Virgil Goode

[toasty]

Kinda surprised -- although I'm not sure why I'm surprised -- that this hasn't gotten more press. Did anyone hear about his letter to his constituents? Excerpt here:

[I]f American citizens don?t wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran. . . . I fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims in the United States if we do not adopt the strict immigration policies that I believe are necessary to preserve the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America and to prevent our resources from being swamped.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/docs/goode-letter/

As one of my favorite political commentators pointed out in a recent show, could you imagine the uproar this would have generated if he had used "Jews" in place of "Muslims?" He would be rightfully labeled a bigot and shunned by all of society. Imagine if he were to have used "blacks" or "Hispanics?" People would be calling for him to step down.

Because it's Muslims, though, it's OK? Shouldn't be...

The outrageous thing is that he's been called upon to apologize, and he's declined to do so. What a jackass...

[rubyraks]

Re: Virgil Goode

to preserve the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America

Wasn't freedom of religion and tolerance at the very top of our traditional values or did I miss something?

[toasty]

Re: Virgil Goode

Wasn't freedom of religion and tolerance at the very top of our traditional values or did I miss something?

Clearly this clown has no idea what America is all about. None whatsoever.

[rubyraks]

Re: Virgil Goode

I've been hearing tons of people bitch about Keith Ellison, the muslim politician, and not one seems to realize that just because you're muslim doesn't mean you're a terrorist, nor un-American prima facie. This is exactly the type of attitude that will do nothing but prolong this conflict and create more terrorists.

Virgil needs to read up on what's been causing problems within the English and French countries to truly understand that this kind of talk is nothing but counterproductive.

But I definitely find your observation very disheartening. You could change his comments to apply to any other culture or religion and there would be hell to pay, but he's far from the only one to get away with it since Ellison was elected.

[toasty]

Re: Virgil Goode

I've been hearing tons of people bitch about Keith Ellison, the muslim politician, and not one seems to realize that just because you're muslim doesn't mean you're a terrorist, nor un-American prima facie. This is exactly the type of attitude that will do nothing but prolong this conflict and create more terrorists.

Hit the nail on the head there. I'm not sure how many American citizens out there practice Islam, but I'm positive it's at least a 7 digit number, and feel pretty confident that it could be an 8 digit number. That's not a huge number as a percentage of the population, but it isn't insignificant, either. The suggestion that all of those people are not "real" Americans or that we should take steps to ensure that "no more of their kind" come to this country ought to be offensive to every right-thinking person.

[toasty]

Re: Virgil Goode

Check this out -- it's the follow-up to the blog post I linked in my initial post from a guy who is of Turkish descent, raised Muslim:

Virgil Goode is Directly Attacking Me and I Am Pissed

Highlights:

The more I think about it, the angrier I get. Virgil Goode thinks he can challenge how American I am. Here's an American response - screw you!

Does this barbarian really think we are not equal citizens because of our heritage or our beliefs? Does he really believe people like me need to be kept out of the country?

* * *

My family is Muslim and we immigrated to this country when I was eight years old. We made an active choice to seek this nation out because we believed in its principles and we believed that it was the land of opportunity. America became my home, not just in where I lived, but in my heart. So, I became a citizen sixteen years ago.

I chose America because I love America. It's one thing to be born in Nebraska and call yourself an American. But it's another to move to a country where you weren't born, go through the long legal process, profess your allegiance to that country and adopt it as your own because you believe in it. That's not an accident of birth, it's an act of faith.

I chose to be an American because America is a light unto the world. America is the greatest country on earth because we do not discriminate, we are not a religious state and we do not exclude people based on their race, color or creed. We are an open society that believes in liberty and human dignity.

* * *

My family went through all of the legal processes that we needed to. We played by the rules. Now a bunch of conservative hacks who have no idea what this country truly stands for are going to try to take that away from us. I don't think so.

No racist, hick, ignorant Congressman from Virginia is going to tell me I'm not an American.

* * *

The man is an embarrassment. What kind of Congressman thinks this country is only for certain races, religions or ethnicities? One who doesn't belong in the hallowed halls of our Congress. He is worried about what people swear in on when they take their oath of office. How about worrying about what you swear the oath to? The United States Constitution.

* * *

Finally, I have been conflicted on whether to call myself a Muslim-American since I don't practice Islam anymore. I am ethnically Turkish and religiously agnostic. But as the loathsome Debbie Schlussel said about Barack Obama, "[O]nce a Muslim, always a Muslim."

She meant it as an insult. But I'll take it as a compliment. I am proud of my background, as all of you are. Right now, Islamic extremism is a significant problem in the world. But there are over one billion Muslims in the world that are not part of that problem. They are good people trying to provide for their families and seeking peace.

If someone's got to stand up for them, I'm ready and willing. I am a Muslim by birth and an American by choice, and that is not a contradiction.

[rubyraks]

Re: Virgil Goode

Straight and to the point...I especially love his closing:

Right now, Islamic extremism is a significant problem in the world. But there are over one billion Muslims in the world that are not part of that problem. They are good people trying to provide for their families and seeking peace.

If someone's got to stand up for them, I'm ready and willing. I am a Muslim by birth and an American by choice, and that is not a contradiction.

[subterFUSE]

Re: Virgil Goode

I can't believe people are really trying to push this whole "hand on the Koran" bullshit.

Let the guy put his hand on whatever book he chooses, so long as the oath means something to him.... and the result is that he keeps his oath to serve.

I am an athiest.... and if I were elected to office, I would refuse to put my hand on any religious text and swear by a deity. This is no different. I just don't get it.

[toasty]

Re: Virgil Goode

Check this out:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/03/AR2007010300075.html

Rep.-elect Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, found himself under attack last month when he announced he'd take his oath of office on the Koran -- especially from Virginia Rep. Virgil Goode, who called it a threat to American values.

Yet the holy book at tomorrow's ceremony has an unassailably all-American provenance. We've learned that the new congressman -- in a savvy bit of political symbolism -- will hold the personal copy once owned by Thomas Jefferson.

I love it...

[thesightless]

Re: Virgil Goode

reverse racism.

and i'd like to think that american equality isnt about everyone getting equal share per say, (i.e. making a sitnk about stupid shit like a bible at a courtroom), but more about freedom to do what you want without aggressing on another's beliefs. you know what, let them put thier hands on all 3 big books in an open sign that everyone is represented and respected.

[toasty]

Re: Virgil Goode

reverse racism.

Not following you on the reference to reverse racism here.

[thesightless]

Re: Virgil Goode

Because it's Muslims, though, it's OK?...

i think its from the rob schneider movie called "the animal" they black guy admitted to all the crimes, but the mob said it was OK, b/c he was black. hence reverse racism.

[toasty]

Re: Virgil Goode

i think its from the rob schneider movie called "the animal" they black guy admitted to all the crimes, but the mob said it was OK, b/c he was black. hence reverse racism.

I understand the concept of reverse racism (although I've always thought it to be a bullshit concept, b/c racism is racism, period), I just don't see what it has to do with Goode reacting the way he did about Muslims. FWIW, though, I'm fighting through the fog of cold medication right now, so it's probably just beyond my comprehension.