In my 2003 book Onward Muslim Soldiers, I observed that “September 11 was largely a problem of faulty immigration controls” and called, accordingly, for tighter immigration controls — while noting the chief obstacle to such measures: “immigration controls on Muslim countries are supposedly racist, even though Muslims are not members of any single race or ethnic group.” I also wrote that “the greatest amount of damage control…must be done with the Muslim immigrants who are already in the United States. Multiculturalism has relegated the idea of assimilation to the dustbin of history. But that is precisely what is needed. American Muslims need to become assimilated to the American ideals enumerated in the Constitution.” (Pp. 297-298)
I’ve written about this problem, and what realistically can be done about it, beginning with measures that can reasonably be instituted given the current political situation, elsewhere as well. And in numerous addresses to audiences all over the United States I have called for a restoration of sanity in our immigration policies toward admission of Muslims — starting at very least, but not ending, with the institution of mechanisms to screen for jihadist sentiments, with appropriate enforcement. I have met with several congressmen (not including Virgil Goode) about specific means by which this can begin to be done.
I note all this not to take credit for what Virgil Goode has said and written — I have never met or spoken with him — but because another writer of some prominence is continuing to allege that I do not really believe what I have told him I believe about this issue, and that I am not doing anything or saying anything about it, when in fact I am. He has on several occasions asserted that I hold positions that I do not hold, and refused my request for retraction. He has posted numerous personal slurs, while claiming that I have made the discussion personal, and has even represented my courtesy to him as discourtesy — proving once again that the Miranda rights should enjoy the status of an adage: anything you say can and will be used against you (as this post will be also). For that reason I am not going to discuss these matters with him further, or name him here, but I post this for the record so that my own positions, as well as the fact that I have held them for years, are clear.
Anyway, I am very glad to see a congressman speaking out about this problem, and happy to see him sticking to his guns in the face of CAIR’s bullying.
“Lawmaker won’t apologize for ‘Islamophobic’ letter,” from CNN, with thanks to all who sent this in:
WASHINGTON (CNN) — A Virginia congressman will not apologize for writing that without immigration reform “there will be many more Muslims elected to office demanding the use of the Quran,” his spokesman said.
Republican Rep. Virgil Goode’s letter to constituents also warns that without immigration reform “we will have many more Muslims in the United States.”
Spokesman Linwood Duncan said Goode’s letter was written in response to complaints his office received about Minnesota Rep.-elect Keith Ellison’s request to be sworn in using the Quran.
Ellison is the first Muslim to be elected to Congress.
Goode’s office released the letter to CNN Wednesday.
In it, Goode wrote, “When I raise my hand to take the oath on Swearing In Day, I will have the Bible in my other hand. I do not subscribe to using the Quran in any way.
“The Muslim representative from Minnesota was elected by the voters of that district and if American citizens don’t wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Quran.
Goode is right, of course, and it has already happened, long before Ellison was elected — as we noted here and here. What neither Dennis Prager nor anyone else has addressed is the fact that the Qur’an is unsuitable for oath-taking in the United States because it allows Muslims to lie to unbelievers (3:28, 16:106). Whenever I have brought this up, people start talking about the Bible — but the difference is that the Bible doesn’t enjoin believers to lie to unbelievers, and problematic passages within it are not being acted upon around the world today in the way that problematic passages in the Qur’an are. I hope someday someone — perhaps Virgil Goode — will explain that in the public forum.
“We need to stop illegal immigration totally and reduce legal immigration and end the diversity visas policy pushed hard by President Clinton and allowing many persons from the Middle East to come to this country.
“I fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims in the United States if we do not adopt the strict immigration policies that I believe are necessary to preserve the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America and to prevent our resources from being swamped.”
Excellent. Goode is not opposed to having “many more Muslims in the United States” out of “bigotry,” as CAIR has predictably alleged, but because he is aware that Islam presents a challenge, as we have explained here so many times, to “the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America.” He also seems to be aware, when he warns that “our resources” could be “swamped,” that Muslim immigrants, including mujahedin, cheerfully live on the dole in Europe — a situation that is nothing less than suicidal.
He added, “The Ten Commandments and ‘In God We Trust’ are on the wall in my office. A Muslim student came by the office and asked why I did not have anything on my wall about the Quran.
“My response was clear, ‘As long as I have the honor of representing the citizens of the 5th District of Virginia in the United States House of Representatives, the Quran is not going to be on the wall of my office.’ ”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations asked Goode to apologize.
“Rep. Goode’s Islamophobic remarks send a message of intolerance that is unworthy of anyone elected to public office,” the council’s Corey Saylor said in a statement. “There can be no reasonable defense for such bigotry.”
It isn’t bigotry, Corey, and I just provided a reasonable defense in brief. I’d be happy to expand on these matters in a debate with you. You can contact me here.
Duncan told CNN that Goode stands by his comments.
Bravo.
UPDATE: Some people have asked me about my statement above that Qur’an 3:28 and 16:106 allow Muslims to lie to unbelievers. Here is the relevant section on 3:28 from the Qur’anic commentary of Ibn Kathir:
…”unless you indeed fear a danger from them” meaning, except those believers who in some areas or times fear for their safety from the disbelievers. In this case, such believers are allowed to show friendship to the disbelievers outwardly, but never inwardly. For instance, Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Ad-Darda’ said, “We smile in the face of some people although our hearts curse them.” Al-Bukhari said that Al-Hasan said, “The Tuqyah is allowed until the Day of Resurrection.”