Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Media Ramsey Hits the Big Time by Saying Freedom of Religion May Not Count for Muslims
Posted by Jeff Woods on Tue, Jul 27, 2010 at 8:43 AM
- Undecided voters in the GOP governor's primary.
At a campaign event in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Lieutenant Governor and gubernatorial candidate Ron Ramsey (R) said that freedom of speech, guaranteed by the First Amendment, may not apply to Islam because it could be considered "a cult."
Recall that our lieutenant governor also made news around the country when he said he didn't know whether President Obama is legit. And there's still nine more days until the election—plenty of time for these guys to embarrass Tennessee again.
Update: That snowball's really growing now. The New York Times weighs in. USA Today's cheery headline: "Politician calls Islam 'cult:' Church to burn Quran." And Wonkette points out an oddly Muslim-looking character, presumably a Ramsey aide, in the video with the lieutenant governor. Is this guy with the bow tie a secret Muslim?
Update II: The Council on American-Islamic Relations criticizes Ramsey and a religion scholar says he is "vandalizing our Constitution."
Update III: "Islam-is-a-cult row" goes international.
Comments (39)
Showing 1-39 of 39
I'm just bursting with pride over Tennessee's brand new national media notoriety: Ramsey and his Muslim rant, Wamp and the “nuclear civil war” blather, the “Our Schools Suck” pronouncement from Bredesen. Lord, we rank right up there with Illinois and Rod Blogojevich, New York and Elliot Spitzer, Minnesota and Jesse Ventura. At least Tennessee has companionship in the ridicule. Maybe the 'misery loves company' adage fits.
What Tennessee lacks is a politician cut from the cloth that produced Huey Long, Louisiana's Kingfish. Huey was no stranger to controversy. But he knew how to get people to laugh at it. Maybe somebody like Larry the Cable Guy ought to be anointed Governor. That way Tennessee could provide some genuine entertainment over the national media networks.
I know, how about Ray Stevens? Hell, 'Guitarzan' could be his campaign song. Anybody want to join up in a draft movement?
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I posted info on his comments on huff post hoping the rest of media will pick it up,he is an embarassment to good people of TN,he must leave all his gov positions today,.
The stores dont know who is honest and who isnt so, we all pay and have to show ID. There are, I am sure, many good Muslims out there but, there are so many trying to recruit young people of their religion to kill us, one cant tell the good from the bad until someone gets arrested. One of these days, one will not be caught by the FBI and homeland security until after he or she has killed tens of thousands. Any group that teaches its Gods wish that they kill others is, a bunch of mentally screwed up people and dont have a clue about God. Unfortunately, there is only one answer, deport all of them then, we wont have to worry about that ever happening. No, I am not a Muslim hater or, even close, just a realists. Keep them here and its a matter of time before someone you love gets killed by one of their retards - deport all of them and end that problem.
Are all Rons wackos? I've never known a Ron before this, but so far, all mentioned or posting on this blog are batting 1000. T
There was Ron Reagan... but like I said, batting 1000.
"Any group that teaches its Gods wish that they kill others is, a bunch of mentally screwed up people and dont have a clue about God."
So those Christians who bombed abortion clinics, should we deport them too?
Someone Send Ron (and Lou Ann Zelenik) a copy of the Constitution, High-light Amendment 1.
Freedom of Religion.
Ramsey is right that Islam is not just a religion but a political domination and supremacy ideology complete with its own Way of Life called Sharia that makes Muslims socially and politically superior to non-Muslims, who are granted few if any of the rights we cherish in the U.S. Because of this Muslims in the U.S. must be treated as potential enemies of the govt. and enemy combatants, as events like Ft. Hood and Times Square Bomber have shown. Don't be ignorant about Islam and its history of seeking total supremacy rather than equality in country after country. Master Islam and its history free online anytime with the Historyscoper at http://go.to/islamhistory
I've got an idea: how's about we round up and deport EVERYONE who believes in magical faeries, goblin devils, talking snakes, ghosts, and are furthermore convinced that THEIR specific translation/ comprehension of these fantastical stories are the only "real" versions?
