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Clearing the Browser Tabs – Mosque Mania Monday Edition

Jimmie | July 18, 2011 | Comments (0)

Presidential candidate Herman Cain turned more than a few heads this weekend when he said that he would not consider a ban of a proposed mosque in the city of Murfreesboro, TN unconstitutional. He repeated and expanded on that statement at a private event in Bethesda, MD. Stacy McCain has the exclusive video of his remarks there and I recommend you spend a few minutes watching it before you read the MSM reports.

I’ve said on The Delivery and Right this Way that I’m torn on the subject of Islam in America. On one hand, I consider freedom of religion inviolable. On the other, I understand that Islam as it is currently practiced by more than a small number of its adherents is not simply a religion. Islamists are quick to cloak their deadly anti-American activities as religious because they know how important the First Amendment is to us. We are fools if we allow them to do so without looking for ways to differentiate between innocent centers of worship and cultural exchange and breeding grounds for jihad.

I don’t think it’s outrageous to suggest that the people of Murfreesboro have the right to keep Islamists from building an outpost in their city if it turns out that what’s this mosque is. It is not wrong to operate from an abundance of caution when every piece of evidence suggests that caution is warranted. If the mosque will simply be a mosque, then it’ll get built. That’s now America works. Still. But if it’s not, we shouldn’t allow it in Murfreesboro or anywhere else. That’s just common sense.

And now, links!

When it comes to the pragmatism vs. idealism argument on the right, I’ve long sided with Jeff Goldstein, and it’s put a few relationships on shaky ground. My argument, though, is simple: making a stand on principles and defending those principles clearly and often is pragmatic. The right has mistaken pragmatic defense of ideals for pie-in-the-sky idealism and it’s caused us to cede ground we should never have ceded and may never recover.
No means…maybe?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, before a reporter writes a piece on religion, they should make sure they understand at least the basics of that religion.
Be sure to check out Steve Green’s newest This Week in Blogs!
I’d never dare speak for all of America, but if it turns out that the administration launched Operation Fast and Furious to advance a new effort to restrict the Second Amendment (and it looks like this is a safer bet with each new revelation), the country should rise up as one and demand that the President resign. Yes, folks, it’s that serious. (via Instapundit)
John Hanlon at Big Hollywood says the final Harry Potter movie might be as good as the first.
Matt at Old Line Elephant is reading the Bible from cover to cover, and has a couple early thoughts.
Saturday was the 42nd anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch.