Jackson Lee on Banning Mosques: It’s About Freedom of Religion
Representative Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas has issued a statement concerning the increasingly contentious issue of whether to ban mosques in America. Her statement draws a distinction between feelings of emotional pain and standards of religious freedom:
First and foremost, I understand the pain, trauma, and grief suffered by the men, women and children who lost their loved ones on 9/11. We cannot overstate the sacrifice made by the 9/11 families on that tragic day and every day since. The attacks on September 11th are the reason I was one of the original Members of the Homeland Security Committee and it remains the reason why I Chair the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection.
However, we should also respect one of our most cherished liberties, the freedom of religion. It is imperative that we emphasize that the Muslim Americans who want to pray in downtown Manhattan had nothing to do with the terrorist attacks on 9/11. They are our fellow Americans who want the freedom to express their religion, and we respect their right to practice their faith. The fact that American Muslims want to pray and practice their religion close to where the 9/11 attacks occurred sends the clearest message to the Muslim world that America is indeed the country it purports to be: the nation where all citizens, regardless of race, gender, or creed, possess and exercise their freedom of speech and religion. We should never allow those who wish to do us harm to subvert the very principles with which our Nation is founded.
If Ms. Lee thinks we have Freedom of Religion, maybe we could meet at my Daughters school and
say a prayer before lunch.
Actually, she could do that, if you gave her consent to meet your daughter in school, of course – just so long as she didn’t try to use the school to lead other children in prayer, without their parents’ permission.
The issue is whether public schools can be used to promote religious practices. No, they can’t – because that’s a violation of the religious liberty of community residents who don’t follow those religious practices.
TMC:
Sometime ago, maybe 20 years or more, I saw a TV program hosted by Linda Ellerbee.
She had invited some kids of junior high school age from Israel and some from Palestine.
She asked members of each group to give their thoughts on Middle East affairs of the day.
The child of Israel stated “In our Holy Book It says God gave us this land thousands of years ago. It is ours and we have a right to fight to keep it.”
The child of Palestine stated “In our Holy Book it says God gave us this land thousands of years ago. It is ours and we have a right to fight to keep it.”
Ever since then I have advocated that we ban all religions from the face of the Earth.
Let all the God believers establish their temples and hocus pocus houses on the Moon or maybe Mars.
They can come and go as they please but they will be forbidden to practice their murderous religions on Mother Dirt.
Sincerely, Bernieyeball
Sees All,
Knows All,
Doesn’t Think Much of Any of It.
Except maybe the Gumbo at Show Me’s.
In other words, Bernie, let the atheists take the land and say THEY have a right to keep it that way?
I’ve got another idea: how about we let everyone stay on Earth and nobody says they have the right to kick others off it?