[UnderseaLcpl]

This is a silly discussion. As far as I'm concerned, anyone can build anything they want on or near ground zero because this is a country where we believe that all men are created equal and entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It's understandable that there is still resentment towards the Muslim community from 9/11, but if we allow our sentiemtns to cloud our judgement and, more importantly, empower the state to discriminate amongst religions, we will find that the same state we give that power to will be used against us in the future.

I feel like freaking Yoda, being a guy with large ears who always tells people not to take the quick and easy path, but there is wisdom in that message. You cannot simultaneously have a free state and a controlling state. If you create a legal precedent for enforced discrimination (or elimination of enforced discrimination, as the case may be) it will come back and bite you in the ass, I promise you. One might as well build the gallows with which to hang oneself.

What strikes me as being extremely odd is that there are so many W.A.S.P.s who are of a the opinion that we should somehow create a means to preserve the status quo of W.A.S.P. America. Really, guys? Are you so blind to the past and present? Have you forgotten how we used to do that to other people? Do you really think that in the political system we have that we're ever going to "win" against the Muslims or the Latinos or whoever happens to be on your s***-list at the moment? Would you be willing to live under a system that could keep them out? Would you willingly give anyone that kind of control? Methinks you've been fooled by people with a different agenda.

If we really cherish our nation and our values, we should be confident enough to let them stand on their own merit. We have nothing to fear, aside from a politcal machine that has regard not for merit or equality of opportunity, but that promotes intolerance or equality of outcome.