Benjamin Franklin - Often quoted regarding his reverence of liberty and reminding us not to compromise it.
There has been some very emotional reactions by the right wing regarding news that a Muslim mosque will be built near the World Trade Center. People are outraged. Many people (mostly on the right) are saying that the building of this mosque must be stopped. However, they are wrong.
This is an emotionally charged issue, but there are some thoughts on this that need to be shared.
September 11, 2001 is a day nobody will forget. Americans were shocked and each of us felt the loss in our own way. Unfortunately for over 3,000 families, they felt it much more.
The anger is very clear. People do not want the mosque built no matter what. There is even a political advertisement for Carl Palladino, a candidate for Governor in NY, saying that if elected he will use eminent domain to purchase the land and make it a war memorial.
However, stopping the building of the mosque is not the right thing to do.
Liberty First. Liberty Always.
Liberty is the most important thing in a free society. Liberty means that no person or group has a higher claim on your person or private property than you. This goes for everyone. So often we see the left electing an official to a position to use its power to infringe on one set of people to the benefit of the other. For instance, the left will elect people to congress so that they can take the taxpayer’s earning and give it to others. This may be welfare, government health care, public sector unions or even bailouts. This is a violation of liberty and amounts to nothing more than theft if you or I did the same kind of thing. So, if liberty is the most important thing in a free society, people must resist the urge to ask the government to exercise power on its behalf.
It is foolish and wrong to criticize “the other party” that is ignoring the constitution and using the government for its personal ends if you do the same thing when the issue is one you feel strongly about. The principles of liberty must not be thrown aside for such things. In order to preserve liberty, people cannot have it both ways. Liberty is not a menu style thing. You can’t pick and choose. You can’t apply it according to the want of any individual or group, because then it wouldn’t be liberty at all. There is liberty or there isn’t.
The Reaction & Aversion to the Muslim Religion
There is a great deal of emotion regarding the Muslim religion since 9/11. People see a Muslim mosque near the World Trade Center as an insult to the victims. Why? Because of 19 individuals? To oppose this building because it will be Muslim is to make a clear statement. That statement is that Muslims are not welcome. Despite the fear mongering of people like Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh, the entire Muslim world did not attack us on 9/11.
To cite religion as a reason for not allowing this building is to view our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan not as wars against terror, but as war against Muslims. This is foolish. A person can cite passages in the Koran all day and it won’t change this. Our constitution along with people who truly support liberty for all extend rights to those of all religions. To deny someone rights on the basis of religion is un-American.
Liberty or Emotion?
Frankly, I do not share the anger of others on this matter. I do not see the Muslim religion as an enemy. Unfortunately, many seem to hold these views. It is misguided, in my opinion, but it is reality.
People are free to think and feel what they want. So, you may be mad as hell at the mosque being built near the World Trade Center site. You do not have to like it. However, you cannot let your emotions betray your principles.
Benjamin Franklin is often cited for saying those who are willing to give up a little liberty for security deserve neither. He is absolutely correct. Therefore this is also correct. Those who are willing to compromise the principles of liberty for the sake of emotional satisfaction or ideology do not deserve liberty either.