Just a thought...
When will Ramsey call on "Christians" (as if they are a monolithic group like he believes "Muslims" are) to denouce violent and/or hateful "Christian" groups like the KKK, the Nazis, and almost every white supremicist group. Don't stop there, Rasmey. Why not call on "Christians" to denouce the Crusades?
Ron Ramsey is a joke. He claims to be a Tea Party leader yet is involved in some of the most obvious pay to play schemes controlling to legislative agenda. See this link on Ramsey selling out to Mountaintop Mining. The local CBS affiliate produced this and I found this on youtube someone had fun with.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSMtCt6LPqw
And what about that other cult that's so popular around here in the Bible Belt? What's it called again?
W D Humpfree, you are right on. I say we start a draft Huey Long's ghost for Governor pledge. His ghost has more backbone than most Democrats in this state.
to RON :since you are for deporting all for a crime of few and deporting citizens of Us and your reason is your fear which makes you a admited and self branded COWARD,using your reasoning why stop at muslims lets be inclusive and deport the following groups,all catholics for child abuse 52m,baptist for rape murder child abuse 22m,methodist for rape murder child abuse adultry 12m,world outreach churches for terrorist trainning camp to bring end of the world 1m,jews for serial killers rape murder of civilian in lebenon6m,etc, 30000 murders committed in us every year 98% by so called christians any god that teaches that must be deported and that covers the rest of christians,but not to forget to deport blacks,hispanic,germans,japs,italians,english,serbian,china man,cowards,kkk,zionist etc, looks like ron is going to be deported unless he is a cherokee indian then we will give him a break since they have been dealing with terorisem for over 500 years and they are the only rightfull owner of this land,.
The best part is, the Supreme Court has been broadening what constitutes a "religion" since, like, the '60s. I think the only real (legal) prerequisite now is that you actually have to really truly believe in something for it to count as a religion, which is of course both morally right and obviously absurd (coff Scientology coff). And that doesn't even cover religion as an identity or way of life. I could be wrong, of course, I'm no Supreme Court scholar.
And that reminds me: were any politicians worked up over the Celebrity Centre opening up on 8th Avenue?
"And what about that other cult that's so popular around here in the Bible Belt? What's it called again?"
"Church of Christ?"
Kay, I think you are confusing the church of Christ with the church of Scientology, or something else. The church of Christ is just a southern Baptist or Methodist church without musical instruments or a governing body. And they are certainly not, like Muslims, monolithic as there are very liberal church's of Christ and extremely conservative ones. I know because I grew up in it and it is most certainly not a cult. People who think the COC is a cult are just as bad as Ron Ramsey.
Sorry for getting off topic.
I'm pretty sure the Church of Christ would be pretty pissed with a comparison to Baptists and Methodists. Theologically, I mean.
When I was a kid my mom made me go to Church of Christ until I learned the Presbyterians had a Hammond B3 with the big Leslie cabinet. My love of the Hammond is still as it was then, the church part not so much.
"I'm pretty sure the Church of Christ would be pretty pissed with a comparison to Baptists and Methodists. Theologically, I mean."
Yes, some would. But there is no monolithic "Church of Christ", just like there is no monolithic "Islamic" religion. There are several liberal churches of Christ in Nashville that partner with and have great relationships with non- CoC's. My point is, you can't slam people like Ramsey for saying idiotic things but can still call a mainstream protestant church a "cult" because of some negative things you've heard about it or from some bad experiences with certain people. Just sayin.'
I think the cult comment can be fairly applied to any sect that tries to dictate beliefs and at the same time control behaviors. Being a cult AND a religion is entirely possible, and I think there are many cults within christian denominations and within Islam. If any religion were judged by its worst elements, it would be worthy of scorn, derision, and dissolution.
Ramsey is an embarrassment in any case.
