The United States Constitution established freedom of religion in America in 1791. The right is guaranteed in the First Amendment, along with freedom of the press and freedom of expression. Specifically, it says “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Even though 60% of Americans currently oppose an Islamic Cultural Center near the World Trade Center site, freedom of religion is what makes America different from many other countries. If we deny some people the right to worship the way they please, then the nature of our society will change and none of us will truly be free again.
But let me be clear. As a citizen, and as President, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country. And 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. This is America. And our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakeable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country and that they will not be treated differently by their government is essential to who we are.
Quotation from President Barack Obama
it’s not us that take away muslim’s freedoms, the muslims come in and take away OUR freedoms, because if we have a CHRISTmas concert then we are discriminating against them… Christmas is a fiasco in grade schools now
i live in an area of town with TONS of east indians, and since i’m a Christian, i’m not going to say ‘happy holidays’ so i say Merry Christmas to check out girls and such and IF LOOKS COULD KILL, i’m serious, i would be sooo dead… quite sickening really
Go Obama!
“There are many Christians and their churches throughout the Muslim world. In order to refute the lie that there are no churches in the Muslim world I present the following images from the Muslim world:” -> Christian Churches in Muslim Countries, scroll down to the images.
The US can decide whether it wants to align its policies with a church-run muslim state (want to become a religious-right-run state?), or whether it would rather take one of the more tolerant predominantly muslim states as role model. And the choice is setting an example for others.
Extra credit question: Which type of politicians is working hard to be divisive at any cost, both in domestic and overseas politics, and which are trying to integrate everybody?
In 2010, to be still that stupid mixing terrorists & people whose faith is Islam makes me deeply sad/mad… Hate is the greatest enemy. The same if i hate my enemy. But well…, we’re in 2010 and we are still very very weak brains. Sometimes, i envy ants. They seem so much more clever. And yet, let’s Hope we’ll grown-up. Kiss kiss & Peace*
Such a touchy subject. Living in New York, I can hear the different explanations from both sides of the coin. There are other places in New York City where a mosque can be built. Does it really have to be so close to Ground Zero?
I was about to say exactly the same as Nova, surely it is not the objection of the muslims practicing their religion but where they want to build a mosque,can’t it be built else where? Why try to do this, surely the said Muslim community would have known this would cause controversy.
only one rule applies to everything Don’t Judge
“There are many Christians and their churches throughout the Muslim world. In order to refute the lie that there are no churches in the Muslim world I present the following images from the Muslim world:” Christian Churches in Muslim Countries, scroll down to the images.
The US can decide whether it wants to align its policies with a church-run muslim state (want to become a religious-right-run state?), or whether it would rather take one of the more tolerant predominantly muslim states as role model. And the choice is setting an example for others.
Extra credit question: Which type of politicians is working hard to be divisive at any cost, both in domestic and overseas politics, and which are trying to integrate everybody?
“Like other tyrannies, the tyranny of the majority was at first, and is still vulgarly, held in dread, chiefly as operating through the acts of the public authorities. But reflecting persons perceived that when society is itself the tyrant — society collectively over the separate individuals who compose it — its means of tyrannizing are not restricted to the acts which it may do by the hands of its political functionaries. Society can and does execute its own mandates; and if it issues wrong mandates instead of right, or any mandates at all in things with which it ought not to meddle, it practices a social tyranny more formidable than many kinds of political oppression, since, though not usually upheld by such extreme penalties, it leaves fewer means of escape, penetrating much more deeply into the details of life, and enslaving the soul itself.” ~John Stuart Mill
The signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and the passing of Brown v. Board of Education are examples of times that majority will was set aside for the long-term benefit of the nation and its people. In each case, the civil rights of a minority were upheld in the face of an oppressive majority.
We long ago decided that when we wanted freedom of religion for everyone, that did not mean the majority of people would decide which religion that would be. Enforcing individual rights does not undermined our system of governance, it is a reflection of how the American government is intended to run. The Constitution was established specifically to protect against the tyranny of the majority.
If one of us is denied our civil rights, none of us have them.
Oh, look, I wrote a little essay. Sorry I took up so much space. D’oh! At least most of it was John Stuart Mill. This topic and Prop 8/same-gender marriage are just two modern examples of how the Constitution and individual rights are being tested by the majority (and/or well-funded) will, and like with slavery and segregation, after a long and divisive battle between interests, individual rights will be protected, as they should be. And whatever may be your or my individual beliefs about religion (or whether we have none at all) and same-gender marriage, if we don’t protect each others’ individual rights, then we don’t have them either and so we better be prepared then to go along with what the group with the most access to money and power wants for us.
Heh. There I go again.
Last comment. Heh. Good for you for using your amazing talent to shed light on this topic. Isn’t it wonderful that we live in a place where you are free to express your views, whatever they may be? Thank you Constitution that protects individual liberties,
The public’s oppugnancy to a mosque near ground zero although understandable sadly symbolizes the mosque with what tragically occurred. Muslims, like Christians follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness. The majority having nothing to do with the violence and extremism associated with that tiny slither that miuses their religion as a lever for fanaticism and acts of terror.
