June 2, 2015 5:35 AM

Bigotry and hatred never goes out of style. Today it's called "patriotism."

THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD

(apologies to Keith Olbermann)

Jon Ritzheimer

PHOENIX —About 250 mostly armed anti-Muslim demonstrators — many wearing T-shirts bearing a profanity-laced message denouncing Islam — faced-off against a crowd of roughly the same size defending the faith in front of a Phoenix mosque Friday night. Demonstrators yelled and taunted one another across a line of police separating the two sides but violence did not break out. Jon Ritzheimer, the organizer of the protest, called it a patriotic sign of resistance against what he deemed the tyranny of Islam in America…. “I would love to see more of these events pop up in other states,” Ritzheimer said. “I want fellow patriots standing right here next to me. This isn’t about me. Everybody’s been thinking it, I’m just saying it.”

If your religion allows to to engage of open displays of hostility and racism, if it allows you to denounce the religion of others because “patriotism”…not only do you have no religion, you suck at life. Your “religion” is little more than an artificial self-created construct which allows you to feel righteous and holy. You butcher and grossly misinterpret the teachings of your faith, which undoubtedly were originally about love, tolerance, acceptance, and inclusion.

A reasonable person could be forgiven for thinking that over the past 14 years we might have figured out that Islam wasn’t responsible for 9/11. We might have finally come to see that Muslims aren’t the problem. Sure, there are those who use a bastardized and perverted version of Islam to justify terrorism, violence, and murder…just as there are Christians who do the very same thing.

The anti-Muslim protest in Phoenix is about as ugly and un-American as it gets. It represents the triumph of hatred, racism, and religious bigotry writ large. Ritzheimer’s description of the protest as “a patriotic sign of resistance against what he deemed the tyranny of Islam in America” is a stunning amalgamation of ignorant, racist bullshit. That he’s proud of himself and the protest says everything you need to know about his self-serving, hateful world view, one that has little basis in reality…but since when have haters ever cared about the truth? When your soul has been thoroughly corroded by hatred and fear of The Other, reason and truth have long since left the building.

If you can parade in front of a mosque carrying an AR-15 while wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the slogan, “F-CK ISLAM,” you really do suck at life.

Usama Shami, president of the Islamic center, said he was not surprised by the event.

“This is not new. Hatred, bigotry, racism — that’s old. It’s the same thing,” he said. “No different from Nazis or neo-Nazis. They don’t believe society should be multicultural or multiethnic. They think everyone should believe like them, I guess.”

As you might expect of a moral midget like Ritzheimer, he’s claiming that HE is the victim. When he began receiving a backlash against his activities, he had all the proof he need of the “tyranny of Islam.” I suppose that’s what happens when you demand rights for yourself that you refuse to allow anyone not like you. Odd that I don’t recall reading anywhere that the 1st Amendment applied only to Christians with white skin, don’tchathink??

If you’re going to spread hatred, religious bigotry, and divisiveness, you can’t claim to be surprised with those you demonize push back. Nor do you get to claim that such a reaction is proof of Islam’s intent to destroy good, God-fearing, White Christian patriots…not when your intent is to destroy Islam. Freedom isn’t something that belongs only to those with white skin and who worship (their twisted version of) Jesus. The Constitution applies equally to ALL Americans, regardless of skin color or the flavor of God they happen to worship.

Ritzheimer is, of course, free to express himself as he chooses; that’s his right under the 1st Amendment. That he’s demanding the same free speech rights he would deny to Muslims only proves his hypocrisy. As for his contention that “Everybody’s been thinking it, I’m just saying it,” no one- especially Jon Ritzenheimer- gets to speak for me. “Everybody” isn’t thinking it, and in fact the vast majority of Americans are tolerant and willing to accept those whose religion and/or skin color may be different from the majority. Ritzheimer doesn’t get to speak for the majority of Americans…because he represents only a vocal angry minority. In his case, he’s little more than a charlatan, a greedy zealot looking to capitalize on his 15 minutes…and he needs money…lots and lots of money. Because his family’s in danger, don’tchaknow? Oh, and he might want to run for John McCain’s US Senate seat.

And now he’s trying to capitalize on his notoriety, saying that he’s accepting donations for the safety of his family.

And for a hospital.

And for his future Senate campaign race.

All he needs is $10 million.

Because protecting himself from the enemies he’s made via his bigotry and hate speech doesn’t come cheap. Ritzheimer is possessed of just enough hubris (and a complete lack of self-awareness) that he sees nothing wrong with carrying a virtual offering plate to fund his ego and his campaign of hatred and religious bigotry.

I am starting this campaign to humbly ask for donations so that I may provide security for my family….

The money will go towards fortifying my house and getting what ever is necessary to make them feel safe again. I refuse to profit from this and any additional funds will go to Children’s Hospital. You have my word on that! And should I decide to run for John McCain’s seat in the Senate that is up for grabs this election, money will go towards starting my campaign as well.

He means it! Honest. No, really. You can trust Ritzheimer…because he’s a good, God-fearing Christian patriot who loves him some ‘Merica. And he certainly would NEVER dream of trying to profit off his notoriety; no sirree.

I could wax poetic about what a truly miserable excuse for a human being Ritzheimer seems to be…but he’s already done the heavy lifting for me. I can only hope that karma will one day come to gently rest upon his shoulders…and kick his sorry racist ass.

It used to be that the philosophy of haters like Timothy McVeigh made one an outlier, someone outside the mainstream who good and decent Americans rejected as too extreme, paranoid, and hateful. Now it seems that this sort of extremism has moved much closer to the center. And we’re all poorer for it.

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on June 2, 2015 5:35 AM.

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