1. I don't much care what happens in NYC. NYC is as much a different world to me as Syria. And about as important. When I think "America", I think probably 1000 things and 1000 places before NYC comes to mind.
2. Putting a mosque, or anything else, at Ground Zero, is in large part going to be a political statement. Maybe a political statement with good motives, and maybe a political statement with bad motives, but a political statement nonetheless.
3. Those freedoms we're always yammering on about are political freedoms. And they're not just freedoms for political statements with good motives. (If they were, we'd be right in muzzling at least 50 percent of Congressional speech and probably 75% of the media.)
4. And they certainly aren't political freedoms that should be constrained because the majority thinks the motives are bad ones. The Bill of Rights doesn't say "except when the majority says otherwise".
In my mind, the Islamic worldview is dangerous for a couple reasons. I believe it dangerous for its adherents -- because, as a Christian, I believe their beliefs, if unchanged, mean a route other than salvation. I believe it dangerous for the rest of us because it is too easily used for bad, bad stuff.
And neither of those beliefs of mine is relevant here. You don't restrict individuals' practice of religion, or how they decide to associate, or how they speak, just because that religion or association or speech may be dangerous. If you do, that First Amendment means nothing.
Foster's probably going to bash me for being an idealistic philosopher again, I expect. And others probably will decry my blind faith. And he and they'd be right in labeling me as such.
But what people forget is that the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are all about idealistic philosophy and stances of faith.
Maybe the US of A can't last if it grants the same freedoms to holders of the Islamic worldview as it does to the rest of us.
But, it seems to me, if it fails to take the chance, it's as good as dead already. Because the principles on which it was founded have already been cast aside.
This I believe.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)