How Far Are They Willing to Go with Religious Freedom?

Hey, libs, how does a gay-bashing church moving in next to a gay bar sound? Would you defend this church to the same degree you defend the Ground Zero mosque? Didn't think so.

If this is about freedom of religion, Russ Vaughn at the American Thinker suggests the Westboro Baptist Church, you know those nutjobs who protest at military funerals and who revile homosexuals, should be permitted to build a bigoted church right smack dab in the middle of where gays congregate.

What If It Were the Westboro Initiative?
Russ Vaughn

"A question for all those liberal elites who are now aggressively professing their new-found enthusiasm for observing our constitutionally guaranteed religious freedom:

How loudly would you be declaring your support if instead of a mosque at Ground Zero it was the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, infamous because of its unbridled hostility to homosexuals, which was seeking to build a huge church and community resources center in San Francisco, Key West or Fire Island for like-minded Christian fundamentalists?

Consider, if you will, that while the almost universally reviled Westboro Baptist Church and its adherents defame our American war dead and bring much emotional pain to the grieving families of those honorable dead, it is adherents to the religion of this controversial mosque who are actually responsible for the fact of those war dead. And America should never forget that it was adherents to the religion this mosque embodies and proclaims who initiated a religious war against America and that without their treacherous 9/11 attack on civilians, we most likely would not have thousands of war dead for our families to grieve.

There actually are some interesting parallels between The Westboro church and the proposed Cordoba Mosque. The actions of the Westboro congregation and followers are all about outrageous, in-your-face provocation; and let's face it, isn't that exactly the issue with this mosque? Out of all the places in New York City where such an edifice could be erected, the planners behind this project just happen to pick a site as close to Ground Zero as possible?

That simply reeks of provocation. The very name of the project, the Cordoba Initiative should be a wake-up call. The Great Mosque of Cordoba is a burning symbol to Muslims of their lost grandeur when once they held Spain firmly in their caliph until Spanish King Ferdinand kicked their butts out in the 1200's. To erect an even grander mosque at the site of Islam's greatest military triumph against The Great Satan since the Middle Ages carries with it a symbolism to Muslims around the world that we infidels can only guess at. Cordoba Initiative indeed.

Who's kidding who here? This has been a deliberate, well-planned, in-your-face provocation from the get-go. And sorry as I am to have to say this, I can't help but wonder if our supposedly ex-Muslim president wasn't in on the program from that very same get-go. Like a typical black ex-senator from Illinois, he first proclaimed before his Muslim dinner guests a full-throated support of the mosque project, only the next morning to tap dance around his words.

In a spot-on observation by the Wall Street Journal's James Taranto, our no-cojones commander-in-chief has once again voted present. Those of you who remember Obama's slip on ABC with George Stephanopoulos should not be surprised."


If the Westboro Church isn't such a good idea, Greg Gutfeld from Fox News has another suggestion. From the Daily Gut:

MY NEW GAY BAR

"So, the Muslim investors championing the construction of the new mosque near Ground Zero claim it's all about strengthening the relationship between the Muslim and non-Muslim world.

As an American, I believe they have every right to build the mosque - after all, if they buy the land and they follow the law - who can stop them?

Which is, why, in the spirit of outreach, I've decided to do the same thing.

I'm announcing tonight, that I am planning to build and open the first gay bar that caters not only to the west, but also Islamic gay men. To best express my sincere desire for dialogue, the bar will be situated next to the mosque Park51, in an available commercial space.

This is not a joke. I've already spoken to a number of investors, who have pledged their support in this bipartisan bid for understanding and tolerance.

As you know, the Muslim faith doesn't look kindly upon homosexuality, which is why I'm building this bar. It is an effort to break down barriers and reduce deadly homophobia in the Islamic world.

The goal, however, is not simply to open a typical gay bar, but one friendly to men of Islamic faith. An entire floor, for example, will feature non-alcoholic drinks, since booze is forbidden by the faith. The bar will be open all day and night, to accommodate men who would rather keep their sexuality under wraps - but still want to dance.

Bottom line: I hope that the mosque owners will be as open to the bar, as I am to the new mosque. After all, the belief driving them to open up their center near Ground Zero, is no different than mine.

My place, however, will have better music."