Muslims deserve religious rights

Throughout this year there have been many attacks on Muslims and their faith.

On May 26, the conservative talk show host Michael Berry made remarks that should have had criminal consequences. His on-air outburst was so clearly ignorant that it defies rational thinking.

“I’ll tell you this — I hope somebody blows it up,” Berry said on KPRC-950 AM. He was directing his remarks at the proposed mosque to be built a few blocks from ground zero, the memorial site where the World Trade Center towers once stood.

This is the kind of unacceptable behavior that spreads toxic sentiments across our country.

Berry’s statements are crucial to the movement that others like Sean Hannity and Sarah Palin passionately continue.

Yesterday, the topic was heating up yet again pertaining to a Twitter battle between Palin and Michael Bloomberg.

From her Twitter account the Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin tweeted “Ground zero mosque supporters: doesn’t it stab you in the heart, as it does ours throughout the heartland? Peaceful muslims, pls refudiate.”

Those who argue against the building of mosques are forgetting what the first amendment of the Bill of Rights is all about. The first amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

The issue of contention with the construction of mosques is subtler than it’s being portrayed. Conservatives and republicans who are taking stances against the spread of Islam in the U.S. are really trying to use this to infuriate those who are subject to believing the smears that are issued by Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.

The staff at Fox News continued this by creating a big deal about the president’s NASA agenda. President Obama’s NASA agenda has a foremost goal to open up and better develop the relationship with Muslim countries, as well as other non-traditional nations.

The criticisms of people like Palin, Hannity, and Limbaugh look idiotic once the facts are considered. There is nothing about the Muslim community that should pose threats to our friends or neighbors. Furthermore, there is no difference between building a mosque or a church.

The Islamic community has as much of a right to construct their places of worship, as does any other religion. The scare tactics of the conservative right are unoriginal and it’s a tough bet, because if they fail to convince enough people with their unsubstantial points they will fall to reality and truth.

Andrew Taylor is an economics senior and can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com