Rights Vs. Right

The uproar over the Ground Zero Mosque and now the threat to burn Korans has an interesting connection. We hear that the opposition to the Mosque is intolerant and that the Imam has the right to build his Mosque anywhere he wants. A majority of Americans have said that they agree that the Imam has the right to build it, but it is not right and spits in the face of human sensibilities. The "Main" Left Stream Media also tells us that his First Amendment Rights guarantees his religious freedom. No matter what anyone thinks or how anyone feels there are those who will push ahead with this victory Mosque. The Left Stream Media is saying terrible things about everyday people who hear the facts and are appalled by the intolerance of their feelings. But those who seem to be so concerned about the feelings of the Muslims only show intolerance for the American people. We are a tolerant people, but we have been abused for too long.

Once a pastor in Florida announced that he was going to burn Korans on the 9th anniversary of the attacks of 9/11 a fire storm started in the media. Once again cries of intolerance and racism filled the air. We heard it said that they had the First Amendment Right to burn the Korans, but the Muslim world would use it against the US. It kind of sounds like the same argument used against the Mosque. Those who hide behind the Bill of Rights want it both ways. I don't believe in book burning, but I wonder if it might be a good idea to have a tit for tat. Maybe it would be OK to burn one Koran for every Bible burned by Muslim nations. Of course I'm not serious. I believe in the market place of ideas. But it must be a fair market. We must also protect our freedoms. Those who wish to overthrow our way of life through lies, threats, deception, and violence must be fought with all of our abilities. We can not surrender without a fight. But the fight should be political. We must once again stand up for right, not might. We must not cave to intimidation.

Do we now run scared every time a threat is made? The Left Stream Media seems to support the Islamic goals. For too long these media companies have attacked anyone who question the motives of any Islamic leader. They hide the duplicity of the Islamic leaders and mislead the American people. Now the Imam who is behind the Mosque at Ground Zero has issued what can only be seen as threats. He said that he knew what the headlines in the Middle East would be, well of course he does, he in effect wrote them on CNN as he spoke. Now that he has returned from his taxpayer paid tour to visit with his friends in the Middle East and continued to show absolutely no respect for the feelings of the American people we must stand resolute in our opposition to this transgression upon the memory of 9/11. This is not what we as a sovereign people should stand for from anyone. This open disrespect for the American people and our values is a slap in the face and we should keep this in mind and never forget this second attack at Ground Zero.

Christians across this nation are beginning to understand that their religion is in danger. They've seen constant escalations of attacks upon their faith. They have seen attacks from within and without by those who harbor hate and those who have used faith as a weapon against them. For many years Christians have turned the other cheek as their teaching have said that they must forgive those who transgress upon them. But that does not mean silence in the face of those who would try to destroy the underlying beliefs of Christians and misrepresent those views to destroy our freedoms.

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The Bill of Rights protects Americans from having certain right transgress upon by the government.But there are rights that go beyond those spelled out in the Constitution. With the freedoms that we have in this country comes responsibilities. Those responsibilities are the things we must do to maintain civility. Those who attack and threaten violate this basic obligations. For an Imam to claim to be a moderate and then make the statements made on CNN on 9/8/10 makes more Americans wonder what Moderate Muslim really means.

Would it be OK if a group of Muslims burned a cross in front of every church across the nation? Would it be different if they only burned them in front of churches that had mostly white congregations? If so then when did cross burning become civilized? We must have not only civility but sensibility in this nation. Those who currently hold elected office and those who try to shape national opinion are not willing defend our nation or our society.

So now we see the intolerance of the Islamic faith. Christians are not rioting in the streets and attacking Saudi Arabian embassies across the world is protest to the daily destruction of the Christian Holy Bible. We don't see beheading of those who destroy and deface Churches. But we are told repeatedly that Islam is a religion of peace, but as I look to Islamic nations I see little peace making and mostly hate, enslavement, and intolerance. From people that say that they don't lie, they say different things based upon who they are talking to, sure seem to be telling a lot of lies.

Every American should be outraged by the way we have been treated by our elected officials and the fifth column media in this country. We are being betrayed and ignored. As a thinking American you need to consider the situation that now faces us. We can not run scared every time we are called names by a intolerant radical who seems to only wants to destroy our freedoms by using our own laws against us. They may have the Constitutional rights to build their mosque just as those same rights to burn any book they wish, it is just not right for either to occur. Remember this as you make your choice in the November elections and where you get your news. If our elected officials are willing to disregard the sensibilities and be this disloyal to the American people as a whole: Then how can we ever trust them in the future? If we don't stand up for our rights and what is right, it is clear that no one will.

©2010 Pedro Sykes - Some Rights Reserved

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

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The Blinding Light of Power

Former Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich appeared On Fox New Sunday today (8/22/2010). In his own way he sought to defend himself and explain his actions as Governor of Illinois. He said several times that what he was doing was "political horse trading." Every time he said that, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Rod Blagojevich is an example of someone from the Chicago Political Machine. Unfortunately too many of the political leaders in this country may feel the same way. They see political favors and power as something that should be traded. Instead of looking for the best person for a job they look to patronage. Instead of honest belief and loyalty they prey on fear and intimidation. Too many politicians have been blinded by the light of power.

I can not speak for all Americans, but I know that what I don't want our elected official to engage in political horse trading. Political patronage just breeds more corruption. Mr. Blagojevich does not see anything that he has done as wrong. This is one of the saddest parts for the citizens of Illinois. The fact that these types of politician only see power as a tool to maintain their own position and not to serve those that gave them their responsibilities to society. It seems that they have forgotten their swore duty and think that maintaining that power is good for everyone. This selfish quest for power can have nothing to do with money or wealth. It has everything to do with corruption.

