Bigotry Exposed

It's lovely when hate mongers are caught trying to hide after their true natures are opened to public scrutiny. Dennis Prager is the latest example of this. A loud mouthed bigot, masquerading as a conservative radio show host, he was caught inserting a soiled foot into his mouth and now offers idiotic protestations that he has been misunderstood.

Prager, who was appointed by Chimpie this year to serve on the board of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum until 2011, has just been criticized by that body for making comments “antithetical to the mission of the museum as an institution promoting tolerance and respect for all peoples regardless of their race, religion or ethnicity.” Prager had condemned the first Muslim elected to Congress, Keith Ellison, when it was revealed that Ellison wanted to take his oath of office with hand on the Koran. Foaming mindlessly that Ellison was not fit for office and should give up his post if he would not as take his oath on the Bible because it is the traditional religious text of the United States, Prager has created quite the stir.

“Keith Ellison, D-Minn., the first Muslim elected to the United States Congress, has announced that he will not take his oath of office on the Bible, but on the bible of Islam, the Koran.

He should not be allowed to do so -- not because of any American hostility to the Koran, but because the act undermines American civilization.

First, it is an act of hubris that perfectly exemplifies multiculturalist activism -- my culture trumps America's culture. What Ellison and his Muslim and leftist supporters are saying is that it is of no consequence what America holds as its holiest book; all that matters is what any individual holds to be his holiest book.

Forgive me, but America should not give a hoot what Keith Ellison's favorite book is. Insofar as a member of Congress taking an oath to serve America and uphold its values is concerned, America is interested in only one book, the Bible. If you are incapable of taking an oath on that book, don't serve in Congress.....

A couple of facts that seem to have escaped Prager's walnut sized brain: 1) The swearing-in ceremony for the House of Representatives never includes a religious book. Members are asked to raise their right hands and swear to uphold America's true and only holy book - the US Constitution. Neither the Bible, the Koran, the Talmud, nor any other religious book, has ever been used in an official capacity during the swearing in ceremony; 2) Ellison is an American citizen who converted to Islam as a teenager. His family can trace their American ancestry into the 1700's. Prager obviously has an immigrant history also and Ellison's family has likely been here longer .

Like most right wing blowhards who spout before knowing, Prager might have done well to read what Thomas Jefferson had to say on the subject:

Be it enacted by the General assembly, that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, not shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion, that that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.

Prager now weasels and whimpers thusly:

“I completely respect Congressman-Elect Ellison’s right to take an oath on the Koran, and regret any language that suggested otherwise,” Mr. Prager added in a statement, emphasizing that he began reaching out to the Muslims 20 years ago. “My entire effort in the Keith Ellison matter has been to draw attention to the need to acknowledge the Bible as the basis of America’s moral values. Judeo-Christian values are the greatest single protection against another Holocaust.”

The stupidity of bigotry and hatred really has no bounds. Prager could have done a little research before blathering away, but reflexively bent over and exposed his big ass in a public forum. Where is it ever defined that the Bible is the basis of America's moral values? Everyone forget the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence? As is proper, the Holocaust Museum is distancing itself from Prager, and one is left to wonder if Prager is man enough to resign. Also interesting is the fact Prager is Jewish – just goes to prove bigots are represented in all religions.

Posted on The Human stain