One would have thought that the weeks leading up to the ninth anniversary of the slaughter of 9/11, would have been ones of contemplation, with the focus on the murdered, their still grieving family members, and those who were maimed for life. They were not. Those weeks were very tumultuous. Instead, two publicity hounds stole the spotlight.

The turmoil began with the presentation of a plan to build a mosque practically on the site where Muslim terrorists carried out the slaughter of 9/11.  The rest of America heard about the “right” to build. No one mentioned the responsibility of being a good neighbor and citizen, and not building in an area that represents such pain and horror. We are all puffed up with our rights, but has anyone heard about “responsibility,” the “twin sister of rights,” as I dub it?  I have a right to burn a Koran. Will I do it? No. I believe that it is part of my responsibility in being a good citizen and good Christian, to respect the sensitivities of others. I expect the same in return.  Therein lies the rub. There is a distinct lack of reciprocity.

So are the building of this particular mosque at that particular site, and the threat by a pastor of a church to burn the holy book of the Muslims, part of the same “religious coin”? They may be part of the same religious coin, but they do not carry the same weight, even though they both deal with the issue of rights as opposed to sensibilities and responsibility. The pastor, Terry Jones,  blinked. The mosque builder, Imam Rauf, so far has not. 

The opposition to the building of the mosque was largely carried out by ordinary citizens, maybe because when these killing events take place, it is usually the ordinary folks who bleed and/or are killed. Many big names were “missing in inaction” when it came to the wisdom of building the mosque at the shrine where almost 3,000 human being were murdered by adherents of the religion of the mosque builder. The right to build the mosque received support from some on Mount Olympus, far removed from the reality of being maimed or killed. These Mount Olympians have their Nehemiahs, who are cup bearers for them, and will die for them.  The only ones who die for the rest of us are the grunts, called troops. God bless them.

On the flip side of that religious coin, the opposition forces against the threatened action of the small town preacher with his version of building a bonfire – of the holy book of the Muslims – was fierce and strident. There were threats and condemnation, seemingly from Rome to Riyadh.  There was even a pre-book burning of the US Flag in Afghanistan, of all places. 

"If Quran is burned it would be beginning of destruction of America," read one English-language banner held up by the protesters, who chanted "Down with America!"

I have a response to the persons who held up that sign. Try coming to America and trying to destroy it. You may be in for a surprise. Even if there is cowardice in high places, I suspect that there are numerous pockets of patriotism that will manifest themselves, if it comes down to saving America from barbarians. Beware of Moms and Pops who know how to defend themselves against cowards.

Yes, that is the same Afghanistan where the US is fighting a politically correct war, by placing a body bag of rules of engagement on US troops, where they have to be hit first before they can take action, and many end up being killed, as evidenced by the racking up of the bodies in recent months. It is so ironic that when a real war was being fought, the enemy was killed or on the run. I have no doubt that the ordinary troops are fighting as they were trained to do, but how are they supposed to use that training to effect, if they are more afraid of being brought up on charges, than of the enemy, who is gloating at the stupidity of the type of war now being fought against it? This is not the America I thought that I knew. In addition to clinging to God, I will just have to continue to cling to my faith in most ordinary Americans, that they will bring about a beneficial and peaceful version of “change” – before 2010 draws to a close.

So who are those who came out to condemn the pastor? The parade of “celebrities,” rushing to condemn, ranged from the vapid to the religious, to the military and the political. The media breathlessly reported on the every movement of this pastor, seemingly serving as his unpaid PR reps. Even the general in charge of operations in Afghanistan, weighed in.  I do not agree with General Petraeus becoming involved and making a statement about endangering the lives of US troops. I somehow do not see General Patton making such a statement during World War II. General Patton would have been using “the entrails of the enemy to grease” US tanks! His troops would not have been worried about being endangered. They would have been too busy endangering and killing the enemy.  I am not a macho type shooting from the lips. I am a normally mild-mannered physical coward. But enough is enough with the politicking and capitulation! This enemy must be taught “the Chicago way.” Or is that Chicago way only to be used against US citizens?  What is really endangering the lives of American troops, are those idiotic rules of engagement, not the spouting off of an obscure pastor.

