Ron Paul on the Islamic Center near Ground Zero
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Posts: 792
http://www.campaignforliberty.com/article.php?view=1077
Left and the Right Demagogue Mosque, Islam
Is the controversy over building a mosque near ground zero a grand distraction or a grand opportunity? Or is it, once again, grandiose demagoguery?
It has been said, "Nero fiddled while Rome burned." Are we not overly preoccupied with this controversy, now being used in various ways by grandstanding politicians? It looks to me like the politicians are "fiddling while the economy burns."
The debate should have provided the conservative defenders of property rights with a perfect example of how the right to own property also protects the 1st Amendment rights of assembly and religion by supporting the building of the mosque.
Instead, we hear lip service given to the property rights position while demanding that the need to be "sensitive" requires an all-out assault on the building of a mosque, several blocks from "ground zero."
Just think of what might (not) have happened if the whole issue had been ignored and the national debate stuck with war, peace, and prosperity. There certainly would have been a lot less emotionalism on both sides. The fact that so much attention has been given the mosque debate, raises the question of just why and driven by whom?
In my opinion it has come from the neo-conservatives who demand continual war in the Middle East and Central Asia and are compelled to constantly justify it.
They never miss a chance to use hatred toward Muslims to rally support for the ill conceived preventative wars. A select quote from soldiers from in Afghanistan and Iraq expressing concern over the mosque is pure propaganda and an affront to their bravery and sacrifice.
The claim is that we are in the Middle East to protect our liberties is misleading. To continue this charade, millions of Muslims are indicted and we are obligated to rescue them from their religious and political leaders. And, we're supposed to believe that abusing our liberties here at home and pursuing unconstitutional wars overseas will solve our problems.
The nineteen suicide bombers didn't come from Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan or Iran. Fifteen came from our ally Saudi Arabia, a country that harbors strong American resentment, yet we invade and occupy Iraq where no al Qaeda existed prior to 9/11.
Many fellow conservatives say they understand the property rights and 1st Amendment issues and don't want a legal ban on building the mosque. They just want everybody to be "sensitive" and force, through public pressure, cancellation of the mosque construction.
This sentiment seems to confirm that Islam itself is to be made the issue, and radical religious Islamic views were the only reasons for 9/11. If it became known that 9/11 resulted in part from a desire to retaliate against what many Muslims saw as American aggression and occupation, the need to demonize Islam would be difficult if not impossible.
There is no doubt that a small portion of radical, angry Islamists do want to kill us but the question remains, what exactly motivates this hatred?
If Islam is further discredited by making the building of the mosque the issue, then the false justification for our wars in the Middle East will continue to be acceptable.
The justification to ban the mosque is no more rational than banning a soccer field in the same place because all the suicide bombers loved to play soccer.
Conservatives are once again, unfortunately, failing to defend private property rights, a policy we claim to cherish. In addition conservatives missed a chance to challenge the hypocrisy of the left which now claims they defend property rights of Muslims, yet rarely if ever, the property rights of American private businesses.
Defending the controversial use of property should be no more difficult than defending the 1st Amendment principle of defending controversial speech. But many conservatives and liberals do not want to diminish the hatred for Islam -- the driving emotion that keeps us in the wars in the Middle East and Central Asia.
It is repeatedly said that 64% of the people, after listening to the political demagogues, don't want the mosque to be built. What would we do if 75% of the people insist that no more Catholic churches be built in New York City? The point being is that majorities can become oppressors of minority rights as well as individual dictators. Statistics of support is irrelevant when it comes to the purpose of government in a free society -- protecting liberty.
The outcry over the building of the mosque, near ground zero, implies that Islam alone was responsible for the 9/11 attacks. According to those who are condemning the building of the mosque, the nineteen suicide terrorists on 9/11 spoke for all Muslims. This is like blaming all Christians for the wars of aggression and occupation because some Christians supported the neo-conservatives' aggressive wars.
The House Speaker is now treading on a slippery slope by demanding an investigation to find out just who is funding the mosque -- a bold rejection of property rights, 1st Amendment rights, and the Rule of Law -- in order to look tough against Islam.
This is all about hate and Islamaphobia.
We now have an epidemic of "sunshine patriots" on both the right and the left who are all for freedom, as long as there's no controversy and nobody is offended.
Political demagoguery rules when truth and liberty are ignored.
Left and the Right Demagogue Mosque, Islam
Is the controversy over building a mosque near ground zero a grand distraction or a grand opportunity? Or is it, once again, grandiose demagoguery?
It has been said, "Nero fiddled while Rome burned." Are we not overly preoccupied with this controversy, now being used in various ways by grandstanding politicians? It looks to me like the politicians are "fiddling while the economy burns."
The debate should have provided the conservative defenders of property rights with a perfect example of how the right to own property also protects the 1st Amendment rights of assembly and religion by supporting the building of the mosque.
Instead, we hear lip service given to the property rights position while demanding that the need to be "sensitive" requires an all-out assault on the building of a mosque, several blocks from "ground zero."
