Ground-zero Mosque

I have to say that I think it is obscene that anyone would want to build a Muslim mosque, THIS mosque, so close to the site of the WTC.  I also think it is obscene that we continue to have porn stores open in and near residential neighborhoods.  That is how I feel.

But, that does not give me the legal or moral high ground to say it can't be built.  I don't own the property.  I didn't write (or even vote on) the zoning codes.  And I really don't have a dog in this fight.  Yet, if they bought the property, legally, and they're obeying the codes and laws, who are we to tell them how they can or cannot use their private property?

You see, I believe the principles laid out in the Constitution of the United States are kind of like the teachings in the Bible - you don't get to pick and choose what you like and what you don't.  Now, I am "fairly" certain that the Founding Fathers were not considering the rights of Muslims when they adopted Freedom of Religion as part of the very first Amendment to the Constitution.  But they were concerned about the rights of individuals to worship God as they see fit without having the government step in and say what is and what isn't allowed.  And if you're going to make that kind of law to keep the Presbyterians from going to war with the Baptists, you have to accept that it's going to go beyond what you see today.  People will push it beyond what you have in mind.  What is "Christianity" will be redefined.  What is "religion" will be redefined.

P.S.  For those who haven't noticed, this is a LOT more about the last two paragraphs than the first.

P.P.S. This is a LOT shorter (and a lot later) than it started out to be, but it makes my point without rambling on and on, trying to cover this and a bunch of other stuff.  I think I'll try to follow this example from now on.