George,

Sen. Orrin Hatch's (R-Utah) position on the right of Muslim citizens to build a mosque on their private property is different from the one held by many of his fellow Republican leaders, inluding House Minority Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Newt Gingrich (Georgia) and Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) but the same as that held by some Democatic leaders, including President Obama, Majority House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi (D-California) and New York Mayor Micahel R. Bloomberg, who support the Muslims' right to build a mosque at Ground Zero in New York City.

Sen. Hatch maintains that his position is in keeping with the U. S. Constitution. More importantly, it is in keeping with moral law which takes precedence over the Constitution. An African American is "three-fifth of a person" was encoded in the Constitution. The Tenth Amendment, a part of the Bill of Rights and ratified in 1791, states that "powers not granted to the federal government nor prohibited to the states by the Constitution of the United States are reserved to the states or the people." That permitted the South, in particular, to pass the Black Codes, laws that limited the basis human rights and civil liberties of black people. By 1876, the nation was prepared to abandon the reconstruction to equality for all citizens regardless of race. In early 19th century Jim Crow laws were passed in the South. These so-called state rights laws are proof-positive that the Consitution is not sufficient to meet the requirements of moral man. Although quite adequate for immoral man. When man's adopted laws are counter to moral laws, the moral man embraces moral laws. It has been this kind of action that caused the Constitution to be amended and traditions and customs to give way to more respectful and humane practices by society.

There can be no compromise regarding the Muslims having the same right to build a mosque as Protestants to build a church and Jews to build a synagogue near Ground Zero. This is not just a Constitutional right, even though it is that, but a moral right as well.

In light of all the recent "hallobaloo," hatemongering and political demagoguery the Muslims do not only have a right, they have a moral obligation to build a mosque at Ground Zero. That will be a redeeming act for America.

Many Americans are pleased to extend tribute to Sen. Hatch for having the courage to not allow political posturing to trump moral goodness.

Uriah J. Fields (Electronic mail, September 1, 2010)