“Read the Constitution!”
You hear this from angry TEA Party-types all over this country. It sure would be nice if they meant it. But sadly, for many of these types, as soon as something Constiutional comes along that they don’t agree with, such as the 14th Amendment or a federal judge striking down Arizona’s go-it-alone immigration law, that respect for the Constitution is exposed for the facade it is.
Our example today is the Islamic center in New York City to be located two city blocks away from the site of the World Trade Center. As a disclaimer, I should mention that I was born in Manhattan, at St. Vincent’s Hospital on the day Broadway Joe delivered on his promise and led the New York Jets to victory in Super Bowl III. That’s the same hospital my father passed away in in 1998. To say I have New York ties puts it lightly.
If these “Read the Constitution” types really meant it, they would be the first ones to rise to the defense of this Islamic center. After all, this great nation was founded on religious liberty. But sadly, for many of these people “religion” means only “Christianity” and while they whine about a contrived War on Christmas when the greeters at Wal-Mart say “Happy Holidays”, they are quick to attack others practicing their religion in America.
They often excuse their intolerance with the false argument that, well, it’s okay if they practice their religion, just don’t be in my face about it. Ground Zero is sacred, and it's disrespectful for them to put their center so close to it.
Christianity is not without blood on its hands. We have had intolerant cases in American of radical Christians shedding blood in Jesus’ name (despite his preaching against it). How often has it happened that religious fanatics have shot and killed doctors who perform abortions, or firebombed women’s clinics? Surely to put a religious center right in front of one of these places that has been the victim of their violence would be just as disrespectful, right?
Here in Kalamazoo, on West Michigan Avenue, we have a Planned Parenthood facility. Surely you noticed it as you’ve driven past - you can’t miss the iron fence with machine-operated gate, a sad necessity given the religious violence against the fully legal and Constitutional institution. And what do we have right across the street? Alternatives of Kalamazoo. From their website: To reach our community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ by offering hope and meeting physical, emotional, and spiritual needs that safeguard the rights, dignity, and health of unborn children and their parents.
So here we have a religious center right across the street from an institution that those who practice its faith have acted violently against. Is this any less confrontational? Where’s all the angry rhetoric about respect? Sounds to me like they get a free pass because they practice the “right” religion.
Do as I say, not as I do = hypocrite.
You hear this from angry TEA Party-types all over this country. It sure would be nice if they meant it. But sadly, for many of these types, as soon as something Constiutional comes along that they don’t agree with, such as the 14th Amendment or a federal judge striking down Arizona’s go-it-alone immigration law, that respect for the Constitution is exposed for the facade it is.
Our example today is the Islamic center in New York City to be located two city blocks away from the site of the World Trade Center. As a disclaimer, I should mention that I was born in Manhattan, at St. Vincent’s Hospital on the day Broadway Joe delivered on his promise and led the New York Jets to victory in Super Bowl III. That’s the same hospital my father passed away in in 1998. To say I have New York ties puts it lightly.
If these “Read the Constitution” types really meant it, they would be the first ones to rise to the defense of this Islamic center. After all, this great nation was founded on religious liberty. But sadly, for many of these people “religion” means only “Christianity” and while they whine about a contrived War on Christmas when the greeters at Wal-Mart say “Happy Holidays”, they are quick to attack others practicing their religion in America.
They often excuse their intolerance with the false argument that, well, it’s okay if they practice their religion, just don’t be in my face about it. Ground Zero is sacred, and it's disrespectful for them to put their center so close to it.
Christianity is not without blood on its hands. We have had intolerant cases in American of radical Christians shedding blood in Jesus’ name (despite his preaching against it). How often has it happened that religious fanatics have shot and killed doctors who perform abortions, or firebombed women’s clinics? Surely to put a religious center right in front of one of these places that has been the victim of their violence would be just as disrespectful, right?
Here in Kalamazoo, on West Michigan Avenue, we have a Planned Parenthood facility. Surely you noticed it as you’ve driven past - you can’t miss the iron fence with machine-operated gate, a sad necessity given the religious violence against the fully legal and Constitutional institution. And what do we have right across the street? Alternatives of Kalamazoo. From their website: To reach our community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ by offering hope and meeting physical, emotional, and spiritual needs that safeguard the rights, dignity, and health of unborn children and their parents.
So here we have a religious center right across the street from an institution that those who practice its faith have acted violently against. Is this any less confrontational? Where’s all the angry rhetoric about respect? Sounds to me like they get a free pass because they practice the “right” religion.
Do as I say, not as I do = hypocrite.
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