Religious Bigotry in Richardson

A few days ago, another blog injected religious bigotry into local politics. Here is an excerpt of what was posted.

"There are several other small local city governments around Dallas that have muslim city councilmen on their councils, and they are being watched closely. As their bases are growing, their power is growing. Texas politicos tell me this is their Plan and this is the trend and it is going the momentum is building. Expect more city governments (small) to be headed by muslims. Then they run for State level positions, then Federal. They are building LEADERS. Soon they will be OUR LEADERS."

After the jump, getting down and dirty.

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In case you think the blogger thinks having Muslims for "OUR LEADERS" is benign, think again. I debated with myself how to respond, if at all. On the one hand, there was that warning from Edmund Burke: "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." On the other hand, there was George Bernard Shaw's advice: "I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it." But, hey, I'm a blogger, so I went with Burke and spoke up. But I vowed to myself to get in and out of the pig sty as quickly as possible. So, I commented curtly, "This is religious bigotry and I condemn it."

I thought that would be the end of it. Then I read a follow-up post that described my comment as being "extremist." It took me by surprise. I thought of the Constitution and its prohibition against religious tests for public office and its guarantees of our individual liberties, including freedom of religion. Is condemning religious bigotry now considered extremist? Really? Is the defense of our liberties now considered extremist? In America? Really?

If so, then I guess I confess to being an extremist. I guess I'm now in the company of none other than Barry Goldwater -- that's right, the man whose conservatism inspired Ronald Reagan to enter politics. How ironic is that?

"Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.
Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue."
-- Barry Goldwater

I guess I'll have to see if I can find an old "AuH₂O" bumper sticker on eBay to paste on the back of my 1964 Chevy C10 pickup truck.