The controversy over the Park51 Islamic cultural and religious center in New York has generated controversy that is way out of proportion to any rational assessment of its importance. The so-called "Mosque at Ground Zero" is neither -- it is a community center with a prayer space located three blocks from Ground Zero. If you're not familiar with New York, three blocks is much farther than it sounds -- the density of buildings and population means that there is an awful lot between the two sites, including churches, businesses, strip clubs, and all the accoutrements of life in the big city. Try as I might, I can't attribute this flap to anything but religious prejudice, whatever fancy rhetoric it's cloaked in. It's been nine years but we aren't building a memorial at Ground Zero -- we're building new buildings -- offices, restaurants, apartments will once more occupy the site, so how is it hallowed ground? And even if I buy the "hallowed" argument as anything other than a shibboleth for anti-Muslim bias, to whom is it sacred? There were American Muslims who died in the towers, there were American Muslim first responders who risked their lives and were injured or killed, so doesn't any "memorial" include them? And why isn't the site of the Murrah building in Oklahoma City "hallowed ground," or the IRS office in Austin? I'm not sure how important this issue is taken on its own, but in a larger picture I think it's very important. First of all, some 60% of Americans according to the polls seem prepared to sacrifice the First Amendment to bias. Yes, all Americans have the freedom to worship when, where, and how they choose unless they are the designated enemy du jour. Secondly, that same proportion of Americans seem to be willing to tar all Muslims with the terrorist brush despite all the evidence that, as with every faith, Christianity and Judaism included, the extremists who would wipe out those of other faiths or forcibly convert them are a small majority Most disturbing to me, however, is that we seem to be moving in the direction of a clan-based culture. The "culture wars" touted by O'Reilly, Beck, Limbaugh, Coulter, and others on the right seem eerily similar to what Ayaan Hirsi Ali describes as the clan culture of her native Somalia. Ayaan Hirsi Ali, in case you don't recall who she is, was born a Somali and went on to become a Dutch citizen and a member of the Dutch Parliament. She co-produced with Theo van Gogh the film Submission that cost van Gogh his life at the hands of an assassin and led to threats against her as well. Ali's book, Infidel is a memoir of her growing up in Somalia and Kenya and her gradual distancing herself from Islam to the point of becoming one of its leading critics. Her criticism of the religion of her birth is couched in terms of her personal struggle with what began as a deep and unquestioning faith and became apostasy. Witnessing that struggle, we are privy to her thought processes as well as her emotional conflict, and it's not always pretty or easy reading. One of the themes running through Ali's book and life is the rigidly hierarchical clan system in Somalia, which while not based in Islamic law, is closely intertwined with the religion, its practices, and its traditions. Ali's family belongs to a high-caste clan that has traditionally led and governed in Somalia. At the time of her growing up the country is ruled by the brutal dictator Mohammed Siad Barré, and Ali's father was a leader of the resistance that was ultimately successful in overthrowing the government. Sadly, the result of this revolution was not freedom but vicious civil war among the clans, a war based in old rivalries and prejudices, that is still dominating Somali life today. When Ali came to the Netherlands and got involved in politics there, she found similarities between the system of political parties there and the clans in Somalia -- much the same stereotyping, rivalry, and refusal to cooperate, under a more civilized and peaceful facade. Reading her account of life in both systems, I became increasingly uncomfortable with what I perceived as similarities to life in the US today as we seem to be moving toward increasing polarization and enmity between right and left, non-Muslims and Muslims, "native" and immigrants. It is axiomatic that the United States was founded on principles of individual freedoms (speech, assembly, even the right to bear arms), group freedoms (religion, freedom from discrimination), and protection of minorities under the rule of the majority. More importantly, another critical principle is that these freedoms are based on rights that are "inalienable," that is impossible to take away. In 1947, the then Department of War made a short film that was rarely if ever shown. The film, called Don't Be a Sucker showed how easily the right in Germany hoodwinked the German people into supporting murderous racism, a process that was echoed in Pastor Martin Niemoller's famous statement ("First they came for the Communists..."). We would do well to remember our Virgil -- "the descent to Hell is easy," and to keep in mind that while it may be the Muslims now, sooner or later "they [will come] for me and there [will be] no one to speak up."

Reuters - Investigators from the United Nations Human Rights Council have begun questioning witnesses of Israel's May 31 capture of a Gaza-bound boat in which nine people died, the U.N. said on Monday.

