by Bill Wilson, KIN Senior Analyst
The leading, some would say radical, Islamic civil rights group in America is demanding that if Americans think badly of Islam, that they should not be able to hold jobs or public service positions. One such example was in July 2005 when the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) insisted upon the removal of WMAL talk show host Michael Graham for refusing to apologize for saying, "We are at war with a terrorist organization called Islam."
Graham was fired, and CAIR was instrumental in getting him fired. Now CAIR is demanding that columnist and radio show host Dennis Prager be removed from serving on the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council for his "intolerant views toward Islam in American Society."
Prager, a Jew, said he believes that congressmen taking an oath to serve America should do so on the Bible, not the Koran, as newly elected Islamic Congressman Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) intimated he would do for his swearing-in ceremony.
In a column entitled "America, Not Keith Ellison, Decides What Book a Congressman Takes His Oath On," Prager wrote, "If you are incapable of taking an oath on that book, don't serve in Congress" — adding that using the Koran "undermines American civilization."
CAIR has countered with a letter to the Holocaust Council saying:
No one who holds such bigoted, intolerant and divisive views should be in a policy-making position at a taxpayer-funded institution that seeks to educate Americans about the destructive impact hatred has had, and continues to have, on every society. As a presidential appointee, Prager's continued presence on the council would send a negative message to Muslims worldwide about America's commitment to religious tolerance.
It's OK for Islamists to say that every Jew ought to be killed, that the United States should be destroyed and that Islam should rule the world; but it's hateful if anyone criticizes an Islamist, and they should lose their job for it.
Perspective: I, too, have been verbally attacked for saying Islam is a threat to national security. I have been called a "bigot," a "Christian fascist" and a "hate monger." I was also told that "America must learn to live in peace with Islam" and that I had no right to speak such views in public. Last I knew, the First Amendment guaranteed our freedom of speech.
Islam believes they have taken over America and that personal thought or opinion can no longer be tolerated unless it is supportive of Islam. If Patrick Henry was silenced for intolerant views, we would have no nation today — and that's why we have the First Amendment.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:19, "And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel."