Jews- the 2% Solution

[IndianaGreen]

For those not familiar with the Indiana prayer issue, here is a Washington Post article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/31/AR2005123100723.html.

The whole thing blew up when one person offered the House's openening prayer, then led the whole legislative body in a rousing, with standing and clapping, rendition of "Just a Little Talk With Jesus," which many found rather less than non-denominational.

Last Tuesday, the Indianapolis JCRC’s Jewish Lobby Day was held. Around 40 Jews from around the State of Indiana came to Indianapolis to lobby our state senators and representatives on a number of issues.

The day ended with a private meeting with Speaker of the House Bosma meeting our group in the beautiful House chambers. We asked questions about full day kindergarten, about the clinics, and a young member of the delegation asked about providing sexuality education in public schools that is more than abstinence based. He responded to everything we asked. Sometimes we liked what he said and sometimes we didn’t. Speaker Bosma wondered why we hadn’t discussed the controversy surrounding the issue of prayer in House chambers. He told us his version of what happened and what he believes, and a passionate exchange took place. The end of this exchange left us, the Jewish delegation, in shock. Speaker Bosma, defending the prayer issue, asked, “How many Jews are there in Indiana? About 2%? There are at least 80% Christians in Indiana.” The implication of this statement was that our minority community doesn’t and shouldn’t have any say or any voice. It is about the majority and what the majority wants. The jaws of the delegation dropped to the floor. We were speechless. Everything we believed about this country had just been trampled. Gone was the belief of the constitutional protection of minorities. Gone was not feeling marginalized. Gone was the belief we were not strangers in this country. I am sure that Speaker Bosma is a fine man, but in that moment, for the first time in my life as a citizen of this country, I was scared. It is what I now call the 2% solution (and Jews are much less than 2% of this state) that if you are only 2% don’t even bother to speak up as the “Tyranny of the majority” will prevail.

I am sorry to bring such a depressing message as we prepare for Shabbat, but it needs to be said and addressed. I have been reminded about why we need to be vigilant. So I come to you on this Friday, February 17, 2006, to ask you to use this Shabbat to think about joining me and others at times to raise our voices. We might not agree on all the issues, but we agree that as Jewish residents of this State we should have a voice. 2% or less shouldn’t matter. It is not about the majority. It is about us.

As you light your Shabbat candles this evening, light one for this great nation that has allowed us to grow and prosper and worship as Jews without restrictions. Light the other as beacon to our elected officials who if they follow the light will understand that leadership comes with responsibility to all, to be inclusive of all, and to help those who need the most help.

Shabbat Shalom

http://thedailypulse.blogspot.com/2006/02/jews-2-solution.html

[coffeenap]

1. Shabbat Shalom. It has always been this way, just quieter.

:hug:

[SammyBlue]

2. Shabbat Shalom to you, fellow Landsman!

I am proud of my Judaism has led me through some of the hardest times of my life. My faith has kept my going!

We are a strong people. We have been marginalized, brutalized, beaten, murdered, disenfranchised and discriminated against by Christian majorities for Centuries. We have been the scapegoat, the whipping boy and the "cause of the problems" since the times of the Babylonians.

Lies about us (blood libels) and half truths about us (Shylock of Shakespeare), along with stereotypes about us have hurt us, but we are still here.

Keep up the fight! Take it to those backwards idiots in Indiana! Never Again allow us to be marginalized! NEVER AGAIN!!!

Lila Tov!

[bballny]

3. A O'reilly would sy

just shut up

[IndianaGreen]

4. Bosma Rapped Over Offensive Comments To Jewish Group At State House

Friday, February 17, 2006

Bosma Rapped Over Offensive Comments To Jewish Group At State House

House Speaker Brian Bosma stumbled badly when he spoke dismissingly of the concerns of Jewish voters over his zealous pursuit of the right to conduct Christian only prayers at the opening of business for the House of Representatives while addressing the Indianapolis Jewish Relations Committee at the State House according to an e-mail account of one of the attendees.

Defending Christian prayers in the House, Bosma shockingly asked the assembled Jewish group this jaw-dropping question: "How many Jews are there in Indiana? About 2%? There are at least 80% Christians in Indiana."

Oddly, noone in the group brought up the matter of the prayer issue, which is currently on appeal to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals after Judge David Hamilton ordered the House to refrain from conducting Christian only, sectarian prayers. Instead, Bosma raised the issue to the group on his own. The House's only Jewish member, Rep. David Orentlicher (R-Indianapolis), has been very vocal in his criticism of the way Speaker Bosma has handled the issue. He walked out of the House of Representatives last year when Speaker Bosma allowed a Christian minister to lead the House in singing a Christian song.

A hat tip to Masson's Blog for picking up on a post at the Daily Pulse reporting on the incident. The Daily Pulse, with the permission of the writer, posted an e-mail one of the attendees sent describing the disturbing encounter with Speaker Bosma, which can be found below.

This incident raises serious questions about Speaker Bosma's fitness to serve as Speaker for all of the people. He's already demonstrated his legislative zeal in making sure that gays and lesbians are treated in this state as second class citizens. Now others are rightfully wondering if their rights are safe as well.

http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2006/02/bosma-rapped-over-offensive-comments.html

[Capn Sunshine]

5. It's never far below the surface friends

Shabbat Shalom to us every one :hug:

[Doctor_J]

14. And yet this Orentlicher doofus contiunes to be a Repuke

is his picture in the dictionary next to "self-hating Jew"?

