I'm not a Mormon. Indeed, I've made any number of criticisms of Mormon theology and the flawed historical claims of the LDS Church. But never would I argue that Mormons, as a whole, are anything less than exemplary Americans (indeed, as a rule they are exemplary human beings).

On the other hand, Hollywood luminary Tom Hanks recently did exactly that -- based upon the overwhelming support for traditional marriage by Mormons during the election contest over California's Proposition 8.

Now he has apologized -- while not apologizing at all.

Here's his statement.

Last week, I labeled members of the Mormon church who supported California's Proposition 8 as "un-American." I believe Proposition 8 is counter to the promise of our Constitution; it is codified discrimination. But everyone has a right to vote their conscience — nothing could be more American. To say members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who contributed to Proposition 8 are "un-American" creates more division when the time calls for respectful disagreement. No one should use "un- American" lightly or in haste. I did. I should not have.

Sincerely,

Tom Hanks

Let's break that down.

Last week, I labeled members of the Mormon church who supported California's Proposition 8 as "un-American."

Yes, you did -- and in the process singled out members of a relatively small religion as the guilty parties in the passing of that amendment to the California Constitution. You know, sort of like Hitler blamed the Jews for Germany's defeat in the First World War.

I believe Proposition 8 is counter to the promise of our Constitution; it is codified discrimination.

Interestingly enough, the overwhelming majority of Americans and courts appear to disagree with you, Tom. Not that the fact you are in such a small minority makes you un-American or anything -- merely out of step with the American people like most of your Hollywood liberal clique.

But everyone has a right to vote their conscience — nothing could be more American.

Thank you, Tom Hanks, for acknowledging that the exercise of a fundamental right under our system of government is not un-American.

To say members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who contributed to Proposition 8 are "un-American" creates more division when the time calls for respectful disagreement.

Yeah, it does create more division -- and it is also indicative of the degree of contempt you really have for Mormons, the same contempt you show by making the television series Big Love, with its distorted view of the LDS faithful.

No one should use "un- American" lightly or in haste. I did.

Sorry, Tom, I don't think you are being honest here. Your words seemed to be a rather deliberate, intentional shot at "those people".

I should not have.

You are correct -- you should not have.

Sincerely,

Tom Hanks

Sincerely? I don't think so. After all, your "apology" fails to actually apologize for having defamed our fellow citizens of the LDS faith. You don't say that your statement was incorrect, false, and defamatory -- you merely say that now was not the time for people to cast such aspersions. At no time do you actually say that you were incorrect when you made that statement, and express regret for stirring defaming the many fine Americans who are Mormons.

So friends, don't be fooled by reports that Tom Hanks has apologized to Mormons -- because the only apology offered is for the words he chose, not the essential meaning of those words.

H/T Ace, Jawa Report, Hot Air, Don Surber

Posted by: Greg at 04:45 PM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
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No, not Islam – even though we have been under terrorist assault by Muslims for years.

No, Tom Hanks has declared that Mormons are un-American – for daring to oppose gay marriage.

Tom Hanks, Executive Producer for HBO’s controversial polygamist series “Big Love,” made his feelings toward the Mormon Church’s involvement in California's Prop 8 (which prohibits gay marriage) very clear at the show’s premiere party on Wednesday night.

“The truth is this takes place in Utah, the truth is these people are some bizarre offshoot of the Mormon Church, and the truth is a lot of Mormons gave a lot of money to the church to make Prop-8 happen,” he told Tarts. “There are a lot of people who feel that is un-American, and I am one of them.

So let’s make this really clear – Tom Hanks (and many of his Hollywood buddies) believe that participation in the democratic process by members of the LDS Church is un-American. On the other hand, he would be among the first to accuse those who question the loyalty and patriotism of members of America’s Muslim community of profiling and engaging in religious bigotry, despite the fact that there have been multiple terrorism convictions of American Muslims.

