The Pablum Puke Of The Day… [Updated Below]

…comes courtesy of Mayor Nanny Bloomberg who delivered some remarks on Tuesday at his annual Ramitdown, er, Rama-Lama-Ding-Dong, er, Ramblin’ Rose, er, Rambo: First Blood, er…you know what I mean…celebration at Gracie Mansion [tip of the fedora to the New York Post]:

But if we say that a mosque and community center should not be built near the perimeter of the World Trade Center site, we would compromise our commitment to fighting terror with freedom.

We would undercut the values and principles that so many heroes died protecting. We would feed the false impressions that some Americans have about Muslims. We would send a signal around the world that Muslim Americans may be equal in the eyes of the law, but separate in the eyes of their countrymen. And we would hand a valuable propaganda tool to terrorist recruiters, who spread the fallacy that America is at war with Islam.

Islam did not attack the World Trade Center — al Qaeda did. To implicate all of Islam for the actions of a few who twisted a great religion is unfair and un-American. Today we are not at war with Islam — we are at war with al Qaeda and other extremists who hate freedom.

…

Just as we fought communism by showing the world the power of free markets and free elections, so must we fight terrorism by showing the world the power of religious freedom and cultural tolerance. Freedom and tolerance will always defeat tyranny and terrorism — that is the great lesson of the 20th century, and we must not abandon it here in the 21st.

I understand the impulse to find another location for the mosque and community center. I understand the pain of those who are motivated by loss too terrible to contemplate. And there are people of every faith — including, perhaps, some in this room — who are hoping that a compromise will end the debate.

But it won’t. The question will then become, how big should the ‘no-mosque zone’ around the World Trade Center be? There is already a mosque four blocks away. Should it, too, be moved?

This is a test of our commitment to American values. We must have the courage of our convictions. We must do what is right, not what is easy. And we must put our faith in the freedoms that have sustained our great country for more than 200 years.

I know that many in this room are disturbed and dispirited by the debate. But it is worth keeping some perspective on the matter. The first colonial settlers came to these shores seeking religious liberty and the founding fathers wrote a constitution that guaranteed it. They made sure that in this country the government would not be permitted to choose between religions or favor one over another.

Nonetheless, it was not so long ago that Jews and Catholics had to overcome stereotypes and build bridges to those who viewed them with suspicion and less than fully American. In 1960, many Americans feared that John F. Kennedy would impose papal law on America. But through his example, he taught us that piety to a minority religion is no obstacle to patriotism. It is a lesson that needs updating today, and it is our responsibility to accept the challenge.

Before closing, let me just add one final thought: Imam Rauf, who is now overseas promoting America and American values, has been put under a media microscope. Each of us may strongly agree or strongly disagree with particular statements he has made. And that’s how it should be — this is New York.

And while a few of his statements have received a lot of attention, I would like to read you something that he said that you may not have heard. At an interfaith memorial service for the martyred journalist Daniel Pearl, Imam Rauf said, “If to be a Jew means to say with all one’s heart, mind and soul: ‘Shma Yisrael, Adonai Elohenu Adonai Ehad; Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One,’ not only today I am a Jew, I have always been one. If to be a Christian is to love the Lord our God with all of my heart, mind and soul, and to love for my fellow human being what I love for myself, then not only am I a Christian, but I have always been one.”

In that spirit, let me declare that we in New York are Jews and Christians and Muslims, and we always have been. And above all of that, we are Americans, each with an equal right to worship and pray where we choose. There is nowhere in the five boroughs that is off limits to any religion.

By affirming that basic idea, we will honor America’s values, and we will keep New York the most open, diverse, tolerant and free city in the world.

I think I’m going to be sick.

I debated whether of not to administer a righteous Fisking to the speech, but decided that controlling my blood pressure is already hard enough. 

I then thought I might just launch into a bit of rant in response to the tawdry sentiments expressed by this narcissistic jackass, but then decided that I would put myself at too much risk for a major, first-class aneurysm. 

So, fearing that I would cause my own untimely death [and the wrath of Mrs. Belvedere, who would kill me if I ever died], I have decided to let the puke hang out there floating mindlessly through The Ether, like Andrew Sullivan’s bodily fluids at a steambath house.

