Thread lightly,

for you thread on my dreams.

The US media has been going stir crazy the past month with their reporting on Park51.  One side of the camp says America is about religious freedom and people should be free to worship where they choose. Then the other says building the mosque so near to Ground Zero is equivalent to a slap in the faces of people that lost their loved ones in 9/11. As in many things in life, it's hard to split everything down the middle between black and white. There is always a grey area... and I think in this instance, the grey area is sensitivity to those affected by 9/11 and survivors that lost people they loved.

Unfortunately, this grey area has been blown (no pun intended) entirely out of it's it's meant proportion by the media and people who are too vocal for their own good. They shifted their argument to focus on the community centre being a headquarters for terrorism, (seriously.) and we allllll know how well that's gonna turn out.

That said, I know that 9/11, although orchestrated by Al Qaeda, doesn't equate Islam and the entire population of Muslims to terrorism. Moreover, the Park51 project is more like a community center than a mosque. 

But on the other hand, I don't think it's hard to just understand why many have reservations towards the Islamic religion after 9/11. Because despite the terrorists being extremist and despite extremists not representing what Islam is really about, essentially to these people, religion was their primary motivation and it was unfortunate that their view of Islam differed from the mainstream. Even more unfortunate, was that their screwed up interpretation of Islam was practically broadcasted across the entire nation. Bearing in mind, that emotions are powerful beyond words.

So yes, them being assholes does not mean it is fair for the Muslims in America to lose their right to worship as they choose. But when some have caused grief to others in the name of that religion, (albeit a very screwed up and extreme interpretation of said religion), I don't think it's unreasonable to not want a center/facility/whatever it may be that has, in some way or another, links to a core motivation for the 9/11 incident, to be built near where it had happened. Not because it is dangerous, but just for the reason that it would be a painful reminder.

You can repeat a billion times over, that Islam religion had nothing to do with the tragedy of 9/11. And you would be right. But as I mentioned, emotions? They're bad ass mofos man. All that made many people see, was not that the terrorists happened to be Muslim but that the terrorists were Muslim.

Emotions cloud judgment, undeniably so. But it's emotions that make us all human.

Religious freedom, to have the right to worship as you choose - I absolutely agree. But on the other hand, I think it wouldn't hurt to thread lightly, be tactful and maybe just show a little understanding and respect, on both sides.

Anyway the whole debate among the politicians is such a farce. They should just shut their freaking pie holes. After all, doesn't their constitution state that, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."? So hold their comments. It's a slippery slope and they've lost their bearings far too long ago.

I do think we come across another grey area with regards to when the government should interfere. In my previous post on Prop 8, I spoke of my belief that the government has the duty to make sure that the basic rights of people are not infringed upon by any one religion. In this case, one can argue that the government also has the duty to ensure that the basic rights of people to worship where they choose, is not infringed upon by the misconceptions/biases that some people may hold towards any one religion. But as I mentioned, the other grey area here is that people are not saying you can't have the freedom to worship whomever you choose, but it would be good manners, to not built your place of worship around the grounds that people still hold strong feelings about. A little of give and take would be nice, perhaps.

Anywayyyy, legalities and political motives aside. Everyone else? Show a little tolerance, show a little respect, hug, and let's move on. Hahah. If only it were that easy eh.

On a lighter note, went to catch "Going the Distance" tonight! Was quite a funny movie, it was better than I expected actually! Such familiar situations...... but of course they managed to resolve it with prettier and less angsty 'solutions'. Haha. If only life could imitate film huh ;)

To end off, courtesy of Cassie ♥

Swedish words: sjunga, skratt, ler - sing, laugh, smile (: