A CNN anchor expresses the crux of “mosque” opposition
vruz:
—via unburyingthelead:
Lemon: Don’t you think it’s a bit different considering what happened on 9/11? And the people have said there’s a need for it in Lower Manhattan, so that’s why it’s being built there. What about 10, 20 blocks … Midtown Manhattan, considering the circumstances behind this? That’s not understandable?
Patel: In America, we don’t tell people based on their race or religion or ethnicity that they are free in this place, but not in that place —
Lemon: [interrupting] I understand that, but there’s always context, Mr. Patel … this is an extraordinary circumstance. You understand that this is very heated. Many people lost their loved ones on 9/11 —
Patel: Including Muslim Americans who lost their loved ones… .
Lemon: Consider the context here. That’s what I’m talking about.
Patel: I have to tell you that this seems a little like telling black people 50 years ago: you can sit anywhere on the bus you like – just not in the front.
Lemon: I think that’s apples and oranges – I don’t think that black people were behind a Terrorist plot to kill people and drive planes into a building. That’s a completely different circumstance.
Patel: And American Muslims were not behind the terrorist plot either.
Dang, CNN. I was just talkin’ ‘bout you.
It’s really simple. You’re either for religious freedom or you’re not. End of story. There is no additional context, no qualifiers, and no conditions. That’s what’s promised to us by the Constitution and that’s what the laws of this country say. If you feel the need to add “context” or qualifiers or conditions then you are not in favor of religious freedom.
If you disagree with the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution is not the problem here.
Either shut the shut the fuck up or own the fact that you believe Muslims and Christians should have different rights. Anywhere in the middle is just being a disingenuous, lying, hypocritical asshole.
Churches were built in places that were the sites of historic massacres and genocides by crusaders. We lived a mile from Ground Zero and breathed in that acrid smoke reminder for 3 months. 19 insane people don’t indict an entire religion. Let’s move on and get back to the business of being America in the best sense.