The Donald

I’ve been quite for far too long, but now I feel the need to speak out. Donald Trump, the obvious, or oblivious, leader of the Republican candidates, has now said that all Muslims in America should be put in a data-base, and forced to carry an ID card that identifies them as a Muslim. Why? Because Muslims, in the main, are members of the Islamic religion, and Islamic terrorists are causing mayhem and havoc around the world.

So “The Donald” wants to stigmatize an entire population because of the crimes of a few.  Would he be in favor of making all Catholics register in a data base and carry ID cards as a result of a few priests being pedophiles? The Catholic Church does not teach people to become pedophiles, and Islam does not teach people to become terrorists. Yes, I know, there are a few leaders in the Islamic religion who preach hate against infidels, but does that make every member of the faith a terrorist? The Wellsboro Baptist church teaches hate against “gays”, does that make every Baptist a gay-hater?

I don’t think so. And if I am making you uncomfortable with these comparisons, so be it. If you are uncomfortable with this, you need to press re-set and think again.

Wake up, America! There is not, should not, and cannot be a litmus test of religion to be in America. Yes, we are, like the rest of the world, trying to handle the refugee crisis from the Syrian civil war. These refugees are, in the main, women and children whose husbands and fathers have been killed in the name of religion. Is this the time we turn our back on them? Is this what America is known for?

Yes, this situation makes us all uncomfortable. How do we know which child or mother is in fact a terrorist? I don’t have the answer, and I won’t pretend to.   

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As all of you know, I am not a fan of Representative Jason Chaffetz, (R-Utah) but he put it well:

“As an American, that’s nuts,” said Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and who is so far neutral in the GOP presidential race. “The whole foundation of our nation was to allow for religious liberties and I have no interest in shutting down churches. That’s ridiculous. . . if there are individuals engaged in nefarious activities, then go arrest them. I don’t care of (sic) they’re Mormons, Muslims or Jews. But places of worship should be encouraged.” (Salt Lake Tribune, 11/20/2015)

He is correct; go arrest the individual, but don’t use a broad brush and paint an entire group as evil. This is Karl Rove at his worst, this is divide and conquer politics at it’s worst.

Mr. Trump, your comments are not helping America. Go back to your reality show, go back to your casinos. Get out of politics, and stop trying to destroy America.  

Your thoughts and comments are welcome, as always. 

RMH