On Sept. 11, 2001, thousands of first responders heroically rushed to the scene and saved tens of thousands of lives. More than 400 of those first responders did not make it out alive. In rushing into those burning buildings, not one of them asked, ‘What God do you pray to?’ (Bloomberg’s voice cracks here a little as he gets choked up.) ‘What beliefs do you hold?

The attack was an act of war, and our first responders defended not only our city, but our country and our constitution. We do not honor their lives by denying the very constitutional rights they died protecting. We honor their lives by defending those rights and the freedoms that the terrorists attacked.

Michael Bloomberg

Read the entire address at the link above.

(via soupsoup)

Ground Zero is, indeed, hallowed ground, but let me be clear: as a citizen, and as President, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country. That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances.

This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country, and will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are. The writ of our Founders must endure.

President Barack Obama (via soupsoup)

It feels like I have this boyfriend, and we’ve been dating awhile and he is so great and perfect and sexy and none of my friends have met him yet. And I’ve been hyping him up so much, bragging, really sold him. And then, we finally all go out together and he gets too drunk, dances badly, insults everyone and passes out early.

BOM