Note to Rep. Virgil Goode: Keith Ellison Is Not An Immigrant
Note to Rep. Virgil Goode: Keith Ellison Is Not An Immigrant
In a letter sent this month to his constituents, Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA) attacked incoming Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), the first Muslim elected to Congress:
The Muslim Representative from Minnesota was elected by the voters of that district and if American citizens don’t wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office…
In the letter, Goode repeatedly justifies his attack as related to immigration policy:
We need to stop illegal immigration totally and reduce legal immigration and end the diversity visas policy pushed hard by President Clinton and allowing many persons from the Middle East to come to this country. 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.
One problem: Keith Ellison is not an immigrant. In fact, his ancestors have been living on the continent for over 250 years, before the United States was established as a country:
Mr. Ellison dismissed Mr. Goode’s comments, saying they seemed ill informed about his personal origins as well as about Constitutional protections of religious freedom. “I’m not an immigrant,” added Mr. Ellison, who traces his American ancestors back to 1742. “I’m an African-American.”
In other words, Goode’s attack is not only bigoted, it’s also ignorant. Nevertheless, Ellison told the New York Times, “I’m looking forward to making friends with Representative Goode, or at least getting to know him. I want to let him know that there’s nothing to fear. The fact that there are many different faiths, many different colors and many different cultures in America is a great strength.”
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In other words, Goode’s attack is not only bigoted, it’s also ignorant
Ignorance is the spawn-child of bigotry. And many, many of our Reps are ignorant, like Micheal.
December 21st, 2006 at 10:39 amEllison is handling this with far more class and grace than I would have.
December 21st, 2006 at 10:41 amEllison has to be the more mature, and bigger person. As Virgil is a scared little baby, whaaa..
December 21st, 2006 at 10:42 amI think Goode and his ilk are looking for a new whip to get the ‘traditional values’ voters riled up. Gay bashing isn’t working like it used to, so now they are going to focus on immigrants. And now they realize that focusing on Hispanic immigrants lost them much of the Hispanic vote. So, by default the Muslim community is the last choice because they don’t have a large voting block, and they can also be used to refresh the ‘terrorists are going to get you if you don’t vote republican’ mantra.
December 21st, 2006 at 10:46 amIf this doesn’t backfire, it would be the best tool the republican party could adopt in their fear and smear campaigns.
“I’m an African-American.â€
Is there something wrong with just being an American?
December 21st, 2006 at 10:47 amAnd when Ellison’s ancestors did “immigrate,” it was probably by force to serve “Christian” masters as slaves.
December 21st, 2006 at 10:47 amIn other words, Goode’s attack is not only bigoted, it’s also ignorant. Nevertheless, Ellison told the New York Times, “I’m looking forward to making friends with Representative Goode, or at least getting to know him
Gee, and who’s more Christian like? Making friends with an attacker? Representative Ellison has more Christ in his heart than Goode (who is a hypocritical Baptist, I do believe)
December 21st, 2006 at 10:50 amGoode may be an idiot and xenophobe but he did not call Ellison an immigrant no matter how you contort what he said.
December 21st, 2006 at 10:51 amEllison is handling it very well. The fear and smear party and its media operatives are poking and prodding Ellison ever more aggressively, no doubt hoping he will lash out. And if he does lash out, or so much as raises his voice, you can bet that O’Reilly and Rush and all the other lowlife dirtbags on the GOP’s propaganda team will jump all over him saying “See! (spittle, drool, spittle) See! He can’t control himself! (spittle, spittle, droool). He’s just another radical Moslem! (drool, spittle, drool).”
December 21st, 2006 at 10:51 am#5 squegeeboo
This entire society identifies with their past, so what is wrong with being a hyphenated American?
December 21st, 2006 at 10:51 amAnyway, African-Americans deserve acknowledgement of that hyphenation because of what they have been through in this country. Before 1800 for the most part they were brought against their will. When they achieved freedom, our country turned their backs on them and allowed white supremacists to make them into 2nd class citizens.
Their is a history behind that hyphenation … no other but an African-American can claim that heritage, both the tragedy and the triumph of it.
Rep. Virgil Goode is a bigoted yahoo fool, so he must be forced to resign!
December 21st, 2006 at 10:52 amso by Goode’s proposal, shouldn’t we also deport Muhammad Ali, since he’s the same type of immigrant as Ellison?
Gawd, some people like Goode are truly idiotic…and how they got elected, bedevils me to no end!
December 21st, 2006 at 10:53 amAn ignorant bigot elected to the house by the GOPers. Get out of here?
“I’m an African-American.â€
Is there something wrong with just being an American?
Comment by squegeeboo
BWHAHAHAHAHA.
December 21st, 2006 at 10:54 amAmendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
I don’t see a “Muslim” exception to the free exercise clause. Perhaps Virgil can find it for us.
December 21st, 2006 at 10:56 amanother point, muslims are not just from the middle east. and they don’t need to immigrate, american citizens can convert.
December 21st, 2006 at 10:57 amGoode may be an idiot and xenophobe but he did not call Ellison an immigrant no matter how you contort what he said.
Comment by Badmoodman — December 21, 2006 @ 10:51 am
Goode did not call Ellison an immigrant any more than Bush said that Saddam was behind the 9/11 attacks and providing operational support to Al Qaeda. Goode took a page right out of Rove’s How To Fool The Bedwetters handbook: use proximity, relentlessly, to associate terms like “Saddam” with “Al Qaeda”, and “Ellison” with “dangerous fanatical non-Christian brown immigrant determined to destroy America’s way of life”.
December 21st, 2006 at 10:57 amThis entire society identifies with their past, so what is wrong with being a hyphenated American?
No kidding. Notice how being hyphenated isn’t a problem fro revelers on St. Pat’s day?
December 21st, 2006 at 10:58 amGoode may be an idiot and xenophobe but he did not call Ellison an immigrant no matter how you contort what he said.
Comment by Badmoodman
Technically, he didn’t, but it is definetly and undeniably implied:
The Muslim Representative from Minnesota was elected by the voters of that district and if American citizens don’t wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office…
Translation for the learning impaired:
December 21st, 2006 at 10:58 amA muslim was elected. If you don’t adopt my position on immigration, there will be more muslims elected.
Is there something wrong with just being an American?
Comment by squegeeboo
Tell it to the Irish. (then duck)
Remember the Blazing Saddles bit? “The Chinks, Spicks and Niggers, OK, but we don’t want the Irish!”
December 21st, 2006 at 10:59 amThhe right wings reaction to Ellison pretty much tells the muslum world that this is a war on Islam and not a war on terror. Afterall the right seems to blanket every Muslum (except the leadership of Saudi Arabia) under the same banner.
December 21st, 2006 at 11:02 amIs there something wrong with just being an American?
Comment by squegeeboo
Well, squegeeboo, as long as you are going off topic here, I ask you, is there something wrong with just respecting the Constitution? Is there something wrong with tolerating Americans of all religious faiths?
December 21st, 2006 at 11:03 amAnd where did Virgil Goode family come from? what gives him the right to be better than this congressman who happens to be born here and Moslem? This is not about immigration, this is simply about racism…and this Goode should be ashamed of himself.
December 21st, 2006 at 11:03 amReplace Muslim, with Jew, and USA with Germany, and we’ve got ourselves ANOTHER Hitler in disguise as a GOPer.
