Ground Zero Mosque...

I've been wondering about this one.  As we all have heard, they are trying to build a mosque/muslim community center near ground zero.

Well let's cut right to the chase because there's only two sides to this argument.  You're either for it or against it.

Bullshit.

Do I think they should build a mosque that close to ground zero...well no.

But I've been a soldier for the last 12 years.  I joined the army on May 5, 1998.  And in that time I've learned a lot and had some of my views on the world shaken to their very foundations (a few even knocked down), and developed some new ideas.

Now at one point I would've been a very vocal opponent of any Muslims even getting near ground zero.  Over the years my opinion has changed, I believe they call it maturing.

At one point I would've told you that my enlistment in the Army was to fight for the flag of the United States of America.

These days, I would tell you that I am a defender of the principles that this country is founded upon.  I fight for the ideas on which this country has built itself.  I don't fight for a flag.

Now you can disagree with me, I don't mind.  That's pretty much the idea.

A flag to me is a symbol.  A powerful symbol, to be sure.  But nothing more than a symbol.  It's just a piece of cloth.  That's why I don't get my panties all in a bunch when someone burns one.  I mean, that's what you're supposed to do with an unserviceable one anyway.  I don't fight for anything tangible.

I fight for the ideas.  The ideas are what make us free.  (And that's hanging by a thread these days.)  The ideas are what made us great.  The ideas are what made us the envy of the world.  The ideas are what made us the leader of the world.  The ideas are what made us the standard by which all other countries have and will be judged.  The ideas are what's worth defending, what's worth fighting for, what's worth dying for...

I certainly did not fight for a country that when someone does something people don't like, they curl up and bow to pressure.  I didn't fight for a country that would throw away the principles upon which it was founded, when the road got a little rough.

Forgive the redundancy but allow me to remind you what those principles are...

Amendment I	Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II	A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment III	No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IV	The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V	No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment VI	In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
Amendment VII	In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII	Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX	The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X	The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

I took the liberty of highlighting the applicable portion.  Seems pretty straight forward to me.  They signed it like 234 years ago.  They told us what we should be doing way before we needed the help.  On this one, at least.

The ideas that this country was built on are what matter.  They are what make you free.  They are what allow you to protest this.  They are what allow me to write this and you to read it.  They are what allow them to build it.

Its all been said a thousand times before but it bears repeating because it seems that no matter how many times its drilled into our head we keep forgetting...it is exactly the times when it is the most difficult that we, as Americans, must adhere to our founding principles even more tightly than ever before.

Later,

I love you Mom...