That Florida pastor must have been feeling like an evangelical rock star, as he kept the drama going! He now had the president of the US preaching  and preaching.  Yep, the president put down a “sermon” about the bonfire being “completely contrary to our values,” and that the burning could become a “recruitment bonanza,” for Al-Qaida. Was that the same type of “recruitment bonanza” that ordinary folks minding their own business, holding down jobs, and/or flying on aircraft, provided on September 11, 2001?  The president also called on the pastor to listen to his “better angels.” What is this with this “better angels” stuff? In Christianity, we know about angels and fallen angels. We learned long ago not to listen to those fallen angels and their master.  As far as I know, Heaven is not home to “good, better, or best angels.”   Maybe the threatened burning and the threatened building are not the same religious coin after all.

I don’t know this pastor. I do not support his stance.  My only “dog in this fight,” is the hypocrisy that I perceive in the reaction to the book burning versus the reaction to the mosque building. Do I need to list all the instances where the “big guns” were curiously silent? When The Church of the Nativity was desecrated, the Bible used as toilet paper, by Muslim thugs back in 2002, where was the similar “celebrity” outcry?  This went on for a month.  Where was the outcry from Muslim leaders, other leaders, including top religious leaders and political leaders? Where was the warning that Christians would burn Muslim flags, stone Muslims, and all of the other acts of violence with which we are now being threatened if this pastor burns the Muslim holy book?

There was no warning about Christian violence because, although the detractors of Christians, including some who call themselves Christians, when convenient, openly show their contempt for Christianity, they realize that bringing physical harm to persons and destruction to buildings is not the Christian way. I can hear the usual refrain that Timothy McVeigh was a Christian, and acted on behalf of his faith. No he was not, and no he did not.

 Where were the worldwide hysterical cries for restraint:

▪ When little boys were being molested, and little girls married off at the “ripe” age of six?

▪ In situations  where Christians, and Muslims are still being killed all over the world by Muslim extremists?

▪ When Jews are being killed and constantly threatened  in the Middle East by Muslims?

▪ When 14 lives were taken at Fort Hood by a Muslim doctor?

▪ When the US Military, under orders from the very top confiscated and burned Bibles in Afghanistan?  I pray for those who “followed orders.” They don’t know what they did.

(I would have been brought up on charges for insubordination or dereliction of duty, or whatever meant that I would have refused to burn my Holy Bible)!

Since around the early 1980s, the number of attacks, by Muslim extremists, has been staggering. And yet we keep giving up our lunch money to these school yard bullies. We non-Muslims, and also many Muslims who do not believe in the cult of death, are constantly under siege. The latest assault on us is being labeled "Islamaphobic." Yes, we are “Islamaphobic” if that means developing a phobia at bleeding and dying in record numbers because of fanatics who declare their “killing” devotion to Islam. There are very few Westerners who are willing to suffer the almost inevitable separation of head from body, if they dare even question this seeming predisposition to maim and kill. This man, Geert Wilders , could be living on borrowed time. One Muslim calling for his head is described as:

“The Sydney-born Muhammad has gained notoriety for, among other things, calling on young children to be radicalized and blaming rape victims for their own attacks.”

So how do those of us who just want to just live in peace and not die in pieces, caused by the “fervor” of adherents of the religion of peace, handle the constant threats and intimidation? Do we accept that there is an inevitable "Clash of Civilizations"? Do we renounce the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Do we look to the mosque builder for an end to this situation that he created? Pastor “Rock Star” has already changed his tune.

By the way, if I hear that word “tolerance” one more time, I am going to throw up in somebody’s designer shoes! “Tolerance” has come to mean “you must tolerate my bad behavior, and you cannot reciprocate or retaliate, not even with words.”  “Bridge builder,” is another term that will also cause the puking in designer shoes reaction.  Some people’s idea of “building bridges” is to blow them up while the rest of us are crossing over them. “Building bridges” is not making what appear to be veiled threats. The “bridge builder” had the following to say, according to reports.

“The imam behind the Park51 facility, formerly known as the Cordoba initiative, warned that relocating the facility could also spark Muslim violence against Americans.
 

"The headlines in the Muslim world will be that Islam is under attack," said Imam Feisel Abdul Rauf in an exclusive CNN interview, adding that, "if you don't do this right, anger will explode in the Muslim world."

