Search This Blog

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Escambia County (FL) Sheriff Morgan: 'Muslims are Nazis'

Introduction

In the wake of two Escambia County Sheriff's Office deputies firing 15 bullets at Mr. Roy Middleton in late July 2013, which created a national story, Sheriff Morgan delivered prepared remarks before the Rotary Club of Pensacola.  The Pensacola News Journal carried the Public Information Office's edited version of the Sheriff's remarks.

This heavily edited version generated one critical article article by Dahlia Lithwick in Slate.  After noting that the Sheriff had recited a number of brutal Black-on-white crimes, Lithwick wrote:  "They're just examples of vicious black-on-white crimes that presumably justify--what, exactly?  Police brutality?  Racial profiling?  More warrantless searches?  Morgan never exactly tells us what we are meant to conclude from all these allegedly neutral 'statistics,' but it's certainly implied:  The real racism in America is in fact directed at white people who are not allowed to defend themselves from being called racists whenever they act like racists."

But, his remarks were much, much worse.  Sheriff Morgan revealed himself to be a religious bigot.  This Street Report focuses on his slur against all Muslim-Americans living peaceful, tax-paying, lawful, lives.

Sheriff Morgan:  'Muslims are Nazis'

At the 3:45 mark of the uncut version that the Street Report came to possess, Sheriff Morgan, after recommending to his Rotary Club audience reading Winston Churchill's three-volume memoirs, Sheriff Morgan stated the following:

"And what you'll find striking, and I find striking by the way, is the policy of appeasement that we go through in an almost a cyclic mode through our communities and our societies.  An appeasement across the board.  We intend to appease crime; we intend to appease political opponents; we intend to appease those who have different religious beliefs than we do.  And the frightening thing about these volumes is this, if you changed NAZI to Muslim, you'll have a terrific eye opener..."

Here is the excerpted video:



Here is the full-length video:



Now, Sheriff Morgan's statement that we "appease crime" should be viewed in the context of him characterizing all young Black males in Escambia County as "Super Predators."

Michael E. Jennings, an Associate Professor and Associate Dean at the University of Texas at San Antonio, wrote an article, "Trayvon Martin and the Myth of the Superpredator" for the edited book, Trayvon Martin, Race, and American Justice.  Jennings noted that "logic tells us that African American males, like all dangerous predators, need to be hunted in an effort to ensure the maintenance and safety of a 'civilized society.'"

The logic in Escambia County appears to be not to investigate the murders of young Black males vigorously because it is simply a case of one "Super Predator" killing another "Super Predator."  That is the logic of the repeated finding from talking to mothers who are perplexed as to why the Sheriff's Office does very little to solve homicides of young Black males.

In terms of "appeasing political opponents," the nature of mature democracies is to compromise, to find common ground so that the two major political parties can advance, what the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution called "the general Welfare."

To state that we will not "appease those who have different religious beliefs than we do" is to step into the long history of religious bigotry from the colonial era through the modern era.  The main targets of fundamentalist Protestant and Ku Klux Klan violence have been Catholics and Jews.  It was Catholics and Jews, cooperating in tandem, that challenged Protestant supremacy in the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1950s and 1960s.

The Right-Wing Manufactures Hatred of Muslims

In February 2015, the Center for American Progess (CAP), produced a comprehensive report, Fear Inc. 2.0: The Islamophobia Networks to Manufacture Hate in America.  The report noted that "To be clear, the Islamophobia network that CAP identified in 2011 is not indicative of mainstream American views.  In fact, the views of anti-Muslim of anti-Muslim actors stand in stark contrast to the values of most Americans.  The findings of the 2011 report, as well as this report, should not be construed as a sign of widespread public antipathy toward the Muslim community in the United States, although concerns remain about the rise of anti-Muslim attitudes in the United States during the past few years.  Instead, these two reports reveal how a well-funded, well-organized fringe movement can push discriminatory policies against a segment of American society by intentionally spreading lies while taking advantage of moments of public anxiety and fear."

The report noted that one of the main proponents of Islamophobia and the anti-Shariah law effort was Frank Gaffney's Center for Security Policy.  What gives the Center for Security Policy additional heft and intricate links into the Christian Right is retired LTG Jeremy Boykin.  Right Wing Watch reported that Boykin and Gaffney were joint authors of a report, "Shariah: The Threat to America."  The report noted that Boykin had "deep ties" to New Apostolic Reformation 'prophet' Rick Joyner and his Oak Initiative.  Kyle Mantyla observed that it "makes sense that we'd eventually see a merging between the prophetic dominionism of Joyner with the anti-Islam advocacy of Gaffney."

Rachel Tabachnick, an expert on the New Apostolic Reformation, described the worldview of this religious movement operating within the Republican Party and the Christian Right.  She provided a simplified, easy to understand definition of dominionism, which is a "politicized theology in which believers must take control over society and government."  The reason these Christian dominionist must take control all institutions of society--commonly known as the Seven Mountains doctrine--is because all other members of society are not religiously or morally pure enough to participate.

Sheriff Morgan's statement that he will not "appease political opponents" and he will not "appease those who have different religious beliefs" is consistent with this Christian dominionist worldview.

The 2015 Center for American Progress reported that major proponents of anti-Muslim attitudes and disinformation about Islam are firmly rooted in the Christian Right: the Family Research Council, with retired LTG Boykin serving as an executive vice president; the American Family Association Action; Liberty Counsel and Liberty Counsel Action; Concerned Women for America; and, Christian Action Network.

