Islam In TN? Not For This Guy.

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey (R, TN.) has a new interpretation of the First Amendment. His problem isn’t really a problem for him, just all of the Muslims in this country. The Lt. Gov. doesn’t think that Islam is protected by the First Amendment because he doesn’t see Islam as a religion. I’ll let him explain his position.

"Now, you could even argue whether being a Muslim is actually a religion, or is it a nationality, way of life, cult whatever you want to call it," Ramsey said. "Now certainly we do protect our religions, but at the same time this is something we are going to have to face."

No, no you can’t argue that. Islam is a religion. It is as much as a religion as Christianity, with the same ridiculous trappings, séances, rituals, and dogmatic beliefs. It is not a nationality. I would agree that it is a cult, just like I agree that Christianity, Judaism, and Hinduism are cults. What the Lt. Gov. is saying is that “Now certainly we do protect our religions, as long as we are defining the term “religions” as the separate denominations of Christianity. And the Jews can practice too, I guess.”

The idiocy spewing out of Tennessee is undoubtedly the result of the plan to build a Muslim community center in Murfreesboro, TN. The town already has a mosque, so the issue revolves around the community center.

"Now, you know, I'm all about freedom of religion. I value the First Amendment as much as I value the Second Amendment as much as I value the Tenth Amendment and on and on and on," he said. "But you cross the line when they try to start bringing Sharia Law here to the state of Tennessee -- to the United States. We live under our Constitution and they live under our Constitution."

You know, I actually agree with the Lt. Gov. here. If Muslims are trying to impose Sharia Law onto anyone living in the US, then they should themselves be jailed for trying to subvert the Constitution. The same goes for any Christian or Jewish group that would attempt to impose the Ten Commandments as the law of the land. So yes, if that were happening, I would support the Lt. Gov. in his fight against Sharia Law.

One problem with this is that there is no indication that this community center is going to become the seat of the Great Sharia Court of Murfreesboro, TN. The First Amendment allows anyone to practice their religion. That freedom stops (supposedly) when it begins to interfere with the constitutional rights of others. Just as Christians are allowed to practice their particular brand of bullshit, so are Muslims, Hindus, Jews, etc.

Another problem is that the First Amendment actually does apply to cults. Look at Scientology, the Mormons, Wiccans, Satanists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc. All are allowed to practice freely in this country.

I do not agree with any religion. I think the world would be a better place without the existence of narrow-minded bigots that seem to fill the pews on Sundays, the prayer rugs on Fridays, and the Temples on Saturdays. However, the First Amendment allows for freedom of religion. Just because you don’t agree with someones invisible god doesn’t mean you can stop them from worshiping said invisible sky daddy. If anyone is willing to say Muslims can’t build their community centers where they please, just like every other religion is allowed, then be prepared for your religion, or lack of religion, to be next.



-Via TPM