tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988231799504445156.post90819333613789825..comments2023-05-16T04:37:36.671-04:00Comments on theHillsbergblog: Islamophobia: Not the America I KnowtheHillsbergbloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06467067976051654966noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988231799504445156.post-70820584235095824252010-09-18T23:46:02.016-04:002010-09-18T23:46:02.016-04:00Thanks Braeden, I appreciate it! I do see where yo...Thanks Braeden, I appreciate it! I do see where your coming from too, I did indeed phrase it a bit wrong in my post.theHillsbergbloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06467067976051654966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988231799504445156.post-23461791799425059662010-09-18T15:43:47.175-04:002010-09-18T15:43:47.175-04:00First off, Matt, great post; I agree with this 99....First off, Matt, great post; I agree with this 99.9%. I can kind of understand the "anti-mosque" argument, for the issue is a sensitive one, as you point out, but as you argue, to call the construction of an Islamic community center in the vicinity of Ground Zero a victory for Islam and thus the radicals who ochestrated and carried out the 9/11 attacks is completely off-base. To say that those radical Islamists are in the majority and thus representative of the Islamic world is false. Like far-right Christians, these people take Islamic principles out of context and use them for their own purposes while ignoring other ideals that don't directly serve their purposes. Also, why should it be considered a "triumph for Islam" when all Americans have the right to religious freedom? The mere usage of the word "triumph" implies that something was lost by those who follow Christianity/Judaism and that something is morally wrong with the construction of this center. To this point, I'd say you're completely right on the matter. <br /><br />However, I do disagree with your assessment that intolerance is a new phenomenon. In fact, I think there are many people who would disagree. Throughout the course of history, racial and religious minorities have been scorned by majorities, even in America. African-Americans, Latin-Americans, Asian-Americans, etc. have all experienced the "wrong side" (if one can call it that as horrible as that sounds) of prejudice here in the Land of the Free. In the political realm, homosexuals face daily problems (and have for decades) and don't enjoy the same freedoms that heterosexuals enjoy in the U.S. <br /><br />I come from a town not far from here, a town built on agriculture, which is an industry that, at least in our area, would not be able to function/prosper without cheap, migrant labor. Thus, when I was growing up, it always amazed me to hear racial slur after slur directed toward this fairly large segment of our society on which we were so dependent. Anyways, the point is: religious and racial intolerance has always been present in the U.S. It's a sad truth, and maybe it's cynical of me to say this, but I don't see this problem going away anytime soon. <br /><br />Again, great post! Just thought I'd share my thoughts.Braedenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05892508334757365168noreply@blogger.com