Of particular importance in the 2015 CAP report is the chapter on "Islamophobia masquerading as law-enforcement counter-terrorism training."  The report noted:

"Virulent anti-Muslim messages are often embedded in law-enforcement training programs.  The Islamophobia network and individuals influenced by the network are advantage of federal funds available to police and law-enforcement agencies for training programs in counterterrorism techniques....After civil rights groups and the media exposed these anti-Muslim training activities, some local police agencies, and notably the FBI, have changed their practices.  However, unrepentant Islamophobes are still providing training to police and other law-enforcement agencies across the country.  The extent and continuation of these trainings--even after they have been revealed to be anti-Muslim--indicates the insidious power of even fringe actors in the national policy debate and underscores the need for constant vigilance and efforts to identify and root out Islamophobia from American civic life."

Concluding Observation

Sheriff Morgan's brief remark reveals a coherent, logical worldview rooted in or consistent with Christian dominionism.  It is only the interest of brevity that I merely skimmed the surface.  To actually understand the worldview of Christian dominionism in all aspects took writing six chapters of my first book, that is completed but not yet published.

In the Sheriff's worldview, all young Black males are "Super Predators."  He believes that all other political parties are illegitimate.  He believes that all other religions--aside from his own--are illegitimate.  And, he believes that all law-abiding, tax-paying, Muslim-Americans are "Nazis."

A racial bigot, a religious bigot, and Islamophobe is not suitable to represent all the residents of Escambia County as the Sheriff.  Clearly, he does not understand that his sworn constitutional duty is to provide equal treatment under the law.

It remains to be seen if this Sheriff will retain the confidence of the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners.






20 comments:

  1. You sir have an amazing skill of taking content consisting of a few words and turning into a rambling, all over the map, incoherent, and repeatative collection of crap I think I have read. I in know derived the same conclusions from that speech as you have nor has anyone else I know that also lives in Escambia County. Not to sound mean but dont publish your book. There is enough hate and discontent literature out there thats already taking up shelf space.

    ReplyDelete
  2. To the previous poster: Please proofread before criticizing other people's writing skills. Incomprehensible typos and spelling errors take away from your credibility. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. He is not criticizing his writing skills, he is criticizing his character which is sh**!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This sheriff vantage point is distorted but blacks amongst our selves were to air out our own issues we would say some of the same things about thug culture and the I mentality , but it stings more when it comes from someone from outside our culture who may speak on black issues without understanding and dismissing social inequalities of American culture. Race relations if we really want it has to start with candid dialogue with white folks in a safe environment where stigmas, fears, miss information can be confronted with the whole truth of a matter...or eles bothsides will be limited by avantage or disadvantage perspectives points...depending on your #viewpoint

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is how you feel because you are thinking wrong. All You, Or i should say. All I can do is try and understand why anyone besides myself would think they are right?.... ...No matter what.

      Delete
  5. Magnificent beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your site, how could i subscribe for a blog web site?
    The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had
    been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright
    clear idea

    my web-site - Paramotor hang gliding - Paramotor Equipment

    ReplyDelete
  6. Highly energetic blog, I loved that a lot. Will there be a
    part 2?

    Here is my blog post laptop disk data recovery

    ReplyDelete
  7. I just like the helpful information you supply on your
    articles. I'll bookmark your weblog and take a look at again here frequently.
    I am somewhat certain I'll learn plenty of new stuff right right here!

    Best of luck for the next!

    Here is my blog ... head gasket replacement cost

    ReplyDelete
  8. I was more than happy to uncover this website. I wanted to
    thank you for ones time for this particularly
    fantastic read!! I definitely enjoyed every bit of it and I have you bookmarked
    to check out new things in your website.

    Have a look at my weblog line Ranger hack

    ReplyDelete
  9. bookmarked!!, I love your blog!

    Feel free to visit my web page :: lasertest

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi, i think that i saw you visited my weblog thus
    i came to “return the favor”.I am attempting to find things to enhance my site!I suppose its ok to use some of your
    ideas!!

    Also visit my website - credit rating report (http://www.animesekai.ru)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Having resad this I thought it was rather enlightening.
    I appreciate you finding the time and energy to put this informativve article together.
    I once again find myself personally spdnding a significant amount of time both reading and commenting.
    Buut so what, it was still worthwhile!

    My page: Goalrilla Basketball Systems

    ReplyDelete
  12. Se emplean estos materiales para construir estructuras de ciertos edificios, ciertas testeras y para efectos singulares.


    Aqu� es mi Sitio web bershka online shop frankreich; www.posh-lane.com,

    ReplyDelete
  13. What's up everybody, here every one is sharing such knowledge, therefore it's nice to read this weblog, and I used to pay a quick visit this website all the time.


    my weblog :: ottawa seo services

    ReplyDelete
  14. My family always ѕay tɦat Ⅰ
    ɑm killing mу time here at web,
    ƅut Ι қnoԝ Ι am getting knowledge ᥱνery ⅾay bʏ readinbg thes nice articles.


    Feel free tⲟ visit mү blog post
    :: buy gardening online

    ReplyDelete
  15. Highly energetic blog, I enjoyed that bit.
    Will there be a part 2?

    my web site; review

    ReplyDelete
  16. I imply, these are individuals who suppose they WANT a gun to be safe, individuals who really feel that they're
    in mortal hazard each time they leave their home.



    Feel free to surf to my web-site; nerf gun ()

    ReplyDelete
  17. great post, very informative. I wonder why the other experts
    of this sector do not understand this. You must
    proceed your writing. I am confident, you have a huge readers' base already!


    My page ... penis enlargement faq

    ReplyDelete
  18. I am truly thankful to the holder of this web site who has
    shared this enormous post at at this place.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I have been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or
    blog posts on this sort of space . Exploring
    in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this site.
    Studying this information So i am satisfied to convey that I have an incredibly excellent uncanny feeling I came
    upon just what I needed. I such a lot for sure will make certain to do not omit this web site and provides it a look on a continuing
    basis.

    ReplyDelete