Big ups to President Obama on his remarks yesterday about the building of the Islamic community center in New York City. He knew there was nothing to gain politically by speaking out, that polls show almost 70% of the public in opposition, and that he would be blasted by the right-wing fearmongers--which is happening over and over and over and over and over--but he stood up for what's right. And the last time I looked we don't take a poll on constitutional issues.
Glenn Greenwald at Salon:
"I understand the emotions that this issue engenders. Ground zero is, indeed, hallowed ground," the president said in remarks prepared for the annual White House iftar, the sunset meal breaking the day's fast.
But, he continued: "This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country, and will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are."
Glenn Greenwald at Salon:
"The campaign against this mosque is one of the ugliest and most odious controversies in some time. It's based purely on appeals to base fear and bigotry. There are no reasonable arguments against it, and the precedent that would be set if its construction were prevented -- equating Islam with Terrorism, implying 9/11 guilt for Muslims generally, imposing serious restrictions on core religious liberty -- are quite serious.
It was Michael Bloomberg who first stood up and eloquently condemned this anti-mosque campaign for what it is, but Obama's choice to lend his voice to a vital and noble cause is a rare demonstration of principled, politically risky leadership. It's not merely a symbolic gesture, but also an important substantive stand against something quite ugly and wrong. This is an act that deserves pure praise."
I though it was just a "community center". Sure doesn't look like a Mosque from the street.
I though it was just a "community center". Sure doesn't look like a Mosque from the street.
Hey Scott,
my crystal ball says: The American Islamics behind this are going to turn the opposition's argument on its head...they will go far out of their way to honor the victims of the attack with a highly American and patriotic memorial. By necessity Islam will be a focus but I think they will put forth an olive branch to the American people. And, of course, it will fall on a closed Republican fist.
I am beginning to think that the whacktards need to change the words to their own version of the national anthem. The words that say, "Land of the Free and home of the Brave."
Obviously they are singing these words with their fingers crossed behind their backs. Or they have * next to this section, because it is so damned obvious that they don't *really* believe this.
They must be singing "land of the free - as long as you are white, Republican and Christian - and home of the scaredy-cat, yellow-bellied, afraid of the big bad wolf (the Muslim wolf), whiny whiny whiny boo hoo hoos".
Hello, GOP - and Sarah the Stupid. FREEDOM OF RELIGION means just that. And property owners have the right to build what they want on their property as long as it conforms to local zoning laws.
Capiche?
Bout time Mr. Obama spoke out. But keep this in mind - speaking out won't change the minds of those who despise him, will increase support among wavering progressives, and has no effect on his bowing to corporate interests.
Easy. Symbolic, but little more.
I'm surprised no one has come here in disagreement. It's an unpopular opinion but I'm not a huge fan of this. I agree with what Obama said but I wish the Islamic community thought this through. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. Of course I could be wrong but I know a lot of reasonable people that agree.
LOL...do any of them complain about the bells of, say, Catholic churches in the country? Or any other church that has bells that ring?
The whacktards keep tripping over the Constitution every time they turn around. You think they'd learn.........
And how do we know they are whacktards (thanks Shortstuff!)?
There are ALREADY 2 separate "mosques" near Ground Zero 4 and 12 blocks away for 40 and 25 years respectively! Without an issue or awareness (not that THAT would be too difficult) by the whacktards.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/14/nyregion/14mosque.html?_r=1&hpw
So answer me this wingnuts, where between two and four blocks is the demarcation line for irrational and hateful hysterics?
And speaking of chrontards (thanks Bill W.) they are complaining about the call to prayer over a speaker 8 times a day (even though they don't live in NYC) totally clueless about there being um, just a little bit of difference between American and say, Saudi Arabian Muslim practices. Not to mention the noise ordinances in Manhattan prohibiting that doofuses.
President Obama's speech Friday reminded me why I voted for him in the first place. I don't expect him to be perfect, but I do expect him to place principle (not to mention the Constitution) above what's expedient, or convenient, or popular. There was a time when I thought The Grumpy Old Troll (McCain) would have taken a similar stand, but that notion went away a long, long time ago.
Besides, it should occur to the President at long last that the wingnuts and Teabagistanis' opinion of him will never change...heck, his wife and kids can't even take a freakin' vacation without being second-guessed!
that's what I'm thinking... :O)
They don't call you alienHunter for nothing! You found one, alright!!!
I got into a discussion with a 'teacher' once concerning WWII and the Pearl Harbor memorial. He was of the mind that Japanese should not be allowed to visit the memorial because, well, just because. I reminded him that many Japanese felt that way about Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Our relationship shall we say degenerated from that point. He eventually lost it in another discussion with me, threw a marker across the room, it broke and splattered another student. He got fired and I felt crazier than the Rawhide Kid's pet march hare.
I saw an article about his endorsement at Chron.com and logged on just to read the comments. I wasn't surprised to find that 90% of the posters were literally foaming at the mouth about Islam, the Islamic center, and President Obama. Most of the "facts" they were quoting (81% of people are against it & Obama cancelled the National Day of Prayer) are pure fabrications. But to this group that doesn't matter.
We've got some really sick and twisted people in our society and this issue seems to have galvanized them. That's all the more reason for us to get behind this center and see it through to the end.
It's a good thing.
"Principled" doesn't resonate with a lot of people, so expect the crap-lash to go on for a while.
Why does the voice of Rodney King resonate through my head right now? "Can't we all just get along?"
Good for him.
And of course the GOP whacktards are already criticizing him.
That whole "freedom of religion" thing and that "Constitutional law" thing just seems to totally escape the brain dead morons.
Good for him.
It'd be nice if he took that kind of public stand about DADT or gay marriage...