The controversy is raging on whether a mosque should be allowed to be built just two blocks from Ground Zero. I am frankly puzzled that less than a decade after Muslim extremists/Islamist Terrorists slaughtered almost 3,000 human beings, in the name of the religion of Islam, that we are having this conversation. Why a mosque at Ground Hero? Why the “christening” to be held on 9/11/2011?

Americans are supposed to sit around the Kumbaya campfire singing verses about the important of “tolerance.” I am all for tolerance, if it is being practiced by all concerned. “Tolerance” already allowed two attacks right at that site, with the ultimate destruction of the Twin Towers. What is left to tolerate or to give, the lives of the rest of us?

Mayor Bloomberg stated something about showing the “best of ourselves,” by allowing the mosque to be built. I think that “we” represented by our fellow human beings, already showed the best of ourselves. I remember over 300 firefighters selflessly going towards danger. Yes, I know that they were “just doing their jobs.” Back in 2001, the National Enquirer had the names of the firefighters, and on a daily basis, I used to pull out that issue of the magazine and read a few names, wondering about them and their families, and saying a prayer for the families. I still have that issue and will keep it until it disintegrates.

A listing of the names of all of the victims can be found in this Fox News article . The youngest victim is two-year old Christine Hanson. I remember reading about that child who appeared to have a very vivacious personality. She and the others, according to this article , are having their faces metaphorically spit upon, by those who have conveniently forgotten the massacre. I concur. Once again we have conclusive proof that the dead have no power. They would have spit back, or worse! The Bravest has a heartbreaking conversation with family members of some victims of 9/11. Are we going to spit on their grief in the name of “tolerance”?

 Mayor Bloomberg has been eclipsed as the most prominent supporter of the mosque. President Obama, I guess as part of his continuing apology tour, has now come out in support of the mosque. As usual, he began with his four favorite words: “Let me be clear.” Lookout – his clarity is not always clear to the rest of us! This time as forcefully as he enunciated his position on “right to,” I got the message, that he meant what he was saying. In this variation of “if things take a turn for the worse,” he is categorically stating that he is with the Muslims, and not with the families of the victims of his fellow citizens. Is that clear enough? He stated:

"This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable."

I totally agree. So let us build a synagogue, a Christian church, a Buddhist temple, and even a church for those who worship pot-bellied pigs! I will put up the first dollar bill. That is all I can afford at this time. Why should that “hallowed ground” be restricted to only a mosque? If there will be frolicking in a swimming pool around the scene where my terrified fellow citizens fell or jumped to their deaths from those very tall buildings, why shouldn’t it be “interfaith” frolicking?

As usual, the president, who suffers from a lack of brevity, especially when “Tom” the Teleprompter is standing by, ponderously continued:

"Our capacity to show not merely tolerance, but respect towards those who are different from us - and that way of life, that quintessentially American creed, stands in stark contrast to the nihilism of those who attacked us on that September morning, and who continue to plot against us today."

Again, I am in agreement with “tolerance” and “respect.” We already gave at the office on 9/11/2001. Should I read the names for you, Mr. President? As for the nihilistic ones, they have our number. They know that we are being led by speeches and pronouncements, are being infiltrated at the highest levels of government. They may not even have to plot another 9/11. We are doing a fine job of self-destruction. By the way, my “quintessentially America creed” is to keep my head attached to my body. I have grown rather fond of that configuration.

“Respect” should be a two-way street. If we are expected to show respect to “those who are different from us,” then we expect the same. And, isn’t this supposed to be about “e pluribus unum,” “out of many, one”? What we have here is the opposite. What happened to all of us being Americans first, and whatever variation second? If respect is not reciprocated, it becomes subservience or submission. Coincidentally the meaning of Islam is “submission.” For the record, I am making a very public declaration: I will never submit to any variations. My religious allegiance is to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. That is non-negotiable. My national allegiance is to the United States of America. That is not for sale.

The Muslims behind this mosque are supposedly within their legal right to build the mosque, on the land that they half own. Is there a window of wisdom to be located in the grand plans, that although they have a “right” to build this mosque, that out of respect for the families of those victims who were murdered by members of the Muslim religion, that some tolerance and respect can be found for those family members, if for no one else?

I would be mightily impressed with that small gesture of humanity. Let us all hope that they can find it within the teachings of their religion to be magnanimous, even when in a position of being “right.” Let us hope that magnanimity is forthcoming, especially in light of the magnanimity of US taxpayers via the US State Dept in funding the Middle East trip of the imam behind the Ground Zero mosque. America, what a (generous) country…except for its own citizens, who are not “different!”

It turns out that once again, the president’s “clarity” was not clear to the rest of us. Although, I thought I understood perfectly what he meant, based on the words that he used. Now, he is apparently implying that the rest of us misunderstood his “Let me make it clear” statement. The rest of us, the dunderheads, did not understand that he was not discussing the “wisdom” of choosing to build the mosque at the hallowed site of Ground Hero. I give up. Down here in the valley, we are having a difficult time trying to interpret the pronouncements from Mount Olympus. Maybe someone should poll the Muslims at the Ramadan dinner at the People’s House, to get their understanding of his speech. I bet they are included with the rest of the dunderheads, in “misinterpreting” what the president meant. This writer sees the president “stuck on dhimmitude.” I will not even try to mount a defense for him. With his track record, he could prove me wrong by the following day.

I am going to be absolutely clear, without prefacing my sentence with “let me be clear.” My opinion, as a citizen of this United States, is that there should not be a mosque, or for that matter, a house of any singular religion, built at that site, not now, not ever! I am here in my little corner respecting and tolerating, and I expect the same courtesy. I am tired of hearing the same practitioners of one religion, endlessly whining about not being tolerated!

Not being tolerated? How many Muslim houses of worship have been built in the US, a Christian nation, no matter what this president has made “clear”? How many Christian houses of worship have been built in the nations that are Islamic? I rest my case. This article  does not offer hope of much tolerance towards non-Muslim religions. I learned quite a few things, According to the following paragraph, as a Christian, I am considered a pig.

“When Muslims schools teach pupils that Jews are apes and Christians are pigs, they are relying on the wellspring of hate already in the Koran. A non-Muslim country holding an event to mark any aspect of Ramadan is as mad as sheep celebrating their own slaughter.”

I hope that those who consider Christians to be pigs, think of me as a pot-bellied pig. Those are cute. A friend described me as “God’s pet,” because He has been pouring blessings on me, in my time of need. I have been jokingly referring to myself as “God’s Chihuahua.” By the way, I have yet to meet a Jew who is an ape. As a matter of fact, I have met some rather attractive Jews. If any of the Muslim faith, as this article states, sees me as a pig, it does not offend me. Put some lipstick on this “pig” and she looks pretty cute! I have faith that my God, the One True God, sees me as a human being. He created me. I see Muslims as fellow human beings, also created by that same God. I am too secure in my sense of self as a child of God, to reciprocate by assigning animal names to Muslims. They are p-e-o-p-l-e.

I am ready and willing to do my part in spreading tolerance and respect. I extend an invitation to anyone who is technically an “American,” but despises the country, (I call such a person an AINO – American in name only), to give me a call, when there is the urge to assimilate, respect American traditions and culture, and show some appreciation for this country. Being an American is not about taking what the taxpayers of this country are forced to subsidize, and giving very little in return, except grief.

I would be a great tour guide. I was not born in this country, but I have been described as more patriotic than some native born, or is that natural born, as in the case of the president? Whatever – I am ready to be your fellow citizen. Your cup will overflow with tolerance and respect from me, as mine should from you. We can have a Virgin Pina Colada Summit!