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WITH regards to last week’s “Intelligencer” column by Niall O’Dowd on Congressman Peter King’s hearings on Muslim Americans, I have likewise known King for many years and fully agree with not only his stand up defense of those victimized by British violence and treachery, but his steadfast witness to the role the IRA played both in war and in peace.
I also have an additional perspective.
I have worked closely with federal, state and local elected officials in attempting to focus media attention on the distinctions between the causes and the effects of the conflict. The primary tool available to each level of government is a public hearing.
It is indispensable to a democracy such as ours and has successively served, on a limited basis, the cause of American concerns for the Irish conflict – i.e., Joe Doherty’s extradition/deportation, use of plastic bullets, sales of arms to the RUC, the murder of lawyers Rosemary Nelson and Patrick Finucane, etc.
It is only a “bully pulpit” if abused especially for theatrical or media purposes. I do not think Chairman King is such a person.
As for immigration reform and the radicalization of some followers of Islam, there is a fair division of opinion on just what are both the extent of those problems and the cost and consequences of various proposed solutions.
The public is usually well served with the sworn testimony of officialdom on just what their views are and their proposed actions. I, for one, am not convinced that the unrest in the Middle East is “enlightened,” or rather the result of power struggles between theocrats and militarists.
In either event, who better to conduct this hearing than a man who has faced the evil of Britain’s poisonous manipulation of religion and politics?
Given the concentration of so much bad behavior by some members of Congress, I for one am grateful Pete King has chosen to do his job and explore this issue. I am confident he will do so responsibly.
Michael J. Cummings,
National Board, AOH
Albany, New York
I also have an additional perspective.
I have worked closely with federal, state and local elected officials in attempting to focus media attention on the distinctions between the causes and the effects of the conflict. The primary tool available to each level of government is a public hearing.
It is indispensable to a democracy such as ours and has successively served, on a limited basis, the cause of American concerns for the Irish conflict – i.e., Joe Doherty’s extradition/deportation, use of plastic bullets, sales of arms to the RUC, the murder of lawyers Rosemary Nelson and Patrick Finucane, etc.
It is only a “bully pulpit” if abused especially for theatrical or media purposes. I do not think Chairman King is such a person.
As for immigration reform and the radicalization of some followers of Islam, there is a fair division of opinion on just what are both the extent of those problems and the cost and consequences of various proposed solutions.
The public is usually well served with the sworn testimony of officialdom on just what their views are and their proposed actions. I, for one, am not convinced that the unrest in the Middle East is “enlightened,” or rather the result of power struggles between theocrats and militarists.
In either event, who better to conduct this hearing than a man who has faced the evil of Britain’s poisonous manipulation of religion and politics?
Given the concentration of so much bad behavior by some members of Congress, I for one am grateful Pete King has chosen to do his job and explore this issue. I am confident he will do so responsibly.
Michael J. Cummings,
National Board, AOH
Albany, New York
3 Comments
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Clareman | Apr 19, 2011, 05:40 PM EDT
Mr. Cummings, you and King are hypocrites. The bottom line is that King supported a "terrorist organization," the IRA, and now he and you want to demonize Muslims. "The public is usually well served with the sworn testimony of officialdom on just what their views are and their proposed actions": Wrong, the public is never served by congressional hearings because politicans are mostly spineless individuals and they use that type of forum to pontificate and appeal to the ignorant. If you are going to be a radical, at least be consistent: Do not one day support the IRA and then when it is convenient for you politically conduct a religious witchhunt. The Irish have short memories in regard to their history in the US. It wasn't that long ago that Catholic churches were burned down here and the Irish were considered sub-human. Way to go King, Cummings and your ilk; now you think you are on top and you can discriminate against those who got off the boat after you, but then again that's the story of America.
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maloney | Mar 19, 2011, 12:42 AM EDT
Thank you Mr. Cummings
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