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January 11, 2007
Pig Racing
by de sententia
Faithful Progressive's post on Rep. Virgil Goode's offensive comments on Muslims, and the need for reconciliation, highlights one of the more widely covered episodes of bigotry currently on display in the United States. Unfortunately there are others. Take, for example, the town of Katy, Texas. Some in the community are objecting to plans for the local Muslim community to build a Mosque on private land, and to dissuade the community from building the mosque, those who object are holding pig races every Friday, the Muslim holy day.
CNN provides some of the details. (Then again, note how much time is devoted to interviewing those opposed to the mosque, versus the Muslim community leaders.) Watching the video, it sounds so trivial. 'Whats the big deal about pig races?' 'These are just good natured Texans wanting 'to preserve their community.' If only it was an innocent faux pas or something that could be chalked up to ignorance. Instead, it is pure bigotry. Organizers of the race know that pigs are considered unclean to Muslims (and many Jews), and are holding the races is a deliberate attempt to offend the Muslims and keep them from building a mosque.
Virgil Goode is not alone, but like many politicians, he may tap into deep seated hatred. Riding that wave, we have put Americans of Japanese ancestry into concentration camps, and are currently putting Hispanic families into concentration camps. Perhaps the Muslims are next.
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.
Pastor Martin Niemöller
Posted by de sententia at January 11, 2007 06:07 AM
Comments
Hi de S
One thing I noticed: the opponents cited concerns about commercial development and traffic, but how are the pig races different? If a guy has a legal right to start that kind of venture, the zoning laws must permit it which means that they'd permit a mosque as well. The story really didn't inform us much about the details of the debate, preferring the "cuteness" angle, but if you ask me there's a reasonable suspicion of racism here.
your friend
keith
Posted by: keith johnson at January 11, 2007 06:57 PM
One merely has to live in a middle eastern country to find the world view of the Muslim faith is one of extreme prejudice and the burning desire for world domination. It continues to perplex me why so many Americans would join a faith that has become the largest slave operation in history. Once a muslim takes up residence in a country, the country is immediately declared as Muslim territory and everyone else become infidels. It was such a relief to return to the United States to again experience freedom. But beware, Islam is not friendly to any other faith, and the freedoms we enjoy would be destroyed if Islam gains any authority. Spain is struggling. France as well. Great Britain seems to be waking up and we'd better!
Freedom can only be perpetuated under a country that is dominated with a Judeo-Christian world view.
Islam would confiscate the minorities one by one while using the freedoms our laws provide.
Posted by: WhyteStone at January 12, 2007 02:35 AM
WhyteStone,
Judaism thrived in Muslim Spain, in fact, it arguably achieved the greatest cultural, social, and political hieghts of its history. That all ended when the Christians "reconquered" Spain and began the Inquisition.
When I have traveled through rural Indiana in communities dominated by evangelical Christians, I have felt more intolerance towards my faith than anywhere else. I have been told that I am not a true Christian, that I am going to hell, etc., all because I am not a fundamentalist, because I support evolution instruction in public education, because I oppose the Iraq war, etc. Meanwhile, when I participate in interfaith activities in Chicago with members of the Muslim community there, I find my faith supported, accepted, and not doubted.
Every faith has its extremists who do not tolerate any other belief system. Lets be sure to recognize and oppose it within our own, before we roundly condem and entire other religion that is, in actuality, as diverse in its beliefs and practices as our own.
Posted by: john g at January 12, 2007 01:30 PM
Sheesh- and I always thought that the more northern states might be a bit more tolerant of non-fundamentalists!
Actually, John, I'm glad to hear of Muslims being tolerant and accepting of Christians. I've had my negative experiences with them- generally the ones I encountered got upset when I don't join in the hatred they were spewing against Jews. I've also heard a lot of misunderstanding and misconceptions about Christianity (such as we preach morality, but don't live it). I've also heard hostility against Christianity on a couple of occasions- and had subjegation of women rammed down my throat on one occasion.
The south seems to attract fundamentalists- maybe that is true for Muslim fundamentalists as well?
Posted by: Bob Bowers at January 14, 2007 11:33 PM