Note on photograph: the Ramsey supporters in Northeast Tennessee style their "tin foil hats" (aluminum - a major industrial product in East Tennessee fer shure) not as show in the Pith photo, but more as to a singular spike at the top of the crown - just like a German Kaiser helment from World War I.
Yes, it takes more aluminum foil to fashion such a towering hat, but the Ramsey supporters are also showing their support for Alcoa...
Also, I hear they don't have pet cats, but will eat them if one is unlucky enough to wander through. After an overnight moonshine marinade, it goes well with ramps and a little wild ginger.
Additional safety note : Don't drink the leftover marinade until it's been run through the still one more time.
"I think the cult comment can be fairly applied to any sect that tries to dictate beliefs and at the same time control behaviors"
You mean like how e.g. the Catholic Church expects doctrinal fidelity from it's clergy and members and expects them to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, tend the sick, house the homeless, love one another etc etc
Kosh,
Do you know the difference between expectations and requirements? If you do, you can answer your own question.
Kosh,
Did you have time to think about it? Here's my answer:
Any institution qualifies for the cult label to the degree it REQUIRES 'doctrinal fidelity' of sentient beings with the ability to reason.
"REQUIRES" as in how the RCC will excommunicate those reasoning beings who do not comform? See Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre or the silencing of various theologians like Hans Küng or Charles Curran.
The inability to distinguish the finer points of an argument is a sad commentary on our education system and the reason our political discourse is polarized. No, Kosh, they are very similar, related even, but NOT all the same.
Tom, people throw out the word "cult" in much the same way as they throw around the term "socialist." There is a detachment in what it is and people have decided it is. A cult is:
"A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader."
A denomination or sect is not that. A cult is the Branch Davidians or Fundamentalist Mormons. It is not Catholics, Baptists, the church of Christ, or the Islamic religion. There may be subsets in any of those groups that could reasonably be called cults. But to otherwise just give a blanket statement that they are cults is being careless with facts. Speaking as I am from a guy who grew up in the church of Christ, I am always astonished by some of the things people have said about that church (of course, as if it is some kind of monolithic organization). Most of the people that I have heard that from personally are people who have had bad experiences with the minority in the church of Christ who espouse very strict and legalistic tendencies. For instance, most people in the COC do not think everyone else is going to hell. But there is a minority who think that way and they tend to be the most vocal.
In a similar way, Ron Ramsey is playing to the majority of Tennesseans who believe all Muslims are the same, don't realize there is a difference between Sunnis and Shia (or Persians, Arabs, and Kurds) and believe all Muslims are sleeper agents sent here by some terrorist group.
I am pretty progressive in most of my political beliefs but there is a double standard here regarding this. Again, you can't in one breath call out Ron Ramsey and then say it's okay to trash other religious groups. And I see that in progressive circles often. It's politically incorrect to criticize Islam or Buddhism but certainly okay to criticize southern Baptists or the Church of Christ.
Washington Post columnist weighs in:
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith…
If our glorious constitution is to be put in abeyance, which laws will we follow?
The real question is--will Ramsey be rewarded for his bigotry or will the racists be defeated?
Editor Muslaman Times
http://www.musalmantimes.com
First They Came for the Jews
First they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me and there was no one left
to speak out for me. Pastor Martin Niemöller
Editor http://www/Musalmantimes.com
Chris,
I agree generally with your distinctions, and that cults can, and do, reside within many sects and denominations. As a progressive Christian, I may be a little more critical when I feel someone is being hypocritical in the name of Christ because I believe we mostly live in glass houses and should look to internal rectitude first and foremost. That is why I worry about outspoken Christians questioning the rectitude of other faiths. The timbers in our own eyes don't ya know.
"Persians are the really sexy ones."
I don't know, the Kurdish women I have encountered here are quite fetching. At least the younger ones. ;)
"A cult is: A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false"
this would presuppose that a particular religion is "true"...
and goodness knows i've run across my fair share of So. Baptists whom i would consider "extremists"
