RT @learyspt Alex Sink, Dem for governor, tell Buzz she shares view of 9/11 families who oppose mosque.
I had no illusion that Sink was a progressive. Her refusal to say if she supported a health insurance public option showed she is often too careful of a politician.
The purpose of the Cordoba Initiative mosque at Ground Zero was to create a healing process between Americans and Muslims. The xenophobia showed toward the mosque shows just how far we have to go.
I personally don't care for the Scientologists or street preachers in Ybor City. They are rather annoying. However, I support their constitutional right to practice their faith in Ybor City. Support the Bill of Rights doesn't mean we get to pick and choose who is protected under the Constitution. Sink is running for the most power office in Florida. She should be mindful that our laws protect everyone.
Update: Here is Sink's statement from The Buzz.
"Like all Floridians, I'm grateful for our constitutional right to freedom of religion... When it comes to what to build close to the hallowed site of Ground Zero, I think it ought to be up to the people of New York City to decide. It is my personal opinion that the wishes of the 9/11 families and friends must be respected. They are opposed to this project and I share their view."
Kendrick Meek gives a response that doesn't really clear up his position.
Our nation was founded on the pillar of religious freedom and construction of the mosque should not be denied on religious grounds, but this is ultimately a decision for the local community in New York to make."
Kendrick Meek: a true profile in courage.
Jeff Greene's remarks come off as obnoxious.
"Freedom of religion might provide the right to build the mosque in the shadow of Ground Zero, but common sense and respect for those who lost their lives and loved ones gives sensible reason to build the mosque someplace else," Greene said. "President Obama had the chance to show leadership by calling on the mosque's supporters to find a more appropiate location."
Greene's statement shows racism by associating the 9/11 attacker with the Muslims of the Cordoba Initiative. All Muslims are not members of al-Qaeda. It is racist to saw an entire race and religion is responsible for the actions of a terrorist group. By that logic then the Catholic Church is responsible for all the deaths caused by the Irish Republican Army. You weren't hear any American politican say that because there is a large group of Irish Catholic Americans. Picking on Muslims is much easier.
Rubio shows the same thought process by assiociating all Muslims with terrorists.
"We are a nation founded on strong principles of religious freedom. However, we cannot be blind to the pain 9/11 caused our nation and the families of the victims. It is divisive and disrespectful to build a mosque next to the site where 3000 innocent people were murdered at the hands of Islamic extremism.
I bet Rubio doesn't know that some of those people murdered practiced the Islamic faith.
The most politically couragious stance was taken by Charlie Crist. The governor was asked about Obama's position to allow the mosque to be built at its current location
"I think it's the right thing to do," Crist said.
Mark this as the day Crist showed spine.
Alex Sink is an embarrassment. She is calling for Muslims to self-abridge and self-censor their right to religious freedom. The 9/11 families and friends are surely not unanimous in their sentiments. As you point out, some who died that day were Muslims. Furthermore, she is conflating the meanings of "hallowed." Is the Alamo hallowed ground? Gettysburg? Hiroshima? The beaches at Normandy? Marathon? Surely not in the same sense a church, synagogue, or mosque is. Who says Ground Zero is hallowed ground? It's not hallowed in any religious sense and the First Amendment and freedom of religion trump considerations of a secular memorial.
ReplyDelete