Feel free to take on the task, if you wish, in the Comments Section.  I may just elevate your rant to Update status in this posting, so that all of The Rightosphere may take pleasure in your wit and wisdom.  You’re welcome, in advance.

‘Come on people now, smile on your brother
everybody get together
and try to love one another right now
– I am so friggin’ wonderful!
I’m SUPER MAYOR!!!’

UPDATE at 1919…

I should have known that, if anyone were going to pick up the standard and carry it into battle, it would be Steven Givler.  Herewith, he administers a rigorous and Righteous Fisking to the Mayor of Smallmindville:

“…we would compromise our commitment to fighting terror with freedom…” – So the mayor supports New Yorkers’ Second amendment rights?

“… a great religion …” – Religion is not a top ten list. If you have one, and it means anything to you, then you realize all are mutually exclusive. If you don’t have one, then none of them is great. You don’t get to say there are lots of great ones, or even two or three. ” I am a jealous God…” might ring a bell with some. “…Today we are not at war with Islam…” And by the time we are, it may be too late, because Islam is definitely at war with us, and has been since Jefferson was president.

“…Just as we fought communism by showing the world the power of free markets and free elections…” – Who’s this “we” you’re talking about? I fought communism by volunteering to be part of a military force that, thanks to Reagan, convinced the Soviets they couldn’t compete with the free world.

“… And we must put our faith in the freedoms that have sustained our great country for more than 200 years…” – See my first comment. You have no interest in those freedoms, and you’ve devoted your adult life to stripping them away from people.

“…There is already a mosque four blocks away…” – Excellent. Problem solved. Next question?

“… Imam Rauf, who is now overseas promoting America and American values…” – No. He’s not. One cannot simultaneously be in favor of Sharia Law and American values. The two are completely incompatible.

“… Imam Rauf said, “If to be a Jew means to say with all one’s heart, mind and soul: ‘Shma Yisrael, Adonai Elohenu Adonai Ehad; Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One,’ not only today I am a Jew, I have always been one. If to be a Christian is to love the Lord our God with all of my heart, mind and soul, and to love for my fellow human being what I love for myself, then not only am I a Christian, but I have always been one…” – What a beautiful collection of half-truths, which is of course, the same as saying lies. Rauf intentionally ignores the fact that loving the Christian God requires acknowledgment of the diety of His Son, which Rauf most assuredly does not. It requires acceptance of the Trinity, which Islam denies. It demands acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins, and his resurrection, which of course Islam does not accept. No Rauf, you do not get to define Christianity, nor do you get to lay claim to it.

” There is nowhere in the five boroughs that is off limits to any religion…” – That’s probably why, at some of the 30-some mosques already in New York City, the authorities do nothing when Friday attendees block streets by praying in them. I doubt Jews or Christians would be afforded that same freedom, not that they would demand it. I’m sure too, that this will be welcome news to the Greek Orthodox church that has been denied permits to rebuild after it was destroyed by the 9/11 attacks. I’m glad we’ve settled that.

“…the most open, diverse, tolerant and free city in the world…” Diverse unless your beliefs and opinions happen to diverge from the liberal agenda. Tolerant unless you happen to believe what the Bible says. You are free to pay taxes at a rate that would have led the Founding Fathers to start another revolution.

And another thing (although I realize I’ve far exceeded my word quota) Why has it become fashionable lately for politicians to host iftars and other Islamic celebrations? (Remember the Eid stamps published by the US Postal Service?) I guess it’s some kind of badge of diversity or something, but what meaning can possibly be attached to it?

What does it say to a Muslim if you hold an iftar at your home, when you are obviously not Muslim? To me it seems downright patronizing. “As a sign of my magnanimity and broad-mindedness, I will condescend to host one of your quaint primitive rites in my home. I hope you will attend and entertain us with some authentic mumbo-jumbo. Please convey my invitation to your wife (or wives!!) as well, in the hopes that they will wear something deliciously Middle Eastern.

And then we’ll listen to records and play twister. What fun!

Bravo, Major!