Michael Tomasky, The GuardianTurn autoplay offTurn autoplay onPlease activate cookies in order to turn autoplay offObama's approval rating is fine, but his party's fear of the Republicans means they'll suffer at the pollsQuestion: among Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter, which one had the highest approval rating at this 20-month mark in his presidency? The answer is Obama, who, at 44% or 45%, is a few points better than each of those predecessors was. The Bushes were both more popular, but they were governing under special circumstances "" George HW Bush was launching...

Michael Tomasky, The GuardianTurn autoplay offTurn autoplay onPlease activate cookies in order to turn autoplay offObama's approval rating is fine, but his party's fear of the Republicans means they'll suffer at the pollsQuestion: among Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter, which one had the highest approval rating at this 20-month mark in his presidency? The answer is Obama, who, at 44% or 45%, is a few points better than each of those predecessors was. The Bushes were both more popular, but they were governing under special circumstances "" George HW Bush was launching...

Deroy Murdock, National ReviewNEW YORK - Why are Americans enraged? As this moribund economy limps through the third year of doldrums, Americans are sick of having their hard-earned money swiped by Washington, D.C.'s Democrat-dominated political class, which is clueless, condescending, and invariably costly.Could anything but cluelessness explain what happened when Harv's Metro Car Wash in Sacramento owed the federal government precisely four pennies due to a mistaken tax return? Rather than shrug at a four-cent error, the IRS dispatched two agents to deliver a letter by hand informing the owner of his tax debt....

Deroy Murdock, National ReviewNEW YORK - Why are Americans enraged? As this moribund economy limps through the third year of doldrums, Americans are sick of having their hard-earned money swiped by Washington, D.C.'s Democrat-dominated political class, which is clueless, condescending, and invariably costly.Could anything but cluelessness explain what happened when Harv's Metro Car Wash in Sacramento owed the federal government precisely four pennies due to a mistaken tax return? Rather than shrug at a four-cent error, the IRS dispatched two agents to deliver a letter by hand informing the owner of his tax debt....

Immigration Minister Damian Green begins his three day visit to India today. The visit will focus on what UK immigration policy means for Indian business, and tackling illegal migration.

NORFOLK — About a dozen Immigration reform activists protested at Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s office on Main Street in Norfolk. Following Arizona’s lead, the Governor and the Attorney General are asking the Federal Government for broader powers when it comes to enforcing immigration laws in the Commonwealth. Arizona passed a law allowing officers to ask for immigration papers …

BUREAU of Immigration Alien Control Officer Antonio Prieto of the Baguio field office recently charged an employee for gross dishonesty and misconduct. read more

British Immigration Minister says David Cameron wants to take the UK-India relationship to a new level .

Labour's failure to respond to voters' concerns over immigration was a contributing factor to the loss of Labour votes at the general election a new poll has suggested.

The governments plan to impose an annual cap on immigration will strangle City law firms, the Law Society warned today. The cap will severely restrict firms ability to conduct overseas work; prevent firms from attracting overseas lawyers and moving employees to London from their international offices; and damage the UK legal sectors reputation, Chancery Lane said. The cap could force ...

Immigration officials swept 47 people with alleged gang connections off New England streets this week, the culmination...

The subject of Australian immigration has been a hot topic during the run up to the Australian election, with both candidates showing a resolve to protect the Australian way of life by monitoring immigration if elected.

The UK has no plans to erect barriers or close doors on Indian business but it wants to deliver controlled immigration with a faster and fairer system as part of its new policy.

British Immigration Minister Damian Green will begin his first visit to India Monday. The three-day visit will focus on what Britain’s immigration policy means for Indian businesses and on tackling illegal immigration.

In a move as predictable as Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown, Democrats are using Social Security scare tactics to gain ground before the November election. And Barack Obama is leading the charge

Democrats will promote the benefits of health care reform ahead of the midterm elections, hoping that the more voters hear about the bill, the more they’ll support it. But the GOP is hardly giving up its fight

A record number of Republican women have sought federal office this year: 129 GOP women in House races and 17 in Senate races

Either Tim Pawlenty is a huge fan of the corn dogs at the Iowa State Fair, or the outgoing governor of Minnesota is seriously considering a run for the presidency in 2012. TIME takes a look at the ever-lengthening presidential campaign.

American Islamophobia: At least six mosque projects across the U.S., not just in New York, have faced bitter opposition this year

The cast of Survivor has nothing on Sen. John McCain

Americans increasingly are convinced — incorrectly — that President Barack Obama is a Muslim, and a growing number are thoroughly confused about his religion