Dear Editor:

Recently, discussion has begun on a Muslim Cemetery that is requesting to be built. I have heard arguments from both sides. To be quite frank, neither side has impressed me. I personally don’t believe this is something I want in Farmersville. I don’t think it is something that will benefit this community. While I am only 17, I believe everyone should have a voice. Bart Barber of FBC Farmersville has taken a stance based on the First Amendment. I agree with him believing everyone should have a First Amendment right, which allows us religious liberty. I disagree with his use, as I believe our founding fathers never intended the Amendment for Non-Christian use. Nonetheless, it is being used in this situation. If we ask this to be denied on religious grounds, it can be turned on Christians later down the road. We can see from the news how people have reacted. “It’s going to be a great big issue and it’s going to kill Farmersville” and, “That’s not the right land use” to quote a few. I personally have heard some things said that I would not repeat. I believe these are also some of the wrong ways of doing things. While I agree with their end result, some of their arguments have no depth to them. I as a Christian am called to love people as Christ loved me. While I disagree with their beliefs, I care for these Muslims. I pray for them every night. The last thing I would like to address is how I would personally take a stand. My two points are these; tax burdens and burial practices. With a Mosque coming later down the road, the school will be expected to build prayer rooms for the children to use during the day. This will cause extra money to build. To burial practices, the bodies are placed immediately in the ground, which can cause two problems. With the proximity to the lake, there will be run-off with their burial practices. Also, with recent flooding we could see problems of bodies resurfacing from the ground. My goal is not to offend anyone with this. I merely want the people of the city to consider different things. As Christians, we are called to love. But, we are also called to take a stand.

Brock Long

Caddo Mills