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Re: Hatred and Bigotry in WDP
[Recently I posted an editorial
to the Newslinks section in which the Chair of the Washington Dem. Party said
some very offensive things about gun owners and Christians. I also sent to Liberty
Letters my letter decrying the obvious bigotry of these comments. Here is the
reply from the WA State Dem. Party Treasurer. The alert reader will notice that
this idiot has the audacity to claim that the slur "gun nuts and religious
nuts" was justified. Why, you ask? Because of the existence of psuedo-religious
groups such a the KKK. In other words, Republicans who own guns or go to church
must be white supremacists. Can you believe this guy?
Rob Lyman]
The Original Letter:
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001 11:02:53
-0800 (PST) To the Democratic Party of Washington
State, and prominent members thereof: Allow me to quote from the online version
of your platform: "Every individual deserves the opportunity to succeed
and the right to live free from discrimination; "
"We...affirm that recognition
of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members
of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the
world."
Permit me also to note that you
have failed in your platform to explicitly support the freedom of religion.
Perhaps that has something to do with the following quite from Paul Berendt,
taken from the Nov. 10 Seattle P-I: "[W]hen all those gun nuts and religious
nuts from Spokane, Yakima and Moses Lake pile off those buses, we will win in
Edmonds and Lynnwood for sure .. If I had your typical Republican activist from
Spokane or Vancouver showing up on my doorstep, that would be pretty scary.
They're probably packing heat or the Bible."
I will not mince words. Mr. Berendt
is a bigot. Let me say that again. MR. BERENDT IS A BIGOT! There is no other
word for it. If a Republican activist had referred to the "niggers and
faggots from downtown Seattle" giving him an edge in a suburban race, your
party would be rightly incensed. _I_ would be incensed. If that hypothetical
activist was not immediately fired, the repercussions would be very, very serious
indeed, just as they ought to be. That kind of bigotry would be immediately
and mercilessly punished, as it ought to be. Apparently your party is more tolerant
of bigotry against other groups and does not regard this remark as worthy of
censure.
Mr. Berendt has used offensive slurs
no less hurtful than the more familiar racist and homophobic slurs. He promotes
hatred, fear, and discrimination against innocent people who are different from
him. For all the talk of "diversity" which comes from your party,
one would have thought your leader could be more respectful of people with sincere
religious beliefs. For all the talk of "tolerance" of "different
lifestyles" which your party indulges in, one might have imagined you to
be tolerant of those whose lifestyle includes meaningful self-defense and the
annual fall hunt.
The failure of the Democratic Party
to immediately censure Mr. Berendt and demand his resignation shows you to be
spineless hypocrites. Where is the outrage at this outrageous comment? Are you
so unfamiliar with your own platform that you are unaware of its affirmation
of the "inherent dignity" of every individual? Or do you simply regard
gun owners and Christians as somehow sub-human, and therefore unworthy of your
respect? Are you fools, or bigots yourselves?
I am utterly repulsed by Mr. Berendt's
comments, which I regard as unforgivably prejudiced and offensive. He has tipped
his hand and shown himself to be a bigot no better than the average Klansman.
He is of course entitled to his prejudiced beliefs, but I see no reason whatsoever
to trust him or anyone who willingly works with him.
I am a non-partisan voter who has
always moved between the various parties, voting for whomever I thought most
qualified. With the failure of the Democratic party to support is own (alleged)
principles, I can see no reason to ever bother voting Democratic again until
Mr. Berendt is fired by his fellow party members, or resigns under pressure.
Prove to me you mean what your platform says, and perhaps I will trust you again.
Failing that, forget it. I will not vote to send bigots to Olympia or D.C.
I will not support hate in any form,
against anyone.
Robert Lyman
Their response:
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 00:57:01
EST Dear Robert:
Thank you for sharing your viewpoint.
Here is mine. As a person of faith, I would point out that a reasonable person
could find significant evidence that many persons who most individuals would
describe as "nuts" do try to use religion as a vehicle to lend creditability
to questionable, illegal, immoral, or even evil viewpoints. I would reference
the KKK and the Aryan Nation as the worst examples in the United States, and
recent comments by Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell after the September 11 attacks
as slightly less horrid illustrations.
Given this context, I understand
what Paul was attempting to convey and as we live in a Democracy, I will defend
his right to express his viewpoint just as you would wish others to defend your
right to express your viewpoint. Paul has been, is, and will continue to be
a wonderful Chair of the Party and a fine human being.
May Your Journey Be One of Peace
and Enlightenment,
Joe Nilsson To Get Your Letters Printed Here |
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