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By the way, I DO divide the world into "good guys" and "bad guys".
Just so you know: if you're against the building of an Islamic community center in Downtown Manhattan, you're one of the bad guys.
If you are saying, "well, sure, they have the LEGAL right to do it, but by putting it there, they're just being provocative," then you may not be particularly evil yourself, but you're intimidated by the evil people into being one of their henchmen. People doing completely normal things like building community centers aren't being provocative. The people who you are afraid they will provoke? Those are the bad guys. And if you are saying that they should modify their behaviors to do what the bad guys want, then you are saying that you support the bad guys.
And that means that you're one of the bad guys.
And THAT means that I find you a danger to me, personally. I'm Jewish. Right now, Jews are mostly considered more or less white. But that could change. And the second it does, people will start saying things like, "Well, sure, they COULD build a synagogue there, but wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?"
Everything that people are saying about the downtown Manhattan community center, I just automatically hear people saying that about something that I might want to do someday. If you're against them, then you're against me, and you're also against justice, freedom, and every ideal that this country stands for.
Just so we're clear on that.
If you are saying, "well, sure, they have the LEGAL right to do it, but by putting it there, they're just being provocative," then you may not be particularly evil yourself, but you're intimidated by the evil people into being one of their henchmen. People doing completely normal things like building community centers aren't being provocative. The people who you are afraid they will provoke? Those are the bad guys. And if you are saying that they should modify their behaviors to do what the bad guys want, then you are saying that you support the bad guys.
And that means that you're one of the bad guys.
And THAT means that I find you a danger to me, personally. I'm Jewish. Right now, Jews are mostly considered more or less white. But that could change. And the second it does, people will start saying things like, "Well, sure, they COULD build a synagogue there, but wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?"
Everything that people are saying about the downtown Manhattan community center, I just automatically hear people saying that about something that I might want to do someday. If you're against them, then you're against me, and you're also against justice, freedom, and every ideal that this country stands for.
Just so we're clear on that.
Re: I hope I can have a difference of opinion
I... what? The only reason the Pope hasn't suggested a separate legal system is that the Catholic church already has one, just like any other organized religion; it's part of what "organized" means. And wars have been fought for centuries over the Catholic church wanting secular law to conform to Catholic doctrine, so those two systems can be condensed to one as long as the one is the one they decree. Just look at the legal/religious history of England and Ireland.
He does not believe in interfaith.
"On Islam, his main subject, Rauf’s views are clear: he routinely denounces all terrorism—as he did again last week, publicly. He speaks of the need for Muslims to live peacefully with all other religions. He emphasizes the commonalities among all faiths. He advocates equal rights for women, and argues against laws that in any way punish non-Muslims. His last book, What’s Right With Islam Is What’s Right With America, argues that the United States is actually the ideal Islamic society because it encourages diversity and promotes freedom for individuals and for all religions." [source]
allow Muslims to live in areas that followed Muslim laws
Right, because there are no insular communities of Americans who follow their own religious rules, many of which are more restrictive than secular law. Well, maybe just a few.
If you want the truth to get out there, I recommend seeking and verifying it with several independent sources.
Re: I hope I can have a difference of opinion
THAT GUY? I HAVE THIS BOOK IT IS AWESOME.
EVEN BETTER.
Ahem. Please pardon my caps.
Re: I hope I can have a difference of opinion