Feds raid of mosques gives me pause

[crearl]

So, my local dying print medium (I know, it's redundant) had a headline today that the Feds had invaded four mosques. My initial reaction was "alright, kick some terrorist butt!" Then, after some sober consideration I wondered if my reaction may have been too hasty...too thoughtless. First, let me state that I believe that the government has the Constitutional duty to pursue and apprehend those who are serious threats to our country and our communities. Currently the most ominous and broadscale threats come from radical Islamists whose theology and doctrine justify, in their eyes, the wholesale slaughter of others who do not share their beliefs (or those who do share them, but are collateral damage).

Clearly, when the authorities raid houses of worship, there should be some cause for alarm. Despite my reservations about some of the policies and practices of the Obama administration, I have no doubt that they will practice a prudent level of constraint when it comes to invading Islamic centers of worship. Only the most egregious violators and dangerous Imams will be subject to federal intervention. The Administration's prostrate presence before the altar of Political Correctness will not allow it to color with a broad brush. Islamic targets will be undeniably dangerous and imminently threatening.

On the other hand, one can detect a certain disdain for the evangelical and fundamental Christian among those who wield power in Washington. It's almost visceral. They distrust the "saved" community, and rarely miss opportunities to denigrate it. Within our recent history the U.S. government has torched a sect in Waco, arrested a loony polygamist, and now, invaded several mosques. I hold no quarter for any of those "religious" groups. They are clearly aberrant in my view, but where is the line? Are the redneck, gun-toting fundamentalists next?

My personal theology and doctrinal base is that I am an evangelical fundamentalist...too fundamental (and legalistic) for many evangelicals and too Calvinistic for most fundamentalists. I don't dance too well so I don't qualify as a pentecostal. I do believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. That He died for my sins that I, through grace, may have enternal life. So, how long before my belief system is declared to be verboten, and I am considered to be a threat.

In every town or city in this country one can find little store-front churches and mosques. Maybe some of the preachers are shouting from their pulpits that America is going to hell and must be reformed and restored. They may proclaim that God's wrath will destroy this modern day Sodom and reduce it to rubble. What if some "enlightened" bureaucrat in the Department of Justice decides that the preacher is encouraging sedition?
Who's next? The snake handlers? The Roman Catholics? Independent Baptists? Amish?

For now, I am not applauding the raiding of the mosques as vigorously as I was before.
Posted by Charlie Earl at 6:55 PM 0 comments

[Harleydude07]

I have no problem with it as long as warrants were duly executed. Unfortunately, I think that we have done much damage to ourselves by enacting the Patriot Act, allowing torture for some people, and failing to understand the need to extend our system of jurisprudence to "terrorists." After all, who defines who a terrorist is? Please take note of the fact that "right wingers" are said to be gravitating to more radical positions.

It is a slippery slope to hell when we decide that some people should be tortured and some people should be denied the rights that we tend to think of as inalienable. IF these rights are worth sending our soldiers to fight and die for, and if these values are the very cornerstone of our freedom and the foundation of our country then why would we think it is alright to deny those values and rights to others.

It is better to let one terrorist go free than to compromise our belief in and our system of liberty and justice for all. Terrorists cannot destroy our freedom with bombs. However, we can though our own fear and misguided policies.