Fear leads to irrational behavior - Debate on the so-called "Ground Zero Mosque"

I'n sure you have all heard bits and pieces of the debate on the so-called "Ground Zero Mosque." There has been a significant amount of misinformation out there. Most of you have already watched Keith Olbermann's recent commentary. For those who haven't, please take the view minutes to watch this video. You'll learn a lot.

The reaction by some people in the country really hurts and saddens me. I thought better of us then this. Fear leads to irrational behavior and this is an example of that. The fact that we are even talking about this nationwide is scary to me. America is about protecting and accepting all of us, whether you are Christian, Muslim, Pagan, Buddhist or Atheist. I don't understand how we got to the point where we would suppress the building of a religious community center because of the actions of extremists. We're talking about a center with a basketball court, a culinary school and a small worship area. Even if it was a full-blown mosque, what is America so afraid of and why are we acting in this fear- and hate-driven manner? This debate is personal; I'll explain why.

Most of you know a soldier, someone who went overseas with a personal mission to protect the people of this country and the freedoms of the people living in the country we WENT to. Don't forget what we know to be the right thing just because we're afraid or grief-stricken. America is about freedom, not suppression. The group of terrorists who did this to our nation are NOT the same group seeking this community center. They are Americans, too. They grieved with us. Alienating them is not the right move.

Sorry to go on about this, but it is a little personal seeing as I spent a portion of my life in a Muslim country and so did many of my friends. Even though we're home, part of our hearts stay with that country and the Afghan and Iraq people. We went there to protect them. To protect us. To protect freedom. And the worst thing that can happen is to see our own country acting like the regimes we risked our lives to take away. And that's exactly what I'm seeing in this debate. Fear is a horrible thing. Fear makes you do the wrong thing. Hate is the wrong thing.

The effort to stop the building of a Muslim community center blocks away from Ground Zero is an example of fear leading to suppression. What comes after that? We all know the slippery slope that fear begins. I saw it and so did many of my friends who served overseas. Don't make us see it again, at home.