Democracy test Garland Texas

Pamela Geller anti-Muslim extremist

In Democracy freedom of speech and assembly are protected rights of Americans; and whether you agree or ascribe to the tenants of a church, religion or organization, it does not matter.  In the US there are hundreds of hate groups identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center.  The groups are categorized as anti-gay, Neo-Nazi, Skinheads, Christian identity, neo-Confederate, Holocaust denial, Black separatists, radical Catholic organizations, anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, and approximately 50 other hate groups with various identities.  

Infamous hate groups like the Westboro Church who are notoriously anti-gay are the ones usually in the news, but there are groups preaching vitriol probably in your home town—even if you have never seen or heard them.  They are festering dissention and hate persuading others to join their cause with a promise of group inclusivity and camaraderie.     

The dynamic of hate promotion played out with a deadly outcome in Garland, Texas on May 3. Anti-Muslim crusader Pam Geller and her group took her “draw Muhammad” cartoon contest to Garland, Texas resulting in two Muslim men to open fire with assault-style rifles before being killed by police.

According to the mayor of Garland, “Of course we’d been happy if they’d [anti-Muslim group] stayed in New York and had their activity there.” But they chose to come here. From all the reports I’ve gotten from our officers that were on the scene, most of the people there were not from Garland. They were not even from Texas,” reported by Raw Story.  (Outside agitators enlisted to incite violence in a community is another essay.)

Gellar’s response was the mayor’s assessment of her event was akin to blaming a rape victim, but considering the outcome she is one lucky radical.  Her cries of foul are unfounded.  

“How ridiculous,” she opined to the BBC. “I mean, that’s like saying the pretty girl was responsible for her own rape. The mayor is going after the defenders of free speech, and clearly giving a free pass to the savages who came with guns to kill innocent people because of a cartoon.”

Incidents like Garland test American democracy and inherent freedoms. Armed and dangerous extremism is always wrong and contrary to the Constitutional rights of all Americans to be safe in their person at home and in public.

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If the situation in Garland had been reversed with Muslims demonstrating and Christians armed with assault rifles proceeded to begin shooting, the same police response applies.

The most important lesson learned is that in a democracy, people are not killed for their values and beliefs. Diversity is one of the founding principles and strengths of American democracy because we are a nation of immigrants with a variety of religions and belief systems.

John Adams Quotes on Government:  “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.” It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” “The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.”

The founders were well aware of the dangers of any state-sponsored religion. In response to widespread sentiment that to survive the United States needed a stronger federal government, a convention met in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787 and on September 17 adopted the Constitution of the United States. Article VI states "no religious Test shall ever be required as Qualification" for federal office holders.

According to The Congressional Register Adams’ decree was reiterated, James Madison the fourth president from 1809-1817 moved that "the civil rights of none shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall the full and equal rights of conscience be in any manner, or on any pretext infringed."

Madison defined freedom of religion as a “civil right,” that shall not be infringed.  If Americans believe in the Constitution and the founders, then respect for the rights of all individuals to free speech and assembly must be secured and respected at all times. 

As repugnant and prejudicial as Gellar appears and the Muslim response her group incited which was thwarted by police, she was within her civil rights. Considering the outcome of two dead Muslims who otherwise might still be alive, she does not have much to complain about.  She is alive and was protected appropriately, so the best thing for her group to do is count their non-denominational blessings and move on quietly.    

Resources
http://www.rawstory.com/2015/05/pam-geller-lashes-out-at-critics-youre-saying-the-pretty-girl-caused-her-own-rape/
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel06.html