The weekend is upon us and millions across our vast nation will spend at least part of their time praying to their God of choice. Some will gather on Friday, some on Saturday and a vast majority on Sunday. They will congregate in mosques, synagogues or churches. It is a right guaranteed under the United States Constitution.
The First Amendment of this historic document reads: "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
While I am no proponent of organized religion, I am a fierce advocate in the rights our Constitution provides. Whether or not you agree or disagree with the building of a mosque in the shadow of New York's September 11th terror attack actually doesn't matter. As our current president pointed out, it is a local issue and as long as they meet all the local laws and ordinances our founding fathers guaranteed them this right.
It seems, as a population, we have short memories. It was not that long ago synagogues were defaced and even bombed. African-American churches had crosses burned in front of them and in some areas, Catholic and Latter Day Saints (Mormon) churches were targets of discontent.
Our nation has existed for 236 years and it has not been without periods of some form of religious turmoil. I am not referring to scandals that have rocked many of the organized religions, I am referring to those who did not fit in the mainstream. Those whose beliefs differed from their neighbors.
Less than 50 years ago Jews were not welcomed into many country clubs or hotels. Mormons were castigated for their lifestyle and Catholics viewed with suspicion. Now, in light of recent events, yet another "different" religion is drawing fire and they are being painted with a broad brush as evil, much the same as in earlier times and other faiths.
Perhaps, the choice of sites for the New York City place of worship could be considered insensitive. Yet, it might also be considered a memorial by some of the Islamic faith for there were also Muslims killed in the twin towers and they weren't aboard the planes.
The First Amendment doesn't say anything about tolerance or what belief is right. It simply guarantees the right to exercise a religious belief; as well as the freedom to speak out and peaceably protest. All of which some parts of our society are enjoying.
In this one person's view, it seems in today's America people pick and choose the Constitutional right they feel fits them and disregards the rights it affords others. Once more, as several of my previous blogs note, we should be building our country on the very diversity that has made it great instead of turning diversity into divisiveness.
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