Un-freakin-believable. What’s next? Supporting the KKK?
Goode MUST be a closet “european cigarette”. Like most GOPerverts, they try to re-direct attention from their hideous secret.
December 21st, 2006 at 11:03 amHe’s saying this like embracing diversity is BAD thing. Note: Its not you bigot moron.
For all you republicans that need to get a clue (Not saying all do): Not every muslim is an extremist.
This is Glenn Beck’s America. If we’re heading down the road I think we are… I sure as hell won’t be here much longer.
December 21st, 2006 at 11:03 amGoode may be an idiot and xenophobe but he did not call Ellison an immigrant no matter how you contort what he said.
Comment by Badmoodman
No, he didn’t call Congressman-elect Ellison an immigrant, but he did use the same kind of conflation that the Bush administration used to make people think that they were saying Iraq had something to do with 9/11 - by constantly mentioning them in the same breath. Mr. Goode’s letter is like saying to someone, “I hate my neighbor. Gay people bug me.” Would you blame that person for walking away thinking that you were saying your neighbor is gay? You didn’t come out and say it, but your wording was ambiguos enough that one might draw that conclusion. In this example, it may have been accidental, but with the Bush adminstration and their talk of Iraq and 9/11, it was deliberate. They wanted you to think that the two were related, even if they never explicitly said it.
Mr. Goode did not call Mr. Ellison an immigrant, but the wording of his letter could easily leave the less sharped-eyed reader with the impression that he did. For that he should apologize.
Gawd, some people like Goode are truly idiotic…and how they got elected, bedevils me to no end!
Comment by DRxJ
Perhaps it was an ill-informed electorate. You know, the kind favored by most Republicans.
December 21st, 2006 at 11:04 amOne problem: Keith Elision is not an immigrant.
Where does he claim that Elision is an immigrant? He seems to be blaming the Muslim immigrant population of the area for voting him in, but he doesn’t claim Elision is an immigrant anywhere. He’s still a racist (religionist maybe?) though.
AshenShard
African-Americans deserve acknowledgement of that hyphenation because of what they have been through in this country.
No, no they don’t. If your referring to your ancestors, then you can say African, or European, or Asian, but if your using it to refer to yourself you had better be an immigrant, otherwise your just an American. Or refer to everyone by their Ancestry, and start using hyphens for everyone; European-Americans, and Asian-Americans, and SouthAmerican-Americans, and the such.
December 21st, 2006 at 11:04 ambarfly
“The Chinks, Spicks and Niggers, OK, but we don’t want the Irish!â€
Nice misquote, thats one of the best lines in that movie.
VerbalKint
December 21st, 2006 at 11:07 amI ask you, is there something wrong with just respecting the Constitution? Is there something wrong with tolerating Americans of all religious faiths?
Well are we including wack-job cults in ‘all religion’ here? People like the Christian Scientists who won’t let their kids go to the doctor, that I can’t respect/tolerate, but in the majority of cases I’m all for tolerance and respecting the Constitution, even if it is just a piece of paper.
AshenShard: They can also be born here! That’s not immigration, I don’t think.
December 21st, 2006 at 11:08 amSomeone send Mr. Goode a “Merry Christmas” burning cross this year for his front lawn.
December 21st, 2006 at 11:10 amWhere does he claim that Elision is an immigrant?
I see that squegeeboo is here to play semantic games in a laughable attempt to paper over the ugly, bigoted, xenophobic actions of his preferred party, the GOP.
Good luck, squegeeboo. Good luck fooling yourself, because you aren’t fooling anyone here.
These trolls grow more pathetic which each passing day. Of course, each passing day brings to light more news of the moral rot in the GOP.
December 21st, 2006 at 11:10 ami see mister Goode is unreachable through email, unless you use the “Write Your Rep” email system. and are a constituent. which Muhammad Ali happens to be.
this will be an interesting wake-up call to “progressive” Charlottesville… to actually field an opposing candidate, next time.
fear not, Nation… we’re trying to weed out the jackasses in Virginia, one bigot at a time.
December 21st, 2006 at 11:11 am#6 and #22 brought up the issue of family timelines……..
December 21st, 2006 at 11:12 amIt could be very interesting to research Virgil Goodes ancestry… I’m guessing an arrival in the New World considerably later than Mr. Ellisons…
And, quite possibly, Mr. Ellisons’ ancestors were brought over as slaves…. to Virginia perhaps? Is that your underlying problem, Virgil Goode?
#26 squegeeboo
some people refer to their own cultural ancestory. even people who are third generation do it because that is the background, the culture they identify with. I for one would consider myself German-American since my grandmother immigrated here, and our family still shares that culture, which is different from Anglo-American, Italian-American etc. Also, on the other side of my family the line goes all the way back to before the revolution … and they were from Germany. If people want to identify themselves a certain way, it should be embraced.
BTW, the term American for us is only right up to a point. It becomes funny when people say we should keep non-Americans out of our country because Mexicans are Americans also.
December 21st, 2006 at 11:13 amIf we are going to be politically correct about what we call our selves, we should call ourselves United Statesians. But then, you know that has its own slippery slope with people choosing to identify with their state, like New Jersians and New Yorkers.
VerbalKint
I see that squegeeboo is here to play semantic games in a laughable attempt to paper over the ugly, bigoted, xenophobic actions of his preferred party, the GOP.
I admitted he’s a racist, I’m not trying to paper over that, I just like to play semantic games.
December 21st, 2006 at 11:14 am“If your referring to your ancestors, then you can say African, or European…” - - Hey, if I emigrate to Italy and become a citizen, am I then an Italian/Swedish-American-American-Swedish/Italian?
December 21st, 2006 at 11:16 amWell are we including wack-job cults in ‘all religion’ here? People like the Christian Scientists who won’t let their kids go to the doctor, that I can’t respect/tolerate, but in the majority of cases I’m all for tolerance and respecting the Constitution, even if it is just a piece of paper.
Comment by squegeeboo — December 21, 2006 @ 11:07 am
If you respect the Constitution, then you must favor impeachment of Bush and Cheney, and criminal trials for the entire Bush administration.
As for the Christian Science practice to eschew modern medical care, is that any more whacked than Creationism, something that half of all Christians in the country profess to believe? The whacked out cultists are the pseudo-Christians who worship Bush, and go along with his illegal war, his torture, his looting and plundering of the Treasury, and his fear mongering to stir up anti-Muslim, anti-brown people hatred in his political base.
December 21st, 2006 at 11:17 am#16 - Good summary.
BTW - Anyone else remember Clinton brilliantly parodying GOP fear-mongering just before the election? Can’t find the clip now, but it was inspired. Will post the link later if I can find it…
December 21st, 2006 at 11:18 amAshenShard
If we are going to be politically correct about what we call our selves, we should call ourselves United Statesians.
Ha, now that I like.
December 21st, 2006 at 11:19 amHey, if I emigrate to Italy
Comment by Badmoodman
Hey, you can emigrate all you want, just not in public!
Now, if you were to immigrate, that’s a different story.
I’m just saying…
December 21st, 2006 at 11:21 amThis is wonderful. Please let the crazies in the republican party continue speaking - loudly. Let them destroy themselves.
