This isn't opinion; it's written all over assorted founding documents (e.g. the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution). As often as it says "In God We Trust" on anything, there seem to be an equal number of statements about escaping the religious oppression of the British, the freedom to practice as we see fit, tolerance of diverse views, etc., etc. How can that part possibly be forgotten this easily?
The arguments of the Murfreesboro mosque's opponents change with the winds, and none appear valid. First, the issue is the construction of a mosque, not the practice of Shari'a law. However, since they brought it up, every "legitimate" concern (I'm being generous) about Shari'a law is addressed in other legislation: domestic violence, kidnapping, human trafficking, terrorism, whatever. Islam IS a religion, which Joe Brandon damn well knows, despite his insistence that the negative "lawyer" stereotype is accurate. The 15,000 square feet can't be the problem when The People's Church (First Baptist, Franklin, TN) opened a campus nearly four (4) times that size in nearby Spring Hill in November.
This is nothing but hate, and it's sickening. Get out your Bill of Rights again, people. Amendment 1: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free 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."
That's what this country was founded on, not on Christianity or any other religion, and it will not serve any of us in the long-term if you get laws passed restricting this one. Get over yourselves. We are better than this crap.
