On December 17th, U.S. House Rep. Donald Beyer (D-VA) introduced the following resolution to the Judiciary Committee on behalf of 82 co-sponsors, all Democrats–it should be reproduced and read in its entirety:
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 569Condemning violence, bigotry, and hateful rhetoric towards Muslims in the United States.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 17, 2015
Mr. Beyer (for himself, Mr. Honda, Mr. Ellison, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Carson of Indiana, Ms. Norton, Ms. McCollum, Ms. Kaptur, Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, Mr. Kildee, Ms. Loretta Sanchez of California, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Peters, Mr. Ashford, Mr. Grayson, Mr. Takai, Mr. Higgins, Mr. Keating, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mr. Butterfield, Mr. Connolly, Mr. Gallego, Mrs. Bustos, Mr. Delaney, Ms. Castor of Florida, Mr. Gutiérrez, Mr. Quigley, Ms. Esty, Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr. Meeks, Ms. Meng, Mr. Al Green of Texas, Ms. Clark of Massachusetts, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Farr, Mr. Pallone, Mr. McDermott, Ms. Lee, Ms. Edwards, Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. Michael F. Doyle of Pennsylvania, Mr. Sires, Ms. DelBene, Ms. Judy Chu of California, Mr. Polis, Mr. Loebsack, Mr. Pascrell, Mrs. Dingell, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Hinojosa, Mr. Yarmuth, Ms. Tsongas, Mr. Langevin, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Takano, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Tonko, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Van Hollen, Mrs. Capps, Mr. Price of North Carolina, Ms. Matsui, Ms. Moore, and Mr. Heck of Washington) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the JudiciaryRESOLUTION
Condemning violence, bigotry, and hateful rhetoric towards Muslims in the United States.Whereas the victims of anti-Muslim hate crimes and rhetoric have faced physical, verbal, and emotional abuse because they were Muslim or believed to be Muslim;
Whereas the constitutional right to freedom of religious practice is a cherished United States value and violence or hate speech towards any United States community based on faith is in contravention of the Nation’s founding principles;
Whereas there are millions of Muslims in the United States, a community made up of many diverse beliefs and cultures, and both immigrants and native-born citizens;
Whereas this Muslim community is recognized as having made innumerable contributions to the cultural and economic fabric and well-being of United States society;
Whereas hateful and intolerant acts against Muslims are contrary to the United States values of acceptance, welcoming, and fellowship with those of all faiths, beliefs, and cultures;
Whereas these acts affect not only the individual victims but also their families, communities, and the entire group whose faith or beliefs were the motivation for the act;
Whereas Muslim women who wear hijabs, headscarves, or other religious articles of clothing have been disproportionately targeted because of their religious clothing, articles, or observances; and
Whereas the rise of hateful and anti-Muslim speech, violence, and cultural ignorance plays into the false narrative spread by terrorist groups of Western hatred of Islam, and can encourage certain individuals to react in extreme and violent ways: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) expresses its condolences for the victims of anti-Muslim hate crimes;
(2) steadfastly confirms its dedication to the rights and dignity of all its citizens of all faiths, beliefs, and cultures;
(3) denounces in the strongest terms the increase of hate speech, intimidation, violence, vandalism, arson, and other hate crimes targeted against mosques, Muslims, or those perceived to be Muslim;
(4) recognizes that the United States Muslim community has made countless positive contributions to United States society;
(5) declares that the civil rights and civil liberties of all United States citizens, including Muslims in the United States, should be protected and preserved;
(6) urges local and Federal law enforcement authorities to work to prevent hate crimes; and to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those perpetrators of hate crimes; and
(7) reaffirms the inalienable right of every citizen to live without fear and intimidation, and to practice their freedom of faith.
My own House Rep Gwen Moore is there near the end of the co-sponsor list. I expected it.
Representatives Jackson-Lee, Carney, Becerra, Swallwell, Larson, Titus, Welch, Doggett, Himes, and Cartwright added their names as co-sponsors the following day, according to the Congressional record.
The Democrats define hate speech and intimidation as hate crimes now. So how does one define what kind of speech qualifies as hate? By lumping actual violent crimes and rhetoric together the way they do, they’re defining words that hurt Muslims’ feelings as hate crimes. These resolutions go through many drafts before people sign on to them. They could have easily separated the crimes from the rhetoric, but they did not. The wording was purposeful.
Will it become a violation of federal law to complain about the legitimate issues the West has with certain aspects about Islam? Will objective analysis become so subjective that no one can say anything negative about Islam? With this resolution, these representatives are basically dumping on the “Je Suis Charlie” slogan. They would criminalize any “Draw Mohammed” events if they could.
They talk about the “constitutional right to freedom of religious practice,” but they don’t believe it applies to Christian business owners. They decry the violence against the “victims of anti-Muslim hate crimes” but refuse to refer to the hateful, brutal terrorist criminals by the religion they follow.
I understand that this is simply a resolution. It’s not a proposed law. They’re making a statement–a rather obtuse and selective statement, at that. But we’re well aware that as progressive Washington goes, so go their dancing simians in the media. The concept that there’s some wave of violence against Muslims sweeping the nation takes hold through repeated stories on websites, in newspapers, and in national news programming. The repetition influences the way the public thinks. They hear about rhetoric being termed as hate crime, and over time, they start to agree, so that eventually they accede when legislation comes to pass or court judgments rule in ways that create punitive restrictions on citizens’ rights.
And again, it goes back to how one defines these terms, to the degrees they define random acts of rhetoric, that would determine a “suitable” punishment.
Do the vast majority of Americans condemn violence against American Muslims? Of course we do.
Do the vast majority of Americans condemn violence against all religions that are practiced peacefully, devoid of intent that would transform our society into one that defies the Constitution? Of course we do.
Will a House resolution get people to start acting nicer to each other? Hell, no. Taking actions like this only steels the resolve of those who see what they’re trying to do. The progs do it because criticizing Islam makes them uncomfortable. Acts like this resolution divide us further as Americans. It insults those who are critical but are not doing anything wrong. The Left thinks it can force enough people to have a change of heart, to feel guilt over the anger toward those within a religion who want to make the Western civilization extinct.
Uh-uh. Screw you. You’re not going to shut us up. You idiots want to submit, go ahead. But don’t come crying when the next massacre committed in the name of Allah affects you. We’ve had it with your perpetual compulsion to create victims who should be fighting against a common foe. Don’t offer half-assed and disingenuous strongly-worded condemnations toward one group then add on these constant caveats each time where you issue even more strongly-worded threats toward those who are trying to tell you you’re thinking and acting like fools. Jihadists and their millions of sympathizers hear that garbage and laugh at you. They don’t take you seriously at all. We have to, because you represent us. You show weakness in the face of terror. You let them have the upper hand. You would let them have their way because war is unpleasant, distasteful.
Make no mistake. This is a war. Some of us are not willing to roll over and be overtaken. The obsequious Democrats are encouraging it. But fundamental Islam would do away with all things progressive and liberal. Lefties think they would be immune because they are standing with the Muslims and their hijabs. They are clueless.
Grr. Freaking dipsticks.
Here’s your open thread if you feel like adding to this rant or would prefer to talk about something less infuriating.
(5:48pm: Post has been edited for typos, clarity, and an added thought or two.)
