Ill. (Republican) lawmaker apologizes for (Islam) 'savage religion' comment

[sabra]

Source: Chicago Trib

Rep. Don Manzullo, who opposes the idea of moving terrorism suspects to Thomson Correctional Center in his northern Illinois district, issued a qualified apology today after a comment that critics viewed as insulting to Islam.

In an interview with television station WREX in Rockford that was aired Monday, the Illinois Republican said of terrorism suspects: "These are really, really mean people whose job it is to kill people, driven by some savage religion."

An aide said Tuesday that Manzullo received about 20 complaints about the remark.

In a statement, Manzullo said he was not referring generally to Islam, but to terrorists who "believe and practice a violent, anti-modernity version of Wahhabism in which they seek to impose a new caliphate, similar to the extent of the Ottoman Empire during the Middle Ages, and sharia law stretching from Indonesia to Europe."

He said Islam is a "religion of peace" and that the vast majority of its adherents are "men and women of good will."

Read more: http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/11/ill-lawmaker-apologizes-for-savage-religion-comment.html

[tanyev]

1. "really, really mean people whose job it is to kill people, driven by some savage religion"

Don't forget this guy:



Tomás de Torquemada, O.P. (1420 – September 16, 1498) was a fifteenth century Spanish Dominican friar, first Inquisitor General of Spain, and confessor to Isabella I of Castile. He was famously described by the Spanish chronicler Sebastián de Olmedo as "The hammer of heretics, the light of Spain, the saviour of his country, the honour of his order". He is known for his zealous campaign against the crypto-Jews and crypto-Muslims of Spain. He was one of the chief supporters of the Alhambra Decree, which expelled the Jews from Spain in 1492. The number of autos-de-fé during Torquemada's tenure as Inquisitor General have been hotly debated over the years. Today, there is a general consensus that about 2000 people were burned by the Inquisition in the whole of Spain between 1480 and 1530<1>, while Torquemada was Grand Inquisitor from 1483 until his death in 1498.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom%C3%A1s_de_Torquemada

[madrchsod]

2. we have a legend in this part of the state that is appropriate.

there was a great snow storm that covered the country so deep that the buffalo turned their heads for one last look and were never to return.

we once had a republican named john anderson who like the buffalo,turned his head and walked away.

now we have republicans like manzullo.

[murielm99]

3. I'm glad my dumbass congressman is getting the exposure

he deserves. Usually, no one pays attention to him. He is too insignificant to matter.

Maybe a few more people in my district will see what an ass he is and vote for the Democrat running against him, George Gaulrapp.