We’ll take all the Hispanic and Muslim and gay votes. Thanks republicans! Thanks for the free votes!
December 21st, 2006 at 11:22 amSo what if he was inmmigrant?!! we have governor of the most populated state Californian is an immirgant…Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is an immirgrant, so is Madliene Allbright and many many important people who contributed a lot to this country of immigrants. Why an elected Moslem Congressman who was born here is a story anyway,except for a guy like racist Goode….
December 21st, 2006 at 11:22 amIs there something wrong with just being an American?
Comment by squegeeboo
It is astonishing how often you totally miss the point. Do you need glasses maybe?
I was going to correct you, but now I think I will not. It might help your brain make the connections on a longer term basis if you think about it on your own and figure it out. Stop taking things out of context and go read it again.
December 21st, 2006 at 11:23 amVerbalKint
As for the Christian Science practice to eschew modern medical care, is that any more whacked than Creationism, something that half of all Christians in the country profess to believe?
Yes it’s way more whacked, because they choose to eschew it for their children also, and that to me is child-abuse, and can be life-threatening for the children, when they are too young to understand the choice that was made for them, if they choose not to use medicine once their old enough, well good for them, I hope it works out well, but when they are kids and the parents make that choice for them, it’s just wrong.
December 21st, 2006 at 11:24 am#39:”Hey, you can emigrate all you want, just not in public!”
Umm, I did mean “emigrate”: to leave one’s place of residence or country to live elsewhere.
December 21st, 2006 at 11:25 am#44
December 21st, 2006 at 11:30 amSorry, my bad pun on words. Sounded much funnier in my head!
Believe me, I don’t agree with the Christian Scientists when it comes to medical care. I am just pointing out the most of the 30 percenters are whacked out cultists, and there are a lot more of them than there are Christian Scientists. And by the way, why are we talking about whacked out cults in a thread about anti-Muslim hatred? Let’s get back to square one here: the GOP is a party composed of and supported by hypocrites, pedophiles, perverts, racists, hate mongers, torturers, and war criminals.
December 21st, 2006 at 11:30 amto quote tobias funke: “douche chill”
December 21st, 2006 at 11:32 amIf the Republicans keep allowing people like Goode to send letters like that and not asking him to apologize…this party will be melting down faster than they think..this country and every family have all the same rights not ‘the Goodes rights’ but the ‘Constitutional rights ‘and and if Goode thinks he can stop this he is mistaken…..Goode and people like him something of the past…and history of America has many like him who were buried in the ashes of shame….Republican party leaders should speak out against this if they have any hope to win anything from now on in the future…If the Republicans as a party turned to religious preaching ministries…then good luck for such party….
December 21st, 2006 at 11:34 amYou can’t win national elections when you only carry Georgia, Alabama and Kentucky.
Keep up the wingeriffic good work, please hate anyone who’s not a white, Christian. You wingers will enjoy being mayors and city councillors in the old confederacy.
-GSD
December 21st, 2006 at 11:35 am#5
You nailed it. Wedge issues did not work in the past elections. Whipping people into a frenzy about Muslims — born and bred in this country and democratically elected — is just the latest. Note that the rabid right-wingers are already pointing out every time they have a chance that Barak Obama’s middle is “Hussein” and that “Obama” is just one consonant away from “Osama”. (By the way, where IS Osama?) If that one does not work, they’ll start attacking Asians (you know, the ones who take up places in our universities and who get all these well-paying jobs…).
Goode is a ignorant bigot. I predict that his hate-mongering will blow up in his face.
December 21st, 2006 at 11:35 amI think some of the above posters are correct in saying that Goode intends to conflate Ellison with immigration, etc. I think he has a larger point, however, which is that if immigration isn’t stopped (or at least if non-whites) are allowed to immigrate, more represenatives and senators will be non-white.
Goode whips up fear around Ellison and ties him to the immigration issue because he fears people of color voting for candiates of color. If he can link it to the fear-mongering issue of immigration, though, he gets a pass. Sort of. It’s amazing how often similar wordings on this same issue have come out over the years. See the 1860s, the 1920s, the 1940s, 1980s…
Speaking of Ellison, imagine how much he’s had to deal with. First the guy asking him if he’s working with “our enemies” and now this. He’s breaking the ice for a lot of folks - best of luck to him.
December 21st, 2006 at 11:47 am#44 & #45
December 21st, 2006 at 12:04 pmI could not resist telling you that there is a difference between emigrate and immigrate–emigrate usually means to change your residence within a particular country while immigrate usually means to change your residence from one country to another. ;-)
#51 -brie…you have said it right and made the point…it is Goode’s fear that number of whites Congress members will be less in the future…and for him to use Judea Christian values ..meaning I am not attacking Jews..,but only people outside this boundry, meaning Moslems and others. In my opinion using religion by the Congressman in this fashion ia an attack on the principles of the Constitution that he took the oath to protect.
December 21st, 2006 at 12:05 pm#51 Great point!! We have the fear thing going full tilt now, just like in the segregated South. White people who were ignorant were esily lead into action by a few intelligent powerful men to do their dirty work (Also see Hitler, Adolph).
It will be quite interesting to see how the double digit IQers will react when we see the appropriate number of congressional and judicial representatives that reflect ALL the non-white population. Lots more Asian, Hispanic AND African-Americans taking the oath of office. And maybe soon, one of them will take the BIG one too, the same oath Duthenbya took and then systematically almost totally destroyed this country in his 6 years of totalitarian rule. And guess who elected him? ….That same double digit IQer crowd, too busy watching NASCAR, listening to the Rusher and mainlining the NeoCon Koolaid while entranced by the Faux Newz Krew..
December 21st, 2006 at 12:06 pm#26 squegeeboo
Goode:
allowing many persons from the Middle East to come to this country. I fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims in the United States
Ellison:
I’m not an immigrant I’m an African-American
Ellison is responding by saying 1) he’s not of Middle Eastern descent and 2) he’s an American, even if he is Muslim. Goode should get over it.
December 21st, 2006 at 12:06 pmSo, any moment now we’ll hear all those “compassionate conservatives” attack this bigotry by Rep. Goode, right?
December 21st, 2006 at 12:08 pmEven if, as one comment claimed, Goode was not calling Ellison an immigrant but merely blaming the immigrant population in Ellison’s district for his election, it still shows a great deal of ignorance about Ellison. I live in his district. He was not elected by the non-voting muslim immigrants in our area. He won a huge victory over the Republican “challenger” and a surprisingly successful Independence party candidate.
Moreover, Ellison is himself a convert to Islam, his ancestors, going back the several hundred years they’ve been on this continent, were largely Christian.
Ellison has handled these challenges to his person and his faith with much grace. I think more highly of him now than I did when he was running for the seat.
December 21st, 2006 at 12:11 pmTo paraphrase a famous president:
December 21st, 2006 at 12:21 pmThe only thing we have to fear is fear mongering knuckleheads like Goode.
Damn good thing his name doesn’t begin with Johnny B.
Let me say up front that I think Virgil Goode is a despicable excuse for a human being. That being said, some have asked about Goode’s ancestry. He is descended from an immigrant that arrived in Virginia about 1660. I share that ancestor with him. Thankfully that is as close as our family relations get. I only post this becase some have asked about the topic and I happened to know the answer. One of the greatest things about America is that the length of time your family has been here doesn’t entitle you to squat.
