Apology to Muslims and censure of Boykin: Resolution H. Res. 419, introduced by Rep. John Conyers

Apology to Muslims and censure of Boykin: Resolution H. Res. 419, introduced by Rep. John Conyers

Please write your congressional representative about Resolution H. Res. 419, introduced by Representative John Conyers (D-MI). Click here for the Congress.org link.

The language concerning “religiously intolerant remarks” amounts to censorship of Christian, as well as other beliefs. The resolution is a knee-jerk reaction to Lieutenant General William “Jerry” Boykin’s exercise of Free Speech and Freedom of Religion in his own church. Proposing such a bill is the worst kid of appeasement to a group that is aggressively intolerant to non-Muslims around the world and promotes its own religious agenda right here in the USA.

We cannot allow a secularist policy of appeasement to dictate how we practice our religion in the name of “tolerance.” Moreover, the resolution itself is intolerant. Americans should react with outrage to the potential for censoring and regulating our personal convictions and our right to practice them openly.

Supporters of this resolultion include:
The resolution is currently cosponsored by Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL), Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), Rep. Betty McCullom (D-MN), Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rep. Michael Honda (D-CA), and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Rep. Diane Watson (D-CA), Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), and Rep. Marty Meehan (D-MA).

Here's the resolution itself:

IV

108TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. RES. 419

Condemning religiously intolerant remarks and calling on the President to clearly censure and reassign Lieutenant General Boykin for his religiously intolerant remarks.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

OCTOBER 28, 2003

Mr. CONYERS (for himself, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. KUCINICH, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Mr. WEINER, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Ms. WATERS, Ms. LEE, Mr. HONDA, Ms. LOFGREN, Ms. WATSON, Mr. HINCHEY, and Mr. MEEHAN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

RESOLUTION

Condemning religiously intolerant remarks and calling on the President to clearly censure and reassign Lieutenant General Boykin for his religiously intolerant remarks. Whereas Lieutenant General William Boykin, United States Army, who is currently serving as Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and War-Fighting Support, has recently made a number of intolerant remarks against people of the Islamic faith while wearing his military uniform during numerous public addresses;

Whereas those remarks by Lieutenant General Boykin include the following: Islamic extremists hate the United States because ‘‘we’re a Christian nation’’; ‘‘Our spiritual enemy will only be defeated if we come against them in the name of Jesus’’; President Bush ‘‘is in the White House because God put him there’’; ‘‘I knew that my God was a real God, and [the Muslim God] was an idol’’; ‘‘The enemy that has come against our nation is a spiritual enemy’’ named Satan;

Whereas Islam is a monotheistic faith, a faith whose followers are an integral part of the social fabric of America and many other countries;

Whereas the position currently held by Lieutenant General Boykin requires him to interact routinely with Muslims from all over the world;

Whereas Lieutenant General Boykin has failed to retract his remarks or to issue a full apology for those controversial and divisive statements;

Whereas the remarks made by Lieutenant General Boykin have impaired the image of the United States worldwide and threaten to endanger United States forces in Iraq and Afghanistan; and

Whereas such remarks by a high-ranking military official undermine the war on terrorism by insulting Muslim allies of the United States and Muslim citizens of the United States, including those Muslim citizens in the United States Armed Forces: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) condemns bigotry and intolerance against any religious group, including people of the Islamic faith; and

(2) calls on the President—

(A) to clearly censure Lieutenant General William Boykin, United States Army, for his religiously intolerant remarks against people of the Islamic faith; and

(B) to reassign Lieutenant General Boykin to a new position in which his views will not im- pact United States Government policy decisions toward Muslims.

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