Just another day: Fun at the Arab Fest

Thomas Sowell wrote a piercing piece earlier this week on the erosion of the rule of law in our land and the increased frequency with which our government operates outside its constitutional border.  Sadlly, most folks won't take the time to read it.  No pictures.  And it's about government.  Yawn.  We'd rather watch the World Cup.

The ideas Mr. Sowell discusses do not exist within the realm of theory alone.  What he argues has begun tapping on the shoulders of folks like you and me and hauling them off to jail.

For those with a cursory understanding of American geography, Dearborn, Michigan evokes blue collar imagery.  Hard-working factory folks on the skirts of Detroit.  Does it make you think of mosques?  It should.  Did you know Dearborn has one of the largest Islamic populations in the country?  Indeed.

It should come as no surprise that Christians compelled to preach the Gospel of salvation in Christ alone would seek to share that good news at Dearborn's annual "Arab Festival."  As Christ himself said, the healthy do not need a physician, and so a few bold Christians sought out the masses of sick.

Oops, bad choice.  I guess discussing what Muslims believe in the hope of having an open door to present the hope of the Gospel at an Arab festival is not protected by the Constitution.  These folks were not part of the Westboro Baptists, that foul group of individuals that picket funerals and carry heinious placards and that has little understanding for what the Bible plainly states.  The arrested individuals went with cameras (for their protection) to seek out those willing to talk.

It earned them abuse from the "security team" and arrest from the local police.  Neat.  Read it and watch the videos here.  Maybe one day on American streets the voices of Christians proclaiming a free and restored relationship with God through Christ will be silenced.  Then where will we be?

Ironic note. Drudge reports this afternoon that an earthquake felt from "Detroit to Buffalo" rumbled across the northern tier.  5.0 on Lord Richter's scale.

Ironic note II (here).  "Lord," as in "the year of our LORD," is being removed from a Connecticut high school's diplomas.  Neat.  That's surely offended three or four people over the past century.

Ironic note III (here and here).  There's a liberal bias to college's summer reading lists.  A whopping 2% of recommended books were considered conservative.  Well, it's something.  At least gay lit is taking off (here).

Sorry for the digressions, let's get back to Dearborn.  You might not like to hear the Gospel and you might not want to receive a pamphlet discussing what the Bible says, but you have the freedom to pass the person by or to trash the pamplet.  You do not have the freedom to prevent the person from discussing that idea with others.  It's not Constitutional.  This is not Russia amidst the height of Communism.  It's not China under Mao.

It's America 2010.  Do you know where your freedoms are?