Why do those Muslims have to Build a Mosque in Lower Manhatten?

I have to be honest about this one; it's very simple to me. Are the people who want to build the so-called Ground Zero Mosque American Citizens? Yes. Do they own the land they want to build on? They do. Than what the hell business is it of yours what they do with the land?

I understand that those who are protesting the Mosque and complaining about it incessently have the freedom of speech to do so; similarly I have the right to suggest that if you don't want a Mosque there or anywhere else in America, you essentially don't believe in Freedom of Religion. Maybe you are ok with freedom of religion for your church and churches like it, but not in general.

The test of your belief in freedom isn't your willingness to tolerate religions or ideas you like; it's your willingness to tolerate religions and ideas you hate (but that you can't point to them causing direct harm).

I note this because as it turns out there are people all over the United States protesting Mosques. Both Salon's War Room and the New York Times are covering this wave of mosque opposals. Sort of answers the question of why the Ground Zero Mosque builders want to keep at it. If the "Ground Zero" mosque is stopped, what happens to all these Mosques around the country that people are trying to shut down? Well they probably get shut down.

And if you are uncomfortable with a Mosque two blocks away from Ground Zero, uncomfortable enough to ask them to shut it down, how can you really argue against the decisions of citizens of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Temecula, Calif., or Sheboygan, Wis., to protest the Mosques in their communities?

I am, I should say, heartened to note that one of the Defenders of the Mosque in Temecula is a fellow Mormon.

Larry Slusser, a Mormon and the secretary of the Interfaith Council of Murietta and Temecula, went to the protest to support the Muslim group. “I know them,” he said. “They’re good people. They have no ill intent. They’re good Americans. They are leaders in their professions.”

Of the protesters, he said, “they have fear because they don’t know them.”

Religious freedom is also at stake, Mr. Slusser said, adding, “They’re Americans, they deserve to have a place to worship just like everybody else.”

So after all this Prop 8 stuff, that's nice to see.