Religious attacks have no place in the SD Blogosphere.
I was reading the Democratic website Badlands Blue this morning, and was frankly kind of surprised by the tenor of the blog post they put up today.
The way I read it, it certainly seems as if they were attacking Secretary of State Chris Nelson for attending the lighting of the menorah at the state capitol, and for wearing a yarmulke at the ceremony as a sign of respect:
Snagged this pic from David Montgomery’s blog on the Pierre Capital Journal website. It’s a photo of the formerly moustached and current Teabagger panderer Chris Nelson at the menorah “lighting” ceremony at the State Capitol..
and..
Anyway, here’s a shot I nabbed of Nelson wearing a yarmulke, the Jewish skullcap donned even by non-Jews at Jewish ceremonies as a sign of respect. (- this commentary was from the source article – pp)
No point here, other than admiring the odd transformations of our once sensible, quiet, invisible Secretary of State. I mean, the photo’s priceless.
I guess I’m not getting it. The photo is supposedly “priceless” because Chris was in attendance, and is showing a common form of respect for non-Hebrews in Jewish ceremonies. Why is a show of respect an “odd” transformation?
Would they do the same thing if he was pictured accepting communion? No. Or at least, “I’d hope not.”
If a Democratic website feels they need to mock a Republican candidate in this manner, then I think they’re showing a bit of desperation. Or at the least, a severe lapse in judgment. In South Dakota, respect for and freedom of religion ranks pretty high in our value set. When it becomes fodder for Internet venom, then there’s something wrong.
This is a pretty shameful commentary on this website’s part. If they have any honor, the author needs to offer a retraction, and they need to offer an apology to Chris and the sponsors of the event.
Update – Check out the latest from the Cap Journal Blog. Chris Nelson was there last year too.
Another Update - Check out what another Democratic Blog (Middle Border Sun) had to say about it.
However, the Badlands Blue posting shows a lack of sensitivity and understanding of Judaism and its traditions. I don’t know why Chris Nelson was at the ceremony. But I’m guessing it wasn’t just politics but a sincere wish to show respect to his colleagues’ religion and Hanukkah holiday.
And yet another update, this time from Dakota Voice:
After all, the liberal extremists at Badlands Blue despise anyone who takes religious faith seriously and shows respect for it–even when it’s a Christian showing respect for a Jewish menorah ceremony at the state capital. (They know that their government-god is a jealous god)
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
Just demonstrating their classlessness and why they will never be taken as a serious political blog.
While I agree PP, it is a non issue, I am confused by this statement;
“respect for and freedom of religion ranks pretty high in our value set.”
Don’t you mean intolerance of non-Christians?
(No. That’s an assumption of yours. -PP)
I am sure Jim would be upset by this shameful commentary. He will run a clean campaign against John Thune. He will debate the issues.
Disgusting. I’ll bet if people looked hard enough pictures of Obama, Biden, Clinton, Carter, Bush, Reagan, McGovern, Abdnor, Thune and just about everyone else wearing a yarmulke.
I read the post and fail to see where the religious intolerance is.
(Then open your eyes. It was clearly intended to criticize him for participation in the event. -PP)
I don’t see how those things stay on. I could use one for my bald spot though. Do they have gray ones?
Well, I see it as a pretty pointless post.
If you are sense-of-irony-challenged, you’re going to read it as an anti-Semitic attack.
If you look at it long enough (and who has the time these days?), you might see it is as a not-so-sly attempt to pin a “This-whole-Chanukah-thing-didn’t-matter until-he-announced-for-office.”
Either way…stupid.
Unless Bleu is trying to court the black helicopter/LaRouchie crowd these days.
It would have been better to take a long holiday.
We lack context on this. We can assume that the “priceless” comment was some sort of anti-Semetic attack, but we don’t actually know what they meant by that comment.
I definately agree with PP that religious attacks are always uncalled for. And it’s always distasteful whether it’s from the Left or the Right. I think it can be okay to criticize something you dislike about another religion, but there’s a line you shouldn’t cross that gets into intollerance.
http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2009/12/herseth-sandlins-standing.html
They are nervous, SHS only leading Nelson by 7 points in a dem poll today and he is still totally unknown to 60% of SD voters.
She may be toast in a match-up with Nelson
Maybe they should ask Democrat PUC Commissioner Steve Kolbeck about the service. He was there as well.
The derision of Nelson is bad, and the mention of “Teabaggers” in reference to the TEA Party Patriots is equally so.
Maybe instead of calling themselves “Badlands Blue” they need to change their name to “Prussian Blue.”
Badlands Blue must have been trained by CCK. Equally disgusting and nasty. Must have been a star pupil actually! I don’t believe that all Dems agree with this post, and I would hope that they would also speak out against the obvious bigotry, hatred, etc.
I will cast a skeptical eye on folks who suddenly scramble on their high horses decrying religious intolerance.
Those same folks are often intolerant of islamic faith.
Now we know for sure why it is BADland Blues. Shameful! I am with you Pat they should apologize.