DANVILLE - A leader in Danville’s Muslim community says U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode should apologize for discriminating statements about Islam.
Goode, R-5th, responded to a series of constituent e-mails regarding Rep.-elect Keith Ellison’s decision to use the Quran at his ceremonial swearing-in. In a letter sent to hundreds of constituents, the congressman said more Muslims will get elected and demand the use of the Quran if immigration is not restricted.
The Muslim community says it sees Goode’s words as “seeds of hatred.”
“This is a country of immigrants,” said Sarwat Ata, chairman of the board for the Danville Masjid Islamic Center on Floyd Street. Ata said he voted for Goode in the November election.
Ata said Goode should sit down with local Muslims and learn more about them if he won’t apologize.
Ata said Muslims are peaceful and law-abiding. They want to be free and share many of the values Goode supports, such as the Ten Commandments, he said.
“We implement these values in our everyday lives,” Ata said.
There are about 1.4 billion Muslims in the world. In the United States, there are about 7 million Muslims.
“Imagine if all were terrorists,” Ata said.
The criticism of Goode’s letter has extended to Congress. The Council on American-Islamic Relations said the congressman should apologize.
Goode said Wednesday he has no intention of apologizing. A spokesman for Goode could not say if the Rocky Mount Republican would meet with Muslims from his area.
He has said too many illegal immigrants are getting into this country. Goode’s campaign focused on stopping illegal immigration and reducing the number of immigrants who come to the U.S. to prevent a draining of resources.
“I believe that illegal immigration of Islamists or others should be completely stopped, and that continued mass immigration into this country will tax our resources and weaken the country,” Goode wrote in an e-mail sent to the local newspaper.
Virginia’s senior senator, John Warner, does not appear to support Goode’s view and said he doesn’t object to using the Quran during swearing-in ceremonies.
“As we continue to seek new strategies to protect our nation, I feel strongly that America must continue its outreach to the majority of moderate, peaceful members of the Islamic faith, as partners in combating terrorism,” Warner wrote in a prepared statement. “I respect the Constitutional right of Members of Congress, indeed, of every U.S. citizen, freely to exercise the religion of their choice, including those of the Islamic faith utilizing the Koran in accordance with the tenets of their religion.”
But don’t think Goode’s stock has suffered in Southside. He has supporters who say he’s right about Islam and immigration.
“The world would be better off if this so-called religion were not around. There is no peaceful co-existence with these people and now Congress will probably have to wait for this new congressman to bow and praise five times a day,” E. Wyatt Moore of Danville said in an online response.
Jay Neal of Danville, however, said Goode was off base with his letter.
“All terrorists are not Muslim. Remember Timothy McVeigh,” Neal said in an online comment. “Mr. Goode’s letter is an embarrassment to us all and serves only to represent the close-minded attitudes and bigotry that have and will continue to keep Southside Virginia from realizing its full potential.”
http://www.registerbee.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=DRB/MGArticle/DRB_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149192303957
“Imagine if all were terrorists,” Ata said.
Possible veiled threat?
I'd like to point out the "veiled" (no pun intended) threat contained in MurryMom's reply:
“Imagine if all were terrorists,” Ata said.That's how they do it...in a "backhanded compliment" sort of way. I think it is time to call them, moderates included, on their behaviors, and I think my article does just that.