Paul Revere by Cyrus Dallin, North End, Boston

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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

THIS IS AMERICA; THIS IS WHO WE ARE

"I understand the emotions that this issue engenders. Ground zero is, indeed, hallowed ground," the president said in remarks prepared for the annual White House iftar, the sunset meal breaking the day’s fast.



"This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country, and will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are" . . . . --President Barack Hussein Obama

From the New York Times editorial 8/17/10:

"Newt Gingrich, who has been beating this drum for weeks, accused the president of “pandering to radical Islam” and said the mosque would be a symbol of Muslim “triumphalism.” We were hesitant about repeating those comments here. But the country ignores such cynicism and ugliness at its own peril. Make no mistake, the rest of the world is listening.


Like President George W. Bush before him, President Obama warned against linking all followers of Islam to terrorists. “Al Qaeda’s cause is not Islam — it is a gross distortion of Islam,” he rightly said. It is our tolerance of others, he said, “that quintessentially American creed,” that stands in contrast to the nihilism of those who attacked us on Sept. 11, 2001.


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Too many Republican leaders are determined to whip up as much false controversy and anguish as they can, right through November. Some Democrats will cave. We were disturbed on Monday when a spokesman for the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, said that Mr. Reid “thinks that the mosque should be built someplace else.”


Mr. Obama and all people of conscience need to push back hard. Defending all Americans’ right to worship — and their right to build places to worship — is fundamental to who we are.

5 comments:

K. said...

One person who could push back hard is George Bush. A positive statement from him could go a long way.

Why would anyone pander to radical Islam?

Adam Clay said...

Yes, this IS America, Not Meca!

Not yet.

Sue said...

this Adam person from NY, what a jerk!

To have Newt Gingrich, who could possibly run for president, say such horrid things for all the world to hear is such a disgrace to our nation and the good people who live here!! He is an embarrassment and we all should be ashamed of these so-called leaders who spew lies and hate!!!

This fight is about religion and the Christians accusing Muslims of hating them! So what will the Christians do, act like the Nazis and seek to rid the world of Muslims?? They are already trying to do it in America!

George Bush is a COWARD!! He has nothing to lose by speaking to the truth of this story!

Kevin Robbins said...

It doesn't surprise me that Harry Reid comes out against the Cordoba Islamic center, but it's really disappointing that Howard Dean did.

Anonymous said...

New Gingrich is a piece of sh*t.