Quote:
Originally Posted by Gravdigr
It was.
Educate me on American citizenry, and why I need to know the vagaries of a religion about which I do not give the first shit, and admitted that I knew nothing of. The question, as I asked it, was complete, and genuine regarding the subject I was asking about, as narrow as it may have been.
--snip
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Gravdigr,
I apologize for my harsh answer to your original question.
I'd put together another long answer, then the computer ate it. Here is the condensed version.
Our laws about the requirements for citizenship say nothing about a religious requirement. Furthermore, the first amendment to the Constitution specifically prohibits the creation of such laws in such circumstances.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by The Constitution of the United States
Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
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There certainly *are* requirements for citizenship, and some restrictions, but none of them have anything to do with religion, much less Islam. You can be a citizen regardless of your religion.
That's the citizenship side of your question.
Islam has many followers, and like most religions, has many interpreters of the "rules". I am less familiar with the wider range of definitions of what it means to be a "devout muslim" than I am with the "rules" for citizenship. But I will tell you that I have a number of friends who are muslim. American citizens, by the way. I've been around them for a long time. Nothing I've ever heard or seen from any of them has ever given me any indication that there was a conflict between their religion and their citizenship. Nothing I've read about Islam has ever given me any indication that there's any conflict between Islam and citizenship, certainly not American citizenship.
Having listened to the idiot in the firearms ad, and the other idiot at the website, they both talk about why someone can't be a citizen, and they say the reason being a "devout muslim". I *know* this is wrong because I have a good understanding of the requirements for citizenship; those requirements are explicit and well defined and widely accepted, especially by those who confer citizenship. What the two idiots seem to be saying is that if you're an American citizen, you can't be a "devout muslim". Maybe they know about being a "devout muslim" and where in the Koran is says you can't be a citizen, but I doubt it.
These guys are talking out of their asses.