Thank you Lynn...

Now that I've crossed back over into the land of palm trees, chocolate and adult beverages, I'm trying to stay in my "happy place"...

Aimee, there is a lot to read out there, on both sides of the issue. Happy exploring.

 Quote: randy allen

And Barabra, our republic is secular. We the people do not give any religon more wieght then another. That means we the people do not sanction praying to any god in our name.
IF we the people HAD allowed an Islamic sect to pray on our capital steps while denying another religon, then you'd certainly have a bitch.
Spectulating on what would have/might have happened when it didn't serves no useful purpose in this case.

However, I will add, now that I am calmer...

The first Amendment to the Bill of Righs prohibits the making of any law "respecting an establishment of religion", impeding the free exercise of religion, infringing on the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.

What this means to me is the the Government can not / shall not establish any religion which we must all follow, nor shall it infringe on our right to to peacefully assemble to pray, etc...

The folks who elected to quietly pray on the steps of the Supreme Court OR the Capital (I apologize - I stated the location incorrectly earlier) were within the right to do do.

The issue is not whether or not it is legal for the mosque to be built at ground zero. The issue is whether or not it is appropriate, tolerant, of the families/city/country who lost 3000 of it's citizens on 9/11.

Legally, the mosque can be built. Legally, we can pray, (ANY faith) can pray on the steps of the Supreme Court. Legally, we can fly a flag on our vehicles. Why are the rights of Americans' being challenged on our own soil?

Thanks Lynne for the link. I see now in re-reading the post that location, etc. was discussed, but I didn't catch that until now. Again thanks, and will explore in more depth...

 Quote: Barbara Schuler

The issue is not whether or not it is legal for the mosque to be built at ground zero. The issue is whether or not it is appropriate, tolerant, of the families/city/country who lost 3000 of it's citizens on 9/11.

Legally, the mosque can be built. Legally, we can pray, (ANY faith) can pray on the steps of the Supreme Court. Legally, we can fly a flag on our vehicles. Why are the rights of Americans' being challenged on our own soil?

Well, I don't think that the rights of Americans are being challenged. The Imam and his wife who want to build this community center, better known as the Ground Zero Mosque, are both U.S. citizens. But that is not the point.

I'm going to attempt to tell you how I feel about this, since most of the passion here seems to come from a different perspective.

I'm sure you remember where you were when you first heard the news that a plane had flown into the world trade center. My reaction was utter disbelief. A freak accident. Must have been.

Then the second plane hit. We were under attack. I was in my car, glued to the radio. It was a surreal series of moments, at the very least. How could the United States of America be under attack?

But it was true, and we pulled together and united, as a country, to fight the radical Islamic element, Al Quaeda, who orchestrated this attack that resulted in the loss of over 3000 lives.

I think that there are two viewpoints about this community center/'Ground Zero' mosque. There are those who feel that it is an affront to the over 3000 lives that were lost on September 11th, and those who feel that this would be a positive step toward better relations with the Muslim community in the US.and abroad. By Muslim community I mean the vast majority of Muslims who abhor what happened on September 11th.

Perhaps they haven't been vocal enough about it...

At any rate, I respect the feelings and opinions of those who are opposed to this community center.

 Quote: Lynne Barrows

At any rate, I respect the feelings and opinions of those who are opposed to this community center.

And I do the same to you. I disagree with much of what you say (with the exception of agreeing that yes, there are certainly many moderate Muslims who abhor the actions on 9/11), but absolutely love the fact that it can be discussed calmly. (Okay, I know I get a bit passionate at times, but hopefully that never comes across hateful...)

 Quote:

those who feel that this would be a positive step toward better relations with the Muslim community in the US.and abroad

I have no interest in "better relations" with them, the onus is on them to build better relations with us

Did anyone else see 60 minutes tonight?

I did.

Me too.

"The People Behind the Mosque" is here:

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml

Scroll down a half-page or so.

 Quote:

By Muslim community I mean the vast majority of Muslims who abhor what happened on September 11th.

Hmm, I'd say the vast majority of Muslims here in the US abhor it, but overseas, I'm not so sure. I remember the parades and fireworks in the streets in a few Muslim countries celebrating it. Where were the abhorring Muslims in those countries?

 Quote:

Perhaps they haven't been vocal enough about it...

Yup. If Muslims want the world to see that they abhor it, they need to be out actively working/speaking out against it. And not just here in this country. Evil triumphs when good men do nothing.

I'm not at all against the rights of Muslims to have their own places of faith and worship. Freedom of religion is core belief of this country. But many, many people in the US have worked on proclaiming and believing that it is a peaceful religion - and fully support it. Now I want them to just as strongly and forcefully proclaim it and act upon it - here and abroad. Oh, and they can also allow the same freedoms to other religions in their countries as we offer in this one.