So maybe I completely misunderstand my American History? But er-uh, wasn't this country founded by some folks that fled their homeland, sandwiched themselves into a tiny ship for sixty-six days and endured all manner of hardship so they could have the freedom to pray to whatever flavor of God they desired? This is America, right?
This is the same country with the constitution that folks are so fond of bringing up. That very constitution with the First Amendment that specifically "prohibits the establishment of a national religion by the Congress or the preference of one religion over another, non-religion over religion, or religion over non-religion." For example, Christianity over all else. This is America, right?
So what in all that is holy (pun intended) is all the hullabaloo over 1) Obama's preferred religion and 2) the building of a mosque a few blocks away from Ground Zero in New York City?
1) I'm confused as to how the very same people who condemned Obama for his relationship with Reverend Wright (a Christian minister) are now so determined to call him a Muslim. How does that work? How is he a Christian zealot two years ago and now a practicing Muslim since birth? Even if he was a Muslim (which he has so clearly stated he is not), who gives a damn? One of the talking heads asked for proof that Obama was a Christian. You mean beyond attending a Christian church for all of his adult life and not sending men in black to eradicate your bloated shiggity-talking ass? I consider myself a Christian but er, um - I'm not far enough along in my aith walk not to wish that Beck, Limbaugh, Palin et al. would just mysteriously disappear one day. (never to be heard from again)
2) I'm confused as to how we are supposed to be all for religious freedom but not if it's in the wrong location? I mean, folks do get that not all of Islam is Taliban/Jihad/Extremist? The same way not all Tea Partiers are idiot racists... right? Opponents of the Islamic center project argue it's insensitive to the families and memories of Sept. 11 victims to build a mosque so close. Supporters cite freedom of religion. Newt Gingrich has suggested that building the mosque near ground zero is akin to putting a Nazi sign "next to the Holocaust Museum." Dramatic much? Some idiot at the grocery store asked me how I would feel living next to a plantation musuem. I shot him a look and said, "Most of Texas is a plantation musuem." GTFOH with that.
So who can explain these glaring contradictions to me? Are we only allowing civil liberties when they come wrapped in the right package, at the right place, at the right time? Thoughts, comments, insights?