The President Stands For the Mosque
By Michael Boyajian
The President of the United States, the leader of the free world, Barack Obama, has weighed in on the building of the mosque in lower Manhattan and rather than blowing in the wind with the opinion polls he made a firm stand in support of the mosque and American Muslims wishing to practice their religion in peace. His command of the bully pulpit was reminiscent of another strong leader, Theodore Roosevelt.
This is what our president had to say, "This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country, and will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are."
Powerful words from the most powerful man on the face of the Earth. The president is joined by Mayor Michael Bloomberg who had stood for the mosque earlier. Both men, of differing political backgrounds, have stood up against right wing politicians who are using the tragedy of 9/11 as a way of, as the New York Times likes to say, “Chumming for votes.”
Yes the president and mayor put their political fortunes aside and stood up to the shrill forces of hate that are manipulating a fearful public. It was after all FDR, the greatest president of the modern era, who declared that Americans should be free from fear and today the president and the mayor delivered on that message.
Some frustrated politicians have challenged the patriotism of these leaders but nowhere is their Americanism more apparent than when they are defending our sacred Constitution. Hats off to both the president and the mayor, raise high the star spangled banner and may God bless America.
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