December 21st, 2006 at 12:29 pm38 #
AshenShard
If we are going to be politically correct about what we call our selves, we should call ourselves United Statesians.
Ha, now that I like.
Comment by squegeeboo — December 21, 2006 @ 11:19 am
Actually I prefer the short form, which I use all the time, and refer to you as USers. Somehow it seems more appropriate.
December 21st, 2006 at 12:32 pmThank you #59 for the information.
December 21st, 2006 at 12:38 pmI’ll admit I did raise the issue of “family timelines” in a previous post.
I will also agree with you that in America, it does not matter when we got here, what matters is how we blend together afterwards.
Still, my earliest ancestor got to the New World (roughly) 13,000 years before yours did…
And on the other side of the family, it was 1630………..
Apparently, Goode is under the mistaken impression that his district in Virginia is comprised 100% of White Anglo Saxon Evangelicals!
Has it ever occurred to him that Islam is a religion, and people - Americans -can convert?
Why they would want to is another discussion, but jeez.
It could very well be possible that Rep Goode is representing more than one muslim-American already in Virginia, and he’s just gonna have to suck it up and deal with it. That’s why we pay him, right?
If Mr. Goode has a problem working for muslim-americans and representing them equally in this country, he should get a different job.
Maybe grand poo-bah of the KKK?
December 21st, 2006 at 1:01 pmGoode criticized Ellisons’ position on immigration. He didn’t call him an immigrant. Ellison’s response is weak argumentation.
December 21st, 2006 at 1:04 pmSituations like this one make me see the GOP drowned in a period of darkness and lost elections .. is it just me ??
December 21st, 2006 at 1:05 pmGoode criticized Ellisons’ position on immigration. He didn’t call him an immigrant. Ellison’s response is weak argumentation.
Comment by 20wordsorless — December 21, 2006 @ 1:04 pm
Really!?! That’s it!?! Then how do you explain all the gratuitous references to Islam? And how do you see Ellison’s response as “weak argumentation”?
Bizarre. Simply bizarre.
December 21st, 2006 at 1:12 pmSituations like this one make me see the GOP drowned in a period of darkness and lost elections .. is it just me ??
Comment by Manuel — December 21, 2006 @ 1:05 pm
No, it isn’t just you. Take a look at the posts by 20wordswithnomeaning. 20wordsofidiocy represents the future of the Republican party, and it ain’t pretty.
December 21st, 2006 at 1:13 pmIf we are going to be politically correct about what we call our selves, we should call ourselves United Statesians.
Comment by AshenShard
Better yet, why don’t we refer to ourselves as “us-holes”. The rest of the world might less antagonistic toward us if it appears we have a sense of humor. :-)
December 21st, 2006 at 1:36 pmWhat the fuss is all about? There are 8 million Moslems in USA..they elected one representative…that is a ratio of 1 Representative to 8 millions citizens in the Congress,with 0 representation in the Senate…Jews are less than that Moslem number and have 30 Congressmen in the Congress and 13 Senators out of 100 in the Senate. Blacks have only one Senator…but when you look at the different ethnic groups in America the white Anglo has way higher ratio than the population ratio of ethinic groups…..so what this Goode wants…no true represntation of population that he does not like, or he is just simply a racist, who could not tolerate to see all ethinic groups representated in the Congress; if so, he should then leave the Congress and join the KKk instead…
December 21st, 2006 at 1:44 pmHe didn’t call him an immigrant. Ellison’s response is weak argumentation.
Comment by 20wordsorless — December 21, 2006 @ 1:04 pm
At this point I am beginning to think that this “excuse” is wanton intellectual dishonesty, rather than simple pigheadedness.
Of course Goode didn’t openly call Ellison an immigrant but he clearly implied it. There was no reason to put the words “Representative from Minnesota”, “immigration”, “Muslims”, and “elected into office” unless the intention was to imply that Ellison is a Muslim immigrant.
Just like Pres Bush never actually said that Hussein was behind the attacks of 9/11, but he implied it by putting the two together -speech after speech.
December 21st, 2006 at 1:47 pm#68 Tarazan Great detail. See my comment from #54 above, as it aplies to all “minorities”. It will be quite interesting to see how the double digit IQers will react when we see the appropriate number of congressional and judicial representatives that reflect ALL the non-white population. Lots more Asian, Hispanic AND African-Americans taking the oath of office.
December 21st, 2006 at 1:50 pmDid anyone point out to him that tightening border security will not prevent native-born Americans from living here? But Michelle Malkin has a final solution that he might like.
December 21st, 2006 at 2:02 pmHey, I’m not white. Nor do I subscribe to the “chrisitanity” that is preached publicly in the USA. Nor do I respect or condone the religious organizations that exist.
Come and get me. I dare you.
December 21st, 2006 at 2:38 pmMy ancestors were English, Scotch/Irish, West African, Powatan, and Portuguese. All of whom were in this country before it was a country except for the Portuguese (my mother’s mother’s mother’s family emmigrated from Sao Paolo, Brasil, in the 1910’s). So what does this all make me? My Virginia birth certificate says ‘negro’. I personally respond with either ‘American or ‘mutt’, depending on how politically (in)correct I want to be at the moment.
December 21st, 2006 at 2:52 pmPluky - You are the true backbone on which this country was built.
I just hope you and the rest of the 21st Century Virginians can be as successful getting rid of the likes of Goode ol’ Boy as you were with George “the KKK Macaca” Allen.
December 21st, 2006 at 2:59 pmVerbalkissass
Pull your head out of ass and try to think for a change. Read Virgil Goods letter–at no time did he ever state that Keith Ellison was an immigrant, nor did he ever say anything about his origins. He only criticized Mr. Ellisons position on immigration.
Keith Ellison dismissed Mr. Goode’s comments, saying they seemed ill informed about his personal origins as well as about Constitutional protections of religious freedom. “I’m not an immigrant,†added Mr. Ellison, who traces his American ancestors back to 1742. “I’m an African-American.â€
Instead of defending his views on immigration (the subject of the criticism) Ellison chose to defend his heritage (something not even mentioned) call it a red herring, call it not addressing the issue–either way it is weak argumentation.
I wouldn’t be suprised if Keith Ellision hadn’t read the letter himself when he issued his response.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:15 pm#69
You are not operating on facts then–you’re trying to read between the lines and see something that isn’t there.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:19 pmUmm, I hate to be picky, but this guy Goode did not make racist remarks. He made remarks that were stupid, ignorant, and intolerant. The reason I say this is because Muslims are not a race of people, they are a religous group.
BTW, all those here that bash Christians and Jews are just as bad as Goode because you are displaying intolerance for religous groups, too
December 21st, 2006 at 3:26 pmI have never seen such utter nonsense. A simple two paragraph letter has kicked all of your asses. You’re so busy looking for some hidden meanings and citing bigotry that you cannot understand what Goode actually said.
You guys could read Dr. Suess and have a blustering response.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:29 pm#77
Good point Robert.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:31 pmyou’re trying to read between the lines and see something that isn’t there.
Comment by 20wordsorless — December 21, 2006 @ 3:19 pm
There was no point in putting all those words together if the implication wasn’t to be drawn from that statement by its readers.
