Critic Of Native American Prayer In Trouble With His Law Firm

[kpete]

Source: Talking Points Memo

Critic Of Native American Prayer
In Trouble With His Law Firm

Meggesto wrote that he was "shocked, appalled and embarrassed" by Mirengoff's post, and called it an "insensitive and wholly inappropriate criticism." He continued that "as soon as I and the firm became aware of this posting, the firm took immediate action to deal firmly with this unfortunate situation."

Bruce McLean, chairman of the firm, also issued a statement:

*****We sincerely apologize for the blog entry posted by Akin Gump partner Paul Mirengoff on his personal blog, powerlineblog.com. Akin Gump is neither affiliated with, nor a supporter of, the blog. We found his remarks to be insensitive and wholly inconsistent with Akin Gump's values. Mr. Mirengoff regrets his poor choice of words and agreed to remove his post.

Debra Cassens Weiss of the ABA Journal reports that Akin Gump spokeswoman Kathryn Holmes Johnson said the firm is now reviewing its social media policy.

Read more: http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/critic_of_tucson_memorial_native_american_prayer_i.php?ref=fpa

---

Here's what Mirengoff wrote, via MediaMatters:
http://mediamatters.org/research/201101130011

As for the "ugly," I'm afraid I must cite the opening "prayer" by Native American Carlos Gonzales. It was apparently was some sort of Yaqui Indian tribal thing, with lots of references to "the creator" but no mention of God. Several of the victims were, as I understand it, quite religious in that quaint Christian kind of way (none, to my knowledge, was a Yaqui). They (and their families) likely would have appreciated a prayer more closely aligned with their religious beliefs.

But it wasn't just Gonzales's prayer that was "ugly" under the circumstances. Before he ever got to the prayer, Gonzales provided us with a mini-biography of himself and his family and made several references to Mexico, the country from which (he informed us) his family came to Arizona in the mid-19th century. I'm not sure why Gonzales felt that Mexico needed to intrude into this service, but I have an idea.

In any event, the invocation could have used more God, less Mexico, and less Carlos Gonzales.

[xchrom]

1. they were right to do so -- and perhaps they think about parting company with

mr mirengoff.

[roguevalley]

2. what a complete coward this man is. Everything that Gonzales

said was beautiful and appropriate. what an intruder, what an outsider, what a senseless uninformed imbecile this man is. He doesn't have a clue about the region, about the appropriateness of what gonzales did and said and how God can come in a zillion ways to a zillion people. Obviously this man is worshiping a false god, himself.

Judge not lest ye also be judged, fucker.

[catbyte]

3. And people wonder why only 4% of Native Americans identify as

Christian. Answer: intolerant douchebags like this guy. Well, that and 500 years of religious oppression...:)

Diane
Anishnabe in MI

[molly77]

7. According to our founding fathers

the christian god liked killing Indians. Don't think it was spreading democracy back then.Don't know what their propaganda was.

[Kolesar]

4. Before Mexicans came to America, America came to Mexico

IIRC, American artillery shelled Mexico City until they ceded Texas, California, and everything in between.

Americans knew there was gold in California even before the huge "strike" at Sutter's Mill.

[No Elephants]

5. "that quaint Christian kind of way" That's weird, too. What a clod.

[Iggo]

6. Wow!

I'm glad somebody at his law firm felt the same way I did after reading that.

[RT Atlanta]

8. self delete

n/t

[livetohike]

9. Proof that you can receive an advanced degree and

still be ignorant. No listening skills either, for an attorney, that's pretty bad.

[Judi Lynn]

10. Hope his trouble from this hate-filled attack is just beginning.

Clearly he has no respect for choices made by his law firm, either. From the article:

Mirengoff was one of the many right-wing pundits to question Gonzales' inclusion in the ceremony. But here's the twist: Mirengoff is a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, a law firm with an American Indian Law and Policy department.

Mirengoff himself is in the Labor and Employment practice, but his fellow partner, James Meggesto, wrote a response to the original post, describing himself "as an enrolled member of the Onondaga Nation; as an attorney who has dedicated his life and law practice to the representation of Indian tribes, tribal organizations and tribal interests; and as a partner in the American Indian law and policy practice at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP."

http://1.bp.blogspot.com.nyud.net:8090/_oTwEGiup_Wo/Rv1K9FNl6GI/AAAAAAAABDY/cXtxIm1m6hE/s320/paul_mirengoffpl.jpg