Findley condemns book calling Muslim interns “spies”
Posted October 16, 2009
JACKSONVILLE, Illinois, Oct 16—Paul Findley, a Republican Member of Congress for 22 years, issued the following statement today:
“The decision of four Republican Members of Congress to endorse a book that labels Muslim interns on Capitol Hill as spies mocks principles of religious diversity and equal justice proclaimed by Republican Party founder Abraham Lincoln. Their decision is harmful, not helpful to our country. It magnifies false stereotypes of Muslims that already embarrass and burden the United States.
“I offer a different recommendation. The House of Representatives should take time to celebrate the religious diversity protected by the U.S. Constitution and, during that event, give special honor to the presence of two men, Keith Ellison of Minnesota and Andre Carson of Indiana, the first Muslims ever elected to the U.S. Congress.
“I served as a Republican Member of Congress for 22 years. After leaving the Hill, I spent three years writing a book about U.S. Muslims. It is titled, Silent No More: Confronting America’s False Images of Islam. I am a lifelong Presbyterian. I have had the pleasure of direct acquaintance with many Muslims and their religious principles and practices. I would welcome any of them as next-door neighbor. I have just finished writing my sixth book, tentatively titled, Taking the High Road, in which I deplore the scourge of religious bias in U.S. foreign policy.
