Americas Two Muslim Congressmen Cogitate on the New York Mosque and the State of Islam in the U.S.
For all that the hyperbole surrounding the proposed building of a mosque and Islamic center two blocks from Ground Zero would make it seem that religious tolerance – at least of Muslims – in America is dead, voters have, actually, elected to Muslims to Congress since the 9/11 attacks. Reps. Keith Ellison of Minnesota and Andre Carson of Indiana, both Democrats, agree on some things and disagree on others. Not surprising since America is, after all, a diverse place. Four questions on the state of Islam for America’s two Muslim congressmen:
1. Should the mosque be moved?
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4. Do stories of Nidal Hassan, Omar Abu Mutallab, Faisal Shahzad and Najibullah Zazi and recent homegrown attacks deepened the problem?
Ellison: Certainly they have deepened the problem; they provide an example for the anti-Islamic types to point to. They try to impose collective guilt on American Muslims because of the behavior of individuals like Nidal Hassan, Omar Abu Mutallab, Faisal Shahzad and individuals like this. But you’ve got to understand, Anwar al-Awlaki is connected to trying to recruit all of these people. And if you listen to Anwar al-Awlaki his principle argument is that America is hostile to Muslims and I believe that to be a false statement. But it is true when people like Peter King and Steve King, Sarah Palin do what they do…
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