近距离内射合集

My editor asked me to write a column about why I'm proud to be an American. I thought I could write that one in my sleep 鈥� so sue me if I go too fast.

I don't care what the media says, the 近距离内射合集 States of America is the greatest nation in the history of the world. Folks and community members who don't believe that can scout around for greener pastures.

I can explain why I am unapologetically pro-American without glossing over America's original sin of enslaving Africans, poll taxes and literacy tests they faced when finally freed after a cataclysmic Civil War, the internment of 120,000 American citizens of Japanese descent during World War II, opposition to federal civil rights legislation in the 1960s, and the dangerous ascent today of socialism fueled by political violence and a culture of assassination 鈥� all Democrat-led and fed institutions, initiatives and ideologies, by the way.

But like Benjamin Franklin, I believe in the potential of constant self-improvement. Despite our flaws, Americans have always striven to make the country better, generation by generation. We don't rest on our laurels, we improve things, at home and abroad, just not so much in New Mexico.

Americans have been making the world a better place for 250 years. Those who disagree are national orphans lacking a beloved home country. I feel sorry for them, they're taking our semiquincentennial kind of hard. I suggest buying some Trump shoes for a pick-me-up.

The 近距离内射合集 States of America is without dispute the beacon of light the world looks to. We have no match in science, medicine, technology, education, military, agriculture, ranching, space, sports or entertainment, and I haven鈥檛 even gotten to our freedoms and democracy yet. God has truly shed his grace on thee.

I firmly believe in American exceptionalism, and apparently a lot of immigrants to America and visitors during the FIFA World Cup do, too.

Why us? Why has the U.S. received so much grace from God, from sea to shining sea?

I believe in my heart it is because the 近距离内射合集 States has done more to protect and respect religious freedom and liberty than any group of nations in the history of the world.

Religious freedom was at the heart of our breakup with Great Britain and escape from the Church of England. It's enshrined at the start of our Bill of Rights and has been a core American value for 250 years. We don't say that enough.

Which brings me to the Albuquerque Islamic Center and the opposition it recently faced to building a new mosque in the North Valley.

Opponents of the new mosque along Second Street NW, north of Alameda Boulevard, threw everything but the kitchen sink at the proposal during a July 1 meeting of the Bernalillo County Planning Commission.

The commission by a 5-1 vote rightfully denied a zoning appeal from the Maria Diers Neighborhood Association, which was based on the usual noise, light and traffic concerns we hear regarding any improvement or progress in New Mexico.

Investment here is seen as an invasive species. Always bet against the house if someone is trying to build something in Albuquerque or Bernalillo County 鈥� "50th ain't so bad" should be our new state motto.

A county zoning administrator in early April approved a conditional use permit for the proposed mosque with an added condition that it have no outside speaker system. That's a little odd, but OK. We don't ask churches to muffle their Sunday morning bells.

The neighborhood association appealed with the signatures of 58 property owners asking the county's Board of Adjustment to deny the conditional use permit because it was allegedly in conflict with the North Valley Area Plan, which emphasizes low-density development. They tossed in the Cannabis Regulation Act, because the mosque would have classrooms and be near a dispensary.

Leaders of the Albuquerque Islamic Center said they received threatening messages and calls after support for the appeal blew up on social media. A zoning hearing to consider the appeal was rescheduled from June to July due to safety concerns.

When it finally took place on July 1, an overflow crowd packed the county headquarters room in Downtown Albuquerque. During five hours of testimony, there were some pretty cringeworthy anti-Muslim comments that did not honor our core American value of religious liberty.

Some opponents spoke against the Muslim community as a whole, saying Muslims hate America, burn American flags, don't assimilate, and want to 鈥渃onquer and destroy Christian beliefs.鈥�

Others said Sharia law and the Quran were 鈥渁nti-American and anti-equality."

I thought about those claims recently while driving by the Albuquerque Islamic Center, which opened on Menaul NE near Moon and Wyoming in 2018. The building is rather small, formerly a bank branch evidenced by the pneumatic teller machines that remain in place. It's right next to a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.

I was looking to see if there was a flagpole on the mosque property. There wasn't, I'll explain later. But what I saw in the back parking lot surprised me and raised the question in my mind: Who are the bigger bigots 鈥� the people opposing the mosque or the people running it?

Not far in the back parking lot from a basketball hoop, a pretty American attribute, there was an outside entrance door with a sign next to it marked "Women Entrance."

In my 60 years, I had never seen a women's entrance to a house of worship. About the only places I can recall women's entrances are bathrooms and dormitories at Purdue, and I've generally complied with both.

I don't know the level of worship women are allowed inside the mosque on Menaul, and I really don't care. I haven't heard any complaints from local Muslim women. How they go about their worshipping is their business, as odd and 8th century as a women's entrance seems to me.

The designated women's entrance gives some credence to the claim Islam is anti-equality for women. But I could say that about a lot of religions, others just aren't so brazen about it to have a marked women's entrance in the back lot. I suggest not marking a women's entrance at the new mosque. Just let it be known by word of mouth.

Regarding the accusation that Muslims are anti-American, I think I have an even better fix.

The new 45,000-square-foot mosque should include a flagpole, somewhere discreet on the property yet prominent, with a large American flag at the top.

A flagpole isn't unheard of at houses of worship. An American flag at a mosque would send a clear signal that being Muslim and American are not mutually exclusive. They can be as compatible as baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet.

Because in America, you can build virtually any house of worship you like, including a mosque, even if it has a women's entrance in the back. It's a constitutional right, and we won't even tax it.

Ahmad Assed, former president of the Islamic Center of New Mexico, is right: Houses of worship raise property values and offer philanthropy and social services. They are also the building blocks of communities, regardless of faith or denomination.

鈥淲e need places of worship, we need people to be closer to their faith, no matter what that faith is, we need to have people be able to go to a place they feel they belong," Assed told the Journal.

Absolutely. Whether it's Islam, Christianity, Judaism, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Amish or anyone else, respect for the fundamental American principle of religious freedom is why I believe God has shown his grace on us. And it's why I'm so damn proud to be an American in this land of milk and honey and West Texas Intermediate during our 250th birthday.

So good luck with the new mosque. I'd be glad to attend an open house when it's completed. Maybe we can salute the American flag together and someone can sing "The Star-Spangled Banner." And if we have refreshments inside later, I'd prefer using the main entrance.

Jeff Tucker is a Journal columnist, former Opinion editor and a member of the Journal鈥檚 Editorial Board. He can be reached a jtucker@abqjournal.com.