Opposing Mosques in America? Updated | Noblesse Oblige
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I wrote this back in April, 2009 when the anti mosque movement was just about European facism, bigotry, and populist opposition to mosques. I asked some questions then and now I am sickened and saddened by the answers that have come to light about the leadership on the US right during the current mosque controversy. Below is part of an entry from my blog from 4/27/09:
There’s a big blogspat going on and as usual Charles Johnson is on the right side of the truth. He’s calling out the neo-nazi backgrounds, associations, and political partnerships between the Euro-Supremacist groups organizing the Pro-Koln anti-mosque movement.
The Paleosphere has risen in defense of Robert Spencer and Pamela at Atlas Shrugs who were billed by the Pro-Koln group as coming to attend or speak at the event, and now the usual obfuscations and cries of “guilt by association!”, it’s the “Soros attack machine!” and “Psyops!” are screeching across their close-knit bigotted group.
First of all here’s a hint for all conservative bloggers - before you chime in you best do some real research on the groups in Europe so you know what the heck you are talking about.
Secondly let’s put all of that Euro-Supremacist stuff aside for a moment.
Step back and look at the bigger picture. If someone were building a mosque in the US anywhere, would you support a group of Yo-Yo’s showing up to stop it?
[ The answer here is clear: the leadership and blogsphere on the right will join with the bigots to oppose freedom of religion in the US if they think it serves them. How did they become so desperate and power hungry that they would hug bigots? ]
Is it libertarian to tell someone how they may or may not use their property?
[Again, leadership on the right tramples the constitution in their haste to grasp this year’s populist bumper sticker: “I opposed the Ground Zero Megamosque”.]
Is it constitutional in the US to stop a mosque from being built? (Think before you answer – what if it were a church, a temple, or a synagogue?) [The answer here is still clear, nobody has been able to come close to stopping the mosque, and if it fails it will be lack of funding that does it. However this clearly demonstrates why the current leadership of the right cannot be trusted with a majority. ]
It’s basically un-American and not a conservative value to oppose freedom of religion. Is that a politically viable stance for conservatives to support?
[I still believe it to be politically untenable - in the US bigotry is always overcome in the long term. There might be short term gain, but longer term this will be an albatross around some necks.]
There you go; the big picture, please think on it.
UPDATE: Robert Spencer says he won’t go, but defends the group and attacks detractors, if he feels so strongly why doesn’t he go then?
One other note: The pro-serbia lobby in the US has had “no new mosques” as a talking point for years (at least since 2005 where you can find Jatras articles pushing that point) so don’t imagine that a similar campaign would never be mounted here. If it were it would be disastrous for Republicans.
I’ve chopped out the supporting text and links etc because they are no longer topical, but if you want to see the full article and supporting evidence and links from back then please click out to the link up top.
The twisted and warped fun house mirror conservatism of today is something I cannot and will not support, and that is why I will become a registered Democrat before November for the first time in my life.