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islamists or Islam: Who is Behind the Ground Zero Mosque?
Akron, OH
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Americans are debating the wrong topic.
As long as both sides of this issue cover themselves in the First Amendment, the terrorists win.
The first amendment prohibits the making of any law impeding the free exercise of religion: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
The question of the ground zero mosque is not a question of religious freedom. If we debate this as a First Amendment issue, there is only one answer, let 'em build.
In a post 9/11 world, thank you Islamists, the question is national security question not a religious question.
In the 1976 movie, All the President's Men, Deep Throat first coined the now infamous phrase when he told reporter Bob Woodward, "Follow the Money".
This is a Follow the Money story not a First Amendment story.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Iman Feisal Abdul Rauf told the newspaper that funding would come from Muslims in the United States and from overseas. Muslims practicing what kind of Islam? Hamas Muslims? Hezbollah Muslims? Or your garden variety next door Muslims?
Will this 13 story be for Islamists or Islam? That is the question. And much of the answer is found in where the money comes from. Some will say, we don't ask the Catholic church in our neighborhood or the Temple down the street, where they got their money. Maybe we will, maybe we should.
Things are different in a post 9/11 world, thank you Islamists, and so goes the money so goes the philosophy. The words that were said 34 years ago in a movie, ring true today. The real story will be told when we successfully Follow the Money.
As long as both sides of this issue cover themselves in the First Amendment, the terrorists win.
The first amendment prohibits the making of any law impeding the free exercise of religion: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
The question of the ground zero mosque is not a question of religious freedom. If we debate this as a First Amendment issue, there is only one answer, let 'em build.
In a post 9/11 world, thank you Islamists, the question is national security question not a religious question.
In the 1976 movie, All the President's Men, Deep Throat first coined the now infamous phrase when he told reporter Bob Woodward, "Follow the Money".
This is a Follow the Money story not a First Amendment story.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Iman Feisal Abdul Rauf told the newspaper that funding would come from Muslims in the United States and from overseas. Muslims practicing what kind of Islam? Hamas Muslims? Hezbollah Muslims? Or your garden variety next door Muslims?
Will this 13 story be for Islamists or Islam? That is the question. And much of the answer is found in where the money comes from. Some will say, we don't ask the Catholic church in our neighborhood or the Temple down the street, where they got their money. Maybe we will, maybe we should.
Things are different in a post 9/11 world, thank you Islamists, and so goes the money so goes the philosophy. The words that were said 34 years ago in a movie, ring true today. The real story will be told when we successfully Follow the Money.
Leslie Ungar
President
Electric Impulse Communications, Inc.
Akron, OH
330-668-6569
