Any fool may take pen in hand and usually does.

You are correct; I am aware of James Madison and his view on the seperation of Church and State. Madison was fearful of the “Religious Shackles” that cloud reason. The same shackles that bonded Muslim countries in his day, just as they do today. Due to the vision of our founders America is enlightened and the wall of seperation is in tact. Most Muslim Nations do not have that wall.

As you are aware there was more than one Publius in those days and I would like to quote the other Publius to better portray my point that our over sensitive and ever tolerant culture is sometimes dangerous to our National Security.

“Let us recollect that peace or war will not always be left to our option; that however moderate or unambitious we may be, we cannot count upon the moderation, or hope to extinguish the ambition of others.” – Alexander Hamilton

“Foreign influence is truly the Grecian horse to a republic. We cannot be too careful to exclude its influence.” – Alexander Hamilton

Thank you for the healthy debate.

Well said, Josh. By the way, Ibrahim Hooper’s real name is Doug. Probably a loser in search of meaning in his life. Muslims make up 25% of the world’s population. If a large share of them were out to destroy us, they would have made more progress by now. The Muslim population in the U.S. is projected to be about 6 million, less than 2%, by the end of the decade. So, if they manage to impose Sharia Law (assuming that’s what they wanted), what does that say about the other 98% of us who are non-Muslim? I’ve had the opportunity to know devout Arab-American Muslims and members of their family. Nothing extreme about them. Not out to convert me. Didn’t call me an infidel. Don’t believe 75 virgins await them in the next life. No interst in living in a Islamic Republic under Sharia law. Had no interest in strapping explosives to their kids. Great work ethic. Totally nice people. Wanted the same things out of life the rest of us want — family, friends, good jobs, baseball, good schools for their kids etc.

But I also believe radical, militant Islamic fundamentalists ultimately will have much less of an impact upon our American way of life than will some of the admittedly law-abiding Christian fundamentalists who want to impose their values upon everyone here. If anything, 9/11 sensitized America to radical Islam to the extent that it’s much harder now for it to make any substantial ideological inroads here.

Meanwhile, Christian fundamentalists have had far more success through lobbying, campaign spending and other legal means in shaping our public debate toward curtailing freedoms of those with whom they don’t agree. I emphasize legal because it is so, though I think we all should be vigilant about the eventual price. Christians undeniably are a vast majority in America – and in any nation it’s usually the majority that must be watched most carefully, lest it impose its will upon all the minorities.

I’m not going to get into the age-old scrap about the founding fathers’ intent on whether this would be a “Christian country.” I’ll just say: I have no problem with Christians but I am not one, and I’ll not accept anybody trying to force me to be one – or anything else I don’t freely choose to be.

Given your screen name, Publius, I’d trust you recall that James Madison was intent upon ensuring this country had checks and balances to protect individual rights from the tyranny of the majority. Madison wrote:

“The experience of the United States is a happy disproof of the error so long rooted in the unenlightened minds of well-meaning Christians, as well as in the corrupt hearts of persecuting usurpers, that without a legal incorporation of religious and civil polity, neither could be supported. A mutual independence is found most friendly to practical Religion, to social harmony, and to political prosperity.”

So: Yes, I’d be more concerned about violence from radical, militant Islamic fundamentalist terrorism than of violence from radical, militant, Christian fundamentalist terrorism. But as for maintaining our freedoms, I don’t trust fundamentalists of any stripe who harbor socio-political motives at others’ expense.

Remember what we are up against. Remember 9-11. There are those that will send thier children strapped with a backpack filled with explosives to do Allah’s will and kill the infidel. A sensitive, blind America cannot defend itself against such a faith.

Yet I don’t go around accusing all Christians of believing this, because I see it’s the mindset of a small, fundamentalist minority. To stereotype that way, I think, would be akin to defining all Baptists by those odious Westboro Baptist Church “God hates fags” cretins (whom, as I recall, Elwood, you detest as well).

Seems pretty clear to me.