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Rep.: Get Counseling or Diversity Training
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Progressive Portal
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Dec 20, 2006 16:45 PST
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JOIN US IN OFFERING TO HELP REP. VIRGIL GOODE GET THERAPY
OR DIVERSITY TRAINING AFTER ANTI-MUSLIM E-MAIL OUTBURST
[From ProgressivePortal.org>]
Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA) is writing to constituents that, after
Rep.-elect Keith Ellison used the Koran at his ceremonial swearing-in,
"many more Muslims" will be elected unless Goode's immigration policies
are adopted.
Rep-elect Ellison, who converted to Islam in college, is not an
immigrant. He was born in Detroit, MI.
Goode wrote in responses to constituent messages, "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 Koran."
He added, "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."
In a letter to Rep. Goode, ProgressivePortal.org said, " It is quite
obvious that you are struggling with deep-seated fears that are impeding
your ability to think clearly and act reasonably." We offered to pay up
to $100 toward the cost of mental-health therapy or diversity training
for the member of Congress, whichever he feels would be more beneficial
to him.
We are asking ProgressivePortal.org users to do likewise, as an
experiment in rejecting the racism without rejecting the person
expressing it. If you decide to participate, please let us know
<http://www.progressiveportal.org/feedback>, so we can tabulate the
number of participants and alert the media.
Whether you like our approach or not, we do encourage you to write to
Rep. Goode to express your views about his fearmongering messages to
constituents.
Take Action
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1. Write to Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA) regarding his anti-Islamic messages
(see sample letter below:
Hon. Virgil Goode
c/o Jerr Rosenbaum, Chief of Staff
U.S. House of Representatives
1520 Longworth Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202)225-4711
Fax: (202)225-5681
2. Please advise ProgressivePortal.org that you've done so, so we can
compile statistics and generate media coverage. Be sure to let us know
whether you've included an offer to pay for Rep. Goode's therapy or
diversity training.
http://www.progressiveportal.org/feedback
More Information
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CBS News story covering Rep. Goode's anti-Muslim messages:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/12/20/politics/main2284811.shtml
Council on American-Islamic Relations calls for apology:
http://www.cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=2466&theType=NR
Article including text of Goode's anti-Islamic message:
http://www.c-ville.com/index.php?cat=141404064431134&ShowArticle_ID=11041812060944420
Letter sent by ProgressivePortal.org to Rep. Goode:
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Rep. Virgil Goode
c/o Jerr Rosenbaum, Chief of Staff
1520 Longworth Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Rep. Goode:
After having read your comments about how immigration means more Muslims
will be elected to Congress and take the Oath of Office on the Koran,
and learning that the Representative about whom you wrote is not an
immigrant (he's a native of Detroit), it is quite obvious that you are
struggling with deep-seated fears that are impeding your ability to
think clearly and act reasonably. Obviously, this isn't good for you or
for the country.
I am writing to offer to pay on your behalf up to $100 toward the cost
of either mental health therapy or diversity training, whichever you
conclude would be of most benefit to you. We are encouraging others to
match this offer.
The payment would be issued directly to the agency or individual
offering the therapy or training. When you are ready, please let me know
where I should send the payment and to whom it should be payable.
We wish you all the best in your recovery, and hope you have a healthy
and positive new year.
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