Funny you should accuse me of not “operating on facts”; it sounds so much like a projection since you are not “operating on facts” but simply playing semantics. Semantics, the last refuge of someone with no actual point.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:35 pm#68,tarazan, we do not elect people to represent our religious groups or ethnic groups. We elect them to represent the people of our districts. ALL of the people. And they do not need to be obliged to any specific groups other than their entire constituency.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:39 pm…Semantics, the last refuge of someone with no actual point.
Comment by Gregor Samsa
That’s cute Gregor, did you make that up all by yourself? I made my point–Ellisons response had nothing to do with the content of Goode’s letter. You’re so wrapped up in trying to be insightful and intuitive, that the clear meaning of words escape you.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:49 pmMicheal AKA General Pippy Longstocking, is making trolls look even more stupid than ever! Sorry 20wordsorless.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:52 pmGregor Samsa
Semantics, the last refuge of someone with no actual point.
Hey, that hurts. I often have points, generally they are completely off topic or based off of flawed logic for a joke or to try and get a rise, but they are points.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:56 pmVerbalkissass,
You said,
No, it isn’t just you. Take a look at the posts by 20wordswithnomeaning. 20wordsofidiocy represents the future of the Republican party, and it ain’t pretty.
Comment by VerbalKint
I told you yesterday that I was not a Republican. The simple fact that you cannot get that through your thick head should be an indication as to how a simple two paragraph letter can completely kick your ass.
December 21st, 2006 at 4:02 pmyou’re no progressive….
December 21st, 2006 at 4:06 pmI made my point–Ellisons response had nothing to do with the content of Goode’s letter.
Comment by 20wordsorless — December 21, 2006 @ 3:49 pm
Obviously you have a reading comprehension deficit and are logically-challenged. That’s ok, we all have different skills. I am sure you are the best at Origami.
You’re so wrapped up in trying to be insightful and intuitive
I am sorry if correct English threatens you.
that the clear meaning of words escape you.
Coming from the man who is in denial over the clear logical implication of Goode’s statement, this is absolutely rich.
Have a good life.
December 21st, 2006 at 4:06 pm#83- robert - [ We do not elect people to represent our religious groups or ethnic groups. We elect them to represent the people of our districts. ALL of the people. And they do not need to be obliged to any other specific groups other than their entire constituency]. If that is the case then why Goode is making all this fuss over another district who happen to elect a Moslem congressman from another state…..If you believe that people elected do not represent certain religious groups or ethnic ones then you are not living in this country. If it is true what you said,then why all of this evangelicals’ ass kissing to get the vote ? ! why do you think that Goode wrote his letter spiced with religious themes ?!!
December 21st, 2006 at 4:23 pmSo, how do all you anti-Muslim types feel about Bush’s Muslim buddies? You know, Bandar Bush? The bin Laden clan that he let leave the country right after 9/11 while all the rest of the air traffic was grounded? I never heard any right-wingers complain about them. They seem to have a lot of influence on the White House. What’s the deal?
December 21st, 2006 at 4:36 pmIt is the Islamic destiney to rule this land. You will aid us in this conquest. May Allah bless all on this board!
December 21st, 2006 at 4:40 pmHey, I’m not white. Nor do I subscribe to the “chrisitanity†that is preached publicly in the USA. Nor do I respect or condone the religious organizations that exist.
Come and get me. I dare you.
Comment by Tuber
Tuber, I’m with you. Crazy, delusional, hyprocrites that are absolutely NOTHING like the God they SAY they worship.
December 21st, 2006 at 4:43 pmSemantics, the last refuge of someone with no actual point.
Comment by Gregor Samsa — December 21, 2006 @ 3:35 pm
Hammer hits nail right on head.
December 21st, 2006 at 4:44 pmIt is the Islamic destiney to rule this land. You will aid us in this conquest. May Allah bless all on this board!
Comment by Abdul — December 21, 2006 @ 4:40 pm
Sorry “Abdul”, you are three words over the limit.
December 21st, 2006 at 4:48 pmWhay does the Regreesive Left support and defend Islam but attacks Christians?
Comment by Nasty Nas
I don’t support any delusional people that believe in sky-fairies!
Long live atheism!!!!!
December 21st, 2006 at 4:48 pmWhay does the Regreesive Left support and defend Islam but attacks Christians?
Comment by Nasty Nas
Why does the Radical Right not understand grammar or spelling?
December 21st, 2006 at 4:52 pmWhay does the Regreesive Left support and defend Islam but attacks Christians?
Comment by Nasty Nas
I am anti- organized religion. PERIOD!!!!!!
December 21st, 2006 at 4:56 pmComment by not impressed with the U.S. ,
Islam included correct?
Comment by Nasty Nas
I do not see how I can be any more direct in my statement.
I AM ANTI-ORGANIZED RELIGION PERIOD.
December 21st, 2006 at 5:11 pmOh, and LONG LIVE ATHEISM!!
December 21st, 2006 at 5:14 pmMany people don’t believe 100% of the religion that they follow. They just do so out of repetition, superstition, to please friend/family members and fit into the social structure. Just imagine all the people that have died and suffered over the years because of religious beliefs. Many wars and conflicts could have been prevented. Just think of all the people that have been social outcasts because they didn’t fall in line with the majority. Religions have been the justification for some of the world greatest catastrophes from slavery to September 11th. I think we need to progress past the superstitions of religion and hold ourselves responsible for our own life and actions. Would you still have a problem with social taboos if you knew that there wasn’t a God? Would you have a problem with human cloning for the purposes of research and health advances? What would be your personal outlook on life? Would you live by the 10 commandments or would you just do what made you feel good? I believe that, as a human race, we have failed to reach our full potential because our growth has been stunted by false beliefs, lies and superstitions. Only when we ask ourselves the tough questions; take responsibility for our own well-being; re-evaluate our lives and move away from the ancient superstitions are we able progress as humans.
December 21st, 2006 at 5:56 pmGeneral, calm down and take your meds. :D
December 21st, 2006 at 6:33 pmI hope that Ellison gets in Goode’s face next month and loses his mind.
December 21st, 2006 at 6:38 pmNote to everyone: Virgil Goode is one dumbass American.
December 21st, 2006 at 9:26 pmI see the Ellsion story keeps getting bigger and bigger. It’s interesting Ellison’s religion isn’t near as big a story here in Minnesota than the rest of the country.
Can’t we just cut Minnesota loose from the rest of this wacko country? Become South Manitoba perhaps? I always felt I had more in common with Canadians than Southerners anyway. Hockey for one example. Tolerance for two.
December 21st, 2006 at 10:07 pmOh I see Ellison is African American (rather than American I might point out) and there you have it.
Theory debunked.
Invite all the Muslims in Syria to America it will not make one iota of difference on Muslims elected to office.
Glad we cleared that one up.
S T U P I D !!!!!!!
December 21st, 2006 at 11:11 pmThank the goddess that Mr. Ellison is my representative!
December 22nd, 2006 at 12:37 amI also heard that Rep Goode was misquoted — he didn’t actually say “Muslim”. Each time people thought he said Muslim, he actually said “Jew”.
See? That’s so much better. Now his statements make sense!
Right?!?
Oh, wait…that’s not any better. Maybe he said “Gooks”? Or was it “Krauts”? I don’t know. Whatever. We know what he meant.
