Stand on higher ground about Ground Zero Mosque

Stand on higher ground about Ground Zero Mosque
by
Chaplain Kathie

The first thing to think about is the fact this is not a repeat of Saladin sending his men to take over Jerusalem, replacing the temple with a dome or is it about the Crusaders trying to stop him. This is not a holy war against Muslims. If you believe the "mosque" shouldn't be built at Ground Zero, then you don't know what this nation stands for any more than you know where Ground Zero is.

This "mosque" is not really a mosque they are planning to build. They are not taking over a sacred site but an old Burlington Coat factory building. It is supposed to be a cultural center, but even if it was a true mosque, that shouldn't matter either. At least not in this country.

If you value the Constitution, then you should not try to stop it or condemn it because if you do, then you better start to wonder about your own rights to worship as you see fit. If you value the troops, then you better start wondering what they are doing in Iraq and Afghanistan, because both missions have turned into protecting the people of both nations and trying to give them a better life. While they didn't start out that way, Saddam was captured and killed and then it became a mission of protecting the Iraqi people from sectarian violence. In Afghanistan, it became getting the Taliban out of power and setting up road map for the Afghans to have a better life. Our troops have shed their blood in both nations fighting side by side with Iraqis and Afghans but some here in this country are outraged over a Muslim cultural center blocks away from where the Twin Towers came down?

We found no problem paying and borrowing money for combat operations in both nations. We have thousands of wounded troops, thousands put into graves and countless thousands suffering from PTSD, more dying by their own hand because of combat and families destroyed. They have paid a tremendous price for the sake of these Muslims, yet talk show hosts fuel the fire of hatred, want to pick and choose whose religious freedom is worthy of being protected and what group can build where it wants.

If you value the troops and your own religious freedom then stop attacking both of them. Actually open your eyes and see clearly what this is all about. If our troops can die for their sake, why can't you show a little tolerance for them?