The following post originally appeared at TomKnighton.com.
In a recent poll, CNN found that 68% of Americans oppose the so-called “Ground Zero Mosque”. Never mind the fact that it’s not actually on Ground Zero. Never mind that the mosque isn’t exactly new to that community. Let’s ignore all that and make decisions based on emotion, regardless of property rights. Make no mistake folks, this is all this is about.
When you buy a piece of property, in theory, it’s yours. You can do with it what you want, right? No one can tell you what to do with that property…in theory. However, that’s true only in theory. Building codes are one thing. They insure that the building won’t fall down on people’s heads, and while there are plenty who argue against even those being justified, that’s not likely to change at any point in the near future.
However, far to many communities have overstepped those bounds. My own home town restricts fences for Pete’s sake. But the mosque in question is different, isn’t it? I mean, some have argued that such mosques are built on sites of conquest and allowing it would be a slap in the face of those killed on 9/11. But is it?
The word “Patriot” gets thrown around a lot in regards to the 9/11 dead. The funny thing is, some were and some most likely weren’t patriotic. However, what’s patriotic about destroying basic property rights because it doesn’t “feel” right. How many people honestly believe that a mosque two freaking blocks away is going to destroy this nation? Honestly?
I’m not going to rail on about how making a stand against this mosque will hurt relations with Muslim groups. Frankly, I could give a damn. Like me, don’t like me, I could give a crap. I’m not going to go on about freedom of religion issues, because frankly I believe that’s a BS argument. Restricting the mosque’s location to the rest of New York City isn’t exactly going to muddle up their free exercise of religion. No, I’m not going to do any of that.
What I am going to do is remind each of you that, when the government threatens to cite you over how tall your grass is, or tells you want direction your garage has to face relative to the street, they’re doing the exact same thing to you that you’re so willing to do to this mosque. They are telling you what you can do with your property regardless of the fact that what you want to do will have zero freaking impact on another living soul. That’s what you’re advocating in regard to this mosque, and you deserve what comes to you later when government decides it wants to manage your property for you.
Don’t like the mosque? Feel free to fight it. But just remember how anachronistic property rights are when it’s your property in the cross hairs for something.