December 22nd, 2006 at 12:42 amWell, I don’t recall him referring to Ellison as an immigrant. He is simply warning that more muslims in America is not a good thing. An example of this is Europe. Mohammed is now one of the top 50 names of babies in the UK. There is unrest in the Islamic community as their ideals clash with western values. That is the fundamental problem as most muslims
Ellison is interesting, and seems polite enough. However, I do wonder why a supporter/follower of Louis Farrakan is taken seriously. He must be one hell of a politician…sigh :(.
December 22nd, 2006 at 2:03 amIf I am not mistaken, that little piece of paper we base our country on gives freedom to all, no matter what race, sex, or religion. People who are afraid of that should rethink where they choose to live. And, given the choice between freedom and security, I will take freedom any day of the week. For without freedom we all loose the ability to chouse our words, our loves, and our lives. So we all must learn to accept the differences and move on, or that freedom that I and so many others hold close to their hearts may slip way.
December 22nd, 2006 at 2:10 amThe thing is all American’s are immigrants so the US public just needs to get over it.
December 22nd, 2006 at 2:31 amThis topic is getting old, I wish people would get over this and realize this country was founded by immigrants.
December 22nd, 2006 at 2:32 am#98 & #100 — ACTING LIKE HIS IS MUSLIM ON THIS BOARD> STOP SAYING THOSE STUPID COMMENTS & you spelled Mohammad WRONG…
December 22nd, 2006 at 2:52 amIf that is Ellison at the podium,he sure does look like a cross between a Cuban and an Iraqi sprinkled with a little American 60`s flower child.He looks like he belongs at KFC behind the counter.Which is exactly where we need to keep him.
We sure as hell don`t need him representing us,they can keep his non white ass.
I know this Ellison is your poster child,but could you people kindly stop with the race and religous baiting now?
Keep it up and your Muslim friends are just going to plain get run out of the country.So,keep defending this sand nigger,it is okay with us.
December 22nd, 2006 at 4:04 amThe thing is all American’s are immigrants so the US public just needs to get over it.
This is different.We didn`t have a bunch of German immigrants in those days blowing shit up now did we.
They did it on 9-11.And now they are going to pay.
December 22nd, 2006 at 4:06 amIslam is the military manual.
In essense it’s against the humanity, and negates the freedom for people of other religions.
If you need to be Jew during Nazi Germany in the future, don’t stop Muslims now.
Let’s see. Everything is starting in the same way, all the time…
December 22nd, 2006 at 5:55 amIf that is Ellison at the podium,he sure does look like a cross between a Cuban and an Iraqi sprinkled with a little American 60`s flower child.He looks like he belongs at KFC behind the counter.Which is exactly where we need to keep him.
Comment by HappyJackBoots — December 22, 2006
Hey you forgot to throw the burning cross
December 22nd, 2006 at 7:39 ambut you know , you are right , we should start a national militia , we should arm ourselfes and raise a fund to buy heavy weapons to prepare for the day when Ellison strike with his islamic coup and all the sleeping islamic cells activate and take over the countery and then the next thing we know is OBL in the white house forcing the sharia law , killing every one that refuse to convert
I wonder who was calling whom a conisparcy theorists
#114, If I am not mistaken, that little piece of paper we base our country on gives freedom to all…
Sorry to point this out, but that little piece of paper does not give us our rights, it guarantees our rights. There is a difference.
December 22nd, 2006 at 9:19 amHappy Jack Boots
You are very afraid of non-whites. YOU SHOULD BE! STAY AFRAID!! We are not going anywhere. YOU ARE!!!!:)
December 22nd, 2006 at 10:26 amDuh. The majority of people who voted him into office were, though.
December 22nd, 2006 at 10:50 amToo bad someone many years ago didn’t do as Rep. Goode suggests and limit immigration in an effort to ban Rep. Goode’s ancestors’ entry into this country. America would be a better place without Rep. Goode here to attempt to make our country corrupt and small-minded.
December 22nd, 2006 at 11:05 amwake up america this is a first step…is it not islamists and I DO NOT MEAN EXTREMISTS goals to convert all or make them second class citizens…this is not a black white issue …it is more a major conflicting cultural issue…Americas values are based on JudeoChristian beliefs… … not the korans…I cannot believe how insensitive Ellison is about this seems to prove my point.
December 22nd, 2006 at 5:40 pmVirgil Goode never advocated a curtailment of religious freedom in the U.S. All he advocated was a curtailment of muslim immigration, which is a completely reasonable response to September 11th. No one on earth has an unfettered right to immigrate here. They come at our whim. The US governments main responsibility is OUR safety, not the safety of persecuted in foreign countries, and sure as heck not diversity.
Here is his own words on the Rush Limbaugh show:
“RUSH: Final question from David Asman. “Would you prohibit, Mr. Ellison — would you prohibit him from bringing a Koran into that ceremony?”
GOODE: If the voters of that district want persons that are going to swear by the Koran, that’s the choice of the voters of that district, but I believe that the overwhelming majority of voters in my district would prefer the use of the Bible if a book is used, and that is exactly what I’m going to do.
ASMAN: Well, that I may well be true, but again just to put a fine point on it: You are not, then, for prohibiting Mr. Ellison from bringing in a Koran?
GOODE: No, but I am for restricting immigration so that we don’t have a majority of Muslims elected to the United States House of Representatives.”
December 22nd, 2006 at 6:23 pmhttp://www.rushlimbaugh.com/ home/ daily/ site_122206/ content/ stop_the_tape_2.guest.html
I think that any religious extremism is a threat to “American” values. This includes any group that states that they are better than others because of what book they read, or what ‘god’ they follow. I mean, how egotistical is to for one to say that they, to the exclusion of billions of other humans, totally understand ‘gods’ true will and therefore are better and more worthy of peace, justice, and liberty than the ‘heathens’. All of these religious texts were written by ‘man’, and therefore it is impossible that they totally capture the will of ‘god’, for man is fallible (and more than a little corrupt), and ‘god’ is divine and unknowable. Or at least that’s what my Sunday-school teacher taught me. Hmm. Wait, if man is fallible, then maybe my thesis is wrong, and some or all of the religious texts did get it right? Is this how religions wind up confused and contradicting themselves? ;)
December 22nd, 2006 at 8:33 pmI think this thread has brought out the truth in the righties. The fact that they can use semantics (he didn’t SAY Ellison was an immigrant) proves that they can almost use a debating tool. Not well, but…
December 22nd, 2006 at 8:49 pm[…] story No Comments so far Leave a comment RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI Leave a comment Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTMLallowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong> […]
December 22nd, 2006 at 9:58 pmPretty nice blog you have here. As I opine everywhere, the larger problem behind Goode’s statement is being ignored: The constituents of the Fifth District of Virginia. The fairly vast region stretches from About Danville -to - Charlottesville or so.
The folks living (in the 5th) raised so much cane about Ellison’s swearing-in that Goode felt he had to say something to appease them. And boy, did he! They are ecstatic. Keep in mind this is also the same VA District where public shools ceased to operate (late 50s, early 1960s) altogether — rather than integrate.
The most worrisome part of this, to me, isn’t so much Goode’s comments. He’s a dinosaur and is to be expected. What should be disturbing is how deeply ingrained; entrenched this 1950s spirit of racism still thrives in that district. THAT’s the cancer.
