienable rights for all human beings. I support the right of gays to marry and live how they choose. I support the rights of women to be treated with equality in every respect, regardless. I believe in the freedoms of choice, speech, religion, expression, and the right to live and treat onesself however one chooses that harms no other. I'd go to my grave for these things. But apparently, because I take a stand contrary to some people, I am a bigot.

Furthur

You are all too right, Mr. Wheems. Freedom of religion exists to that one can practice, by onesself or in a group, the faith they see fit, and as far as it doesn't hurt anyone else, be completely unimpeded in such worship. It was NOT written so that some evil bastard could FUCKING BEHEAD HIS WIFE OR MURDER HIS DAUGHTERS FOR HAVING BOYFRIENDS!!! Harming others via religious practice has been punished, even over-zealously in some cases, since the inception of the constitution. Never before has murder and abuse been defended and promoted as freedom. Only those who live their entire lives to make sure others live up to their standards of "tolerance" could possibly be too worried about not being P.C. to allow an American woman to be raped, beaten and killed. And for defending these women, we are of course ignorant, backwoods bigots! No other explanation. Our freedom to live in America as we see fit, without belonging to ones spouse as if property, is directly imperiled by such crimes. That we CAN'T "tolerate"!

Thank you for commenting, good Sir, its great to see on here. Cuts down on the echo. France has banned the burkha. A brave and necessary move. Woman in most versions of Islam will still have to submit to their backwards neurotic husbands, I suppose, but at least now they aren't wrapped up like something shameful. If the majority of Muslims treated their women as equals and the woman decided, it would be wrong to dictate fashion. But when someone moves to a free country and expects still to practice their mistreatment of women, they have another thing coming. De Gaulle would be proud. As would the million lost in the Great War. Applause to France!

Regarding the New York City mosque controversy part three

While any mechanic or worker in an electronics store warehouse. (Yes, like me) seems to accept the possibility that reasonable people may disagree, being painted as Klanists for our opposition to pretty much anything does not make folks any more willing to try to have reasonable discussions. Many muslims too see this. I just truly hope our fellow Americans who happen to observe Ramadan do not let this rabid left speak for them or represent them. Middle America is fed up with being smeared as racists for any point of view they bring up, and are in need of themselves being tolerated. If another group is represented by those rich whites who claim to see racism is everything, no good will come of this group. Let us discuss this, reach an agreement, and not be influenced by extremists domestic or foreign. As Americans, its damn well known that we can. And let us no longer be called bigots for disagreeing with the left. Another needed and open discussion can only be wrecked by such vitriol. I pray it isnt.

Regarding the New York City mosque controversy part two

The inability to negotiate and discuss is, apart from medevial thinking and gender apartheid, the biggest problem in our inability to work with these extremists. American muslims have been speaking from many sides on the issues, and have acted as Americans ought to. We need not fear them themselves. The intelligentsia, however, sees any unwillingness to let this be built as evil intolerance, and feel no need to see the other side or discuss it. Very similar to other extremists, except for the fact al-qaeda doesnt teach our children or make up the majority of our media. I truly believe American muslims do nothing but hinder terrorist efforts in their willingness for dialogue and compromise, but I do worry about the absolute intolerance of the tolerance crowd. If al-qaeda is making inroads in this country, it is through them. Dogmatism loves dogmatism, and they have a mutual hatred of the west (the very west whose economic foundations provide for their soy burgers and college educations, but thats well known)

Regarding the New York City mosque controversy part one

Much has been said, of course, and I doubt I can say very much more. But of course I will. Taking in everything I see and read, there is a trend I am starting to notice. From being anti to indifferent to pro mosque, I have seen many muslims addressing the issue from all sides and points of view. This is quite as it should be, Americans debating. The side that disturbs me is not these people (apart from some of the foreign ties of the imams) but the young white middle class protesters who proclaim any opposition to it to be a matter of hate. Once again, middle America is portrayed as evil and racist, and nothing further needs be said. If our educated youth cannot see diverging view points and paint everything other than they and their professors views as ignorance and bigotry. This to me seems a dangerous thing. The very mortal problem of fundamentalism and their willingness to kill us indiscriminately is that to them there can be no other viewpoint. Right or wrong, black and white. And from this, holy war.

A Return To Normalcy

Been awhile since I last posted. Was on vacation, believe it or not. Wanted to post my impressions of Gettysburg but was hard to immediatly after. On that field, those green patches of corn, the destiny of the entire country was decided, and over fifty thousand casualties killed or maimed. To be on such ground is something else, and I feel so very lucky to be able to live as I do thanks to the monumental sacrifices of young men of one nation in two factions. Think people forget how much suffering our ancestors endured for an ideal of freedom and equality, to end enslavement of human beings but also to fight for the rights of their beloved states, towns, counties. The cold comfort is that not a Billy or Johnny out of 550,000 died in vain. Makes me appreciate being a citizen that much more. Still hard to imagine the weight of the outcome, the results of that battle, and on (now) peaceful Pennsylvania fields. Also wonderful to see so many people there knowing the debt we owe to that blood soaked sacred ground.