I almost decided to let this go. But, as this story is making national news and since I work in Cong. Goode's 5th District, I have decided not to let this go. I am not spiritually a Muslim myself, but as the son of a Turkish immigrant, I am outraged that Goode said he would do his best (paraphrase, but essentially what he said) "to keep Muslims from entering this country, and holding public office." The disclosure of this controversial letter came because Goode inadvertently sent it to a local Sierra Club chapter president in Charlottesville, Va. Goode comes from Rocky Mount, Va.- one of the most conservative towns in his right-leaning district, but he also represents Charlottesville which is the most liberal city in Virginia. There are two pro-life billboards in Goode's home jurisdiction of Franklin County which proclaim that 'abortion is the worst form of child abuse.' My ears perked when Goode made a similar striking anti-Muslim comment on WVTF (public radio station in Roanoke, Va) during his debate with Democrat opponent Al Weed in October. I don't recall the exact comment, but it was not far off from this one which has recieved just deserved national attention. Kudos to the alternative newspaper "C'ville Weekly" for breaking this story. Goode was formally a Democrat, but he has always been arch-conservative. His racist comments come in the same year that former Sen. George Allen (R-VA) made his infamous macaca comments near the Kentucky border during a campaign rally. I must also commend newly elected Cong. Keith Ellison (D-MN), who was the initial target of Goode's letter, for handling this matter gracefully. Ellison was born in Michigan, and is not an immigrant to this country. Goode's comments are insulting to all of us who are the offspring of hard-working Muslim immigrants who have contributed in medicine, education, and all walks of American life. As a proud Virginian, I am also insulted that he makes all of us look bad on national level. Hopefully, and if there is indeed a just God, he will meet the same political fate as Allen when his term expires. Goode won his election over Weed with 60 % of the vote. One expects that Weed, a vineyard owner, will take on Goode for a third time in 2008.
For more info:
http://www.roanoke.com
http://www.cvilleweekly.com
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Goode is a bigot and turncoat politician who will do anything he thinks he can get by with to suit his purpose, which is to stay in the limelight. There's a good article on the editorial page of The Times today that just about says it right. I don't know if we can expect anything better from folks who are proud to be "The Moonshine capital of the world."
I've known some excellent practicing liberal Muslims in my 45 years of marriage to my husband. He has never been a practicing Muslim but his mother was a prime example of what a good human being should be in any country, and she was a liberal Muslim. Personally, I am wary of all conservative religions because of their history of bloody massacres, and Jewish, Christian and Muslim all are guilty of terrible crimes and ravages done to other innocent human beings in the name of their god. That god is not my Higher Power. Virgil, like George Bush, would call themselves a religious conservative, rather fanatic. Yes, the terrorists are using the name of Islam to promote their waste. Yes, Iraq is in a bloody civil war because our president and his crew led us into an unnecessary invasion of their country and subsequently the whole social scene has gone to hell and now we just don't know how to get out of it and save face. To say our "Christian" president cares about the people of Iraq is a lie. You only have to look at the careless bombings that took place during "Shock and Awe" to know that without even considering the whole list.
Things have a way of coming into the light with time. Maybe not our lifetimes but in time. So much already has.
Judy
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