December 23rd, 2006 at 4:34 pm[…] But I’ve been falling into this rut of writing only on sad and depressing things, like racism and … not much else. Which is great and all, there being a lot of sad and depressing things like racism out there. Still, if we were always depressed and sad because of the Goodes in the world that would mean that the Racists have won. Clearly then it is my patriotic duty to lighten up around here (which reminds me of a funny incident that occurred during my presentation on Blackface (and Snow), but it has to do with “race†and racism, so let’s keep that for another day). […]
December 23rd, 2006 at 5:56 pmIve read about as many STUPID posts i can stand about this Muslim attempting to pull the wool over the 51%, AGAIN, & the last time was in ‘04!
To you 51%……….You are about to MESS UP AGAIN!!
I had my fill of hearing you Yuppie FOOLS ready to let go the Liberty and the HONOR MY fore fathers put their very lives on the line, so the rest of us, could enjoy the resources and the FREEDOM. My lineage came across the ocean in 1648.
Hey, with the past 300+ years, suppose I ‘Joined My Roots’ and slid off into the past ancestry Hoards of Europe and declared my self a member of The Cult of Satan……OR, what if it was a Caucasian, of which Iam; and he SOMEHOW rose to public service, and ran for CONGRESS?
I myself would be calling for his resignation.
And, admitting a Muslim into the Congress of the United Sates of America IS NOT IN THAT LEAGUE!
EVEN the same book the ‘fanatics’ read, KORAN; is READ BY ALL MUSSLIMS!!!
Get it? This Ellison turkey ain’t NO DIFFERENT.
He is smilin’ and grinnin’ because Satan Smiles @ DISASTER. Thats why Ellison stated.”I would want to meet with Goode………….” so he can LIE TO HIS FACE!!
Wake the F**k up People! This is not 1942. These are not the Japanese. Muslims, and BOTH SERVE THE SAME END.
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS AFRO_AMERICAN should be expelled and es ponged from the House and from Washington, D.C.
Period!!!!!!!
December 24th, 2006 at 12:10 amPLEASE EDUCATE YOURSELVES BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISIONS ABOUT ISLAM FROM OTHE SOURCES BESIDES THE MAIN STREAM MEDIA!
http://urbanlegends.about.com/ library/ bl_muslim_demonstration.htm
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/
http://www.tellthechildrenthetruth.com/
December 26th, 2006 at 9:14 am[…] * In response to a moron calling for limiting illegal immigration to keep out Muslims like him, newly elected Congressperson Keith Ellison says, “I can trace my American roots back to 1742.” Suck it, wingnuts! […]
December 26th, 2006 at 2:23 pmPity about Mr Goode’s inept attack on Keith Ellison. Because Mr Ellison has a serious History as a defender of Louis Farrakhan, as a long-term member of the Nation of Islam, a defender of public anti-semites, anti-Israel, and as a defender of cop killers and domestic terrorists, outside of being a scofflaw.The fact that very suddenly Mr Ellison has chosen to disassociate him self with a long past history of anti-american behaviours, only goes to show that he doesn’t even have the gumption or integrity to stand by his stated beliefs, now that he is a politician, he is glad handing all and sundry to show what a nice inoffensive guy he is, and a true politician, a man whose stances are dictated by the winds of whatever is today’s political hobby horse. Keith Ellison a class act?? Rather Keithe Ellison is proof that Republicans and Democrats have the politicans they deserve, that this nation is ruled by a majority of idiots, on both sides of the political spectrum, and that they would rather elect trash, of the left or right, that really concern themselves with responsible governance. Whether George Bush, or Keith Ellison, the average IQ of the American voter is lower than the temperature of a spring day.
December 26th, 2006 at 2:37 pmThe Goode family came from Great Britian (Ewhitstone England) inthe late 1600s and many fought to free this country. If anyone wants to know where Virgil and I Dwayne Goode,Ph.D. came from please read Brown Goode s bookvirginia cousins and go back to 1200 ad.
December 26th, 2006 at 3:19 pmNEED MORE SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN SPEAKING UP FOR AMERICANS AS REP.GOODE HAS.
December 27th, 2006 at 8:58 pmVERY GOOD AND ALL TRUE AMERICANS SHOULD SUPPORT REP.GOODE IN HIS STAND FOR US ALL.
Good for Virgil! It’s about time someone stood up for America! Muslims want to take over this country and kill all the Christian and Jewish infidels. That includes you stupid liberal Democrats unless you happen to be muslim. Just ask the head of Iran!
December 28th, 2006 at 9:21 pmMy question is why did minnesotans elect Ellison in the first place. After putting on his nice guy facade to get voted in, his true colors are now emerging. You cannot trust a politician with how “nice he is”. You gotta look deeper at this history before voting in these guys. In this day and age when we are at war with Islam, we need to keep these guy out of our country, or our country will lose it’s culture as we know it.
Ellison has shown himself to be a radical Islamist wannabe. He’s american born, now he has islamist rallys? When are americans going to look at reality and common sense. He’s a radical muslim, now he wants to change our culture. This is who we are, you cannot arrogantly come in and try to change our culture. This man should be impeached and taken out of office before he continues to spread islamist sympathy. This guy is definitely has a self esteem and identity problem, you can see he feels important now with “his new cause and identity”. You see this kind of behaviour over and over again. Putting a dysfunctional person into a position of power is dangerous. Read on-
http://freep.com/ apps/ pbcs.dll/ article?AID=/ 20061226/ NEWS05/ 612260367/ 1007/ NEWS
“Speaking in Dearborn late Sunday night, the first Muslim elected to Congress told a cheering crowd of Muslims they should remain steadfast in their faith and push for justice.
“You can’t back down. You can’t chicken out. You can’t be afraid. You got to have faith in Allah, and you’ve got to stand up and be a real Muslim,” Detroit native Keith Ellison said to loud applause.
Many in the crowd replied “Allahu akbar” — God is great.
Ellison, a Minnesota Democrat elected to the U.S. House in November, has been the center of a national debate in recent weeks over Islam and its role in politics. Ellison has said he would take his oath of office on the Quran, the Muslim holy book, igniting a storm of criticism from some commentators.”
December 29th, 2006 at 4:07 pmIshaq:243 “I heard the Apostle say: ‘Whoever wants to see Satan should look at Nabtal.’ He was a black man with long flowing hair, inflamed eyes, and dark ruddy cheeks…. Allah sent down concerning him: ‘To those who annoy the Prophet there is a painful punishment.” [Surah 9:61] “Gabriel came to Muhammad and said, ‘If a black man comes to you his heart is more gross than a donkey’s.’”
December 29th, 2006 at 7:40 pmhow can this man support a doctrine that portrays him in this way?
