Unfortunately they get away with every day.  Both in Zoning and in laws.  How do you think congress passes ear marks?  They cannot say "this is for Exxon", but they can define it tight enough so that only Exxon would qualify.  So far, SCOTUS has not ruled it unconstitutional.  Even though there is a clause in the constitution about tailoring laws for specific people.

This is true - but that takes a super majority.  One that even the democrats in 08 could not achieve.

I'm persuaded (absent evidence to the contrary) that a sufficiently vocal and committed minority of western Muslims, particularly those sympathetic to the Cordoba crowd, have no desire or intent to live long-term in, or subject to the rule of, any secular state, US or otherwise.  And that they will wrest control of the narrative concerning the role of sharia in the west.

The problem is the western concept of the secular state with freedom of religion is fundamentally incompatible with the Muslim concept of the state: the faith/sharia is the state, a theocracy.  There is no provision in sharia for equitable treatment of infidels and I've seen nothing to suggest how sharia could be permitted alongside secular law and within our Constitutional republic.  It explicitly requires doing harm to other human beings for no reason other than non-belief (what dan_l falsely implies of Christians) and prescribes what most in western cultures consider irrational and disproportionately cruel and unusual punishment of transgressing believers (e.g., stoning a rape victim to death & other 'honor' killings).  (I'm open to enlightenment if my understanding of sharia is incorrect.)

To be sure, there are Muslims in this country who are practicing their religion in a manner compatible with mutually respectful co-existence and who are truly pursuing ecumenical accommodation with other religions, perhaps, if we're lucky, a majority.  A curiously silent majority, if that's the case, however.  A few have spoken up publicly in opposition to the mosque's location.  They appear to be an unfortunately small minority and certainly do not include the Cordoba crowd, which appears, by its actions, to be tone deaf to, and paying pure lip service to, ecumenicism.  They (the Cordoba backers) do not wish to honor the innocents (Muslims among them) who perished on 9/11 at the hands of radical Islamic terrorists - there are lots of ways they could do that short of building a mosque two blocks away, especially given the Muslim history of building mosques as statements, as monuments to the defeat of Islam's enemies, of which they are quite well aware.

If a fundamentalist Mormon sect which practiced polygamy were to attempt to do what the Cordoba project is attempting, how far do you think they'd get?  For that matter, remember Waco?  Despite dan_l's strawmen, there is no Christian sect attempting to impose religious doctrine on non-believers, or subject non-believers to punishment of any kind, lethal or otherwise.  Western religions (and most Eastern religions) have no equivalent to the Muslim (sharia) notion of infidel.  So there is no equivalence argument here.  We've come down hard on peaceful leave-us-alone-let-us-do-our-thing religious groups while bending over backward to accommodate Islam.

The fact that Rauf and his backers are so hell-bent on using this particular location as a mosque speaks volumes about their understanding of the concept of mutual respect, as in they have none, and their true feelings about promoting a healthy freedom of religion for all.

Daiwa I must have a similar understanding (correct or incorrectly) of Sharia as you. Your comment was well said. As you mention about Sharia Law being incompatible with the secular society of the US, I must refer back to my comment (lucky #13)... Why the sudden outpouring support from the normally skittish left (on terms of religion and secularism) for Islam? I'm not speaking of the folks that support it for legal reasons, but those that are deliberately making this about religion. In this case the dreaded Islamaphobia. What is the end game? Why the support (indirectly) of a set of laws that are in direct conflict with our constitution? I believe the rat Pelosi smells is emanating from her own tail.

If you're just beefing with Sharia law, then why beef with the Cordoba mosque? 

And incidentally, what is the real difference between the crazy Sharia law types and the crazy family values types?  Really?  I mean both are trying to enforce religious values on people who couldn't care any less.  Why hold one so dear and throw aside the other? 

Now you're just being silly.  I asked off the cuff whether there actually was enough political give-a-shit to actually do anything about this, or whether most New Yorkers really have a strong opinion on the issue one way or the other.  Barring, of course the dancing bears.  But that would actually require you to read into what a dancing bear is which would require you to have actual command of the news cycle and not just be a wanton consumer of massive quantities of bullshit made easier to swallow by the fact that you're totally incredible partisan. 

I know I have.  Like always, you're stage 5 Obama Derangement Syndrome precludes you from having even a momentary critical thought. 

Well, she's crazy and she's a clarion, tangible example of exactly the kind of whacko I'm talking about.  Sometimes the best examples are the most local.  Or loco!

Heh. 

evidence?  Given that the Cordoba crowd appears to put on events and courses (see above list) designed to enable Muslims to work with and live in harmony with members of other religions and them to live in harmony with Muslims.

Perhaps he is confused about things like

Whoever sacrifices to any god, except the Lord alone, shall be doomed.  (Exodus 22:19 NAB)

and everyone who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, was to be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.  (2 Chronicles 15:12-13 NAB)

   Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must be put to death.  Such evil must be purged from Israel.  (Deuteronomy 17:12 NLT)

  Suppose you hear in one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you that some worthless rabble among you have led their fellow citizens astray by encouraging them to worship foreign gods.  In such cases, you must examine the facts carefully.  If you find it is true and can prove that such a detestable act has occurred among you, you must attack that town and completely destroy all its inhabitants, as well as all the livestock (Deuteronomy 13:13-19 NLT)

Really?  How would you describe the comments on this very board about the gay marriage and the fact that it shouldn't happen because your god says it is naughty?

