Arson At Mosque Site In Tennessee

The silly (and unconstitutional) opposition to the building of a muslim community center in New York City has been hogging the headlines for the last couple of weeks. But it is far from the only religious intolerance happening in the United States. It seems that right-wing "christians" have decided that an American citizen cannot be a good patriotic American unless he/she is a christian.

Of course, this is a stupid and un-American idea. Religious freedom and tolerance are as old as this country and are even included in the Constitution. But even though right-wingers claim to believe in the Constitution, it is obvious that they only believe in parts of it. Other parts, like religious freedom and birthright citizenship and equal rights, are not too popular with the teabagging right.

One of the many places that is upfront about their intolerance and religious hatred is Murfreesboro, Tennessee. I'm sure there must be many good people in that city, but the racists and religious bigots have been getting all the headlines there. They are upset because the muslim community in Murfreesboro wants to build a new mosque in the city.

Now these muslims are not new to the city, and in fact, have had a mosque in the city for over 30 years now. But the muslim community has outgrown the old mosque and want to build a bigger mosque. But Tennessee right-wingers are acting like they have been suddenly invaded by a muslim army. One anti-mosque citizen said, "They are not a religion. They are a political, militaristic group." Sadly, he doesn't see that he is acting in more of a political and militaristic way than any of the Tennessee muslims.

Saleh Sbenaty, a member of the muslim building committee (and engineering professor at Middle Tennessee State University), said, "We unfortunately did not experience hostilities for the 30 years we've been here and have only seen the hostility since approval of the site plan for the new center." Well, the hostility may be new but it has been vicious. There have been demonstrations, graffiti and vandalism.

Now it has gotten even worse. It has graduated to arson. A couple of nights ago a person (or persons) went to the site of the new mosque and set some of the construction equipment on fire. The fire was noticed and reported by a passer-by.

Rutherford County Sheriff Ben Goodwin confirmed that the fire has been ruled as arson. The right-wing haters will probably disavow having anything to do with the fire. I don't believe it. Anyone with half a brain can see this is a direct result of the right-wing hatred for muslim Americans that has been so vocal in the past few weeks.

I don't doubt that the people who did this consider themselves to be patriotic christian heroes. I think they're racist trash, and I hope they are caught and severely punished. Arson is a serious crime.

Has al-Queda won? Have they caused us to be as sick and vicious as they are? It is time for decent folks of all religions (and those with no religion) to step up and reclaim this country. We can't let the racists and haters take over and turn this country into a theocratic police state or a lawless place governed by mob-rule.