In all the discussions about the European settlement of the New World, one feature has been conspicuously absent: the role that the superstition, savagery and sexual immorality of native Americans played in making them morally disqualified from sovereign control of American soil.
- Bryan Fischer, Feb. 9, AFA blog
The American Family Association has had to apologize for its statements on just about everyone: Jews, gays, African Americans and Muslims. It was, therefore, just a matter of time before they said something derogatory about Native Americans.
Bryan Fischer's diatribe on Native Americans is almost in the same class of religious intolerance as his statements about Muslims (especially how it would be the "compassionate" thing to do to deport all of them). And while some academics argue that the primary gifts of the missionaries to the Natives in the New World were measles and syphilis, Fischer will have you think that his latest admonition, is somehow truly, er, Christian. Yes, people, it is truly a WTF moment!
Some responders to his latest broadcast/blog:
This can't be a legit article. It really can't. I'm not saying nobody could come to the pathetic conclusions that the author did, but to publish it on a site associated with family values? Did we skip ahead to April 1st?
"Grandson, there are too many White People, and not enough Human Beings." ~ "Little Big Man"
So people who killed Indians were doing the Lord's work, clearly. Is it still OK to kill Indians? Please let us know ASAP so we know how to proceed...
And this, from young conservative (American Family Association blogger and radio host!) Elijah Freideman:
Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it
COMPARISONS
In the past, Bryan Fischer has shown himself to have the basic philosophy of "Only white Christians need apply," denigrating people of color, gays and Muslims. Appearing on his daily radio talk show (sponsored by the American Family Association) has become a badge of honor for some Right Wing proponents who are not afraid to state their views, even if those views are tinged with bigotry. Ever since Tony Perkins (Family Research Council) gave Fischer his imprimatur by having Fischer speak at the hallowed Values Voter Summit, the extreme Right has dared to make forays into dark territory on Fischer's show.
There are some odd parallels we can see in Fischer's philosophy: Queen Isabella and Michele Malkin:
Queen Isabella of Castille, under direction of her confessor, Torquemada, enabled the horrific Inquisition and expelled Moors and Jews from Spain. Operating with a "convert or die" dictum, Isabella was quiet, but ruthless: thousands died during her reign and 200,000 Jews were exiled. More than anything, however, the torture and murder were power grabs by her and her husband, King Ferdinand, in their religious zealotry to make the kingdom "one nation, one religion." Isabella may have felt like a latter day Constantine*, for she was never bothered by the carnage that resulted.
Michele Malkin must have certainly been in agreement with Fischer (no word as yet from her, but there surely will be). She was, after all, as disgusted by the reference to Native American religions at the Tucson memorial:
"Native American gives rambling speech while holding a feather. His remarks are frequently interrupted by whoops and cheers. He gives a shout-out to his son serving in Afghanistan. Brags about Mexican background. Babble about two-legged and four-legged creatures and the feminine energy that comes from Mother Earth. Mercy."
The other rather oxymoronic(sic) trait by Malkin is that, although she herself could be considered an anchor baby (parentage originated in the Philippines), she despises other ethnic groups: her book, In Defense of Internment: The Case for "Racial Profiling" in World War II and the War On Terror, re-envisions the Japanese Internment camp Manzanar as a voluntary, fun-filled resort. And given Malkin's propensity for torture, she too would love to see a latter-day Inquisition for anyone she does not consider "American" enough.
FISCHER'S TRAIL OF TEARS (AND INADVERTENT LAUGHTER)
The American Family Association has, for years, suffered after the onslaughts of Fischer's inane diatribes, but, since they seem to be a rather dimwitted lot, they have never attempted to remove him from his post as Chief Inquisitor. He was, of course, the sole personality responsible for the AFA being named a Hate Group by the SPLC. He has opined on the advantages of shooting bears (randomly, it seems) at Yosemite. He has mocked a man for his laxity in not paying a surtax, thus culminating in his house completely burning down while firefighters looked on and laughed. He has heartily given credence to Holocaust and Third Reich history revisionist Scott Lively. Yet he still remains and his wrists show no signs of being slapped.
How or why America takes this "convert or die" pundit seriously is actually a matter of grave concern for he really is the stuff of righteous assassination. But until this man falls into the oblivion that is self-righteousness, I suppose the only thing we can do (effectively) is to laugh at him: what surprisingly cruel, callous, bigoted thing will he say next? Will someone put together a compendium of his most ridiculous quotes? Will Tony Perkins crown him King of Right Wingnuts?
*After Constantine recognized a certain form of Christianity (not Arian Christianity), many Christians turned on their enemies (esp. the ones who would not convert) and placed them in concentration camps, and either burned their major temples, turned them into churches, or "converted" into brothels. (Sorry)
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