If I were a true Muslim, I would be insulted to think that the world thinks so little of me that like a rabid dog, on cue, I start looting, hacking and killing, at the mere use of words, or even the burning of my holy book. It is as if those who are out hysterically warning that “anger will explode in the Muslim world,” are indirectly stating that the “Muslim world” has not grown up. Maybe to prove my question whether the burning and building are two sides of the same religious coin, next time the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is defiled, we who believe in Him, should loot, hack and burn! But we won’t. He does not require or demand much more than our love and obedience. As a matter of fact, He specifically instructs us to forgive.

The mosque builder also stated that there are strip joints near to the site that the rest of us are calling "sacred ground."   That is not going to help his case. In case he does not know, or cares not to remember, some of the “religious” Muslim fanatics, visited strip joints before going off to murder their share of almost 3,000 innocents on September 11, 2001. Mr. Mosque builder, in the popular vernacular, “I would not go there.” To use that analogy is to provide evidence against your cause.  I must have missed the news reports which state that other patrons of strip clubs have gone out en masse and perpetrated mass murder against thousands, as did the strip joint-visiting Muslim terrorists of 9/11.

Do we follow the lead of this reported atheist , and literally smoke both the Bible and the Koran?  Nope.  I hope that is not his last smoke.

Do we rely on the sue way?  This first responder at Ground Zero is suing the mosque developer. I have no objections to this suit. Suing is the American way. In any case, sue me for the pun, I am confident that the reason for this suit, is of a far nobler intention that the intentions of the opposing side.

Or , do we begin saying 'no,'  as outlined in the very salient and reasoned arguments of the writer, Andrew C. McCarthy?  The following passages from his article, express what many of us think and want to find out:

As Islamists rage against us, we see Islam celebrated in official Washington. As we reach out for the umpty-umpth time, we find Muslim leaders taking what we offer, but always with complaint and never with reciprocation.

Why would a self-proclaimed bridge-builder insist on something so patently provocative and divisive? How can we be sure that if imam Rauf builds his monument on our graveyard, it won't become what other purportedly "moderate" Islamic centers have become: a cauldron of anti-American vitriol?

I am also beginning to like the Walter Moore way!

Walter Moore says:

“That's why, for example, many of you around the world who burn our flag are still alive. We could destroy your cities in a heartbeat if we wanted to. We are experts at wrecking cities. Don't believe me? Google "Dresden," "Hiroshima," "Nagasaki" and "Detroit."

We hate it when some of you burn our flag. But we "get" that the flag burners don't speak for everyone who's Islamic.  Likewise, if one of our rocket scientists burns a Koran, you can get mad. But, just as you want us to understand your culture, you have to understand ours.  

We are loudmouths from all religions who make fun of one another and burn stuff -- and proud of it, baby!”

Who can argue with his logic? Not I.

So what can we really do? I say, let us follow the president’s lead and have a summit, a Citizen Summit. I would offer my pad, but I am currently in an “undisclosed, secret location,” along the lines of former VP Cheney, minus the Secret Service and amenities. Maybe we can have the summit at Ground Zero. Pastor “Bonfire” and Imam “Mosque Builder” are invited to attend, providing they remember that we are all there as Americans first and foremost. Our summit would be short and sweet. After all, the Pastor and the Imam do have something in common. They have been catalysts in making us confront the issue of coexistence and tolerance.

They  brought to light that “tolerance” cannot be a one-way street, as it has been. Even the most rabid Muslim fanatic would have no argument to refute the fact Muslims were and are safer living in America, even after the horror of 9/11. Had this been a different country, less kinder, gentler,  the question of building a mosque at Ground Zero would never have arisen. The Pastor, as an American citizen, would agree to never bring up burning books again – ever.  The Imam would announce that as an American citizen, he is going to give up his mosque building (in that particular location) – forever. 

We will all end the ceremonies the “Evie way,” outlined in her e-mail below, which means flying Flags to commemorate the murdered of 9/11/2001.

“Ercille, you will be elated to know that I flew my two small flags at dawn this morning and am now awaiting the time of the first plane's striking of the towers.

I plan to do this over time, all day long.  It is not much in the scope of things, but it is what I can do where I am located in my present circumstances...

SEMPER FI

Evie”

So fellas, meet me at the line that I have drawn in the dust of the World Trade Center, with you showing some tolerance for a change. I have already given enough at the altar of tolerance. I am probably paid up for a lifetime. I am willing to listen and support you in true bridge building. However, I have no more lunch money to give. I am learning to just say “no.”