A View from the Country

Al Holman, Publisher
August 20, 2010

Where is our country headed? It seems that we are very confused and our leaders have lost the ability to differentiate between what is constitutionally correct or legal, and what is morally correct or just right or wrong.

There is a proposal for an Islamic mosque to be built very close to ground zero in New York City. The Mullah sees no problem with it and some elected officials use the Constitution to justify it and see no problem with it either. Yes, it is clear that religious freedom is guaranteed in the Constitution. Yet the government removed the Ten Commandments from a courthouse, students were stopped from praying on the Supreme Court steps and after they moved to the bottom of the steps they were told "not on Government property." Take a moment and look at a dollar bill. It says "In God We Trust" - it does not say whose God. We seem to be somewhat confused on when and where we enforce freedom of religion.

At this point you are assuming that I, like some leaders, support the Mosque. Wrong! I see this like putting "Final Solution" recognition across from the Holocaust Monument in Boston. It shows a clear disregard for what is morally right. Shame on anybody who would think that because it is constitutional, it is ok. Now one might think that there are not enough mosques in New York. That is not the case. In fact there are over 50. Attendees will have to pass at least one to get to this new mosque, so it is not for lack of mosques that they are building this.

What is the real reason for the choice of that location? If we ever find out, I would venture a guess that the real reason will not have anything to do with freedom of religion. Here is a question for you. If the rolls were reversed, what would the response be? If this mosque is built, it will send a clear message to the world - and perhaps - just perhaps, that is the message that they want to send.

And that's looking out my window - and not happy with the message I am receiving.