by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist
When America took a sharp right turn last November and elected an inexperienced blowhard to the presidency, the country was, in fact, taking its place in what appears to be an international shift toward extreme right-wing ideology. One of the more prominent characters in that movement is Dutch politician, Geert Wilders, who is building a campaign to become the political leader of the Netherlands on a platform of vilifying immigrants, particularly Muslims.
Sound familiar?
Over the past weekend one of America's most controversial congressmen, Steve King of Iowa, felt the need to tweet support for Wilders, and, in turn, picked the scab off of one of our country's longest festering wounds - racism.
The Iowa congressman got everyone's attention with this little gem of a tweet:
Later in defending his controversial remark, King got into even more hot water when he said that we must increase our birth rate to protect Western values.
King's remarks received positive reviews from some not-surprising sources. Swanson Foods heir and Fox News correspondent, Tucker Carlson, opined on his television program "Everything he said is defensible and probably right." Former KKK "grand wizard" David Duke was downright jubilant in his tweet rejoinder. Duke roared, "GOD BLESS STEVE KING!!!"
Others, however, were a bit more critical of the congressman's incendiary remarks. Congressman John Lewis, a veteran of civil rights struggles going back more than half-a-century, called King's comments "bigoted and racist." Former Florida governor, Jeb Bush, and Jeff Kauffman, the chairman of Iowa's GOP, both noted that America was founded by immigrants and that diversity is a strength. And journalist Tom Brokaw, an activist for military veterans, tweeted this:
In addition to being strongly anti-immigarnt, Congressman King is also vocally opposed to gay rights and gay marriage, is very pro-gun, and is opposed to affirmative action programs. He has a 100 percent rating by anti-abortion groups due to his zealous stances to force women to carry pregnancies to full-term regardless of medical or social circumstances, and a zero rating by the American Humane Society as a result of his positions defending the "sport" of forced fighting of animals and the treatment of animals at food-processing plants. And, not surprisingly, he is pro-lobbyist, saying that those influence-seekers provide Congress with lots of valuable information.
Remember Congressman King, from the perspective of Sacagawea, Pocahontas, Squanto, Cochise, Crazy Horse, Chief Joseph, Sitting Bull, Geronimo, and Wilma Mankiller - you are a result of other people's babies. Open your heart, sir, and accept that we are all other people's babies, brothers and sisters in humanity, and we all should be welcome to enjoy the blessings of the earth, free of fear, and able to pursue our dreams.
Anything less is just plain ugly.
Citizen Journalist
When America took a sharp right turn last November and elected an inexperienced blowhard to the presidency, the country was, in fact, taking its place in what appears to be an international shift toward extreme right-wing ideology. One of the more prominent characters in that movement is Dutch politician, Geert Wilders, who is building a campaign to become the political leader of the Netherlands on a platform of vilifying immigrants, particularly Muslims.
Sound familiar?
Over the past weekend one of America's most controversial congressmen, Steve King of Iowa, felt the need to tweet support for Wilders, and, in turn, picked the scab off of one of our country's longest festering wounds - racism.
The Iowa congressman got everyone's attention with this little gem of a tweet:
"Wilders understands that culture and demographics are our destiny. We can't restore our civilization with somebody else's babies."
Later in defending his controversial remark, King got into even more hot water when he said that we must increase our birth rate to protect Western values.
King's remarks received positive reviews from some not-surprising sources. Swanson Foods heir and Fox News correspondent, Tucker Carlson, opined on his television program "Everything he said is defensible and probably right." Former KKK "grand wizard" David Duke was downright jubilant in his tweet rejoinder. Duke roared, "GOD BLESS STEVE KING!!!"
Others, however, were a bit more critical of the congressman's incendiary remarks. Congressman John Lewis, a veteran of civil rights struggles going back more than half-a-century, called King's comments "bigoted and racist." Former Florida governor, Jeb Bush, and Jeff Kauffman, the chairman of Iowa's GOP, both noted that America was founded by immigrants and that diversity is a strength. And journalist Tom Brokaw, an activist for military veterans, tweeted this:
"Somebody else's babies are in US mil uniforms and in harm's way. Volunteers to protect America. Cong King, please!"But Steve King is known for being controversial, and he is loathe to back down.
In addition to being strongly anti-immigarnt, Congressman King is also vocally opposed to gay rights and gay marriage, is very pro-gun, and is opposed to affirmative action programs. He has a 100 percent rating by anti-abortion groups due to his zealous stances to force women to carry pregnancies to full-term regardless of medical or social circumstances, and a zero rating by the American Humane Society as a result of his positions defending the "sport" of forced fighting of animals and the treatment of animals at food-processing plants. And, not surprisingly, he is pro-lobbyist, saying that those influence-seekers provide Congress with lots of valuable information.
Remember Congressman King, from the perspective of Sacagawea, Pocahontas, Squanto, Cochise, Crazy Horse, Chief Joseph, Sitting Bull, Geronimo, and Wilma Mankiller - you are a result of other people's babies. Open your heart, sir, and accept that we are all other people's babies, brothers and sisters in humanity, and we all should be welcome to enjoy the blessings of the earth, free of fear, and able to pursue our dreams.
Anything less is just plain ugly.
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