Saturday, September 11, 2010

Don't Let The Terrorists Win

Each year I wonder what to write about on this day and in recent years I have just skipped it. Then an email arrived in my inbox from Michael Moore and I found inspiration:

I am opposed to the building of the "mosque" two blocks from Ground Zero. I want it built ON Ground Zero.

Why? Because I believe in an America that protects those who are the victims of hate and prejudice. I believe in an America that says you have the right to worship whatever God you have, wherever you want to worship. And I believe in an America that says to the world that we are a loving and generous people and if a bunch of murderers steal your religion from you and use it as their excuse to kill 3,000 souls, then I want to help you get your religion back. And I want to put it at the spot where it was stolen from you.


Words can not describe the turmoil that exists inside of me on this subject. PASSIONATE feelings compete convincingly - some fueled by hurt, anger and a sense of duty and others originating from the caring, accepting and protective parts of me. I don't think there is an issue for these modern times that equals how the world has changed since September 11th 2001. It has, and continues to, define us.

Michaels words hit me like a hammer to the forehead. Eloquent as always, he is right. Just because the people who enacted 9/11 considered themselves Muslims does not mean that Islam attacked "us" that day. Just because some terribly bad people are intent on using terrorism in the name of Islam does not make all Muslims terrorists. Terrorists are terrorists regardless of race or creed. I hate the terrorists with every fiber of my being and I want to do everything within my power to stop them. To end them even.

Many of "us" are Muslims - it is not a crime to be a Muslim - and more than anything I want to live in a world where it is both safe and ok for you to be Muslim if that's what you choose. This means we have to stand up for them, just as we would for any other religious belief, because allowing injustice to spread and divide us only hurts all of us further.

Some days it seems as if these two sets of feelings are such opposing values that they don't belong together, but in reality I feel both of them equally and know I desperately need both to produce a rational and tempered response. I have to make a clear choice as to which one wins and I choose FREEDOM.

If we don't rise up to protect freedom (for everyone) then the terrorists have already won.

4 comments:

KURSK said...

Sorry..you build a mosque at ground zero out of some misguided sense of self loathing, and you will deserve all that comes next.

All those so called' moderate Muslims ( who, btw, never seem to share those sentiments of having 'their' religion being hijacked from them) will now feel that their hesitation to condemn the actions of their coreligionists was prudent.

They will now see that if they support the radical elements, they will be backing the strong horse.

Appeasement will not lessen the amounts of attacks; indeed, they will increase.

Killing 3000 people and your enemy allows you to build a monument of triumph at the site?

Then how about when they kill 50,000 or 100,000?

Do we allow them to build their monument on the Washington mall or Parliament hill?

Does the placing of a victory monument now become a matter of degree?

We will all be safer when we slap enough people in the face with reality.Perhaps a lack of martial culture in Canada prevents folks from seeing who their enemy is, and how to defeat them.All appeasement and accommodation does is increase the average Canadians' chance of dying at an early age.

Anonymous said...

Sniff, blubber ... I'm weeping with tears of awe & joy at the wonder of your tolerance and passion.

Wow, if this were any more sappy we'd have a maple syrup flood.

NO WTC MOSQUE!!! --- PERIOD!

ANY subcontractor who works on it will have their name publicized and their business ruined.

Any city worker who approves permits or signs off on inspections will have their names posted in public. (expect a lot of permit application forms to ... "get lost")

Any union leader who advises his members to work on the mosque with be ousted in the next union elections.

Any work vehicle that parks near the WTC mosque is in great danger of being stolen or vandalized.

And maybe, just maybe their may be a tragic fire. -- accidents can happen.

Shove your touchy feely blubbering nonsense.

No WTC mosque

Anonymous said...

Typical leftist crap. Spit on the graves of 3000 americans (including 64 Canadians) so that some muslim a$$holes can feel good about themselves. (and so YOU can feel ever-so-morally superior).

Allie Wojtaszek said...

OK apparently this is going to be a dumping ground for anonymous hateful comments which I normally don't tolerate. I'm going to turn the comments off but will leave the comments that are here up.