The Muslim community in Riverside, California wants to build a community center/place of worship on land that they own in that town. A conservative coalition that has been active with Republican and Tea Party functions sent an e-mail alert to area newspapers announcing they will hold a one-hour “singing – praying – patriotic rally” beginning at 12:30 p.m. Friday, July 30 at the Islamic Center’s existing facility. That happens to be the time of day when Muslims gather for their congregational prayer. The email recommended participants “bring your Bibles, flags, signs, dogs and singing voices.”
“We will not be submissive,” the notice proclaimed. “Our voices are going to be heard!” The alert went on to question what its authors described as Islamic beliefs. It suggested that participants sing during the rally because Muslim “women are forbidden to sing.” It suggested that rally participants bring dogs because Muslims “hate dogs.”
I can’t help but think this is what the organizers of this “event” had in mind when they thought about bringing dogs. And yes, I had to go there.
And yet if it were any other group protesting a Christian center/church, everyone would be up in arms. And here I was, thinking the 1st Amendment applied to everyone. Silly me.
I went there, too. Particularly in Tennessee.