I'm not vested in the Mosque issue because I wasn't there?

[Sheepshank]

Is that right?

It's what has been lobbed at me lately for aspiring to hold the opinion that the Mosque has every right to be built within 2 blocks of 9-11 ground zero.

So lets see....I needed to be there, I needed to have a family member or close friend die at ground zero in order to have a valid opinion on the matter. It's all that counts. Seriously?

I admit that there are levels of pain. But to discount what the entire nation went through is to disavow there are such things as national pride, sense of united purpose, people working together, a sense of protection for life and a way of life, and a new founded surge in national patriotism, a feeling of unity in purpose, a common foe. So very many of us felt pain, sorry, dread, fear, outrage, desolation, despondency. That was nothing, because it wasn't poignant enough? I felt all of these things and more.

I had family that felt a surge of patriotism equal to the firefighters and all those others that decided to pitch in at ground zero....they chose to go to war. One did not come back....he will not be coming back. I have friends that have lost family and close friends in Iraq. The economy tanked, our jobs were lost, 401K tanked. I have no say? I'm not vested?

Bull.

[elleng]

1. 'Lobbed' only by those who WERE there?

Significantly narrows the field, doesn't it???

[Sheepshank]

2. Lobbed by those who 'appear' to want to represent

the feelings and desires (regarding the Mosque) of those that were there.

I suspect the caring for those opinions for people at ground zero is as bogus as their premise that my opinion doesn't count. They refudiate with mispremising. I suspect my opinion merely clashes with their opinion.

[elleng]

3. Quite right that your opinion merely clashes; a lame excuse.

[Winterblues]

4. Remember..."They Hate us for our Freedoms"

:shrug: Americans can be the most absurd people on earth..