Today I read that Sen. Allen has confirmed his Jewish heritage. Of course, I question how long he has known this, but let me just take his word for it: he recently found out.
I have to admit that when Ms. Fox posed the question at yesterdayGÇÖs Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce debate, I was stunned. However, I was completely shocked by the SenatorGÇÖs reaction. If I were asked the same question in a debate, I would ask George Stephanopoulos to allow me fifteen minutes to explain.
I would explain that my grandparents on my fatherGÇÖs side were Jewish and Roman Catholic. As a matter of fact, I would tell the voters that grandma was banned from the Catholic Church in Suriname when she married grandpa. So she raised my father and his eight siblings in the Dutch Reformed Church, while grandpa practiced his Jewish faith. I would explain what the Dutch Reformed Church was, and give the audience some history of colonial times in South America. I would mention my two aunts who converted to Judaism after my grandfatherGÇÖs death. I would state that descendants of African slaves still practice Winti, an Afro-Surinamese religion.
I would explain that on my motherGÇÖs side, my grandmother was Indonesian, and therefore a Muslim. Islam is still the predominant religion in that country. My grandfather was Dutch and Protestant, and my mother was raised Roman Catholic.
I would also explain that I am a mixture of different races: Chinese, Indonesian, African and European, and that my ancestors include both slaves and slave owners. Further, I would summarize how I was exposed to East Indian, Chinese, Indonesian, African, Middle Eastern, and European cultures, and that we celebrated a number of cultural and religious holidays, including Christmas, Holi-Phagwa, Id-Ul-Fitr, Yom Kippur, and Emancipation Day.
Finally, I would tell the audience that I learned to speak six different languages.
And I would ask GÇ£How can I not be proud of my heritage?" Maybe I would get some applause... and votes!
Holi-Phagwa looks like lots of fun...
We can no longer let his lies pass.
Fanning the flames is a good way to get burned, so I say stand back on this one. It looks like Allen is taking himself down.
And yet, Felix talks about football like he was a legend.
You can follow the election results here
And learn more about Deval here; watch the meet Deval Video
What languages do you speak?
KD
ik spreeken neederlands... een beetje... mijn vader geboren amsterdam... mijn tante en oom geleefd in surinam in de jaren 1984-1986 met Shell... goede avond...
Kevin
Anyway, we should probably take this Dutch stuff offline!
As I've stated several times on this blog, I decided to write on this blog because it was clear to me George Allen played on people's religious and racial fears, just as he's now trying to make political hay over being some sort of (Wadham-created) martyr because Peggy Fox asked him a personal question that he could have politely declined or, instead, done as Ingrid suggested and expressed prise in his heritage. Actually, his ethnic background is the only interesting thing about the guy. He's never done anything but be a career politician. I have two adopted children of Asian origin, and my introduction to Fairfax County politics was the notorious Chris Craddock. If he had won, my wife and I seriously were considering moving to Maryland. We did not want to raise our kids in a suburb that would vote for hatred and intolerance. Allen, as I recall, endorsed Craddock -- birds of a feather.
Remember, the current GOP is the party of Trent Lott. Of Bob Marshall. Of a man like George Allen who reportedly said:
"During a speech at Glenmore Country Club, then Governor George Allen mocked single mothers receiving welfare and implied that single mothers on welfare are promiscuous. He said, "Well, you know, when you come to ask for support for yourself and your child or children, we want to know who the father is... Oh gosh, how's she ever gonna figure that out? That's going to be too tough. Just give us a couple, three names. You know, there is DNA testing. We'll find him." (Richmond Free Press, July 25, 1995)http://www.pjvoice.c...
As for Mr. Allen's quarterbacking skills, perhaps he might seek a career with the current Redskins, who need all the help they can get. I know what you're thinking, but Allen is more qualified to be the Redskins QB than he is to be this diverse commonwealth's senator.
Via this query : http://c-span.org/Se...
Fairfax:
rtsp://video.c-span.org/archive/c06/debates/c06_091806_virginia.rm
Meet The Press :
rtsp://video.c-span.org/archive/c06/c06_091706_meetthepress.rm
Cut and paste line beginning with "rtsp:" into File/Open/Location dialog in Realplayer.
Here is what the CofCC has to say about non - Christians.
1) We believe the United States is a Christian country.
We believe that the United States of America is a Christian country, that its people are a Christian people, and that its government and public leaders at all levels must reflect Christian beliefs and values.