Recently we have heard from some of the citizens of our country and even from some of the people who are supposed to administer our government certain things that go against exactly what the founders of our country and our system of government laid out. I would like to remind people of the Bill of Rights, the first 10 Amendments to the U.S. Constitution as ratified by the States on December 15, 1791.
As you review these rights as established over 200 years ago please note that at no time did the founders of our great nation say that any of these rights should ever be compromised simply because of fear or anxiety. This means that as a religion, Muslims still have every right to reside here in this country and there is no law in the land that should ever be allowed to circumvent this right as guaranteed by our founding fathers over 200 years ago.
If you think that the behavior of some of the people practicing Islam is grounds to ignore this, you are totally wrong. Just as there are people who practice Christianity who do reprehensible things, there are going to be members of Islam who do reprehensible things but discriminating against all practicers of Islam is only a move towards allowing them to feel threatened and then possibly actually creating an environment where they would want to lash out against tyranny being thrust upon them.
The founders of our nation put a lot of thought into what they thought these essential rights should be. To disregard them now would be an insult to what the United States of America stands for and would be wrong. I know that people feel fear and anxiety but instead of just allowing yourself to compromise on these rights, try and go out and learn about people and get to know them. It does not say that Christianity is the only religion allowed or to be respected, it says that all religions are allowed and to be respected. While some may make you uncomfortable, that should just be a sign for you to try and learn more and not just assume the worst. As long as Muslims follow the rest of the laws of the land there is no restriction against them living here.
Along those lines let me remind you of another great statement from one of the original documents of this country.
We hold these truths to be self-evident. All men are created equal and are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
At no time should an official institution of our government interfere with any of these inalienable rights, unless the person practicing them actually steps on the rights of another of our citizens in his or her pursuit of happiness. This means that rounding up Muslims simply because they are Muslim and sending them out of the country is wrong. If a Muslim is not stepping on anybody else’s rights than they should not be harassed or treated other than as just another citizen of this country. This applies to all races, all religions and all people that are different than from what you regard as right. As long as a person is not stepping on your rights or doing anything wrong to you, you simply do not have a right to treat them as anything other than just another person trying to engage in their pursuit of happiness. Simply not agreeing with them or not liking how they live their life is not enough reason to interfere in it as long as they are not interfering with your rights. Whatever you think you can say that would justify another approach to this would simply be wrong and it is very clearly stated that way in what the founding fathers of our country laid out.
If you agree with me and think it is important to make sure that the rights of our citizens are not compromised, specifically if you are a Democrat, please make sure that when it is time to vote you take the time to exercise your right to vote. We need every person who wants our country to stay on a proper and correct path to vote. We do not want to find ourselves in a situation where the people peddling fear and wanting to upend these very important principles are running this country.
Gregory W. Russ
Stevensville
Mrs. Marc Sabin says
The problem with the argument posted here is that MUSLIMS want SHARIA law – they do NOT want to follow US law. 7 states have put through bills that restrict the right of Muslims to live under Sharia law. if they want to come here, like immigrants of old, they should act, talk and be American – not Muslim. They can follow their religion but they cannot impose it on Americans because they want us to live like they do – in fear of their imams and honor killings, and of being killed for simply speaking against ISLAM!!
Mike in Stevensville says
Isn’t the Bill Of Rights designed for U.S. Citizens, not other nation’s citizens?