Just think of what might (not) have happened if the whole issue had been ignored and the national debate stuck with war, peace, and prosperity. There certainly would have been a lot less emotionalism on both sides. The fact that so much attention has been given the mosque debate, raises the question of just why and driven by whom?
In my opinion it has come from the neo-conservatives who demand continual war in the Middle East and Central Asia and are compelled to constantly justify it.
They never miss a chance to use hatred toward Muslims to rally support for the ill conceived preventative wars. A select quote from soldiers from in Afghanistan and Iraq expressing concern over the mosque is pure propaganda and an affront to their bravery and sacrifice.
The claim is that we are in the Middle East to protect our liberties is misleading. To continue this charade, millions of Muslims are indicted and we are obligated to rescue them from their religious and political leaders. And, we're supposed to believe that abusing our liberties here at home and pursuing unconstitutional wars overseas will solve our problems.
The nineteen suicide bombers didn't come from Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan or Iran. Fifteen came from our ally Saudi Arabia, a country that harbors strong American resentment, yet we invade and occupy Iraq where no al Qaeda existed prior to 9/11.
Many fellow conservatives say they understand the property rights and 1st Amendment issues and don't want a legal ban on building the mosque. They just want everybody to be "sensitive" and force, through public pressure, cancellation of the mosque construction.
This sentiment seems to confirm that Islam itself is to be made the issue, and radical religious Islamic views were the only reasons for 9/11. If it became known that 9/11 resulted in part from a desire to retaliate against what many Muslims saw as American aggression and occupation, the need to demonize Islam would be difficult if not impossible.
There is no doubt that a small portion of radical, angry Islamists do want to kill us but the question remains, what exactly motivates this hatred?
If Islam is further discredited by making the building of the mosque the issue, then the false justification for our wars in the Middle East will continue to be acceptable.
The justification to ban the mosque is no more rational than banning a soccer field in the same place because all the suicide bombers loved to play soccer.
Conservatives are once again, unfortunately, failing to defend private property rights, a policy we claim to cherish. In addition conservatives missed a chance to challenge the hypocrisy of the left which now claims they defend property rights of Muslims, yet rarely if ever, the property rights of American private businesses.
Defending the controversial use of property should be no more difficult than defending the 1st Amendment principle of defending controversial speech. But many conservatives and liberals do not want to diminish the hatred for Islam -- the driving emotion that keeps us in the wars in the Middle East and Central Asia.
It is repeatedly said that 64% of the people, after listening to the political demagogues, don't want the mosque to be built. What would we do if 75% of the people insist that no more Catholic churches be built in New York City? The point being is that majorities can become oppressors of minority rights as well as individual dictators. Statistics of support is irrelevant when it comes to the purpose of government in a free society -- protecting liberty.
The outcry over the building of the mosque, near ground zero, implies that Islam alone was responsible for the 9/11 attacks. According to those who are condemning the building of the mosque, the nineteen suicide terrorists on 9/11 spoke for all Muslims. This is like blaming all Christians for the wars of aggression and occupation because some Christians supported the neo-conservatives' aggressive wars.
The House Speaker is now treading on a slippery slope by demanding an investigation to find out just who is funding the mosque -- a bold rejection of property rights, 1st Amendment rights, and the Rule of Law -- in order to look tough against Islam.
This is all about hate and Islamaphobia.
We now have an epidemic of "sunshine patriots" on both the right and the left who are all for freedom, as long as there's no controversy and nobody is offended.
Political demagoguery rules when truth and liberty are ignored.
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
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It is too bad he makes so much sense on just about every issuethat’s right! Can’t we all just get together and focus on our real enemies: monogamous gays and stem cells… - Ned Flanders
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan0 -
I was going to post this one myself. Once again, I couldn't agree more with the good doctor.0
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Ron Paul is the man. He's so good that there's no chance for him to become president :( One of the few people how make sense in politics."The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it"
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Why not (V) (°,,,,°) (V) ?0 -
I just ordered his manifesto. I typically don't read political books but I think that this may be good exposure to an outside viewpoint.Be Excellent To Each OtherParty On, Dudes!0
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Jason P wrote:I just ordered his manifesto. I typically don't read political books but I think that this may be good exposure to an outside viewpoint.
It's an awesome book, and a very easy read. I'd recommend it to anyone. End The Fed is great too-- I still have to read "A Foreign Policy of Freedom" as that same section of "The Manifesto" is awesome.
He is definitely gaining in popularity. He will always be the longshot for the nomination, but come 2012, he will not be able to be ignored like the mainstream media tried to do to him in '08.0 -
unsung I stopped by on March 7 2024. First time in many years, had to update payment info. Hope all is well. Politicians suck. Bye. Posts: 9,487Ron Paul is REAL change.
