That's Just Plain Wrong

I've posted before about the abominable plan to build a mosque at Ground Zero. Nothing's happened since to change my mind. Yes, the property owners have a right to do pretty much whatever they want, as long as it conforms with all the building codes and other rules and regulations. But just because something is legal doesn't mean it's right. A little sensitivity and understanding would go a long way to improve the Muslim world's image in this country. Doesn't look like that's going to happen, however, especially with osama-oops-I-mean-obama now supporting construction of the mosque.

Obama makes clear support for ground zero mosque

After skirting the controversy for weeks, President Barack Obama is weighing in forcefully on the mosque near ground zero, saying a nation built on religious freedom must allow it.

"As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country," Obama told an intently listening crowd gathered at the White House Friday evening to observe the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

"That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances," he said. "This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable."

Much as it pains me, I have to agree in principle with osama-oops-I-mean-obama up to this point. But again, it's a matter of what is the right thing to do, not what is legal.

"Barack Obama has abandoned America at the place where America's heart was broken nine years ago, and where her true values were on display for all to see," said Debra Burlingame, a spokeswoman for some Sept. 11 victims' families and the sister of one of the pilots killed in the attacks.

Building the mosque at ground zero, she said, "is a deliberately provocative act that will precipitate more bloodshed in the name of Allah."

Sally Regenhard, whose firefighter son was killed at the World Trade Center, said the president had failed to understand the issue. "As an Obama supporter, I really feel that he's lost sight of the germane issue, which is not about freedom of religion," she said. "It's about a gross lack of sensitivity to the 9/11 families and to the people who were lost."

Added Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y.: "President Obama is wrong. It is insensitive and uncaring for the Muslim community to build a mosque in the shadow of ground zero."

Add osama-oops-I-mean-obama's support for the mosque to his hosting of a Ramadan dinner last night, and it becomes very, very clear that he cares more about reaching out to the Muslim community than he does about the feelings of Americans.

Obama to host Ramadan meal Friday

President Barack Obama will Friday join an evening meal to break the daily fast observed by Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan, the White House said.

Obama participated in a traditional Ramadan meal in September 2009, where he praised Islam as an integral part of the United States.

Integral: essential to completeness (from Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary).

I guess I missed that day in History class (or was it Social Studies) where it was explained exactly how Islam was "essential to the completeness" of the United States. I think we'd do quite well without a religion that treats women as second class citizens, that revels in cowardly sneak attacks and bombings that kill and maim innocent men, women, and children, that promotes barbaric acts like stonings and beheadings, that makes absolutely no allowance for any religion other than itself, and that has become synonymous for violence, oppression and intolerance.  

Earlier this week the president offered his best wishes to Muslims in the United States and around the world as they welcomed the holy month, saying: "All of us must remember that the world we want to build -- and the changes that we want to make -- must begin in our own hearts, and our own communities.

The world that Muslims want to build is a Christian, Jew, Hindu, and Buddhist-free zone where women are clothed from head to toe and walk three paces behind their man, unless they're in a minefield. Then the woman goes first, followed by the children and livestock, and then the man.

Obama said the rituals of Ramadan "remind us of the principles that we hold in common, and Islam's role in advancing justice, progress, tolerance, and the dignity of all human beings."

Again, when I think of Islam, I don't think of "justice, progress, tolerance." Instead, I think of honor killings, beheadings, stoning, and terrorism. I think of Islam's approach to 'infidels' (so-called non-believers); convert them, enslave them, or kill them. Call me old school, but if someone has publicly stated that their goal is to harm me or mine, I'm damn sure not going to reach out to them. Instead, I'm going to do my damnedest to take them out first.

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe Muslims aren't anything like I described above. One way to prove it would be by not building that damn mosque. So here's my challenge to all my many Muslim readers [end sarcasm].

Prove me wrong by your actions, not your words...


For the interested reader, here's some links on this topic that do a far better job of discussing it than do I.

Charles Krauthammer column (written before osama-oops-I-mean-obama's statement of support for the abominable mosque).

Hope n' Change 1

Hope n' Change 2 

One final comment: it's okay to build a mosque on Ground Zero, but it's not okay to pray in school, or include "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance? What's wrong with this picture?