However I also think it would be a good idea within the large centre envisaged for the bulding owners to make provision for a synagogue, Christian worship and or other interfaith denominations to symbolize peaceful co- existence and help remove any lngering vestiges for ill founded divisiveness.
Best wishes
Oh Lindsay, sometimes you can be so un-speck-able idealistic. Co-sharing and co-existence in organized religion does not exist, never did, never will.
Rudolf Steiner said it in one of his more involved lectures, thereafter Ghandi said the same thing: In the future there will be as many religions as there are people on this earth. Well, I kind of like that vision…
That said, I was pondering about this whole “islamic meeting place” planed to be build in NYC close to ground zero. I am not sure what to think of it. The matter of Islam, as some of you know, was for a long time an “issue” to me (to say it mildly). There is something in the Koran, in particular in the second half, that doesn’t gel with me. Basically it does NOT teach mercy, peace and forgiveness, something Lindsay attributed to ALL religions, and this has evoked throughout time (Islam) a major discrimination, mishandling and mutilation of mostly woman but also men.
As for the meeting place in downtown Manhattan, I just think it is a stupid idea. Maybe there are constitutional liberties and freedoms granted in our constitution for all people to exercise. Yes, I think these are admirable achievements. But there is also something else that has nothing to do with constitutions or rights, it is called human common sense and respect. And when in doubt, those qualities should reign over the law of the land.
My point is, the organizers and builders in lower Manhattan for this meeting-place should take the latter into consideration.
“Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one’s own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.” JFK
“Love your neighbors as yourself.” Jesus
I think I’ll just quote my son on this one:
Making the mosque of it
To reiterate, what can be gleaned from the Park51/Cordoba House “Ground Zero” “mosque” kerfuffle?
1.Outside of xenophobia there is no case against the project.
2. President Obama is right to support their rights on this and remind people of what country this is supposed to be.
3. Most of the country is wrong on this one. Hey, happens to the best of us.
4. Harry Reid has no balls.
Pop quizzes an exams will be held every day from now until eternity.
Working in NYC at the moment I see the heated opinions and conversations over this subject with viewpoints from every end of the spectrum and often with little knowledge of the real details of the facts
I think on both sides there is a lack of tolerance at the extremes and this is something that needs to be cleared if we ever want peace in the world
Unfortunately so many see the words Muslim and Terrorist and being the same which is of course not true
Such a hot topic..and touchy subject. Hard to find the middle ground..the place that works for everyone. Wonderful..thoughtful post!
I think it would be wonderful to have a mosque so close to ground zero, and am disgusted by those who oppose it. Fighting the building of a mosque is exactly the type of thing the extremists feed upon; you can bet video of those opposing the mosque is required viewing now in terrorism 101.
I’m not muslim or christian or of any other religion, but do believe persecuting others for their beliefs is the basis of much that is wrong in the world and has been for centuries (at least). But then again I have been told many times that I am going to hell because I am not christian, so what do I know. I guess it’s not how you live your life but instead your choice of religious cliques that is important.
hothothothothothothot!!
very touchy subject, but you do say that your the land of the free.
We should all just respect one another.
I can see why it’s a touchy subjects for New Yorkers, even those who perfectly understand that there is a gap between believers and followers of Islam and terrorists. How about building different places of worship?
After having fought militant islam up close and personal I can tell you for a fact that there is no such thing as a moderate muslim. If you read the Qur’an, there is no room for non-muslims; there is no tolerance of other religions. As Zing says above “we SHOULD all just respect one another” but the reality is there are people out there that do not respect us. In fact, they want to kill us.
When I see the majority of Imams preaching tolerance rather than violence then I will back the building of that mosque.
Freedom must NOT be abused!!!!!!!!!!
Great post Sera…wish you a great day:)
That’s quite deep thought…
Ok, first off the Muslim religion is not ONLY about peace. There are plenty of references about striking down the unbeliever. Just read the damn thing before making stupid comments on it. Secondly while i heartily agree they should have the right to build a mosque in this country i think its in poor taste to build it so close to the site. That being said i think they DO have the right to do so. I just don’t want to hear about it when they are attacked in the news and maybe physically when they do build it. They should of damn well known what they were getting into.
hopefully rustis remains at Ground Zero
Why they are waiting so long for really finishes ground zero…I was there last year…I can’t wait to see all done…
I’m sorry. Building the mosque where they want to build it is a big middle finger to Ground Zero. Should they be able to? Absolutely. Will it piss people off? Absolutely. No one can deny the fact that Muslim fanaticism is what caused those assholes to fly the planes into the towers.
I’m sorry, Sera but in memory of Darren Bohan who died in the Twin Tower attack, I oppose this idea, to build the mosque near the Twin Towers site. It is in extremely poor taste. I wish those of the Muslim faith would come out and boldly address those extremists and excommunicate them from identification with what is said to be a peaceful religion. I would welcome that dialogue. I have yet to see it.
You got some votes on this one! I’m with Cheri above (hi Cheri) – rights are rights are rights…that’s what makes places like America different, although not unique at all (see Canada, Europe, Australia, etc).
My view on the religious aspect? Pretty much all religion is based on superstition and imaginary friends and tends to divide people and cause trouble wherever it spreads.