mosque near ground zero ?

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by whell

The government has a duty to intervene when public interests are at stake, as they intervene to control and regulate other freedoms such as the right to assemble and freedom of religion.

What public interest is at stake here which would justify subverting the Constitution, that some people don't like it? What public harm is averted? What public good effected? By the standard you support the government should repeal the Emancipation Proclamation, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans With Disabilities Act... The list is virtually endless.

Hell, most people don't like Republicans very much if the last several elections are any indication. A lot of us find them pretty offensive so maybe they should be outlawed too.

John

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by Boreas

. . .
Hell, most people don't like Republicans very much if the last several elections are any indication. A lot of us find them pretty offensive so maybe they should be outlawed too.

John

I'll drink to that!

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by finnbow

Kathleen Parker nails it yet again.

This sentence pretty well sums it up.

"It isn't a stretch to say that the greatest threat to free speech is, in fact, 'sensitivity.'"

John

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by Boreas

This sentence pretty well sums it up.

"It isn't a stretch to say that the greatest threat to free speech is, in fact, 'sensitivity.'"

John

There were some pretty whacked out posters after that too. The conclusion of one of them would be that we are sissies if we have the courage of our convictions.

Ms. Parker found another way to elegantly state that popular or non-controversial speech doesn't need the protection of the first amendment.

Regards,

D-Ray

[d-ray657]

Here is an interview with one of the proponents of the mosque/community center. Those on either side of the argument might find ammunition there, but I think this lovely lady does an excellent job of describing the motivations behind the mosque.

Regards,

D-Ray

[d-ray657]

Lots of very intelligent people are explaining why the government should not interfere with the construction of the Muslim cultural center. One reason that has been stated several times is that the opposition to the center provides ammunition to al-queda to recruit against the Great Satan. That view is supported by one the the FBI's most effective interrogators of suspected terrorists.

Regards,

D-Ray

[noonereal]

I am just stupefied by the opposition to an Islamic center in lower Manhattan.

It's just scary how myopic people can be and how opportunist politicians can be.

Is there a politician left alive that places country ahead of party.

[noonereal]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

Here is an interview with one of the proponents of the mosque/community center. Those on either side of the argument might find ammunition there, but I think this lovely lady does an excellent job of describing the motivations behind the mosque.

Regards,

D-Ray

good link but totally irrelevant

we are not and were never at war with the Muslim religion

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by noonereal

we are not and were never at war with the Muslim religion

I think that is her point.

You're right, however, that their motivation for building a religious institution is irrelevant to their right to do so. The fact that they are exercising their faith is enough. (A more conservative-friendly reason for their right to do so is the rights of the property owner to make his or her chosen use of the property, so long as that use is not otherwise illegal.)

For that matter, the First Amendment also protects the right of the protesters to make whatever statements they want to make, even to the extent that it presents the world with a sorry picture of the state of tolerance and civility in this country.

Regards,

D-Ray

[noonereal]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

If you can't watch Fox for more than thirty seconds and figure out what their deal is, then you have problems no brain surgeon can help you with. That has to be the worst asskissing organization on the entire planet. "TASS" couldn't have sucked up to a specific political party more ardently than Fox does. "Fair and Balanced"? Spare me.

Dave

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telegra...e_Soviet_Union

yep,