the mosque

Polls say that as many as 70% of Americans oppose the Manhattan mosque. To hell with the polls.

The Constitution of the United States of America is clear on the subject. The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment states:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Critics' arguments against the mosque range from almost-reasonable questions regarding the propriety of locating the facility within some arbitrary radius of the World Trade Center property to anti-Islamic zealots who find fault in the construction of any mosque located anywhere within the United States of America.

Murfreesboro, Tennessee: Republican candidates speak out against building a large proposed Muslim center.

Temecula, California: Tea Party activists with dogs and signs picketed in front of a mosque during prayers; they are opposed to the building of a new worship center on a vacant lot.

Sheboygan, Wisconsin: "a few Christian ministers" fought against a Muslim group that wants to open a mosque on private property owned by a Muslim doctor.

All of this opposition boils down to intolerance fed by fear. Fear of a religion that people think they understand but clearly do not. The 9/11 attacks were carried out by criminals in the name of Islam, not by the worldwide Muslim community nor by the government of any Islamic theocratic nation.

Bear in mind, people, that terrorist attacks have been carried out here at home by Christians; for example, the repeated killings of obstetricians.

Was there any opposition to building Christian churches following such horrific acts? Hmm?

The Constitution was written to protect the people from overreaching government, to be sure, but also to protect the people's rights from infringement by others.