[quote]

Daiwa I must have a similar understanding (correct or incorrectly) of Sharia as you. Your comment was well said. As you mention about Sharia Law being incompatible with the secular society of the US, I must refer back to my comment (lucky #13)... Why the sudden outpouring support from the normally skittish left (on terms of religion and secularism) for Islam?

I'm not speaking of the folks that support it for legal reasons, but those that are deliberately making this about religion. In this case the dreaded Islamaphobia. What is the end game? Why the support (indirectly) of a set of laws that are in direct conflict with our constitution? I believe the rat Pelosi smells is emanating from her own tail.

[quote]

Show me evidence that they are trying to impose Sharia law in the US.  If(!) you can then show me why other groups that attempt to have the laws in the USA changed are not subject to this kind of attack.

Then I will believe it is not about religion.

The texas gop considers criminalizing homosexuality as well as banning porn a part of their platform. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/22/texas-gop-platform-advoca_n_619601.html

501C3 hate orgs such as Americans For Truth, American Family Institute, [insert state] family institute, and others advocate for 'marriage protection laws' or laws designed to preclude queer folks from being married.  Why?  To protect 'christian family values'. 

Naturally, partisans such as DG and Daiwa wouldn't dare make the mental connection between Religious Group A and their ancient silly ideas and Religious Group B and their ancient silly ideas. I mean didn't a federal judge just have to step in and tell the california taliban types to stick their jeebus? 

The difference is murder. Crazy Family Values types make a lot of noise. Crazy Sharia types kill people.

So to be clear on your philosophy: 

Enforcing Sharia values here in the US would be ok so long as it's not violent? 

And what about the rather long history of anti-abortion violence?  Why doesn't that count? 

Their rhetoric (putting on events & courses) and actions (e.g., insisting on the Cordoba site) don't jibe.

I guess I missed the reports of Southern Baptists organizing bombings in Mecca.  But I have to admit many Christians do thank Our Lord Jesus for touchdowns.

Anyone here can voice opinions.  Unless I missed something in the TOS, you are not obligated to abide by any of them.  Sharia law would actually solve both the problem of contrary opinions and the problem of gay marriage.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised you would cite the Texas GOP as an example of a Christian Sect.  When the fundamentalist LDS church attempts to force me to marry more than one woman at a time under penalty of death for failure to comply, I'll agree with you.

I disagree strongly with much of the Texas GOP platform document (banning porn??  come on) but it has as much meaning as any other platform ever written.  I'll grant you it is embarrassing when any political document refers to sodomy.

One group currently practices their 'ancient silly ideas' through acts of mass murder wildly cheered in (their) streets.  The other doesn't.  I disagree with Prop 8, but I'm not a citizen of California (taliban type).

Some will try to equate the 'Tiller murderers' with Islamic terrorists, and it must be acknowledged that some CFV types (good coinage there) have killed in the name of their God.  However, refusing to see the difference, in both the acts and the responses to them, is willful.

See above.

Wow, that was a stretch.  No, I was merely pointing out the difference. That's what you asked.

And the "long history of anti-abortion violence," while, agreed, is completely wrong--it absolutely pales in comparison. How many anti-abortion deaths have there been verses how many deaths in the name of Allah? While none of it is justified, the score is rather heavily one-sided.

In which scenerio are you more likely survive: going to an anti-abortion rally and screaming "Abortion rules!" or going into a mosque in Saudi Arabia and screaming "There is no Allah!"?

My actual philosophy is that killing people for not believing the same thing as you is wrong. 

So when they say this: 

"Homosexual behavior is contrary to the fundamental, unchanging truths that have beenordained by God, recognized by our country's founders, and shared by the majority of Texans."

They're not actually talking about Christian values that they're trying to make into law right?  How do you explain that then? 

Nop!  It's their religious need.  Porn, much like the out and open exists of gay folks, is an affront to their jeebus.  It tears at the fabric of the family!  There's statistics!  Statistics that prove that porn ruins the family, is responsible for Brett Favre cheating on his wife and killing JFK.  STATISTICS!!!! From priests!  And Pastors! 

Right.  but when we're talking about violence in modern society, no degree is acceptable.  When we're talking about trying to force feed all of Americans inane mythology, no degree is acceptable.  When we're talking about asking Americans to live by any ancient, assbackwards laws - no degree is acceptable. 

Again.  No degree is acceptable. 

So do you support Christian versions of it?  Like Prop 8? 

Ooooo lookee here: 

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/36995_Fundamentalist_Indoctrination-_Mandatory_in_the_US_Army

On May 13, 2010, about eighty soldiers, stationed at Fort Eustis while attending a training course, were punished for opting out of attending one of these Christian concerts. The headliner at this concert was a Christian rock band called BarlowGirl, a band that describes itself as taking “an aggressive, almost warrior-like stance when it comes to spreading the gospel and serving God.”

Hmmm. 

n May 13, 2010, about eighty soldiers, stationed at Fort Eustis while attending
a training course, were punished for opting out of attending one of these
Muslim concerts. The headliner at this concert was a Muslim rock band
called BarlowGirl, a band that describes itself as taking “an aggressive, almost
warrior-like stance when it comes to spreading the Koran and serving Allah.”

Hmmmmmmmm

Dude, I honestly do not care about gay marriage, one way or another.  But from what I understand, no one opposing gay marriage is suggesting a law that says gay people should be put to death, so I still don't see that as a Christian version of Sharia.

My sister is a big fan of the Beatles. I guess that makes her the same as Charles Manson.