Shut Up, He Explained

by William Kristol - August 16th, 2010 - The Weekly Standard

Last Tuesday, standing in front of the Statue of Liberty, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg spoke on the subject of the proposed mosque at Ground Zero. His remarks will be read with curiosity by future generations of Americans, who will look back in astonishment at the self-deluding pieties and self-destructive dogmas that are held onto, at once smugly and desperately, by today’s liberal elites. Our liberation from those dogmas, and from those elites, is underway across the nation. But it’s worth taking a look at Bloomberg’s speech, if only to remind us of what we need to ascend from so our descendants can look back with curiosity at the ethos to which we did not succumb.

As is the way of contemporary liberals, Bloomberg spoke at a very high level of abstraction. He appealed to the principle of religious toleration, while never mentioning the actual imam who is responsible for and would control the planned Ground Zero mosque. To name Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf might invite a consideration of his background, funding, and intentions. Do Rauf and his backers believe in the principles underlying the “inspiring symbol of liberty” that greets immigrants to the United States and before which Bloomberg stood? Bloomberg didn’t say. It apparently doesn’t matter. Toleration means asking nothing, criticizing nothing, saying nothing, about whom or what one is tolerating.

Bloomberg exhibits the arrogant and snotty attitude of a typical progressive member of the 'ruling class'. His statement was insulting to Americans. Of course Bloomberg was too busy coddling those who hate us to care about Americans.

There are numerous comments that Kristol made about Bloomberg that I agree with.

"... Bloomberg took it upon himself to lecture his fellow New Yorkers ... [he was guilty of] intellectual obfuscation and moral preening ... he could not be bothered to take seriously the reservations and objections of a clear majority of his constituents ... [Bloomberg felt] public sentiment be damned. There’s nothing to be learned from the ignorant and bigoted residents of New York ... attacked by whom? Bloomberg wouldn’t say ... [he] avoids coming to grips with what is really happening and what lies behind the popular sentiment of disgust, even revulsion ... contemporary liberalism means building a mosque rather than a memorial at Ground Zero—and telling your fellow citizens to shut up about it."

Bloomberg did not appeal to our better nature as he obviously thinks he did. He mocked our religious tolerance for political purpose. I wonder if he even noticed his condescension. I also wonder if he noticed the 6 missionaries who were just killed by Muslims for "spreading Christianity?" That is the true nature of his "religion of peace." I started out liking Bloomberg when he first ran for mayor. However his consistent arrogant belief that he knows more and is smarter than anyone else has grated until I came to realize - he is just like Bush. A know-it-all rich guy who holds the average American in contempt. Bloomberg does not care that this mosque is a triumphal statement of Muslims who hate us, towering over what they see as a symbol of our defeat. Bloomberg simply does not care about America.