One Huge Pile

Idaho Congressman Bill Sali doesn't think the pile is high enough.  Nope, he's still shoveling.  After the outrage sparked by his remarks that a Muslim congressman and a Hindu prayer in the Senate were not "what was envisioned by the Founding Fathers," he then goes to the editorial board of the Idaho Press-Tribune and says this:

Friday, Sali said multiculturalism is in conflict with the national motto “E Pluribus Unum,” or “out of many, one.” He said multiculturalism would mean “out of the many, the many.”

“The question is, is multiculturalism good or not?” Sali said. “I don’t think the Founding Fathers were multicultural. Multiculturalism is the antithesis of (the motto).”

Let's look at Sali's statement logically.  In his mind the motto, “E Pluribus Unum,” refers to the U.S., not as one nation made up of many peoples and cultures, but as a nation having only one culture.  Instead of the nation itself being what unifies this country, Sali attributes that element to a single culture.  A monocultural nation is one with unity in language, ethnicity, culture and religion.  That is the antithesis of what the Founders envisioned.  In fact they were escaping the monoculturalism of the European continent.

Back to the IPT article:

In response to his concerns about the Hindu prayer offered in the Senate in July, Sali said it is Christianity that drives many good causes in the United States.

“Christian principles work, and they show up in a lot of different areas,” Sali said. “Most of the hospitals in this country have Christian names. If you think Hindu prayer is great, where are the Hindu hospitals in this country? Go down the list. Where are the atheist hospitals in this country? They’re not equal.”

This man is determined to bury himself in a pile of excrement.

He's gotta go.  We need a Congressman who understands and respects religious freedom for all, not one who undermines it at every opportunity.  Have you told him what you think yet?  Use this link to call or write.

Comments

[Bubblehead]

Wow, Congressman Sali really does want to move us back to the 50s. "E Pluribus Unum" hasn't been the national motto since 1956, when it was replaced by "In God We Trust". Why does Rep. Sali seem to want to replace God with something that isn't even in the English language?

[MountainGoat]

Nice catch Bubblehead. That's an excellent question.

[dmm]

You are right....this man must be replaced. What do you know about Matt Salisbury? His hat is in the ring.

[MountainGoat]

Not that much actually. I know the fundamentalists skewered him for what they thought were his liberal social positions although I think he's corrected the record on that. He's a veteran and has been active in the Canyon County Republicans.

Maybe someone who knows him could enlighten us more.

At this point *anyone* would be better than Sali but my money's with either Grant or Lewis--whoever ends up winning the Democratic primary.

Here are a couple of earlier posts on Salisbury:

http://mountaingoatreport.typepad.com/the_mountaingoat_report/2007/07/sali-vs-salisbu.html

http://mountaingoatreport.typepad.com/the_mountaingoat_report/2007/07/iva-attacks-sal.html

[Julie in Boise]

Man, Sali just does not get it. Out of many, one ... such an American sentiment, and it plainly means that although we have diverse backgrounds, we stand together as Americans.

Thanks for the excellent reportage and commentary, MG.

[Brian Ertz]

as an idahoan i am ashamed that this man goes to washington and represents our state in such a backward manner.

[Akitagod]

Wow. And the comments on the IPT site are a joy to read -- at least its a split reaction. But the ones who support him? Yikes.
You nailed it, MG, Sali and his supporters firmly believe that E Pluribis Unum means a common culture, not the combining of several. I have to say, I'm not sure my German-speaking Dutch Colonial ancestors who served in the Revolution would agree . . .
Yeah, pretty sure they wouldn't.
This is popular rhetoric right now, and he's playing hard to his base as well as the "Club for Growth", who of course financed his campaign. I had the opportunity to discuss this sad matter with my father who is an evangelical minister and supporter of men like Sali. His earnest view is that Islam is violent and it will destroy this country if they gain a foothold.
Of course, if Christians weren't so focused on destroying the First Amendment, perhaps they wouldn't be so worried about a future power shift that could backfire on them.