re: #79 karmic_inquisitor

Part of what reveals prejudices the most is challenging someone on a controversial matter using other values that they hold which they don’t see in play.

Let me explain with a local issue that I have been involved in -

A nearby WalMart has applied for permits to redevelop their site into a WalMart super center. This has attracted a fair amount of opposition. While I don’t have a problem with the expansion, I helped some friends in the opposition deal with some misleading information put out by WalMart. In so doing I discovered (not surprisingly) that the opposition was made up of people who simply oppose the existence of WalMart.

The application by WalMart didn’t ask for a zoning change. As such, WalMart is entitled to the rightful and uncontroversial application of due process as both an entity and a property owner. I actually got into a few heated arguments with friends about this simple point. Their pre-disposition to opposing WalMart led them to want to strip WalMart of some basic rights which everyone is entitled to. These are people who would normally beat the drum on protecting property rights from the edicts of whimsical bureaucrats - they now wanted bureaucrats to apply absolute power whimsically.

The zoning at Park 51 allows for a Mosque (or even a satanic worship center). We have supposed conservatives who will normally beat the drum on -
*property rights
*religious freedom
*due process
*containing government excesses
asking government to deny due process and property rights on the basis that government finds a religious beleif system unacceptable.

When you challenge the bigotted directly they scream “I’m not biggoted - its my right!” When you ask them about their values they will proudly assert them up until you then challenge them on the case where they aren’t applying them. Some will come around - others will make clear that they don’t want to be your friend anymore.

Hmmph. I don’t think it’s a move likely to win hearts and minds for Islam, putting that project there, but they have every right to do so. Making the rules as you go so as to get the result you want is the sort of dumb stunt you’d expect from some local fire marshal, and not a worthy response from a great cosmopolitan world city.