-By Kevin Roeten
The mosque controversy in New York City: “To build, or not to build. That is the question.” The 1st Amendment to the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. But certainly the mosque would not be built depending upon neighborhood conditions, zoning restrictions, or bad taste. But its building has superseded all of those now.
“He just tried to extort America, right there…he came back to threaten us.” extorted by Tim Brown, a 9/11 Fireman in an interview with Bill Hemmer on 9/9/10 Ground Zero Imam Threatens America with Attack If Mosque Not Built …]. In fact, in an earlier interview with Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf Breitbart.tv » Ground Zero Mosque Imam: If You Don’t Build It …they will attack.], the seemingly innocent statement sounds ominous indeed. Even from another source on just moving the mosque we get “Ground Zero” Imam: Radicals Win If Mosque Moves – Gothamist.
A thousand questions immediately explode from one’s head: 1) how would Rauf know Islam’s radical intentions? 2) Americans would die for not building? 3) Is Rauf somehow connected to radical Islam? 4) Are there other Muslims who feel the same way? And, 5) Does building a mosque that close to the site of the 9/11 massacre worsen Muslim relations in this country, or even in New York?
Unfortunately, one already knows the answers to question #2, #4, and #5—all [yes]. It’s already known there are already over 100 mosques in New York City alone Growing Number of Mosques in New York City « Fox News Insider]—so religious freedom is not the problem.
The “radicals” Feisal seems to be talking about are many normal American citizens living close by the site of 9/11. They’re supposed to be radical because one of their relatives was slaughtered by extremists on 9/11?
The real problem seems that it’s getting difficult to separate the peaceful Muslims from the real radicals, and to separate those who believe some of what the Qu’ran states, but refuse to act on their feelings. Or, Muslims who are secretly terrorist sympathizers but haven’t made the transition yet.
We implore leaders of those peace-loving Islamists to verbally and physically decry any terrorist activities by radical Islamists that could, or might occur.
Their voices of reason need to be heard desperately to differentiate the good from the bad.
Frankly, because of the mounting Muslim populations in America, it’s getting more difficult to tell who is peaceful, who intends to convert the infidels to Islam, or who will just kill them off.
Unfortunately, since 600 AD, history has not been on their side.
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Kevin Roeten has written columns for over 10 years, after being a Chemical Engineer with Dupont for 20. A devout Catholic and staunch conservative, he loves to marry the ‘third rail’ of religion and politics into many of his articles.
Kevin Roeten can be reached at roetenks@charter.net.