Ground Zero Mosque, or Who Put the "But" in the First Amendment?

Who says it's "Not
If we're talking 'bout Islam"?
Who put my "rights"
In apostrophes?

Who was that man?
I'd like to shake his hand
He made those bigots
Give their votes to me!*

A politician's spokesman said, "The First Amendment protects freedom of religion. Senator Reid respects that, but thinks that the mosque should be built someplace else." All of the "but, but, but" sputtering going on makes both the Repugnicans and the Damnocrats sound like a bunch of motorboats.

What is so hard to understand about these forty-five words arranged in seven clauses? "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."

I see no exceptions. I see no ifs or buts. I see my freedom to be an atheist in there, my neighbors' freedom to be Christian, Jewish, Wiccan, or Mormon; your freedom to worship as you please, and my freedom from having you force me to worship in the way you think I should.

But, but, but it's disrespectful to people who lost family members when the World Trade towers collapsed to have a mosque built several blocks from there because the plane's hijackers were Muslim. Oh really? Great! I get to wave the "I'm a survivor, so you can't do anything to hurt my feelings" flag too. I lost a fine young cousin in the initial plane strike, a respected associate was smashed into a crater in Pennsylvania, and I came close to losing another cousin at the Pentagon.

I don't feel disrespected if Muslims want to tear down an empty building to build a community center and a mosque. Doesn't my opinion count? In Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989). Justice William J. Brennan, Jr. asserted that "if there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea offensive or disagreeable."

But, but, but they aren't Christians! They don't pray in English! Ah, now we have it. They "aren't like us". They are mostly browner than "us", more recent arrivals than "us", speak a different language than "us". They aren't us! Therefore they shouldn't have the same rights as "us", whoever the hell "us" is.

We've all been there. The Indians were despised by the European settlers because they weren't white and Christian and didn't speake ye Kingye's Englysshe. The Irish were despised because they were poor Papists who didn't speak English. The Germans were despised mostly because of what their government was doing in Europe. The Italians were despised because they were poor, swarthy, Papist and didn't speak English. The Eastern European Jews were despised because they were poor, not Christian, and didn't speak English. The Chinese and Japanese were despised because they were poor, Asian, and didn't speak English. The Mexicans were and continue to be despised because they are poor, swarthy and some don't speak English.

Isn't it time to stop hating on the newest arrivals? Get on with the "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" part of being Americans?

*My apologies to Gerry Goffin and Barry Mann, but their lyrics were perfect.