Michael Stopa Unites Religious Bigotries
As we witness a spreading anti-Muslim campaign this summer, urged on by congressional candidates, many Americans are wondering why they should care. Yes, they consider, the treatment of Muslims may be unfair and unconstitutional, but it’s not a problem that will affect the majority of non-Muslim Americans, right?
These apathetic observers would do well to remember the lesson of Cordoba, the inspiration for the Manhattan Muslim community center’s name: Cordoba House. Under the control of the Muslim Moors, Cordoba was a center of learning where many people of many religions co-existed in peace. After Ferdinand and Isabella drove the Muslims out of Spain, however, the very next thing they did was deport the Jews of Cordoba as well.
Michael Stopa, a Republican running for Congress in the 3rd congressional district of Massachusetts, should remind Americans of Cordoba’s lesson: When members of a religious minority attack the legal rights of members of one religious minority, other religious minorities are likely to come under attack as well.
Stopa began his attacks against religious minorities this summer by urging the FBI to send spies to infiltrate American mosques. Stopa wrote, “We know that there is radicalism in Islam. And we are not allowed in the door to see how much of that is going on. Islam seeks a world of believers and is willing to put its worldly sword to the task of getting them. I therefore don’t like having Muslims meeting in secret to discuss these things in my neighborhood. The burden of proof that what’s going on inside is all innocent is with the followers of Islam.”
Mike Stopa was not content to restrict his attacks to Islam, however. He moved on to question the legitimacy of Barack Obama to hold the position of President of the United States, questioning Obama’s religious fidelity to Christianity. “I actually don’t think Barack Obama is a Muslim. I think he is a nonbeliever,” Stopa said.
Stopa then explained that his reason for accusing President Obama of being an atheist was that Obama had been “sympathetic to anybody who is opposed to America and American values.” Stopa’s suggestion was clear: Enmity to the United States is defining character of atheists.
The claim by Michael Stopa that sympathy for one’s enemies is a sign of atheism is ironic, given that such sympathy is actually a defining value of Christianity. He seems to have forgotten that it’s the Christian Bible that urges: “Love your enemy”.
I know Mike. Did you idiots know he was a Jew?
Steve, what does that have to do with the issue? If Michael Stopa is not a Jew, then he’s encouraging religious bigotry of the sort that drove the Jews out of Spain. If Michael Stopa is a Jew, then he’s encouraging religious bigotry of the sort that drove the Jews out of Spain.
I was misrepresented in the article which discussed the President’s religion. Most of what you say is correct and an accurate portrayal of my beliefs. However, The Sun Chronicle (the paper which published the article about the President’s religion) claimed that I believed that President Obama was an atheist *because* he held anti-American views, that is, that anti-American views are characteristic of atheists. I do not believe that and I have asked for publication of a letter clarifying my position in the Sun Chronicle but have received no response from the paper. I believe that President Obama is an atheist. I believe that President Obama is sympathetic to anti-American views because he views American history as a history of oppression. But I do not believe that these are related in any meaningful way. And I have not a shred of prejudice in any way whatsoever against atheists. Never have had. None. Zero. Think all my atheist friends are fabulous.
But do feel free to continue the attack for the other things (you know, my Islamaphobia). BTW in the summer of 2009 President Obama’s FBI director Robert Mueller defended the practice of putting clandestine informants in mosques. Look it up.
Sorry, I don’t know who Steve is, but I am not a Jew. Born Polish Catholic.
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