On Hallowed Ground – How Dare They Build a Mosque so Close to My Favorite Gentlemen’s Club

Now that there seems to be some genuine hope that the Macondo blowout is close to being permanently contained, Americans can turn their attentions to more serious concerns. Instead of giving reasonable consideration to whether or not we should allow oil companies to continue to build deep water oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, we can spend our time worrying about whether or not Muslims should be able to build a community center in Lower Manhattan.

 Much of this controversy has been fueled by many of the same folks that have made it their mission in life to return America to the enlightened path of Constitutional purity and righteousness as intended by the Founders and Framers of our governing principles, after of course the exclusion of the 14^th and 17^th Amendments. On this particular issue though, the Bill of Rights squarely comes down in favor of those seeking to build their community and prayer center in the proximity of New York’s Ground Zero. So those in opposition to the construction have no legal recourse other than to plead the political position that the placement of the structure is insensitive and insulting to those who suffered and died as a result of the September 11^th attacks. And sadly, a majority of Americans support that argument; but as usual without the benefit of the facts.

•  Innocent Muslims were also amongst the dead and injured in the rubble of the World Trade Center.
• Muslim first responders aided in that rescue and recovery.
• Thousands of American Muslims faithfully serve in our armed forces, and many of those have been wounded or killed as a consequence of combat operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
  

  Mount Rushmore - Photo By Dean Franklin

  Lastly, if there is a case to be made for honoring this piece of hallowed ground by vetting what is allowed to be located in its vicinity, perhaps we might first consider doing away with the nearby betting parlor and strip clubs. But this after all is America, a country that is supposedly guided by a spirit of tolerance and inclusion, and a country that makes its decisions grounded in the rule of law. If we were to let our citizens decide the lay of the land based solely upon their sensitivities, personal prejudices and perceptions of historic events not much of anything would ever get built.

 I’ve actually encountered people that are offended by the presence of the brew pub close to Robert E. Lee’s headquarters on the Gettysburg battlefield. And then there’s that contingent of Lakota Sioux that would rather not have the faces of the white fathers from Washington looking down at them, after we stole the Black Hills in South Dakota via slaughter and subterfuge. Now I might be somewhat ambivalent about the possible demise of Mount Rushmore—but I’d sure hate to lose that brew pub.

Posted by: Chris Poh

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A Unique Strategy for Influencing the Midterm Elections

Considering the fact that the midterm elections are less than three months away, the atmosphere so far during this summer’s congressional recess is surprisingly calm. Perhaps this is because so many Democrats and moderate Republicans are considering limiting their public exposure to mostly “by invitation” events only–thus avoiding the terror of the town hall.

For those traveling Tea Party types that were hoping to influence the midterm elections by voicing their displeasure at local public meetings, might I suggest another strategy? Simply do what Robert E. Lee did when he wanted to help unseat a number of incumbents during the 1862 midterm elections–Invade Maryland.

In the current issue of American Public House Review we explore a bit of Civil War history while raising a few pints of Old Dominion at the Secret Six Tavern in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.  

Posted By: Chris Poh