Why the Middle East Needs a Murfreesboro like Tennessee, Make that a Hundred……….
“Opponents of the planned expansion by the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro say they are concerned about zoning issues and the possibility of excessive traffic. But during a protest against the center on Wednesday, several hundred marchers carried signs with slogans such as "MOSQUE LEADERS SUPPORT KILLING CONVERTS," while others wore "Vote for Jesus" t-shirts or waved "Don't tread on me" flags. Some expressed fears that the mosque could become a center for terrorism……. But other marchers were less discreet. "In Islam, a mosque means 'We have conquered this country,'" one man told the local CNN affiliate. "And where are they? They're in the center of Tennessee. They're going to say, 'We have conquered Tennessee.'"…….. Supporters of the Islamic Center carried signs reading "I love my Muslim neighbors" and "Freedom of religion." One told reporters, "My family came here in 1648 -- for religious freedom -- from Scotland. That we have to be here for this today is sad.”……..."
One thing is clear: in the USA everyone gets to have his house of worship because everyone has a right to it. The good people of Murfreesboro (Tennessee)will eventually settle this issue within the rule of the Bill of Rights that guarantees freedoms. (Frankly I never heard of it until today and I am not sure what Muslims are doing that deep inland. I thought that, like the Chinese, Muslims mostly clung to the two coasts).
I wish communities across the Middle East were as divided over churches or synagogues or mosques. I wish they would debate such issues as openly as the good people of Murfreesboro. Unfortunately they are not nearly as divided as Murfreesboro: that would be a sign of healthy debate and a degree of non-conformism that is severely frowned upon in the Middle East. On “our” side, across the oceans, this freedom of religion for “minority faiths” is often either completely unavailable (Saudi Arabia) or restricted (name any country in the Middle East including Israel).
Cheers
mhg
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