CHRISTIAN GRANTHAM, Post Contributor
Posted: Friday, June 18, 2010 10:00 am

It was virtually standing room only at the Rutherford County Courthouse Thursday as residents expressed their anger over approval of a Muslim community center.

A Christian prayer led by Commissioner Adam Coggin was met with an unusual amount of applause by the audience, many of whom also audibly accentuated the phrase "under God" during the meeting's Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

Some residents who were given three minutes in a public comment session expressed concern over due notice, but most shared a palpable fear of the Islamic faith.

"The law has been broken," county resident Kevin Fisher told the commission before hundreds gathered. "These people have a right to be present when the law is made, when decisions are made by this great body, and clearly the law has been broken."

Fisher was one the few who specifically referenced the process outlined by law to give the community due notice when someone seeks approval from the county for building or development changes.

Planning Director Doug Demosi assured those gathered that notice was given.

"Those meetings are held at regularly held planning meetings," Demosi said. "We notify the public through general circulation in the Murfreesboro Post. We put the time, date and location of every regular planning commission meeting we have."

At the heart of concerns expressed Thursday is the Regional Planning Commission's approval of a 52,000-square-foot Mosque in a residential area off Veals Rd. The plan was approved under "use by right" provisions that allow all religious groups to circumvent public zoning hearings by simply submitting plans for approval.

Some residents feel they didn't have proper notice, and some argue the size of the facility and its planning requirements warrant review. Still most who spoke focused more on the threat they feel the Islamic faith presents to the community.

"Will radical ideas and violence be brought to our doorstep?" resident Donald Todd asked. "We would not want white supremacists or Nazis here either."

Resident Karen Harold warned that Hitler came to power when folks turned a "deaf eye" and feared Muslims might try to kill her for speaking out.

"I'm not against any kind of religions," Harold said. "Hindus, they are not trying to kill us. But everybody knows who is trying to kill us, and it's like we can't say it, and they (are) a scary thing."

Fear that Muslims attending the facility would kill neighbors was a theme among some who expressed their opposition. Others put their fears in more stark terms of their duty as Americans and Christians to wage war at home.

"I think everybody realizes we are in a war with somebody," resident Pete Doughty said. "We can't identify all these people at this point, but we're in a war."

Resident Jackie Archer agreed and expressed concerns over America's willingness to tolerate other religions.

"I think the problem is we are novices at this struggle whereas the people we oppose are veterans," Archer said. "They see our big open hearts and arms in our American open society as a loop hole, and they jump right in before we know what's happened."

Resident Roy Grady expressed concerns over the "motivation and potential threat to our Christian world" he feels community Muslims present. "Our country is under siege, ladies and gentlemen, because it was founded on the belief that Jesus Christ is our lord and king, the virgin born son of God and risen savior, the living God."

A self described "Tea Party" candidate for Tennessee's 6th District U.S. House race also used the opportunity to let his feelings know.

"We got people here who have been accused in public of being intolerant or being bigots," Democratic candidate George Erdel said. "It wasn't a Catholic or Baptist that shot up Fort Hood in Texas. It was an Islamist."

Several times throughout the public comments section, Mayor Ernest Burgess expressed disappointment in the audience's applause and supportive outbursts.

"I would like those of you who are respectful to find a way to help those who are not to be respectful or else we'll have to empty the room," Burgess said. "Just sit there respectful like you would if you were in your church pew."

After limiting the session to only 30 minutes, the audience boo'd the mayor. One audience member shouted that the mayor intended to shut down opposition. The session was extended to accommodate everyone who requested time to speak.

Some residents went as far as requesting the county commission investigate Muslims seeking a religious center in Rutherford County.

"Will this facility further the political agenda of radical Islam?" asked Laurie Cordoza Moore. "Unless you have investigated the identities and records of the applicants, the members of the corporate board, the officers of the corporation, the employees, the attorneys assisting the corporation, the advisers and donors to the mosque, then you have a duty to investigate to ensure that this mosque does not pose a threat."

About four people who requested to speak did not take to the podium. Most of those present for the public comments left before the commission moved on to their regular agenda.