.\ /. <----- These Are My Angry Eyes

I saw a billboard on I-15 today. It read, "REMEMBER 9/11. No Ground Zero Mosque." This text, written in red over a background of 9/11 rubble, was the most Un-American and Un-Christian thing I've ever seen. (As if such an act would indicate our forgetfulness. How presumptuous of this ad.)

Now, I don't normally get too riled up about politics, even when it gets positively insane. But I've had about enough of this.

Let's forget about how the "Mosque" is mainly a community center to which all are welcome. Let's forget about how this building, although only two blocks away, cannot even be seen from Ground Zero. Let's forget about how the almighty terrible "Mosque" will include a basketball court and a culinary school. Let's forget the government's own neglect of Ground Zero still leaves a gaping scar on the face of New York, which is an even bigger disgrace to those that died there. And finally let's forget about the other Mosque, the one that has been open for over thirty years, Masjid Manhattan, that is only four blocks away from Ground Zero.

Let's forget about all of this and focus on some other things.  First, that this is Un-American action and ignorant bigotry. And second, this is an Un-Christian sentiment. I'm not saying that rallying against a "Ground Zero Mosque" means you hate America or Christianity. I'm saying that it makes you a hypocrite.

First, for all the Glenn Beck worshipers, let's focus on the Constitution, the thing that made America, America. For all who don't know what the First Amendment says, here you go, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble..." You are welcome. "But," you protest, "Congress isn't making a law against them worshipping!" Maybe it's the Democrat in me, or maybe just the rational human, but am I the only one who sees this case going to the Supreme Court if their building permit is denied? Preventing them from building would violate this Amendment on two counts. One by prohibiting the free exercise of their religion and two by preventing the people to peaceably assemble. (I know 'assembly' is usually interpreted as a protest, but the language remains ambiguous and can be interpreted either way.) If you want them to move it somewhere else, why do you suddenly take interest now when two blocks further you could protest a Mosque right now for the insensitivity of their worship? Is this a matter of timing? It seems a pretty fickle reason to stop them now, when for the last nine years (since 9/11) no one has said a word against the other Mosque. This is also Un-American because didn't our ancestors come to America for this exact reason? To escape religious persecution? Now suddenly it seems a little crazy when we have fought and died for the last nine years in Iraq, we deny that same desire to those who we went to war to "rescue." As a nation founded by people who desired religious tolerance, we sure have a funny view of tolerance. Or did the founding fathers just mean tolerance for Christian religions?

Second, shame on all of you Christians out there. And ESPECIALLY you Mormons. If you are against the building of this "Mosque" please don't call yourself a Christian, because I don't want to share anything in common with you.

Matthew 18:21,22 "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." (Seventy times seven was a holy number and inconceivably large to Jews of the time. Infinite.) I guess Jesus forgot the special addendum, "Unless he is a Muslim extremist then it's OK not to forgive."

We could talk for hours of passages all about loving thy neighbor as thyself and so on, but you know the Bible right? It goes without saying that even if these were the very men who flew the planes into the Trade Centers who were trying to build this Mosque, we as imperfect, regular people are required to forgive them. If you don't like this idea, find a new religion, for this was Christ's message. The fact remains that these aren't the terrorists that flew the planes. These are Muslims. Americans. Children of God. We cannot punish them for the acts of others. Which brings me to my last point. As Christians, why are so many so intolerant of Muslims? They are concerned with the mote in the Muslims eyes and cannot see the beam in their own. The Bible is just as extreme in its wording as the Qur'an. Many criticize Muslims for principles relating to Jihad and yet are more than willing to overlook the treatment of women, and adulterers in the Bible. The Old Testament is very clear, adulterers are to be stoned and women cast out of the city for weeks at a time during Menstruation. We see these as a fulfilled law and archaic, and still see the book as the word of God. Yet many are unwilling to grant this same luxury to Muslims and their book of scripture. The intolerant Christian attitude seems to say, "If it's in the Qur'an, then they believe it." How intolerant and bigoted.

And in conclusion, to all you LDS people out there, it's time to think long and hard about what I will say next. How can you expect others to separate the mainstream LDS church from those RLDS wackos down in Southern Utah when we refuse to separate Muslims from their extremist groups? The Reorganized church believes in Polygamy, a practice that was discontinued over 180 years ago by the LDS church. These break-away groups are not affiliated with us and we disagree with their practices, and we bristle when others try to group us together with them. These groups are radical extremists of our faith. Likewise the terrorists are extremist Muslims, and it is unjust to lump the two together. How can we expect others to separate our church from our radical practitioners if we refuse to do the same for Muslims?

Do not give in to misunderstanding. It breeds contempt. Stop listening to T.V. pundits. Remember that Jesus saved his most scathing rebukes, not for prostitutes or murderers, but for hypocrites. And finally, practice what you preach.

[Keep following. That's all I have to say about that.]