Ron Paul 2012!0 -
a fact that too many people conveniently ignore.Open wrote:The nineteen suicide bombers didn't come from Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan or Iran. Fifteen came from our ally Saudi Arabia, a country that harbors strong American resentment, yet we invade and occupy Iraq where no al Qaeda existed prior to 9/11.
correct.Open wrote:This is all about hate and Islamaphobia.
good article. thanks for posting.0 -
What's sad is people are sensitive about a mosque near ground zero in the press, but the press stays away from the health problems the people who helped clean up that mess are experiencing. Who cares about a mosque, those workers' medical bills should be paid in full without question."All I Ever Knew" available now in print and digital formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iBooks.0
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I disagree with him in that "This is all about hate and Islamaphobia"...And man do I hate "Islamaphobia" and I can see becoming a very overused term, like a few others we have. Playing the Islamaphobia card.
Anyhow, I believe he is mostly right, so maybe I'm nitpicking. I do believe that it has a lot to do with an anti-lslam movement and some politicians are tapping into that for their personal gain. That said, I don't believe there would be this kind of uproar for a new mosque being built somewhere else, so it can't all just be "Islamaphobia".
Once again though, those that are truly 100% anti-Islam and all those other idiots crying "Islamaphobia" for most everything are the real problem because they keep us from having an important discussion in a rational manner.
Do they have a right to build it? Absolutely.
Should they build it there? That's a good discussion just to understand the motives of all involved.hippiemom = goodness0 -
I like Ron Paul and I like Rand even more,but I have to dissagree with about 70% this article.0
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prfctlefts wrote:I like Ron Paul and I like Rand even more,but I have to disagree with about 70% this article.
What's wrong with the 70% of the article? or what's right with the other 30%?"The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it"
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Why not (V) (°,,,,°) (V) ?0 -
cincybearcat wrote:I disagree with him in that "This is all about hate and Islamaphobia"...And man do I hate "Islamaphobia" and I can see becoming a very overused term, like a few others we have. Playing the Islamaphobia card.
Islamophobia.
not Islamaphobia.
so anyway, here's a video of an anti islam rally at ground zero.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwaNRWMN-F4
after looking at this and taking note of their behaviour towards the black man who they thought was Muslim, what would you call these folks at their hate rally if not islamophobes?0 -
dustinpardue wrote:What's sad is people are sensitive about a mosque near ground zero in the press, but the press stays away from the health problems the people who helped clean up that mess are experiencing. Who cares about a mosque, those workers' medical bills should be paid in full without question.
I believe THIS is a way more important issue than a fucking building of a mosque near ground 1. I don't give a damn about this non issue, take care of the people with their health issues who took loving care to be there for rescuing others the days after 9/11. Let these people build their place of peace and let them be, one of the stupidest arguments I've seen Americans discuss in a long time.
What's more important a Mosque near ground 1 or taking of the rescue workers and their severe health issues.
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/9/11/e ... _11_ground
...and still fighting for health 8 years later a fucking shame!
Peace*We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)0 -
Ron Paul wrote:If it became known that 9/11 resulted in part from a desire to retaliate against what many Muslims saw as American aggression and occupation, the need to demonize Islam would be difficult if not impossible.
this point effectively ends the debate on whether or not to build a mosque near ground zero. 9/11 was a political attack, not religious. the end.0 -
The attack was part of a fatwā. To say the attacks were not tied to religion is absurd.Commy wrote:Ron Paul wrote:If it became known that 9/11 resulted in part from a desire to retaliate against what many Muslims saw as American aggression and occupation, the need to demonize Islam would be difficult if not impossible.
this point effectively ends the debate on whether or not to build a mosque near ground zero. 9/11 was a political attack, not religious. the end.Be Excellent To Each OtherParty On, Dudes!0 -
Lol! Do you even know what a fatwa is?Jason P wrote:
The attack was part of a fatwā. To say the attacks were not tied to religion is absurd.Commy wrote:Ron Paul wrote:If it became known that 9/11 resulted in part from a desire to retaliate against what many Muslims saw as American aggression and occupation, the need to demonize Islam would be difficult if not impossible.
this point effectively ends the debate on whether or not to build a mosque near ground zero. 9/11 was a political attack, not religious. the end.0 -
unsung wrote:Ron Paul is REAL change.
Ron Paul 2012!
Sounds good to me."First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win ."
"With our thoughts we make the world"0 -
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Yeah but they just use the gullible insecure religious folks to futher their agenda.Commy wrote:Ron Paul wrote:If it became known that 9/11 resulted in part from a desire to retaliate against what many Muslims saw as American aggression and occupation, the need to demonize Islam would be difficult if not impossible.
this point effectively ends the debate on whether or not to build a mosque near ground zero. 9/11 was a political attack, not religious. the end.
Thus the urgent need to call out all religions for what they are. Yes those munipulatos will find another way to perpetrate the hate but wouldn't be great. 10-18-2000 Houston, 04-06-2003 Houston, 6-25-2003 Toronto, 10-8-2004 Kissimmee, 9-4-2005 Calgary, 12-3-05 Sao Paulo, 7-2-2006 Denver, 7-22-06 Gorge, 7-23-2006 Gorge, 9-13-2006 Bern, 6-22-2008 DC, 6-24-2008 MSG, 6-25-2008 MSG0
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