Ethnically Speaking by Larry Meeks

Dear Larry: I follow politics very closely and have noticed that people who are against the tea party movement have quit calling its supporters racist. They may not have totally changed their views, but the accusations of racism have decreased greatly.

I don't know whether this is a conscious decision or just a coincidence. I would appreciate your opinion. — Melvin

Dear Melvin: I believe people are not so quick to throw the racism bomb when the public demands proof.

If you will notice, more and more people have stood flat-footed, toe-to-toe, and challenged the accusers to produce the evidence of racism. In the past, too many people have gotten away with blasting people with baseless charges, with the accused backing down while seething inside knowing they were not guilty.

As I have stated many times, frivolous racism charges diminish the seriousness of the crimes. Because of so many false charges, being called a racist no longer has the impact it once had. In fact, it is getting to the point that people who were once sympathetic are becoming apathetic or even turning against the entire civil rights movement.

I pray the civil rights leaders will wake up and tone down their rhetoric before they lose all credibility.

Dear Larry: I am disappointed in your answer to Patrick regarding the right of Muslims to build a community center that happens to have a mosque two blocks from ground zero. I thought Patrick made a cogent argument that the right response is to go after the individual criminals who perpetrated the crime, not lump them with the billion Muslims worldwide.

There was no controversy about this project when it was announced a few years ago; it was only made into one near election time.

To deny the owners of the property the right to develop it as they see fit, as long as it's within zoning ordinances, is un-American. If this mosque is not built, then the terrorists have won and America is lost. We are no longer the home of the free, but rather the home of the intimidated.

America was founded so that everyone could practice his own religion. We need to move on and uphold our founding principles; to do otherwise would be to let 19 Middle Easterners decide the future of our country. Please reconsider your position. — Mary

Dear Mary: While I was visiting a Civil War site in Franklin, Tenn., I was greatly disappointed that fast-food restaurants were built right across the street. Their presence desecrated the place where thousands "gave the last full measure." There was nothing illegal about their presence, but it was sure inappropriate. Yes, they had a constitutional right, but they were not sensitive to the feelings of people like me who would take offense.

You blame the controversy on the hateful Republicans. You are not alone in your accusation. I have heard other people blame it on groups opposed to gays and illegal immigrants, plus evangelical Christians, tea party members, "redneck" Southerners and even black Americans.

I do not know whether all these groups are opposed to the mosque, but I do know that, according to a recent CBS News poll, more than 70 percent of Americans think building it this close to ground zero would be inappropriate.

I have rethought my position, and I will stay with the 70 percent.

To find out more about Larry G. Meeks and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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