Bigots in Congress

Apparently not believing in the fundamental American value of religious tolerance, Republican Representative Virgil Goode of Virginia has sounded off on the threat of encroaching Islam in the U.S. The first Muslim congressman, Keith Ellison of Minnesota, is planning on using the Koran in his swearing-in ceremony, and this gets Virgil's goat. He's made it clear that he will have nothing to do with the Koran. Also, he will do his best to make sure immigration is tightened so that more Muslims can't get in and threaten our Christian way of life. What he plans on doing with the Muslims who are already here, or with American citizens who covert to Islam, I don't know. Maybe internment camps? Forced Christianization?

This is not new in American politics. In the mid-nineteenth century there was an entire political party, the Know-Nothings, who based their philosophy on anti-Catholicism. And of course, I'm sure there were Congressman who seethed when Jew after Jew emigrated here over the decades. Now peaceful, law-abiding Muslims, who share an unfortunate connection with the bloodthirsty terrorists who now bedevil us, are the new group to hate and shun.

As one peers deeper into the history of the congress of this country, one realizes that the Capitol has been populated by every sort of scoundrel, thief, degenerate and bigot. Mr. Goode can be counted among their number.