Freedom for all, but not when we don't like you.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/herman-cain-backs-mosque-bans-152052930.html

Herman Cain, one of the many less than inspiring people attempting a run at the highest office in the land, has come out on the side of proposed bans on Mosques. He like so many xeno-phobic people argues that Mosques are breeding grounds for terrorists and that Islam wishes to use the Mosques to foist Sharia Law off on us poor, unsuspecting Americans. Cain also told Fox (Not surprised it was Faux News) host Glenn Beck in June that he would appoint Muslims who pledged loyalty to the U.S. Constitution--and conceded that we would not require the same pledge from believers who have faced past charges of divided loyalties in U.S. politics, such as Catholics.

Now I have problems with this. Besides the fact that the arguments people are using today are the same exact arguments people used to make about Judaic Laws, Protestant Laws, "Insert name of religion that we don't like" Laws. Besides the fact that this man and so many others want to demand that a certain sub section of Americans ie Islamic followers be made to follow laws that others aren't. No what bothers me most is this man, who wants to be president one day, seems completely ignorant of one of our most basic freedoms.

Freedom of Religion applies to every religion practiced in this country. It cannot be granted to some and not to others. It really is that simple. Making the argument that this Mosques and Community Centers might be used as training camps for terrorists or used for Unamerican activities is an empty one. There is NO evidence that Mosques in the US are being used on a grand scale as staging bases for the destruction of America.

Now some argue that some of the terrorists captured visited certain mosques both here and overseas. That's true as true can be. That doesn't prove that the mosques were their bases. That's like saying all Christian Churches are breeding grounds for Serial Killers because Jeffery Dahmer attended services once or twice. As far as we know, these individuals are the exceptions not the rule. When it is PROVEN otherwise, then I will gladly change my tune.

People argue that Islam preaches that it is the only way to Heaven and that unbelievers should be put to the sword etc. Since I haven't finished reading the Koran as of yet, I really can't say if this is true one way or the other. I can say that most of the followers of Islam I have known over the years were very peaceful and well educated with a high degree of tolerance towards others. What I can point out is that there are any number of points in the Bible where Christians show those same attitudes including wiping out entire cities because "God" told them these people were evil. (Not dissing God or Christians, just making a point that all religions since the dawn of time have preached that theirs is the only way and that all disbelievers are bad.)

So what it boils down to is simply this. Muslims have the right to worship how they like, where they like and when they like. They have the same right to build their Mosques as others have to build their Churches, Temples etc. It is guaranteed to them by same things that guarantee it to everyone else. Our United States Constitution. Freedom for everyone or freedom for no one.