Freedom of Religion ... unless that is; you are a Muslim.

[bip0lar]

I find it as naive to say "we're being victimised by pro-islamist spin and talking points" about this issue as to say "we're being victimised by pro-gay spin and talking points". Why? Because it's easy to see that, apart from it being one of their fundamental rights to be whatever religion they choose to be (speaking of adults here), it's basically their right to be different and not classified 'threats' just because of who they pray to. I'm sorry but things sometimes are black and white, they just are. You don't need to be for or against a religion to understand that it is comprised entirely of individuals. By taking 'muslims' and viewing them as a homogenous group we're only achieving more bigotry in our own communities. If only we viewed our whole neighbourhoods and towns and cities and countries as our community we would be able not only to co-exist with our peers, but to lead productive lives as individuals, but in a community that supports all.
I speak from an entirely anti-religious point of view here. Not only do I not believe in a god, i find the whole concept of religion destructive on society. Out of partial political correctness and a lot of faith in the individual however, I will defend the Muslims of 2010 only because the actions of few have had a mass impact on the lives of millions.

[Thorne]

Out of partial political correctness and a lot of faith in the individual however, I will defend the Muslims of 2010 only because the actions of few have had a mass impact on the lives of millions.

I couldn't care less about political correctness. I'm an atheist, yet I also defend the rights of individuals to subscribe to any faith they choose, not for political correctness but because it's the right thing to do. It's only when people try to foist their religion onto others that I will call foul.

Note that this doesn't mean I won't point out the fallacies of those religions when called for. I'm a firm believer in, "If you're willing to stick it out there, I'm willing to spank it!" (You ladies get that? It's not just a religious thing, you know!)

[DuncanONeil]

This is much the same as trying to make the case that the people that are opposed to Westborough Baptist Church activities at funerals of members of the military we must as a nation be opposed to the Babtist church. That this somehow is a suppression of the Baptist Church to exist or be considered a religion.

The issue of the thread was the location of a particular type of building. Something local governments accomplish on a regular basis. Why is this to be considered differently because there are Muslims involved?

I seriously doubt that a significant number of us are "viewing them as a homogenous(sic) group". But conversely to ignore the apparent fact that most of the worlds terror is being perpetrated by adherents of that religion is nearly as bad a position to take. Even people of consequence when speaking of terrorists and describing them always include the proper adjective. Why is it an inditement of ALL Muslims when this adjectival form is used?

I find it as naive to say "we're being victimised by pro-islamist spin and talking points" about this issue as to say "we're being victimised by pro-gay spin and talking points". Why? Because it's easy to see that, apart from it being one of their fundamental rights to be whatever religion they choose to be (speaking of adults here), it's basically their right to be different and not classified 'threats' just because of who they pray to. I'm sorry but things sometimes are black and white, they just are. You don't need to be for or against a religion to understand that it is comprised entirely of individuals. By taking 'muslims' and viewing them as a homogenous group we're only achieving more bigotry in our own communities. If only we viewed our whole neighbourhoods and towns and cities and countries as our community we would be able not only to co-exist with our peers, but to lead productive lives as individuals, but in a community that supports all.
I speak from an entirely anti-religious point of view here. Not only do I not believe in a god, i find the whole concept of religion destructive on society. Out of partial political correctness and a lot of faith in the individual however, I will defend the Muslims of 2010 only because the actions of few have had a mass impact on the lives of millions.