The former presidential candidate says opposition to building a mosque near Ground Zero “is all about hate and Islamaphobia” and that the “justification to ban the mosque is no more rational than banning a soccer field in the same place because all the suicide bombers loved to play soccer.”
Statement by Ron Paul posted Aug. 20, 2010, on his website:
Is the controversy over building a mosque near ground zero a grand distraction or a grand opportunity? Or is it, once again, grandiose demagoguery?
It has been said, “Nero fiddled while Rome burned.” Are we not overly preoccupied with this controversy, now being used in various ways by grandstanding politicians? It looks to me like the politicians are “fiddling while the economy burns.”
The debate should have provided the conservative defenders of property rights with a perfect example of how the right to own property also protects the 1st Amendment rights of assembly and religion by supporting the building of the mosque.
Instead, we hear lip service given to the property rights position while demanding that the need to be “sensitive” requires an all-out assault on the building of a mosque, several blocks from “ground zero.”
Just think of what might (not) have happened if the whole issue had been ignored and the national debate stuck with war, peace, and prosperity. There certainly would have been a lot less emotionalism on both sides. The fact that so much attention has been given the mosque debate, raises the question of just why and driven by whom?
In my opinion it has come from the neo-conservatives who demand continual war in the Middle East and Central Asia and are compelled to constantly justify it.
They never miss a chance to use hatred toward Muslims to rally support for the ill conceived preventative wars. A select quote from soldiers from in Afghanistan and Iraq expressing concern over the mosque is pure propaganda and an affront to their bravery and sacrifice.
The claim is that we are in the Middle East to protect our liberties is misleading. To continue this charade, millions of Muslims are indicted and we are obligated to rescue them from their religious and political leaders. And, we’re supposed to believe that abusing our liberties here at home and pursuing unconstitutional wars overseas will solve our problems.
The nineteen suicide bombers didn’t come from Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan or Iran. Fifteen came from our ally Saudi Arabia, a country that harbors strong American resentment, yet we invade and occupy Iraq where no al Qaeda existed prior to 9/11.
Many fellow conservatives say they understand the property rights and 1st Amendment issues and don’t want a legal ban on building the mosque. They just want everybody to be “sensitive” and force, through public pressure, cancellation of the mosque construction.
This sentiment seems to confirm that Islam itself is to be made the issue, and radical religious Islamic views were the only reasons for 9/11. If it became known that 9/11 resulted in part from a desire to retaliate against what many Muslims saw as American aggression and occupation, the need to demonize Islam would be difficult if not impossible.
There is no doubt that a small portion of radical, angry Islamists do want to kill us but the question remains, what exactly motivates this hatred?
If Islam is further discredited by making the building of the mosque the issue, then the false justification for our wars in the Middle East will continue to be acceptable.
The justification to ban the mosque is no more rational than banning a soccer field in the same place because all the suicide bombers loved to play soccer.
Conservatives are once again, unfortunately, failing to defend private property rights, a policy we claim to cherish. In addition conservatives missed a chance to challenge the hypocrisy of the left which now claims they defend property rights of Muslims, yet rarely if ever, the property rights of American private businesses.
Defending the controversial use of property should be no more difficult than defending the 1st Amendment principle of defending controversial speech. But many conservatives and liberals do not want to diminish the hatred for Islam–the driving emotion that keeps us in the wars in the Middle East and Central Asia.
It is repeatedly said that 64% of the people, after listening to the political demagogues, don’t want the mosque to be built. What would we do if 75% of the people insist that no more Catholic churches be built in New York City? The point being is that majorities can become oppressors of minority rights as well as individual dictators. Statistics of support is irrelevant when it comes to the purpose of government in a free society—protecting liberty.
The outcry over the building of the mosque, near ground zero, implies that Islam alone was responsible for the 9/11 attacks. According to those who are condemning the building of the mosque, the nineteen suicide terrorists on 9/11 spoke for all Muslims. This is like blaming all Christians for the wars of aggression and occupation because some Christians supported the neo-conservative’s aggressive wars.
The House Speaker is now treading on a slippery slope by demanding a Congressional investigation to find out just who is funding the mosque—a bold rejection of property rights, 1st Amendment rights, and the Rule of Law—in order to look tough against Islam.
