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Just Because It Is Legal to Protest the Mosque Does Not Make It “Right”

by | 9:56 am, August 29, 2010 | 12 Comments

In the furor after Ali Hasan called those who opposed the Ground-Zero Mosque bigots, the argument over the mosque has basically been two sides talking past each other.  Supporters of the Mosque call those in its opposition bigots who are ignoring property rights, while opponents of the Mosque claim that the Mosque’s supporters are confusing a “moral” matter for a “legal” one.  Namely, the opponents largely claim that just because it is “legal” to build the Mosque does not make it “right.”

What is good for the goose is good for the gander.  Just because it is “legal” to protest the mosque does not make it “right.”  In fact, my impression is that the mosque’s “immorality” is solely based on the idea that it is “offensive.”  Maybe I’m missing something, but haven’t we conservatives and liberty types been fighting against the notion that rights should be suppressed in the court of public opinion due to another’s ideological/racial/religious offense? And isn’t this “the Mosque is immoral because it is offensive” argument just another form of “political correctness?”   If so, aren’t we being hypocritical if we criticize political correctness but then carve out an exception for stuff about Islam that offends us?

In other words,  the so-called “moral” argument against the mosque is in fact just a dressed up “that mosque offends me” argument.  Elevating a right “not to be offended” to a moral right is a dangerous precedent to set. You accept that and shortly any criticism of Mohammad would then be “immoral” as well. Let’s be consistent on this point…even if doing so makes us queasy.

CLARIFICATION – I am not calling opponents of the Mosque “bigots” as I think that is incorrect.  Rather, I just think they are walking down the dangerous road of “political correctness.”

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Comments

  1.   Heidi
      August 29th, 2010 @ 10:57 am

    Ali Hasan is a fraud, I emaild Laura Ingraham after watching him on the show, told her she needed to vet her guests’ better..
    I am against the building of this mosque at ground zero….

  2.   Elliot
      August 29th, 2010 @ 11:11 am

    Against on what basis? That it offends you?

  3.   james
      August 29th, 2010 @ 1:22 pm

    Just because Islam claims to be a religion does not it a religion make.

    Some study outside the confines of left-think informs that Islam is a totalitarian system of control masquerading as a religion. The life of the founder, the words in the koran, and 1400 years of history make this clear, outside the confines of left-think. The same cannot be rationally said of any other major competing belief system, with one exception – Marxism and all its variants, which holds faith in atheism.

  4.   Bob
      August 29th, 2010 @ 2:09 pm

    @James

    If over 1300 years of tradition and over a Billion believers doesn’t make you a religion, what does?

  5.   james
      August 29th, 2010 @ 2:30 pm

    @Bob
    Longevity of tradition has nothing to do with truth.

    The number of people following a belief, either by force or otherwise, also has nothing to do with truth.

    Islam is a totalitarian system of control masquerading as a religion. The longevity and number of followers measures the success of the system of control, not whether or no that system is truly a religion.

  6.   Elliot
      August 29th, 2010 @ 2:35 pm

    Since when does the fact that a faith has totalitarian elements disqualify it from being a “religion?” I think you are setting up a false test for a religion.

  7.   Bob
      August 29th, 2010 @ 10:05 pm

    @James so what you’re saying is “The truth” is what makes a religion? Is that your viewpoint?

    The problem is both Christianity and Islam, is both believe there is a objective source of truth and morality, but can’t prove it. I am a Christian who believes the wages of sin are death (going to hell) and Jesus paid the price for my sins. I can’t prove that. So since I can’t prove a objective source, the person of Islamic faith has to assume my belief is subjective. It goes both way though.

  8.   james
      August 29th, 2010 @ 11:34 pm

    Since when does the survival of freedom require surrender to “totalitarian elements” masquerading as religion? You think wrong. I am not setting up any test for religion. Your suggestion of such is a distraction.

  9.   james
      August 30th, 2010 @ 12:09 am

    @Bob
    No. That is not my viewpoint. Going down that path leads to the dead end of endless argument while Rome burns.

    My viewpoint is that the character of a faith determines its acceptance as a faith in a society. Just because Islam calls itself a religion does not mean a free society is forced to accept that determination. Rather than be slaves to Islamic perception of itself, free people can choose a different perception.

    No doubt Someone will jump on “character of a faith determines its acceptance” to declare that such determination requires a checklist. A checklist would be the easy way out. A harder way would be the messy struggle of public debate, which would include deciding on a criteria. A suggested criteria for acceptance is to answer the question; if we accept this faith, what is the probability that our way of life will survive, that this faith will bend to our law? If the probability is low, then rejection seems wise.

    Islam has no history of bending. Its history is one of destruction, 1400 years of destroying all things not Islam wherever it goes.

  10.   Kimberly Freeman
      August 30th, 2010 @ 3:46 am

    This has got to be about the stupidist thing I’ve ever read! It is the proponents of the mosque, not the opponents, who are succumbing to “political correctness.” It is the proponents who are waving the banner of “religious freedom.” It is the proponents who are arguing a Constitutional right implies an absolute right of propriety.
    It’s the opponents who have the bravery to question to intent of the founders behind the mosque. They’re the ones who want to know from where the money’s coming. They’re the ones who want to know what will ultimately be taught at this mosque. They’re the ones who want to know if this is a “victory mosque” designed to encourage Islamist Supremists to pursue their agenda in this country. They’re the ones who are wary of Islam in general because they don’t want sharia law to circumvent the Constitution. That’s about as far from “political correctness” as anyone can get! In this case, I’d rather be called a “bigot” than “politically correct!”

  11.   Elliot
      August 30th, 2010 @ 6:00 am

    Kimberly,
    The argument in the post only applies to those people who are opposing the Mosque because it offends them.

  12.   Peoples Press Collective | Colorado Politics | Opposing a Religion Does Not Necessarily Make One a “Bigot” – The Reason for Opposition Matters :
      August 30th, 2010 @ 6:09 am

    [...] the opposition to the Mosque may be based on political correctness, to the extent that its supporters are calling them “bigots” they are misapplying [...]

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