Putting the mosque restoration project in perspective

Well, I got the email about the US-taxpayer-funding of mosque restoration around the world and of course saw it mentioned in many other places as well recently. Sounds utterly outrageous on the face of it.

But then I got a follow-up email from a local pastor responding to that same mass emailing, who pointed out that US money goes to restore many ancient buildings around the world, not just mosques but also churches, cathedrals and monasteries:

Lets first put this in perspective. The US 2010 budget is 2.381 Trillion, so $6 Million dollars is equivalent to a person with a $50K salary spending $0.12 ... that's 12 cents. The gov't probably spent more just coming up with the list.

Additionally, look at these list items
28. (Episcopal Basilica in Macedonia, $72,000)
30. (13th century fortified church in Romania, $39,185)
31. (17th-century Church in Russia, $81,990)
49. (17th,18th century colonial chapels in Bolivia, $41,079)
52. (20th century cathedral in El Salvador, $43,430)
53. (18th century convent in Guatemala, $94,827)
56. (18th century church in Nicaragua, $90,243)
58. (17th, 18th century paintings in Church in Peru, $31,170)

61. (11th century Church, $625,000 !!!!!!)
62. (18th century Monastery, $575,000 !!!!)

I guess we could ask why we are paying for any of these things but in context it doesn't seem like such a big deal after all.

Wish the Right wouldn't rely on partial information. Things are bad enough.