I'm troubled by the apparent attempt by the proponents of the Corboba Mosque to test the limits of our convictions, and I have no delusion that the Corboba installation is innocent. But a few facts about the review below need attention. It is OUR constitution, and the heart of the great American experiment, that we are supposedly a secular country, and guarantee practice of various religions unfettered. Our founding fathers wrote of this passionately. Unfortunately, extremist right wing "christian" groups have used our good faith to take advantage of the system, to influence secular politics, and to cross the line of religion into our secular society in a big way. "In God We Trust" is a recent fabrication. It is not in our history, and our founding fathers tried their best to prevent such a thing.
The same is not true of Saudi Arabia. We can say it's not fair, but it is not based on the grounds of hypocrisy. They do not have our history, nor do they have our constitution.
If we really want to play this game (and I think we should), then we should take away the tax exempt status of the mega-churches who dictate local government policies, and who collect tax-deductible money to change elections. Among other secular intrusions.
If we want to know where the money is coming from, it is simple. Create a law that requires all religious institutions to publish where their money comes from. It's that simple. However, I would like to point out that in Seattle, the fanatical religious right to was trying to reverse a popular law, through a proposition, that provided basic provision for gays and lesbians to not be fired, kicked out of apartments, or denied visitation rights of partners in hospitals, among other basic rights most people enjoy. When the light shined on them, they went to court AND WON to prevent the disclosure of names of people donating to the cause. A complete overreaching of the judiciary to nullify a law that has been in place in Washington State since the proposition system was designed. If the religious right sues to prevent identity of who is paying to overturn a state law, what do you think they would do if they had to come clean with their donors? The Mormons and Catholics come to mind as groups that would not support such disclosure.
My point is, whatever the naysayers want to do to the Muslims, fine. Make it apply to all religions equally. I doubt you would have many established churches rally for that outcome.
Here is the circulating email I'm talking about:
Newt Gingrich
July 21, 2010 6pm
“There should be no mosque near Ground Zero in New York so long as there are no churches or synagogues in Saudi Arabia . The time for
double standards that allow Islamists to behave aggressively toward us while they demand our weakness and submission is over.
The proposed "Cordoba House" overlooking the World Trade Center site – where a group of jihadists killed over 3000 Americans and destroyed
one of our most famous landmarks - is a test of the timidity, passivity and historic ignorance of American elites. For example, most of them don’t understand that “Cordoba House” is a deliberately
insulting term. It refers to Cordoba , Spain – the capital of Muslim conquerors who symbolized their victory over the Christian Spaniards by transforming a church there into the world’s third-largest mosque
complex.
Today, some of the Mosque’s backers insist this term is being used to "symbolize interfaith cooperation" when, in fact, every Islamist in
the world recognizes Cordoba as a symbol of Islamic conquest. It is a sign of their contempt for Americans and their confidence in our
historic ignorance that they would deliberately insult us this way. Those Islamists and their apologists who argue for "religious toleration" are arrogantly dishonest. They ignore the fact that more than 100 mosques already exist in New York City . Meanwhile, there are no churches or synagogues in all of Saudi Arabia . In fact no Christian or Jew can even enter Mecca . And they lecture us about tolerance.
If the people behind the Cordoba House were serious about religious toleration, they would be imploring the Saudis, as fellow Muslims, to
immediately open up Mecca to all and immediately announce their intention to allow non-Muslim houses of worship in the Kingdom. They
should be asked by the news media if they would be willing to lead such a campaign.
We have not been able to rebuild the World Trade Center in nine years. Now we are being told a 13 story, $100 million mega mosque will be
built within a year overlooking the site of the most devastating surprise attack in American history.
Finally where is the money coming from? The people behind the Cordoba House refuse to reveal all their funding sources. America is experiencing an Islamist cultural-political offensive designed to undermine and destroy our civilization. Sadly, too many of our elites are the willing apologists for those who would destroy them if they could.
No mosque.
No self deception.
No surrender.
The time to take a stand is now - at this site on this issue.”
If, after reading this, you agree with it, please pass it on to others.
