First the blacks dealt with years of slavery. I know that ended in 1865 but, they were given absolutely no education what-so-ever and had no dignity. Then once freed they had to deal with intense opposition to their very presence in the form of the KKK, Jim Crow laws and general racism. So, their ability to get ahead was continued to be stunted because they had been denied education and dignity for generations and their access to quality education, housing, quality food and dignity was denied for another 100 years. That brings us to the 1960s when they had to fight for their right to even be allowed to play basketball, football, join gyms, go to the library and other basics many of you seem to take for granted. So after the 1960s,...

That's what I've been saying Steve. I don't quite get the hypocrisy of the people commenting on this site. Could someone please explain it to me?

I know many of you don't see it but you are more like Al Qaeda than anything. The amount of hate spewing from this forum is very unsettling. Hate brought down the twin towers. You believe all these terrible things and you refuse to see ANY good what-so-ever. Al Queda is unsettling, hate mongers are unsettling and the extremes on all sides of every issue are unsettling. I came to townhall hear the opinion of conservatives but all i've heard is the rantings of the extreme far right. I don't even think many of you are conservative, you're so far beyond conservative a new name should be coined. I don't even know what y'all want except to wipe everyone off the face of the earth except for you and lower taxes. Y'all enjoy all these...

After a veteran's funeral is picketed or an abortion clinic is blown up, how Christians many have an unfavorable view of Christianity?

How can you make such a blanket statement? How many Muslim people do you know? How many have you talked with?

45caliber, I'm going to try to comment on your input as best as I can. First, I don't know if I agree that liberals believe the good/bad theory you've proposed. I think some liberals understand that some people solve their problems with violence no matter what's good, bad, right or wrong. Just like some conservatives. I think some liberals believe that there are some Muslims who wish to do harm to the USA and there are some Muslims who do not wish to do harm to the USA just as conservatives believe. I'm sure that there are people who believe that everyone should like America but I wouldn't say they're all liberals. I'm sure that particular group of dimwits deserves a name uniquely their own. As a super-power the United States...

What's the answer?

If we are supposed to be an enlightened country, as Reagan said, "A shining city upon a hill", we should be able to not only understand but be sympathetic to those who still wish to do harm to others. Shining cities on hills don't hate large groups of people. Shouldn't we as "America the free" be a symbol of tolerance, acceptance and freedom instead of emulating their hate right back to them? Since Muslims Americans are such as small group compared to Protestant Americans, many non-Muslims seem to be lumping them all together. They are all as different as the people sitting at their keyboards right now commenting on this story. They are individual people. It was George Bush who said, "We're not at war with Islam." We are at war...

I can't argue with your military record. you fought for this country and I absolutely respect that. what I'm saying is, while i do not believe what the kkk believes, i would not want them banned. the constitution gives them the right to organize and believe what they want. the park51 community center is a peaceful place organized by a man with a well documented history of advocating peace and understanding in the community. there is no reason to stop Park51. I have been to Europe several times and I loved many parts of it. The only country I didn't like was Italy.

Gatorbait, What I will say to my daughters is, "People believe all kinds of different things. You may agree with some of it and you may disagree but always be grateful that we live in the united states, a place that fights for religious freedom. As long as we have that freedom there is nothing to fear because you will always be free to choose which religion is best for you and feel safe from persecution."