You’ve seen him on Countdown recently a few times, but today Russell Simmons has a great piece in the Wall Street Journal.
You know the meme on the Right by now: "Oh gosh, the people with the funny hats have every right to build their little pit of vipers on private property. But we’re just questioning the wisdom of exercising those rights."
There are many ways to extrapolate out from this. If we are to de facto deny people the right to worship on private property as they see fit, this raises many interesting questions. Republicans should answer them:
Just how large is the Muslim-free zone to be in New York City?
What is the Republican Party’s official List of Approved Faiths? OK, Islam clearly not on it. Check. Who else fails to make the cut?
When will it be OK for Muslims to build at Park 51? In 10 years? 50? Never?
What other feelings, and by what groups, qualify as trumping First Amendment rights?
Well, Russell Simmons starts by talking about about the size of the Muslim-free zone. That zone extends a whole lot farther than the boundaries of Manhattan. There are mosque projects that have been blocked by protests in other states as well, as Simmons outlines. If it’s not Islam we’re so up-in-arms about, then where are the Constitution-defending Tea Partiers in those cases? Why aren't they defending the indisputable and unalienable right to worship freely? Where are the 'Don't Tread On Me' flags??
So Simmons does what the Democrats are too timid to do. He calls out the mouthpieces of the Right to stand up and defend the Constitution, as they’re so proud of claiming they do. (Seems to me they become open to exceptions when darkish people become involved, though.)
I like how Simmons even flexes the Biblical muscle in a bit of ju-jitsu:
In the New Testament, Jesus warns against false prophets, explaining how to judge truth-tellers from snake oil salesmen: How do they act? What are the fruits of their labors? "Do people pick grapes from thornbushes," Jesus asks, "or figs from thistles?"
If Mr. Gingrich, Ms. Palin, or any who claim their problem with the so-called "Ground Zero Mosque" is not one of religion but location want to prove themselves, I have a simple suggestion: Come with me to Tennessee. Or California. Or Wisconsin.
Whaaaa? What could possibly be going on in THOSE states?
Because there are mosque projects on hold in all those places, too—held back by hate, pure and simple.
In Murfreesboro, hundreds of people recently marched in protest of plans to build a Muslim community center. In Temecula, protestors have picketed the Muslim community's Friday prayers. In Sheboygan, a group of pastors have led a fight to keep Muslims from establishing a mosque in an abandoned health-food store.
Simmons also speaks as a denizen of the Ground Zero area, not a carpetbagger who wants to tell New Yorkers what to do:
And in my home, I will not stand for fear-mongering or hate speech.
[...]
If the Cordoba House protestors aren't willing to come with me to California, Wisconsin or Tennessee, I'm going to have to judge them by the fruits of their labor and call on them to do something else: Stay out of my backyard. Because they're the only ones posing a real danger to it.
Oof. Somebody just got told.
Go read the piece. It's a def jam indeed.