Goode warns of Muslims in U.S., Congress
MrBrian
Posts: 2,672
By Joel Havemann, Times Staff Writer
December 22, 2006
WASHINGTON — Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr. (R-Va.) on Thursday stood by his demand for strict immigration controls that he said would prevent Muslims from being elected to Congress and using the Koran during swearing-in ceremonies.
Islamic groups in the United States called on Republicans to repudiate Goode's remarks, which he first made in a letter attacking the use of the holy book in a ceremonial oath-taking next month by the first Muslim elected to the House.
"I do not apologize, and I do not retract my letter," Goode said emphatically during a session Thursday with reporters in the southern Virginia town of Rocky Mount.
Questioned later on Fox News Channel's "Your World," he said, "I am for restricting immigration so that we don't have a majority of Muslims elected
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-muslim22dec22,1,1803102.story?track=rss&ctrack=1&cset=true
http://www.dailyprogress.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CDP%2FMGArticle%2FCDP_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149192289746&path=!news
December 22, 2006
WASHINGTON — Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr. (R-Va.) on Thursday stood by his demand for strict immigration controls that he said would prevent Muslims from being elected to Congress and using the Koran during swearing-in ceremonies.
Islamic groups in the United States called on Republicans to repudiate Goode's remarks, which he first made in a letter attacking the use of the holy book in a ceremonial oath-taking next month by the first Muslim elected to the House.
"I do not apologize, and I do not retract my letter," Goode said emphatically during a session Thursday with reporters in the southern Virginia town of Rocky Mount.
Questioned later on Fox News Channel's "Your World," he said, "I am for restricting immigration so that we don't have a majority of Muslims elected
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-muslim22dec22,1,1803102.story?track=rss&ctrack=1&cset=true
http://www.dailyprogress.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CDP%2FMGArticle%2FCDP_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149192289746&path=!news
Post edited by Unknown User on
0
Comments
Rep.-elect Keith Ellison of Minnesota, the first Muslim elected to Congress, thinks Virginia Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr. could learn a thing or two about Islam.
Ellison, a Democrat, was asked yesterday in an interview with CNN whether he considered Goode, R-5th, a bigot for a recent letter decrying Muslim immigration to America.
"I don't know the fellow, and I'd rather just say that he has a lot to learn about Islam, and we all have a lot to learn," Ellison replied.
He said he wasn't angered by Goode's words. "I just think it's a learning gap we have to close," Ellison said.
"I think diversity in our nation is a great thing, and we should embrace it, not be afraid of it," Ellison said.
If he were to visit with Goode, Ellison said he might tell him there are about 5 million Muslims in the United States, that they are here to support and strengthen America, and that they are doctors, nurses, husbands and wives.
Ellison was born in Michigan and converted to Islam. He traces his ancestry to the 1700s in America. "I'm about as American as they come," he said. - Peter Hardin
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/22/us/politics/22koran.html
No, I just don't think a fake apology will do anything, if someone say's sorry it should be sincere, not forced. Tolerance, compassion and an open mind are the best things to have. Not everyone has these things inside of them. Maybe he just needs time to find this truth.
as the old saying goes "Because you see the teeth of a lion, does it mean he's smiling?"
He can say sorry, sure, but if he does'nt mean it, what's the point?