Tuesday, November 20th, 2007
The Conservatives’ War on Thanksgiving
File this under “Only In America” - an imam leads a service in a Jewish synagogue - a service that is attended by Christian faithful. On a Sunday, no less. The service is in celebration of that uniquely American holiday - Thanksgiving. It is perhaps the most beautiful expression of the American Melting Pot™ made manifest - a celebration of the common threads that bind us together, no matter how diverse our origins. A shining example of what religious freedom, protected by a strict separation between church and state, can bring in our multicultural society.
Would that the site choice had been by design, rather than necessity. You see, the original location where the service was scheduled to be held, a certain conservative baptist church that shall remain nameless, had said “Okay, we’ll take the [racial slur for blacks] and the [racial slur for Jews], but we don’t want the [racial slur for Arabs]!” Fortunately for all involved, a local synagogue stepped up to the plate. That the mere presence of Muslims would nearly scuttle a planned celebration of what it means to be American at this festive time of year speaks poorly of those who believe that the only good Muslim is a dead Muslim. As one person interviewed for the story put it:
To me, this was the biggest slap in the face to the whole idea of this celebration. One congregation’s decision wasn’t a very charitable or Christian gesture.
Not very charitable or Christian. Sounds like the perfect description of a church that thinks hating Muslims is one of its “Core Values.”
See also John Kelso’s take on the subject.
