On Anti Islamic Race Baiting by Mr Gingrich, August 8, 2010

What Mr Gingrich is tapping into is not a strictly localized phenomenon associated with the site of the World Trade Center attacks, but has manifested itself elsewhere as well. See http://www­.nytimes.c­om/2010/08­/08/us/08m­osque.html­?_r=1&hp. It is, in fact, a generalized unease and sense of threat from the "other", in this case from Islam as a whole, without regard to the beliefs or conduct of particular adherents, or the actual effects of the particular institutions involved. Setting aside that this is unvarnished prejudice of the worst sort (small wonder that it has been associated with the Tea Party as well), and inconsistent with our Constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion, it is also misguided. As the NYT article notes:

"A two-year study [by Duke and UNC] concluded that contemporary mosques are actually a deterrent to the spread of militant Islam and terrorism."

Between this and Mr Gingrich's protestations concerning the preposterous non-issue of the imposition of Sharia law in the United States, it is evident that he is engaging in fear mongering and scape goating. Historical experience teaches us that such tactics can be very effective, and for that reason extremely dangerous; and while the overall impression of Mr Gingrich may be that he is a buffoon, that should not stop us from denouncing this effort in the strongest and loudest possible terms, preferably with an ample measure of derision, as Mr Pyrdum's article has done.

I think Mr Gingrich may well have missed the RCIA class that covered the following passage:

* Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
* Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.
* Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted.
* Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
* Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
* Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.
* Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
* Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Rather obscure, I suppose, so perhaps he can be forgiven for having missed them. Given the ardent sentiments expressed by some, I have been searching for the passages in the Gospels on gun rights and low taxes, but, alas, I have not been able to find them so far.

And also:  Scapegoating, fear mongering, the use of force and intimidation at political rallies, overt anti intellectualism: we have seen these tactics before. Our inclination may be to dismiss as risible these currents in our society, just as we deride their spokespeople. But this would be a mistake; these are dangerous developments that have the potential to prey very effectively on the anger and fear of a population facing hardship, fear and economic uncertainly, and they should be exposed and aggressively confronted.