And of course, Tom Hanks would have been one of those who reacted in outrage to even the mildest questions about the loyalty of those who failed to embrace AmericaÂ’s defensive war against the jihadi swine who have repeatedly indicated their desire to destroy this nation. But now he denigrates the Americanism of one of those with whom he disagrees on a question of public policy and engage in legal, constitutionally protected activities to further their policy goals. Dare I suggest that HanksÂ’ position on the matter is the epitome of unAmericanism?

Interestingly enough, by the way, Hanks (and many of his fellow travelers on the gay marriage issue) is quick to blame a religious minority that accounts for no more than 2% of the population of California for the passage of Prop 8. Could it be that he realizes that an attack upon the Catholic Church and the many black churches that actively supported Prop 8 would do grave harm to his career, while an attack upon Mormonism would do him no harm and might even increase the revenues he makes on his religiously bigoted anti-Mormon television series, Big Love?

Posted by: Greg at 01:44 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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After all, this bus ad by a Muslim group engages in an explicit act of blasphemy against both Judaism and Christianity. Yet unlike the sort of weÂ’ve seen when someone dares speak less than deferentially about Islam or Muhammad, this is the most outrage shown by folks who object to Muslim blasphemy against these two great faiths.

There's a new front in the conflict between Jew and Muslim: Broward County buses.

Fifty of the county's 290-bus fleet have been chugging around area streets for the past several weeks with a message that might seem more oblique than inflammatory. Black letters on a white backdrop proclaim, "ISLAM: The Way of Life of Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad."

The $60,000 ad was paid for by the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

"We owe it to our fellow Americans to let them know that Islam stands for peace," said Altaf Ali, director of CAIR's South Florida chapter. "Muslims are here and Muslims are part and parcel of the United States."

Well, weÂ’ll set aside the fact that Altaf Ali, spokesman for the terrorist front group sponsoring the ad, is lying about the nature of Islam. WeÂ’ve seen enough of what Islam really stands for over the last couple of decades to know precisely how false his statement is.

But more to the point, Jesus was not a Muslim. Neither was Moses. And as for Abraham, the closest that Muslims can get to making their claim about him is that the Bible does indicate that he was the father of Ishmael – of whom it is written in Genesis that his hand would be raised against every man, a tradition which the spiritual descendants of Ishmael continue to this day with their acts of terror. And given that the Quran repeatedly contradicts the teachings of both the Old and New Testaments, it becomes impossible for any Christian or Jew who gives the matter serious consideration to accept the notion that the faith which grows from Muhammad’s book is truly kindred to ours.

But be that as it may, there is a bigger question. Broward County officials claim that the ad “didn't violate guidelines against ads that demean religions”. Really? I wonder, then – would Broward County allow for ads which Muslims found blasphemous, or would county officials determine that the offense taken by Muslims was sufficient to merit shutting down such a message? Maybe someone should consider trying to place an ad containing one of the Danish Muhammad cartoons on the buses to see exactly how open that open forum really is.

Posted by: Greg at 03:17 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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When any sort of vandalism occurs at or near a mosque, it is major news indicative of "Islamophobia". But where is the outcry over this assault on a synagogue?

A Molotov cocktail thrown early today against the wall of one of Chicago's oldest synagogues caused minimal physical damage but worried local Jewish officials, who said the incident could be a response to the latest fighting in the Middle East.

"I can't help but think there's a relationship," said Roger Rudich, president of Temple Sholom of Chicago, 3480 N. Lake Shore Drive.
No one was hurt in the arson that police are investigating as a hate crime. Bomb and arson detectives were at the scene Monday afternoon and the investigation was ongoing, said Chicago police officer Daniel O'Brien.

O'Brien said the fire "extinguished itself, nothing ever caught fire." No suspect was in custody as of Monday afternoon, he said.

"The offender drove off and made a derogatory statement" to a witness, and police were working to obtain and review surveillance equipment in the area, said O'Brien.

How has the media responded? With fewer than 40 news reports nationwide -- and most of the reports local ones.

I guess anti-Semitism is no longer high on the priority list for the media -- or maybe they just think the Jews are getting what they have coming to them, and that hate only counts as hate if it involves the "right" victims.

H/T Debbie Schlussel

Posted by: Greg at 04:58 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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