With this post, we have our seventh winner, the winner in the Conservative Blog Category. However, before I get into that, I would like to talk about a mosque, some Muslims would like to build near the former site of the World Trade Center in New York City.
It has been about a month since most Virginia blogs have had much to say about this subject. However, the subject has become a hot topic in the New York gubernatorial race. Nonetheless, let’s go back.
In Another New York Mosque Protest Reveals Anti-Muslim Bias, Doug Mataconis has a knee-jerk reaction. He regrets the anti-Muslim bias.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local ·
In DeSteph doesn’t speak for me, Vivian Paige says:
Virginia Beach Councilman Bill DeSteph sent a letter to the mayor and council members of New York, protesting the location of a proposed community center. The letter was wrong on so many levels, including the fact that he used official city letterhead and failed to discuss it with fellow council members.
But that wasn’t the part that got me. After all, I don’t live in Virginia Beach. No, what got me was that he made it sound as if he were not only representing Virginia Beach but all of Virginia:
We, the citizens of the City of Virginia Beach and the Commonwealth of Virginia – birthplace of our great nation – are strongly opposed to the plan to build a mosque at the very site where Islamist jihadists destroyed the World Trade Center and took the lives of nearly 3,000 people on September 11th, 2001.
The article that Paige links to in the PilotOnline.com is a curiosity. I suppose the councilman was out-of-line using the city letterhead. Perhaps DeSteph spoke presumptuously for people he does not represent. Nonetheless, making a big deal out that smacks of legalism; a foolish distraction. So DeSteph complained imperfectly. If the councilman is wrong to oppose the mosque, that should be our concern. Then DeSteph is guilty of religious bigotry, and he has no business representing any American. Otherwise, we have a far more serious problem.
On the other hand, some Virginia blogs have rallied against a mosque at ground zero. In a Rally protested mosque near Ground Zero, SWAC reports on a demonstration against the mosque. She links to lots of good pictures and video.
Phil, in How many Churches and synagogues are there in Mecca? Medina? points out the basic problem. Christianity is tolerant. Some Islamic fanatics are violently intolerant. Have we already forgotten?
The Winner in the Conservative Blog Category
Deo Vindice wins in the Conservative Blog Category. This post, I AM A WINNER? — PART 2, describes the criteria.
Why Deo Vindice?
James Atticus Bowden writes a blog that is both socially and fiscally Conservative. His posts are calm, thoughtful, and informed — even scholarly. Unlike many Conservatives, Bowden speaks to the religious foundations of our nation. He makes an effective case, showing that if we abandon our Christian heritage our republic is in jeopardy.
A Review of Deo Vindice Post
In The Mosque at Ground Zero, Bowden provides a straightforward condemnation of the Mosque at Ground Zero. He uses the following video as a springboard.
Then Bowden adds his own words. Here is how he ends.
This mosque at Ground Zero is an oozing sore upon an open wound. If New Yorkers can’t or won’t stop its building, then the measure of the health of our civilization will be the day it is bought and demolished or occupied by civilized occupants who use for any purpose other than a mosque.
A Personal Observation
IS GROUND ZERO the right place for a major new mosque and Islamic cultural center? Cordoba House is a 15-story, $100 million development to be built just 600 feet from where the World Trade Center stood; the plans include the mosque, a 500-seat auditorium, swimming pool, restaurant, and bookstore. (continued here)
Such is the beginning of an editorial in the Boston Globe. The writer interviews Muslims, Muslims who are at least willing to point out the gross insensitivity of building a mosque at Ground Zero.
Why the mosque? Is it not obvious why anyone would even consider such a thing at ground zero? How could anyone ignore its purpose? Some regard certain words with disdain. They believe evil does not exist. There are no enemies, just misguided people. Everyone is good and rational. At worse, there are sick people, not evil people.
How does anyone get themselves into such a state of denial? Perhaps they fear the truth. Perhaps they look at the world through rose-colored glasses. Perhaps they believe the Multi-culturalists. Perhaps they don’t believe in anything themselves. Perhaps to some this world is just about whatever it takes to fulfill their immediate desires. So they do not grasp the significance when someone else does believe. I don’t know. I just do not trust such a person either to defend themselves or anyone else.
The wise strive to see the world as it is. What does a careful study of religion and history teach? What do we learn with a little life experience? There are only two extremes that matter: evil and good.
When someone sincerely believes in evil teachings, they can and will do evil things. When someone believes in good teachings, they will ask God to help them conquer the evil within their own flesh. Unfortunately, most of us do not choose to be good. We may not choose to be evil, but we also do not choose to be good. We dither. We set aside that choice for another day.
Not all dither; some of these choose evil. Not so many years ago, followers of evil ”martyred” themselves to destroy two buildings in New York City. We call these men “radical” Muslims. These “radical” Muslims killed many innocents that day. Now other Muslims want to build a mosque near the spot where these ”radical” Muslims ”martyrs” murdered and died.
New York City is quintessential American soil. That is why “radical” Muslims chose it as a their target. If we allow it to be built, that mosque will become a monument. That mosque will become a monument to an atrocity committed against the American people, not a peace symbol. That mosque will be held up as an example for other would be martyrs. Only a gutless people bent on suicide would step aside and allow murderers to build a monument to an atrocity committed against them on their own soil.
As Christians, God expects us each to forgive the trespasses committed us, but He does not expect us use our obligation to forgive as an excuse to ignore evil. God expects us to defend our families, our friends, and our neighbors. When Islam is intolerant, we cannot ignore that fact just because we wish it were otherwise. Religious tolerance, of necessity, must be reciprocal.
Fortunately, the matter is an issue in the New York gubernatorial race, Lazio Opposes Mosque Near Ground Zero.
“We’re not saying the mosque in itself is a bad thing. There are troubling issues. Where is the money coming from to build this mosque? The imam (behind this) has said some inflammatory things: Osama Bin Laden is made in the USA; he says Hammas is not a terrorist organization,” Lazio told co-host Rosanna Scotto.
“My gut tells me they’re hiding something (about the funding.) We need to get transparency. The imam refuses to come forward and say where the money is coming from. Let’s protect the people of New York first.”
Is there an easy answer? No. Unfortunately, our laws are awkward, and we our own impure motives. Nonetheless, we can ask a simple question, and we know the answer.
Why would a peace-loving Muslim build a giant mosque right next to ground zero?
Such a Muslim would not. THAT MOSQUE IS MEANT TO BE AN AFFRONT. In our gut, we know it.
Did you know, Citizen Tom, that Bloomberg the Bolshevik dictator of NYC is in on a 2nd term and that is against the law in NYC? Only TWO terms are allowed, he is in against the will of the people of NYC.
Big reason why we sold our home there and got out.
When I was a little girl, we visited Arlington, Williamsburg and an array of places in VA. I love VA. I have also been to Sturbridge MA, Mystic, CT, and too many places to count.
My Nana always pushed my sister and I to be patriots and love this country. The same cannot be said for most Jews, unfortunately.
I have 2 on my website that are as crazy as me
Crazy? I wish you would not speak that way about yourself, but I guess that would require you to be someone else.
You know there is no smiley face for a shrug.
I like what Chuck Colson has to say on the subject.
Here is a link.
http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/13/15010