The Land of the Free

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100808/ap_on_re_us/us_mosque_opposition

As a nation grows and progresses through history, it will undoubtedly face numerous challenges. Challenges from outside its borders, as well as from within. Today, we find our United States of America in the jaws of both. In New York City, two blocks from the World Trade Center, a proposed mosque has come under heavy and intolerant attacks. Attacks that should be making all Americans feel utterly disgusted, but sadly this is not the case. The very people who are attacking this mosque’s construction are, in fact, as American as you and I.

These Americans have become consumed by the perverted notion that this mosque is an insult to the memories of those who died on September 11, 2001. In reality, however, it is the opposite that rings true. Muslims, Christians, Jews, Agnostics, Atheists, etc. ALL died on that day. They died believing that they were living in a country that was founded on freedoms. One such freedom being the freedom to believe in whatever religion, or lack thereof, that you wanted to. A country where you could have a mosque, church, synagogue, and temple built alongside each other with an Atheist as a neighbor. I feel that those men, women, and children who were lost that day would be insulted NOT by the mosque, but by those who oppose its very existence.

Now some will say that this issue is one that should only concern the city and state of New York. I, however, strongly disagree. This is an issue that should concern ALL Americans because how the issue is resolved will reflect on not only those in NYC, but on ALL of us. Those who have attacked us want to see the U.S. fall. Why do we insist on helping them succeed? Why are we continuing their work by dividing and turning on one another? This country was founded on the idea of freedom. If we abandon even one of those basic freedoms and replace it with intolerance then we will have forever changed ourselves. We will have sold out or ideals, ideals that we have bled for, and replace them with fear and paranoia. This type of intolerance is a deadly poison and one that can rapidly consume its victim if it isn’t delt with quickly. All we have to do is take a short look back 70 years to see the truth in this statement. A look back to how one man’s hatred of Jews spread throughout a country and cost the lives of millions of innocent people. I do not make this comparison lightly but it is a perfect example of what can happen.

Do we as a country truly want to start down such a slippery and blood soaked path? If you deny the freedoms and the rights of ONE person, then you are opening the door to the denial of other freedoms and other people. This poison has already spread. In Tennessee there is another mosque that is being attacked and opposed. Quite simply, we MUST stop this insanity before it destroys us! Before it destroys our country! I personally, as an Agnostic, would not build the mosque in NYC two blocks from Ground Zero. I would build it AT Ground Zero! Along with a synagogue and a church! To spit in the face of those who would try to tear our country down.

I am an American! I am an Agnostic! I stand on the side of Freedom! I stand with the President of the United States! I stand with all of those who support the building of this mosque and of any other religious building in these United States of America! I will not waiver in this belief! I therefore ask all of you: Where will you stand?