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As a citizen I do expect selflessness from our public servants. I don't want people who only seek political patronage. I want people who are willing to consider the good of us all, not the good of a select few or members of one political party. I don't want people who have sold their souls to a single idea and are willing to listen to all good ideas. I'm tired of see politicians demonize anyone who disagrees with their ideas.


Many in government seem to think in black or white terms. I keep hearing the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader in the Senate claim that all opposition to their agenda is from partisan Republicans. They seem to not understand that the larger of the political voting blocks is the independents. This November we must remember the words of Blogo and how he sees nothing wrong with the abuses of power he so willingly used with no feelings of guilt. We must remove those leaders who can not understand their responsibilities to this country because they have looked too long into the blinding light of power.

©2010 Pedro Sykes - Some Rights Reserved

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

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Pouring Salt in the Wound

There is a wound that has been festering for 9 years in New York City. It has been there since September 11, 2001. Due to a long drawn out process, little has been done to repair the damage done on that day. Some work has been done to the site of the World Trade Center, but the damage done to the American Psyche will take a long time to repair. This attack on our country was an event that awoke many Americans to a world that they had ignored for too long.

Many Americans have lived in a fantasy that is happily fed by the popular media. The left stream media in the US has ignored, covered up, and played down Islamic terrorist attacks in this country before, since, and after the 1993 and 2001 attacks on the WTC. This includes the Time Square attempting bombing, the attack at Fort Hood, the Washington sniper (remember that the snipers name was John Mohammad) and too many to list here. We cannot blame all people of the Muslim faith, but we can and will not forget that those who have attacked us are of that religion. Many of us understand and are aware that we face a potential covert army of millions of radicals who will do anything to kill, terrorize, destroy, or simply disrupt our lives. Their goal is nothing more than the complete destruction of our freedoms and way of life.

With the death of thousands of innocent civilians, many of us realized that the nightmare that had been in the back of our minds was suddenly reality. For too many years we had ignored the threat from people who openly had declared war on everything we stand for as a nation. Many of us have not forgotten who our enemies are and their goals. We know that our way of life has been fueling our enemies. We know that this ancient enemy has just been waiting to rise up and impose their brand of slavery on all persons. For far too long we heard the warning and no one listened or those who tried to warn were laughed off the stage. We walked a tightrope of trying to appease and control a people as they were given just what they wanted, finances and legitimacy on the world stage.

The latest controversy over the construction of a Islamic "cultural center" in a location that puts it in the heart of a location of an event that touches many Americans far into their souls. We see a blatant attack at our sensibilities. This does not appear to be an accident. I only see people who are very willing to once again attack the people of this nation and use our laws against us. Where is the tolerance for our feelings? The history of this so called cultural center tell many Americans that know Muslim culture and history, that the motives that they now claim are a lie.

Now that we have heard from the President we see that he supports this stab in the heart of most Americans. He turned around the next day and changed his statement, but in front of a Muslim  audience his words were clear. He thinks that this Mosque should be built. This and the fact that the government is flying the Imam around the world to meet with other Muslim leaders seems to say; that not only does the administration support the construction of the Mosque, but they appear to be actively supporting the financing of it. One of the excuses that has been repeated by the talking heads is that the Bush Administration used this Imam. Well I can only say shame on the Bush Administration, but that doesn't change a thing. This President's support is not unexpected, but once again shows how out of touch our elected official are with the American people. We as a people are once again being betrayed by those in Washington.

One of the things that the politicians that support this disgrace on the nations honor are constantly saying is: They have the right under the First Amendment. Well let's look again at the First Amendment:

First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

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.

The most important part of this amendment is the first five words, "Congress shall make no law." This is not a case of Congress interfering with or the establishment of religion or peaceful assemble. No one that I know of is asking Congress to pass a law. We only want those who represent a religion that has attacked this country to respect our feelings. Which they refuse to do. They claim that the purpose is to show respect and to "build a bridge" to the American people. But from the reaction so far, I would say that they have accomplished the reverse and their action since have only acted to pour salt on a festering wound. This is not something that can promote peace or public harmony. It only serves to divide and inflame the negative.

The Speaker of the House is calling for an investigation of those who are speaking out. Does she really think that it is a good idea to send the IRS after American citizens who are exercising their freedom of speech? Will we continue to be ruled by thugs? Will anyone in office realize that we the people are really getting tired of being abused by the government? What will the American people have to do to be heard and understood? This is a national issue. It is not just a local event. The developers of this project know what they are doing and are depending on those in Washington to betray the sensibilities of the citizens of this country. I see this as another glaring example of the arrogance of power from this out of touch individual. When will this woman be replaced by someone who better understands the American people?

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I understand wounds. I'm recovering from post-operative complication at the time of this writing. Last month I had surgery in an area of my body that make healing very difficult. Every time I move wrong I pull at the wound. This resulted in an infection that has delayed my recovery. Like any wound the more you disturb it the longer it takes to heal. Just like my incision, this renewed attack on the American people will not help the healing process of 9/11. It can only make for more distrust and division. With many of our leaders now taking the side of those who once again wish to cause us pain and suffering, it will spell political disaster for them and our nation. I'm not saying that those who wish to build, what I see as scare tissue that will never heal anything, don't have private property rights to do what they want. but their rights should not affect the nation in the way that this episode is now. It is only causing continued pain and suffering. This seems to be the true goal.

We cannot be fooled by these enemies of the American people. Their actions are not those of people looking for friendship and peace as we know it. It is the actions of those who not only desire to "poke us in the eye" (as has been said by others) but to prolong our national suffering as long as possible plus divide and conquer us. We must remember this crime against our national conscious in November.


©2010 Pedro Sykes - Some Rights Reserved

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.