This is what I wrote to Rep. Ellison:
Dear Mr. Keith Ellison:
May God be with you. I am very honored as an American that we have you in the mix with all the other fine men and women who will serve in the House this term. I hope some how you get to read this email. I am a white women and a devout Christian but I see you as my brother. We actually worship the same God after all. I was sickened when such a fuss was made about you using a Quran to be sworn in. How cool is it that ithe one you will use once belonged to Thomas Jefferson? It would be absurd for a Muslim to put his hand on the Christian Bible to be sworn in, it would be meaningless. Actually the whole swearing thing is rather ironic as it is against what is in the Christian Bible. It has however become a tradition. You will add allot to out government I think. I think diversity is essential if we are to continue as a nation. You represent a legitimate slice of the American pie. You look to be a great native son to me! I wish we had a few more African Americans in the Senate but then maybe one day you will move to the other house. I love this country and these are difficult times. I am full certain you will be a real asset to the state of Minnesota and to us all. I was actually startled you were the first Moslem. I guess I figured that barrier had long ago been broken. We have atheists, agnostics, Jews, Christians and all sorts of others there so God Bless you in all your endeavors. You will make the tapestry all the richer I am sure.
Kind regards,
Beth Maxwell Boyle
MATTHEW
January 3rd, 2007 at 8:43 pmCHAPTER 5
Verse 36 -Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
That’s a bizzare statement for Rep. Goode to make.
Shoot… I wonder if Rep. Goode uses that line on other groups he doesn’t care for. Perhaps people such as myself. I’m an Atheist.
I’d have to laugh in the man’s face if he equated my lack of faith with immigration. Hee My family has been here since the Mayflower on one side - fought in the Revolutionary war… one ancestor was one of George Washington’s personal body guards (he had 3).
Haha No, Mr. Representative from VA we can be home brewed or converted right here at home. (I bet that scares the crap out of people like this)
Anyway, I’m glad Rep. Ellison just laughed this off because it really was just stupid.
What kind of people are being elected in this country? Sheesh
January 3rd, 2007 at 10:16 pmBush’s (Pending) Appointment of Khalilzad…
Here’s a sentence I don’t write very often: Kudos to President Bush. I’m not particularly enamored with Khalilzad’s work in Iraq, and I have a number of issues with his reliably neocon outlook (see …
January 4th, 2007 at 9:26 pmWhen Representative-elect Keith Ellison responded to Wolf Blitzer’s question (on CNN) concerning Representative Virgil Goode’s negative comments, with the statement, “I think he has a lot to learn about Islam!†… I, too, realized I needed to
Learn more about Islam:
It was Prophet Muhammad who said, “Whoever sees an abomination must straighten it with his hands.” Saddam Hussein repeated and relied upon this saying in his attack on Kuwait’s ruling family. The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt depended upon this saying when they killed Anwar El Sadat. We must never imagine that such Muslims are being unnecessarily wicked …They are simply being faithful to their religion!
From the President, to most religious leaders, to the average talk radio program, we are being told that Islam is a peaceful religion. It is said that bin Laden and the Taliban only represent an extremely radical Muslim fringe, which is not representative of true Islam.
THIS IS NOT TRUE!
First of all, “Islam†means submission, not peace. The Arabic word, “islâm†is submission; from; “aslamaâ€- to surrender, resign oneself; from the Syriac, “aðlem†- to surrender; from the stem “ðlemâ€- to be complete.
This does not imply voluntary submission but includes a forced submission where the subjects will not comply. Historically Islam is not known for its peace movements, but for a uniquely Arab word, “jihad,” which means an offensive war intended to lead to the conversion of the infidel to Islam, or to his annihilation!
Islam in the Arabic language and in the Qa’ran/Koran means total submission and obedience. However, the original meaning of “Islam” in the Arabic language is the acceptance of a view or a condition which was not previously accepted, that is the readiness of a person to take orders from god and to follow them. “Muslim” is a word taken from the word Islam, and applies to that person, who is ready to take orders from god and follow him without question.
“Do they seek a deen other than the deen of Allah and to him all what is in the skies and in the earth have submitted willingly or forcefully and to Him they shall return. [Qur’an 3:83]â€
The word “Islam†was used in the Qur’an as a symbol for the word “deen,†revealed by the Prophet Muhammad. Prophet Muhammad stated that his teachings contain the teachings of all the previous prophets, and all divine commandments. When a person professes the belief in the truthfulness of Prophet Muhammad, and pledges to follow his message, he, in fact, stating his readiness to obey the orders of god unconditionally.
From the Koran/Qur’an (”An English Interpretation of the Holy Quran with Full Arabic Text,” A. Yusuf Ali), “The deen [religion] before Allah is Islam. [Qur’an 3:19]. Whosoever seeks, other than Islam, a deen, it will not be accepted from him and he, in the Hereafter, is among the losers. [Qur’an 3:85].â€
The concept of “deen†involves four principles: 1) Subjugation, authority, and ruling; 2) Obedience and submission due to subjugation; 3) The method and the habit; and 4) Punishment, reward and judgment. Therefore, “deen†implies a comprehensive system of life that is composed of four parts: 1) The ruler ship and the authority belong to Allah only; 2) The obedience and submission are to Allah; 3) The comprehensive system (intellectual and practical) is established by this authority; and 4) The reward given by this authority (Allah) to those who followed the system and submitted to him and the punishment inflicted upon those who rebel against it and disobey it. Prophet Muhammad said: “Every human being is born in a state of pure nature; but through the influence of his parents, he may become non-Muslim.” Islam is a “divine†system, and with it Allah sealed all other religions, and made it a comprehensive system dealing with all aspects of human life (belief, intellectual, moral, and practical). This system is based on total submission to Allah alone, purifying worship to him only, and following the traditions (sunnah) of Prophet Muhammad.
Therefore, when you hear people saying that Islam is a peaceful religion, know rather, that Islam is fighting a holy war for control of the world! That war was begun by Prophet Mohammed himself in the seventh century, and is still being carried on today by his followers through terrorism. These terrorists are not radicals or extremists, as the media continually labels them. Rather, these are Islamic fundamentalists who are true to their religion and the teachings of the Qu’ran, and who are following faithfully in the footsteps of the Prophet, Mohammed.
As Abd El Schafi has said in his book (Behind The Veil: Unmasking Islam), “We must never imagine that such Muslims are being unnecessarily wicked. They are simply being faithful to their religion. The fact is never hidden as to what the proper attitude a good Muslim should have towards Christians and Jews. In fact, much of the incitement to violence and war in the whole of the Qu’ran is directed specifically against Jews/Christians who rejected what they felt to be the strange “god” that Prophet Mohammed was trying to preach. Prophet Muhammad and his successors initiated offensive wars against peaceful countries in order to impose Islam by force as well as to seize the abundance of these lands.†So, Islam was imposed upon Syria, Jordan, Palestine (Jerusalem), Egypt, Libya, Iraq, Iran, all of North Africa, some parts of India and China, and later Spain. So, it appears the “radical†fundamentalists are closer to historic Islam than those who profess to be followers of so-called “mainstream†version. Islam has always been, and continues to be a religion (a way of life) spread by force, not through peaceful means or persuasion.
Islam was planted by Prophet Muhammad with the sword, not a philosophy or ethic of peace. It’s rather astonishing to learn just how cruel and brutal Prophet Muhammad was as he tortured his captives with fire, then killed them and took their wives as bond maids for himself, as well as for his companions. Following his death, these brothers-in-arms then fought each other in relentless, savage wars; competing for authority and out of deeply rooted hatred, Prophet Muhammad’s relatives and closest friends sacrificed and slaughtered each other!
No wonder we see Moslems, these days, fighting with each other. In fact, these wars and hostilities spring from the very heart of the Islamic teachings, since it calls for the use of force to combat “wrongdoing,” … just as Prophet Muh