Tennessee: Hundreds Of Muslims Protest At State Capitol

[spanone]

tennessee is regressing....fast

the republicans are completely in charge here...

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Hundreds of Muslims from across Tennessee gathered at the state Capitol on Tuesday morning to speak out against a plan they said targets their religion.
The hearing over a bill supporters said is supposed to combat terrorism even had one lawmaker near tears.

The hearing started with the sponsor trying to convince the Muslim community that this bill had nothing to do with their religion and only with terrorism, yet Tuesday's debate still centered on Islam and the Koran.
Hundreds of Muslims walked up Fifth Avenue in the rain, waited to get inside Legislative Plaza and crowded into committee rooms to stand against a bill they said targets their religion.

"This bill is striking fear in the hearts of Muslims across the state," said Daoud Abudiab of Columbia. "My wife was in tears this morning. My son asked if the bill has passed. We're all very concerned about it."
The Material Support Act gives the governor and the attorney general the power to designate a group as a terrorist organization and allow punishment for people who knowingly provide support for those groups.

"The intent of the bill is to protect Tennesseans, to empower local law enforcement, to preempt terrorist attack so we don't have to pick up body parts after an event," said Rep. Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma. "It's to prevent an event from happening."

http://www.wsmv.com/politics/27673113/detail.html

[d_r]

1. "It's to prevent an event from happening."

That comment was chilling to me. I guess it was supposed to make us feel safer, but it made me feel a whole lot less safe - it is so ironic how someone can come up with something so anti-American all the while thinking they are being pro-American.

[Wait Wut]

2. I understand where you're coming from...

...but, I also can see where this could be useful. Unfortunately, anything useful can be abused. If a local militia is found to be plotting government takeovers...useful. If a local muslim starts a group to combat misinformation and is misinterpreted...abuse.

It's all in the fine print and interpretation. Look how our Constitution can be twisted or any religious book/document. I don't have a problem focusing on truly dangerous groups, but your concern is justified.

[spanone]

3. my local nbc affiliate just reported on this story....they teased about 'it got emotional'

well, the emotional part was a republican congressman who was 'in the air' on 911 and was recalling that 'he wasn't prepared' and he teared up. and this is why we need this bill....

i thought the emotion was going to be on the side of the muslims who are getting fucked over

[socialist_n_TN]

4. Yeah I don't like it either..........

They rewrote it to take out the references to Sharia, so that now ANYBODY the government decides is a "terraist" can be held under this law. Like maybe MoveOn? Our Council coordinator was called a "terraist" by Bank of America last tax day (the 18th) during our presentation of our citizen's tax "bill" to the manager. Yes we were there and we were loud and rowdy, but nobody was a "terraist" to my eyes.

What if the state sees MoveOn differently than I do? It's a VERY dangerous bill.

[KansDem]

5. "...so that now ANYBODY the government decides is a "terraist" can be held under this law."

And considering the recent revelations about GitMo, your watch could label you a "terrorist" and subject you to detention for years...