1 for his pillorying of media outlets. -1000 for ignoring his own question.
Is it really cut and dry? does the first amendment really make it unconstitutional to tell them no mosque there.
I'd say no. It does not create a state religion, it does not prevent you from practicing a religion (provided they'll zone it elsewhere within a reasonable distance), and it also would be well within established precedent.
Churches, temples, mosques, synagogues, etc ALL get denied zoning for many reasons. It doesn't become a constitutional issue unless you can't get zoning at all, or you can prove a pattern of discrimination.
The zoning stuff was settled long ago. The Brouhaha just started recently. All that stuff that people are now saying would make it fine if only they had done this or that, all that stuff has already been done.
I happen to think it is incredibly thoughtless to build a mosque anywhere near the Ground Zero site, but as long as they follow the State and local regulations it is really none of my business.
I like the one about why are we still allowing Catholic Churches near elementary schools. Same logic.
And Gramps said it best a few days ago when he pointed out, I paraphrase here '...if you blame Islam for 9-11, the terrorists have already defeated you.'
thebaron
I want my few minutes back for that dumb video clip....
Islam followers did not kill 3000 with attack against civilians that had nothing to do about their issue with the US? Islamic followers are noticed for building victory mosques around the world? They should be all sent back to their screwed up countries if they don't like the west.