Oh, that Tom Tancredo. He sure can tell a good joke. I mean, wow, he has his skills down: the setup, the deadpan, and then … BOOM, the punchline! Tancredo’s latest attempt at improv humor involves the holiday of Ramadan.
Here’s the text of H.Res 635, just passed by the House of Representatives this week, 376 – 0, 42 present:
Whereas it is estimated that there are approximately 1,500,000,000 Muslims worldwide;
Whereas since the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, some threats and incidents of violence have been directed at law-abiding, patriotic Americans of African, Arab, and South Asian descent, particularly members of the Islamic faith;
Whereas, on September 14, 2001, the House of Representatives passed a concurrent resolution condemning bigotry and violence against Arab-Americans, American Muslims, and Americans from South Asia in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the United States;
Whereas some extremists have attempted to use selective interpretations of Islam to justify and encourage hatred, persecution, oppression, violence and terrorism against the United States, the West, Israel, other Muslims, and non-Muslims;
Whereas some Muslims in the United States and abroad have courageously spoken out in rejection of interpretations of Islam that justify and encourage hatred, violence, and terror, and in support of interpretations of and movements within Islam that justify and encourage democracy, tolerance and full civil and political rights for Muslims and those of all faiths;
Whereas Ramadan is the holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal for Muslims worldwide, and is the 9th month of the Muslim calendar year; and
Whereas the observance of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan commenced at dusk on September 13, 2007, and continues for one lunar month: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives–
(1) recognizes the Islamic faith as one of the great religions of the world;
(2) expresses friendship and support for Muslims in the United States and worldwide;
(3) acknowledges the onset of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and conveys its respect to Muslims in the United States and throughout the world on this occasion;
(4) rejects hatred, bigotry, and violence directed against Muslims, both in the United States and worldwide; and
(5) commends Muslims in the United States and across the globe who have privately and publicly rejected interpretations and movements of Islam that justify and encourage hatred, violence, and terror.
Tancredo’s vote on that bill: “Present.”
Here’s Tom Tancredo’s explanation for why he only voted “Present” in the roll call, rather than voting for the bill:
Representative Tom Tancredo (R-Littleton) released the following statement today regarding H. Res. 635, recognizing the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and commending Muslims in the and throughout the world for their faith.
“This resolution is an example of the degree to which political correctness has captured the political and media elite in this country. I am not opposed to commending any religion for their faith. The problem is that any attempt to do so for Jews or Christians is immediately condemned as “breaching” the non-existent line between Church and State by the same elite.”
Congressman and presidential candidate Tom Tancredo (R-Colorado) is upset that the House recently passed a resolution commending Islam and recognizing the month of Ramadan.
The Colorado lawmaker says that Congress would never do the same thing for a Christian or Jewish celebration. Tancredo says when the roll was called on House Resolution 635 last week, he responded “Present.” He believes the resolution is “an example of the degree to which political correctness has captured the political and media elite” of the United States. (See related article)
While Tancredo says he is not opposed to commending any religion for their faith, he knows what would happen if he or some other member introduced a resolution commending Christmas or Easter. “I know what would happen around here. First of all, of course, it would never even get a hearing. And someone would object to it being brought to the floor — they’d probably stop it on a rule,” he states.
Tancredo says one only has to compare the contrasting examples of William & Mary College in Virginia and the University of Michigan. “We find that it is perfectly acceptable to, let’s say, force William & Mary College, which is a public college now, to take down its crucifix — but at the same time allow institutions like the University of Michigan to install foot baths for Muslim students preparing for prayer,” he points out.
The GOP presidential hopeful says similar resolutions for Christians or Jews would be condemned by the elites as breaching the non-existent line between church and state.
Here’s the text of H. Res. 579, passed by the House of Representatives in December of 2005, 401 – 22, 5 present:
Whereas Christmas is a national holiday celebrated on December 25; and
Whereas the Framers intended that the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States would prohibit the establishment of religion, not prohibit any mention of religion or reference to God in civic dialog: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives–
(1) recognizes the importance of the symbols and traditions of Christmas;
(2) strongly disapproves of attempts to ban references to Christmas; and
(3) expresses support for the use of these symbols and traditions, for those who celebrate Christmas.
Tancredo’s vote for this bill: “YEA”.
Oh, what a kidder, that Tom Tancredo!
Postscript: The problem is that he’s not kidding. The difference between a “liberal elite” like me and the much-wealthier-and-more-powerful-but-somehow-not-elite Tom Tancredo is that he’ll vote for all sorts of bills putting a good word or doing favors for Christianity with the federal government, but he’ll vote against the same for Islam. Like most fundamentalist Christians, he’s a conditional team-player theocrat. I think all such resolutions like this are a bad idea, and I don’t trust a team player like Tancredo with the power to decide which religions are worthy of his favoritism and which religions aren’t.
