This is video liberal sweetheart Howard Dean folding like a fucking tent about the Cordoba House, the mosque that may be built (though this is probably becoming less and less likely at this rate) near ‘Ground Zero.’
The following, via Marc Ambinder of the Atlantic, is glimpse into the anti-Muslim sentiment currently (and nonsensically) pervading its way through American culture:
38 percent of Americans in 2006 said they would never vote for a Muslim for president, just about the number who said they would never vote for a gay person. In December of 2004, Cornell released a survey showing that half of Americans consciously told a pollster that they would favor a curtailment of civil rights for Muslims. About 40 percent of Republicans had explicitly anti-Muslim views in the survey.
What’s fascinating — and disturbing — about prejudice against Muslims is that it is not driven by the same factors that have marginalized immigrants and minorities in the past. There are no economic incentives to push Muslims to the outside; there is an instinctive mistrust of Islam within evangelical Christianity and a very persistent post 9/11 ideological gulf between average and elite Americans. As of 2010, 43 percent of Americans admitted feeling bias against Muslims.
This is Harry Reid, also folding like a fucking tent (not that this is particularly surprising):
The First Amendment protects freedom of religion. Senator Reid respects that but thinks that the mosque should be built some place else. If the Republicans are being sincere, they would help us pass this long overdue bill to help the first responders whose health and livelihoods have been devastated because of their bravery on 911, rather than continuing to block this much-needed legislation.
Lame though from a pure strategy, horserace standpoint (which, let’s face it, that’s the only way the media looks at things) I understand it. After all, Senator Reid does have an election coming up against a Tea Party candidate. Probably not the best idea to endorse the Muslims… especially in Nevada.
In that same breath, I can understand where President Obama is coming from on this matter. Mind you, I’m not absolving either of them… both are taking the sucker’s way out. However, the President already has plenty of crap on his plate and the last thing he needs is every goddamn media outlet we have talking nonstop about how he endorses a mosque being built near Ground Zero. Fox News, CNN and hell, even MSNBC (if for no other reason than to simply keep up) would dig up every crazy motherfucker who has gotten air time since he’s been elected to discuss how he’s a secret Muslim and has ties to secret terrorists organizations and other ridiculous bullshit that distracts from the real fucked up shit that’s going on in this country (and world).
So about this supposed ‘hallowed ground?’ As a New Yorker, I’ve been to Lower Manhattan a few times. For those of you who haven’t, here’s some pictures of what’s around Ground Zero:
So, it’s okay to ‘make it rain’ on such hallowed ground but not practice your religion? One more:
Gambling is totally okay too apparently.
What else is near this hallowed ground? Let’s find out:
Opponents of a proposed lower Manhattan mosque and community center speak in hushed tones about the sanctity of the “shadow of Ground Zero.”
Tell that to the patrons of the Pussycat Lounge, a strip club where a photo of a nearly naked woman marks its location just two blocks from where the World Trade Center stood.
Or the Thunder Lingerie and peep show next door, where the marquee sports an American flag above a window display of sex toys and something called a “power pump.”
Many come to the scene of the worst terrorist attack on American soil to pay tribute to pain and unspeakable tragedy. They’re welcomed by solemn memorials and a visitors center amid the noise of reconstruction.
If they’re so inclined, they can also buy porn, play the ponies and take care of all manner of personal business within steps of the former World Trade Center.
And what about other religious facilities?
There are at least 10 churches in lower Manhattan south of Canal St., three synagogues, one Buddhist community center and a Hare Krishna facility. There’s also a Muslim prayerhouse that, on its website, denies any connection to “any other organization trying to build anything new in the area of downtown Manhattan.”
So, from my reading at least, the area around Ground Zero sounds like a fairly typical neighborhood in New York City.
I’m not a particularly religious person; I could be best described as somewhat spiritual and culturally Jewish. I grew up Catholic but thought the culture of Christianity as a whole as something that just isn’t for me. I am equally ambivalent towards Islam. Unless I’m mistaken though (perhaps I’ve been reading from the wrong history books) one of the biggest reasons the people we consider our ‘forefathers’ came here in the first place was so they could practice their religion as they saw fit. There’s a reason why ‘Freedom of Religion’ is in the first amendment. Seems pretty fucking clear to me.
Do not confuse me; September 11th was a fucking tragedy and it is sincerely my hope that is the low point for as long as I am an American. However, in my mind, what those pricks did isn’t a reflection on Islam just like the Oklahoma City bombing, abortion clinic bombings and numerous other terrorist attacks performed’ in the name of God’ aren’t a reflection of Christianity. It is an unfortunate truth there are extremists in every religion and often these extremists do very fucked up shit as a result. But if Christians in this country don’t have to suffer as a whole when someone goes off the reservation, why do Muslims?
Having said all of that, we all know how this story is going to end. At the end of the day, the people who very disingenuously exploit this national tragedy for political gain will likely win out and the Cordoba House will end up moving elsewhere. These same people will then show up on our televisions and tell us this is a ‘victory’ of some sort.
But it’s not even close to that… it’s a loss for those people who are being infringed upon because of their faith and it’s a loss for those of us who truly believe in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Posted on August 19, 2010