[radio4progressives]

6. Advocate for Separation of Church and State

meaning NO prayers in Congress or Schools.

Separation of Church and State -

worship as you please at home, in your synogogues, temples, mosques and so on ..

but not in public institutions.

Seperation of Church and State... must be returned or we will have religious STRIFE and CONFLICT in this country that will lead to unspeakable cruelties and other injustices, because of peoples faith that makes them so certain that only theirs is the true "chosen one".

[dubya_dubya_III]

13. National Republican Christian Socialists are Nazi's by a different name.

Since the Christian Coalition has become established as a mighty and controlling political lobby group our freedom of and from 'religious socialism' has become seriously challenged in every regard. In fact the tendency toward German Nazi Fascism has been irresistible for it's power hungry exploiters. As a direct result we now see a complimentary hatred, intolerance, and arrogant self interest in Jewish and Islamic societies. True democaracy only exists in the environment of Liberty, for without respecting each others freedom from offence and persecution we respect no ones freedom.

The threat that exists within every mighty socialist organization embodying a dogmatic set of notions in this world lies in the religious fervor and intolerance with which, once established politically and militarily, and fanatically convinced of its own right, it intolerantly imposes its now-fascist will against all others.

The philosophy of Liberalism alone is inherently free of this subversive tendency towards the tyranny of established dogmatic conservative fascism.

The first amendement specifically addresses the issue of 'established' religion without covering the 'generic' appeal of the 'Christian loophole'. Simply because 'Christian' is not in and of itself a single religion makes no difference, politicians are exploiting an established 'family' of religious dogmatism against or in spite of others which in practise is far worse.

Hitler used the same most extremely fundamentalist 'Christian' campaign plank to cash in on the same phenomenon, it was enough to generate a vociferous mob coalition, even in the face of an established Catholic Party to amass himself votes in Germany. 'Establishment' was not prohibited in any way under the weak constitution of the Wiemar Republic.


On the other hand, 'prohibiting the free exercise thereof' also means what it says so even if Hare Krishnas want to pray in public for rain you just gotta let it go. Yet, in the conduct of a public environment within a public institution equal opportunity for expression must be accepted.

[Eric J in MN]

7. Unless they're giving equal time to Atheists asking people

to bow their heads and contemplate being under No-God, I consider this unconstitutional.

[tenshi816]

11. Absolutely.

They should also give time to Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Zoroastrians and Pastafarians (Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster) and any other sect that wants in. Fair's fair. If Christians get to lead prayers in public institutions, then other religions, as well as atheists, should get equal time.

In fact, it seems to me that if more non-Christian groups started aggressively demanding high-profile equal time for observances of their own faith in schools and the political arena, I'm betting there would be a lot of fundies backtracking on their current stance in these matters. Well, that, or having to confront their own hypocrisy - I can hear it now: "When we said their should be no separation of church and state, we weren't talking about you non-Christians."

[Lexingtonian]

8. That's degenerate stuff

on purely Christian terms. Utterly medieval absolutism. And sadly- painfully- familiar exclusion to Jews.

Fortunately a decent chunk of the country is not like that. These are the throes of a dying older version of America, I like to think, and its end can't come soon enough.

[IndianaGreen]

9. Bosma found allies among African-American churches

He first got their support when he pushed for anti-LGBT legislation. A group of Black pastors came to the Statehouse shouting their Hallelujahs and condemning gays as an abomination.

Once Bosma got everyone on the same sheet of music regarding gays, he instigated the "prayer" incident during the opening of the House daily session.

[dhonig]

10. Bosma has an opponent

http://www.indianademclub.org/blog/2006/02/08/indiana-politics/165/

I'll follow-up with contact info once I have it.

[newyawker99]

16. Hi dhonig!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[dhonig]

12. Great job everybody- Bosma Apologizes

UPDATE- Tonight Brian Bosma apologized, saying

that he values his ties to the Jewish community "and that they are very valued citizens and that anything that had said to cause them to think anything differently that I sincerely apologized for that and he accepted that."

Go here= http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4526789 for the video.

The coolest part- it was the blogs that drove it, causing Bosma to respond, to call a meeting with the Jewish community, and to issue the apology. Apparently, all your emails made a big impression (I don't think he liked the cartoon much, either). It's below the bump. Both The Daily Pulse and the cartoon are on the video. is that cool or what?!

and now the cartoon:

[Doctor_J]

15. i am sorry -wink,wink

anyone who believes he's really sorry let me tell you about a bridge I am trying to sell.

[dhonig]

17. Bosma's Challenger

People responded to this story, and they responded in droves. Apparently, the e-mail was so overwhelming that Bosma felt he had to respond, and yesterday he apologized to the Jewish Community in a personal meeting with leaders, and on the 6 O'Clock news.

Well, lots of people asked if he was being challenged, and how to help. I'm thrilled to announce that he is being challenged, and by the President of the Hamilton County Democrats, Susan Fuldauer. She just announced this weekend and is still getting her website off the ground. If you want to help, here's some information:

Contributions can be made to the following:
Committee to Elect Susan Fuldauer, 6284 Rucker Rd., Suite A, Indpls., IN 46220

<a href="http://www.votesusan.com">Vote Susan</a> should be up and running and have some additional methods for contribution working by next week.

[IndianaGreen]

18. Thanks for the info, dhonig!

Bosma is one of these people trying to Christianize America on the backs of the LGBT, Jewish, and "unapproved" religious community.