This is all about hate and Islamaphobia.
We now have an epidemic of “sunshine patriots” on both the right and the left who are all for freedom, as long as there’s no controversy and nobody is offended.
Political demagoguery rules when truth and liberty are ignored.
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By PatrickHenry, August 25, 2010 at 5:51 pm Link to this comment
Actually, the Hebrews predated the Jews by 3000 years. ‘Jews
http://www.bible-history.com/quotes/john_bimson_2.html
Over the millenia the hebrews and subsequent Jews intermarried, changed faith and were assimilated into the cultures they inhabited, of course the truely religious kept their identity.
I wonder where you get your numbers? Is there some all knowing all seeing counter of Jews somewhere?
Report thisBy Peter Knopfler, August 25, 2010 at 4:26 pm Link to this comment
Yes, Global Jewish Problem, Spread over 5770 years and only 14 million Jews, compared to 2010 years 2 billion Christians, or 1400 years 1.3 billion Muslims, how 14 million Jews can scare the poop out of 3.3 billion people, got to get an Oscar for that, longest history with the least amount of people,Good Business! Like a little stone in your shoe, too lazy to shake loose, but walking a little painful, Right, Liberty Mask!
Report thisBy PatrickHenry, August 24, 2010 at 4:37 pm Link to this comment
Peter Knopfler,
There is as much an Islam problem as there is a Jewish/Israel problem. Jewish oligarchs stole billions from the former Soviet bloc and fled. Many Russians haven’t forgot that.
We fight Jewish/Israel inspired wars against Islam killing women and children because our bought off congress is in the zionists back pocket.
Israel and the zionists, hence 50% of the ethnic Hebrew and Religious Jews in the world, jepordize the security of remaining 95% of the non-Jewish population of the United States by partaking of proactive paranoia against Islamic nations, especially Iran.
Ron Paul would end all that fiscally and I’m with him on that.
Report thisBy Peter Knopfler, August 24, 2010 at 3:31 pm Link to this comment
Getting a foothold and getting your foot stuck is very differen but it is the same foot, why take the risk that the rest of the world lost, all over, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Australia Phillipines, China Russia ALL HAVE ISLAM PROBLEMS. othyer side of the coin, Mexico, no Mosque, no Muslim problem. Can we learn from others mistakes or are we that dumb and have to make ALL the mistakes ourselves. Sorry RON, the mosque now is called a communitee center, the Cordoba name dropped to Park51, Lets prevent problems and No Mosque near 911, there is one already 5 blocks away why another one. No need for this Islamic Arrogance of ignorance for they ignore the ashes of the dead.
Report thisBy richard, August 24, 2010 at 7:38 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
I do appreciate Ron Pauls position here but he has one fact wrong. The Speaker of the House wants to investigate the funding of the opponents of the mosque, not the mosque itself.
Report thisI think that makes a little more sense.
By Inherit The Wind, August 24, 2010 at 5:41 am Link to this comment
Well good for Ron Paul. Maybe he should have a heart-to-heart with his son, Rand.
BTW, why is he been associated with extremist white racist groups?
Report thisBy Lenny10M, August 24, 2010 at 4:16 am Link to this comment
Thank you, Ron Paul, you bring reason to a country so in need of it. Has all
Report thisrationale escaped our society? Seems Zionists are never content unless there is
conflict. As to the neo-cons I try to forgive them as they are a product of many
years of institutionalized propaganda. I know, I was one of them at one time.
By Paolo, August 23, 2010 at 7:42 pm Link to this comment
I only wish the Democratic Party would show half the spine Ron Paul has shown in going against the no-nothings on the so-called Ground Zero Mosque.
This is an issue of liberty and property rights. Those who oppose the Mosque have no constitutional grounds to stand on.
The simple way to understand the issue is to ask whether there would be any opposition if Christians proposed putting a church on the same site. No? Then why do you oppose the building of a mosque?
Because all 1.6 billion Muslims on earth are guilty by association?
The 70 percent of the American electorate who oppose the mosque, are dead wrong.
Report thisBy PatrickHenry, August 23, 2010 at 3:38 pm Link to this comment
Aside from Kucinich, Ron Paul would have been my choice for President.
