More thoughts on Islamophobia and Cordoba House

Last time I wrote about this topic, it centered solely on the ignorance of the those who oppose the Islamic cultural and community center blocks away from Ground Zero. Well more time has passed and further acts of ignorance have arisen, some more ugly than others.
First off, Cordoba House is no longer the only Islamic center being targeted now. One that was planned for Kentucky recently lost their previously granted zoning ordinance for it amid protests over the site "stealing" parking spaces from other businesses in that town. Well, that same site was the target of vandals and arsonists last week when construction equipment was set on fire and the words "NOT WELCOME" spray painted on the sign for the proposed center. Other centers, planned or already existing, are also being targeted by ignorant, bigotry filled people. A couple years ago an Islamic cultural center opened not far from my houses, using a building that once housed a music store. Not a single word of protest was mentioned, at least not that was covered by the local media. It was lauded because another building wouldn't sit vacant in what is one of the more run down neighborhoods in my city. And even now the center operates in peace, with nary a protestor outside it. So again I ask, what is the reason for all the fuss else where.
Secondly, and more troublesome, is a Florida "pastor" planning a Qu'ran burning this Saturday on the anniversay of the 9-11 terror attacks. I use pastor in quotations because no real man of God would do something so henious and stupid. General Petraeus even warned yesterday that by going through with the Qu'ran burning, that American soldier's and civilian's lives will be at risk in the Middle East and Asia because of protests, which have already started. Despite these warnings, the "pastor" still plans on going through with it. In my opinion, take it for what it's worth, this act puts that "church" on the same level as the KKK burning crosses and anti-American protestors overseas burning our flag. This "pastor" will have the blood of American's on his hands and he doesn't seem to give a damn about it. Well sir, all I have to say to you is that there is a special place in Hell waiting for you because there is no place in Heavan for a man who burns a sacred text, even if it isn't Christian.
We might be a nation that embraced Christian values in its founding, but we weren't founded based on Christianity, we were founded on religious freedom. From the Puritans persecuted in Europe to Irish Catholics under the British crown to the Jews during the Holocaust, we have always embraced religious freedom, so why exclude the Muslims?

Signs of our times

Everyone knows that this last recession hit the country where it hurts and hard. A recent drive around my town made this really evident to me. Along a particular road of downtown are the empty shells of factories and plants that once made up the industrial core of my town, a town that once was the steam engine capitol of the world. Some of those buildings are being used once again, but many stand in decay, ghosts of the past. The General Electric Rail division plant on the other side of town is a skeleton of what it used to be, with half the buildings from 20 years ago now gone and layoffs happening every year. Laid off workers from various plants around town stand on the interstate off ramps with signs pleading for work of any kind. A sign for a proposed shopping center still stands 5 years after it was announced, with ground still not broken and no tenants lined up. The unfortunate thing is that there seems to be no end in sight, at least not while current gridlock in Washington exists. The American's Want to Work Act is currently sitting in Congress, held up by Republicans not caring about the unemployed and Democrats not having the backbones to challenge the Republicans into filibustering the bill. Because of this the bill will be be put on the back burner and left to die out. How can anybody be against putting the unemployed back to work? The Republican's attitude is as un-American as it could get. Unfortunately those middle class people that elected them are duped into believeing that helping big business will help them, which has been proven by G. W. Bush as completely false. If we help them, we help the whole country. I urge you, contact your Congressmen and Senator, and tell them, plead them to pass the Americans Want to Work Act because we need to get this country back on the track to prosperity.