More On Anti Islamic Agitation by Mr Gingrich, September 18, 2010

he United States government recites the following concerning Muslims here: "Twenty-four percent of all Muslims and 29 percent of immigrant Muslims have college degrees, compared to 25 percent for the U.S. general population. Forty-one percent of all Muslim Americans and 45 percent of immigrant Muslims report annual household income levels of $50,000 or higher. This compares to the national average of 44 percent. Immigrant Muslims are well represented among higher-income earners, with 19 percent claiming annual household incomes of $100,000 or higher (compared to 16 percent for the Muslim population as a whole and 17 percent for the U.S. average). This is likely due to the strong concentration of Muslims in professional, managerial, and technical fields, especially in information technology, education, medicine, law, and the corporate world." http://www­.america.g­ov/st/peop­leplace-en­glish/2008­/December/­2008122209­0246jmnamd­eirf0.4547­083.html

Ahh the wisdom of Mr Gingrich, Ms Palin and others to focus attention on this synthetic conflict and to foster division among ordinary people; that way we plebians won't have to trouble ourselves with such unimportant matters as the rich pushing a tax break for themselves while having their cronies resist jobless benefits, etc. And of course it shows how faithful they are to our cherished freedoms.

The racism inherent in Mr Gingrich's remarks is so thinly concealed that it is evident he could barely be bothered to hide it. Watching Mr Powell react, it's not just appalling that Mr Gingrich and others of his ilk have the spotlight on this; it's embarrassing.

If we remain good and decent as a people, if we hearken to the better angles of our nature, if we see what unites us instead of rising to anger and prejudice based on the unfounded statements of those who would seek to divide us for their own gain, then perhaps we will elevate a better and more noble caliber of leader.