I just heard on talk radio about the Army Corps of Engineers "giving" (leasing for $1 per year) approx 100 acres of land to a Muslim organization to build a Muslim Youth Camp and to build a Muslim prayer tower on the property.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/printer-...RTICLE_ID=32907

http://www.citizenreviewonline.org/june_2003/iowa.htm

http://www.press-citizen.com/news/062503gallagher.htm

My thought is... if this were a Christian organization.. the the ACLU and other non religious organizations would be having a hissy fit that the Feds were allowing a "facility" to be built on Federal land purchased by tax payers.

Should this be that big of a controversy?

Respectfully,

I don't have a problem with it provided it doesn't promote Wahhabiism, but then I wouldn't have a problem with a Christian or Jewish or Wiccan camp either.

But you have a point - if it were Christian, the usual suspects would no doubt be raising a ruckus.

Don't the Scouts and Girl Guide organizations use public lands all the time?

Personally I see no problem here, and a tremendous potential for good.

A one of those with the potential to "raise a ruckus" (as Izdaari put it), I'll weigh in with having no secular or religious problem with either the proposed Muslim camp or even a Christian camp under similar circumstances.

According to the Army Corps of Engineers' recreation bit they operate more than 2,500 sites making them the nation's largest provider of outdoor recreation. I would imagine that if they're considering leasing a site to a Muslim organization that the currently, or have in the past, leased property to Christian or possibly Jewish organizations as well.

I can't say I'm a big fan of just giving away public land (for an annual fee of $1) while these groups may be able to turn a hefty profit, but on the other hand I think most of them probably provide good public services for children and others.

I think the only ruckus could come if this Muslim organization or any others were denied the land on the basis of their religion while any Christian organizations operating were allowed to continue. It doesn't sound like they will be denied, though, even in spite of misguided fears of terrorism.

Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts don't build prayer towers... lol

I guess my thoughts are, if it's FEDERAL land, and they are essentially GIVING it to a religious organization... that would be polar opposite to many of the other issues that come up that have to do with religion and government.

You can't have the 10 commandments on a wall of a public school, and yet, the Feds allow prayer towers to be built on public property. I'm not against the Muslim Youth Camp.. and I wouldn't have a problem if the Fed was selling the land to the organization... but something about this just doesn't make sense....

Does it make it a good idea because it's a Muslim organization and the timing is right???

Respectfully...

Allow me to raise a ruckus.

No government money, or other form of support, to any religious organization or activity of any kind, under any circumstances.

I will not quibble as to whether it is legal to do so under the Constitution. I will affirm that it is always a bad idea to do so.

Religion may have some benefits by itself. Government may have some benefits by itself. (Although I am very skeptical about either one.) Together, the two combine into a deadly poison.

No. I think this is a possible move to win the friendship of muslims who would otherwise think of as non-supporters of the muslim faith. A friendly gesture maybe.

I think they should lease it for something close to fair market value. Gee, it's not like we are running a surplus.

No they should not be doing that in my opinion. They should not be leasing land to any church or religious organization.