Never in my memory have I witnessed a more concerted campaign of non-reporting by the zionist media.
Ron Paul must have scared the bejezzus out of the militarists, zionists and wall street (the Fed).
Report thisBy markpkessinger, August 23, 2010 at 3:19 pm Link to this comment
I am not, generally speaking, a fan of Ron Paul, but I commend him for standing up for what is truly right in this instance.
Report thisBy Arabian Sinbad, August 23, 2010 at 3:00 pm Link to this comment
Right on the mark Ron Paul! You’re a sound of reason in the wilderness of bigotry and ignorance!
Report thisBy Mark, August 23, 2010 at 12:54 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
I’d be curious to know who are the “liberals” who want to perpetuate hatred for Islam in order to keep us at war in the Middle East and Central Asia.
I’m drawing a blank trying to come up with war-mongering liberals.
And before you cite BHO and the current administration, they ain’t liberal.
Report thisBy Hello, August 23, 2010 at 12:47 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
I agree with Dr. Ron Paul’s stances on some issues and some stances I disagree with. His stance on Mosques, Muslims, and Islam is something that I do agree with.
Regardless of what anyone’s opinion on these are, this is the United States of America where this takes place. One is either for the First Amendment in regards to religion, or one is not. There is no ifs ands or buts about that. Some say that one would not build a Japanese cultural center at Pearl Harbor or a German center in Treblinka out of respect, as if this is supposed to be a legitament analogy. However, “German” and “Japanese” is not the same as “Muslim.” Likewise, there is a difference between a “center” and a “Mosque.” There is also a differnce between “Naziism” and “Islam.” The difference is that one set of concepts have to do with a RELIGION and the other set of concepts do not. As it would be futile to protest this Islam center in Lower Manhattan, so to are people who live in the Castro District of San Francisco in protesting a Orthodox religious building there will prove futile, regadless of the “sensitivities” involved with those in the neighborhood.
Like Dr. Paul says here. When one just chills out, take a step back, and count to ten to clear one’s head in order to be objective - one SHOULD come to the conclusion that it is just wrong to blame all of a particular group of people for the acts of a few who did harm. That’s stereotyping, its generalizing, and it is just rude let alone inaccurate. Roughly 20% of the entire human race are Muslims, when one steps back and thinks about it. Granted, there are not too many Muslims in the USA. But what would the world community think about the USA society’s negative views of Islam, or even this Islam cultural center being built or against a Mosque being built on property property? Again, this is the United States of America here. Right? There are things that may not be convenient to some, or even controversial. But, I guess this is the price its society pays for the kind of society it has. In addition, it is high time that the collective USA society starts understanding that they live in a smaller and more complex world and start living up to its creeds - that, by the way, has NEVER been fully practived after 234 years of its existence. In fact, its society is so arrogant that it believes that it can still change cultures 10 to 50 times older (i.e Afghanistan and Iraq) via the use of military force.
What comes after acting on a prejudice? What happens when “Islamophobia,” or any other phobia of a particular group of people is applied to law? There are several cases in world History, DECADES old even, that illustrate what happens when such policies are made. As such, this “Islamophobia” stuff will go down a very dangerous slope if this social attitude is not kept in check.
Regarding concerns about Sharia Law: this will not be implemented in the USA, certainly not in my lifetime and I am in my early thirties. Again, I believe people just need to relax and think about what the USA nation is supposed to stand for. Not only is Sharia Law, in virtually all of its forms, incompatible with many tenets of the US Constitutuion; but also there simply are not enough USA citizens willing to implement a type of Sharia Law as this will apply to ALL Americans - of course.
Report thisI bet only 1%, and it could be even less, of Americans identify as Muslim anyhow. Hell I wouldn’t be surprised if most Muslim Americans live in NYC. Still, I personally know of Muslim communities in Dearborn Michigan, where I lived about twenty years ago. Many here were Iraqi refugees who fled Iraq during Saddam Hussein’s rule. I was only a teenager then, and my mom would go shopping at a little store where a Iraqi Muslim family ran the place. They spoke English, were friendly to their customers who were all kinds of people, and it was no big deal. There were always Muslims here.