OK. Who's to blame for the insanity over mosques?

[CurtEastPoint]

Read this shit, from the Atlanta JC.:

In the Nashville suburb of Murfreesboro, opponents of a new Islamic center say they believe the mosque will be more than a place of prayer. They are afraid the 15-acre site that was once farmland will be turned into a terrorist training ground for Muslim militants bent on overthrowing the U.S. government.

"They are not a religion. They are a political, militaristic group," said Bob Shelton, a 76-year-old retiree who lives in the area.

Shelton was among several hundred demonstrators recently who wore "Vote for Jesus" T-shirts and carried signs that said: "No Sharia law for USA!," referring to the Islamic code of law. Others took their opposition further, spray painting the sign announcing the "Future site of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro" and tearing it up.

In Temecula, Calif., opponents brought dogs to protest a proposed 25,000-square-foot mosque that would sit on four acres next to a Baptist church. Opponents worry it will turn the town into haven for Islamic extremists, but mosque leaders say they are peaceful and just need more room to serve members.

[babylonsister]

1. rethugs-they're all about stirring up the fear, if not for

a black president, than for Muslims and Hispanics. They're getting very good at it.

Arab American Institute president: Republicans exploiting fears of Muslims
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8904644

[Prometheus Bound]

2. Bigots run wild.

[Odin2005]

3. Going by that reasoning we should shut down all fundy churches.

[blondeatlast]

4. A couple of years after 9/11, a Hindu temple replaced a small non-denominational Christian church.

Some of the LUTHERANS from across the street gathered to protest the day it opened until their pastor came and asked them all to leave.

I know I must love and forgive my brethren (I'm a Xtian and proudly so) but such idiotic hate is more than my mortal soul can tolerate sometimes.

[murielm99]

6. Was this in Arizona, too?

My state has its share of crazies, and some of the most corrupt politicians in the country. But Arizona is really sealing its own fate when it comes to ethnic hate.

[Bluebear]

11. I will never forget Balbir Sodhi, an Indian who was murdered in AZ after 9/11

Balbir Singh Sodhi (1949–September 15, 2001) was a Mesa, Arizona, gas station owner who was murdered in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks. He made headlines because he was the first of several cases across the United States that were reported to the police as acts of retaliation for the terrorist attacks. According to family members, Singh Sodhi had been distraught because of the terrorist attacks.

Born in Punjab, India, he was a member of the Sikh religion. He moved to Los Angeles in 1989, where he worked as a taxi driver. He later relocated to San Francisco, where he continued to work in that capacity. He saved enough money to buy a gas station in Phoenix and moved there.

On September 15, 2001, Frank Roque shot him five times, killing him instantly. Roque, who apparently wanted revenge for September 11, confused him for a person of Arab ethnicity because of the clothes he wore, his turban, and his beard. Within 25 minutes of his death, the Phoenix police reported four further attacks on people who either were Middle Easterners or who dressed with clothes thought to be worn by Middle Easterners.

On August 4, 2002, less than a year after Balbir's death, his younger brother Sukhpal was shot to death while driving his taxicab in San Francisco, apparently killed by a stray bullet from a nearby gang fight. In response to this second tragedy, Balbir's son, Sukhwinder said, "What are you going to do with anger? We like peace and we are a peaceful people."<1>

On September 30, 2003, Frank Roque, age 44, was convicted of first-degree murder in the Singh case. On October 10, dismissing defense claims of diminished mental responsibility, jurors at Maricopa County Superior Court sentenced him to face the death penalty. In August 2006, Arizona Supreme Court overturned Roque's death sentence in return for a sentence of life in prison

[blondeatlast]

13. My ex-husband is Indian. After 9/11, I asked him to call me when he got to work and when

he was leaving. That shooting is etched in my mind as if it were yesterday.

in fact, we agreed that he and our son would not go out of the house alone together until things "cooled down." He'd either go alone or all of us would go except for his commute to work (I'm a blue-eyed Anglo as you can probably guess). Those were scary, scary times. It's still hard to think about even now that we've gone through a bitter breakup that he admits is his fault. It just still is so painful to remember those times.

:scared:

[beam me up scottie]

19. "What are you going to do with anger?"

During those first few days I thought I had reached the depths of despair, but that horrific murder knocked me down several more levels.

So much hate.

Still.

[blondeatlast]

14. Yes, in Scottsdale; not far frrom my home as a teenager. It really oipened my eyes, I'll tell you. n

[mmonk]

5. The government and the media following 9/11.

Americans are good followers. Of course, when it comes time to turn the switch off, it is too late.

[ThomWV]

7. Who's to blame for the insanity over anything? Why are we nuts at all?

Could it be we are fed an incessant stream of bullshit and the only rational response is insanity?

[greytdemocrat]

8. That should be clear.

The scum that murdered nearly 3000 Americans on 9/11.

[Little Star]

9. Good point.

[pinboy3niner]

17. No, NOT a good point

The attackers are responsible for the carnage they caused.

The insanity over the mosques is entirely on the bigots--as you SHOULD understand.

[DrDan]

10. it wasn't 3000 Americans . . . .

[Curmudgeoness]

12. Huh? Does this mean that all Muslims are going to murder

Americans? Are you really ready to go that far?

[beam me up scottie]

16. Bullshit.

But thanks for buying into the bigotry, good to know who's doing the protesting.

I am sickened by some of the posts on this subject.

[AsahinaKimi]

15. I think we can thank FOX NEWS..

for a lot of the crap.

[Hannah Bell]

18. ultimately, the military-intelligence complex.