I don't know if Henny is prejudiced, bigoted or whatever. I never got that impression from exchanges with her all these years. I see no need to lump her in with others who disagree. In fact that seems to be a major difference in mindset between you and I.
And she never expressed sympathy with the idea that the mosque is a symbol of the religion behind the attack on the WTC or that the religion shares guilt with Bin Laden.
She didn't post the Buchanan article excusing prejudice. I believe that was you.
Well, here's the problem - I find myself becoming "bigoted" in a certain manner. But I am writing from another country where Islam is shoved down my throat 24/7. An anecdotal example: I was grocery shopping the other day and had a bottle of water in my purse. When I opened my bag to get my money out to pay, the cashier saw the water and threatened to call the police because I might actually DRINK that water during the fasting hours of Ramadan.
I went "Detroit" on him (in Arabic) and the little boy ended up backing down - but no apology... just a look of disgust and shock that I was breaking their precious fast. Even knowing that I am not one of them.
I have learned more about Sharia than I could have possibly ever grasped living in the U.S. I live in a country governed by Sharia law (albeit not to the extent that Saudi Arabia is). Still - family law matters especially - are governed by religious law. That's quite enough for me.
So my perspective is, indeed, very colored. And in this past year, I think I have finally come to terms with what bothers me the most about it: there have always been discussions between people about how the Bible and the Quran are similar in terms of the violence and antiquated justice methods advocated - an eye for an eye, for example. The major difference that I finally grasped is that Muslims RULE with their antiquated laws... where the Bible is (for most) a guidebook on faith. Western Christians aren't using the literal word of their holy book to rule their countries. Muslims ARE.
All in all, the Muslim world is a prime example of the dangers of a theocracy.
And as for my son, I never knew what it would be like here - and I would give anything to get him out of religious education in school because of it. But I can't do that because it is LAW here that every student have Islam classes... even Christian children. Christian schools are obliged to hire an Imam to teach Islam - although they also have Christianity classes. Oh, and let's not forget that the science textbooks and history textbooks, social studies textbooks (et al) are also littered with religious references and praise to allah. So even without religious education per se, they get it in each and every class. What this all means for me is that I have to do more education at home - which is fine - but it is more work than I would have expected. I have to take the edge off of the total immersion. And it is very important for me to teach him American ideals and history as well, because I sure as hell don't want it taught to him through the Arab-Muslim eyes. (We're working on the Pledge of Allegiance now - anything to take the edge off of what he will be learning as he enters 1st grade.)
(And to answer the question my entire family asks: why don't you just come HOME??? Well, I have a really freaking awesome job that I would have to be torn away from. Plus - you guys are still in a recession. Hello, 15% unemployment in Michigan where all of my roots are??)
Now, coming back down off my rant and back to American Muslims: by moving to the U.S. or being born in the U.S., they leave the antiquated justice systems behind and are actually better representatives of their faith than any Middle Eastern Muslim. And no, I don't think that they are Bin Laden variety Muslims. BUT it is the height of bad taste to build the mosque so close to Ground Zero. Perhaps the builders of the mosque don't mean any harm. Maybe they really mean to show themselves as peaceful, loving people who simply want to educate a community. Fine. Build the mosque somewhere else in NYC. Educate the people. But the idea of having it a Ground Zero really, really bothers me. And remains an incredibly stupid idea.
