Religious freedom is something Americans take for granted, because we recognize that the First Amendment guarantees that right. We may or may not choose to exercise that right, but we know it exist.
People who come here from countries where that right didn't exist, or worse, were persecuted for their religious beliefs, frequently marvel at the ambivalence our society displays when it comes to protecting the religious freedoms of those with whom we disagree. So it comes as no surprise to many non-Americans that the recent flack over building a mosque near ground zero in New York City exists. To them, we say we're in favor of religious freedom, but when push comes to shove, what we really mean is religious freedom for the Christian majority, and nobody else.
Let's face it. The right to own a firearm is valued more highly amongst the average American than the right of fellow citizens to practice the religion of their choosing, wherever they want. If anyone doubts the veracity of that statement, take a moment to reflect on how much uproar would exist if the government were to try to ban firearms within a two-block radius of ground zero. Card-carrying members of the NRA would descend upon the site by the thousands, federal courts would be inundated with suits to block the ban and the 24-hour news cycle on FOX TV would be jammed with nothing but outrage over such a proposal.
There's a bit of irony in the fact that those people who would move heaven and earth in defense of the Second Amendment right to own guns are the loudest in objecting to a First Amendment right to build a mosque near ground zero. Then again, maybe it's not so surprising. Guns are God in America.
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