Senator
Glodis distributed a flier among his colleagues Wednesday, June 25,
arguing that execution of "Muslim extremists" in the
Philippines by General John Joseph (Black Jack Pershing) before World
War I using bullets dipped in pigs' blood and the burial of the killed
with "pigs' blood, entrails" had deterred attacks for
"the next forty-two years."
The
flier suggested that maybe "it is time for this segment of
history to repeat itself, maybe in Iraq."
"The
inflammatory nature of passing this around and the recklessness with
which he's done it - he hasn't checked his history, and I think it's
ludicrous," Tayeh averred.
Islam
does not teach that people would be barred from heaven by being buried
with pigs, said the Muslim American Society (MAS) official.
"It's
a canard, it's a lie, a fable, a slanderous garbage," he said.
"It
is one of those urban legends that keeps getting passed on like a
terrible chain letter. God admits people to heaven based on their
actions. This is what Muslims believe.
"This
is just a sad commentary on the ignorance of people who are entrusted
to represent Americans, that they would pass around such offensive,
distasteful, and slanderous garbage to members of an esteemed body
such as the Massachusetts Senate," Tayeh said.
He
asserted he would join local Muslims in calling on Senate President
Robert E. Travaglini to censure Glodis.
Travaglini's
office did not return several calls requesting comment.
'Recklessness'
Andrew
Tarsy, civil rights director for the Anti-Defamation League's New
England office, denounced the Glodis' action as a kind of
"recklessness," adding the actions was "deeply
troubling."
He
asserted that "discourse on difficult issues in this country
requires a fundamental respect for human rights.
"Appeals
to bigotry are not a part of the constructive discussion about the war
on terrorism. His role is to lead a discussion, and that can be done
without this kind of recklessness."
On
Defense
The
Auburn Democrat, who circulated the flier to his colleagues with a
note that said "thought this might be of interest to you,"
said the flier merely recounted historical fact and should not have
offended anyone.
"I
didn't write it…I just passed it along to my colleagues. I often
share news items of interest with my colleagues," the Globe
quoted Glodis as saying.
"If
some of my colleagues are so weak-kneed and politically correct and
cannot accept historical fact, I suggest they lodge a formal complaint
with the secretary of the Army," he said.
Internet
websites cast doubt on the authenticity of the Philippines killings
story as described in the flier, with at least one referring to the
description as a fictional chain.
'Garbage'
Senator
Jarrett T. Barrios said he found the flier offensive, noting that
Glodis did express his opining, "and I am free to throw it in the
garbage."
He
asserted that the "First Amendment of the United States allows
people to be eloquent in how they express themselves or to be
troglodytes.
"It
doesn't discriminate. Clearly, the senator is able to exercise his
First Amendment rights and has chosen to do so. And I am free to throw
it in the garbage," said the Cambridge Democrat.
"I
respect Guy. He is a friend, and this isn't something I would support
or send out, but he has a right to do it," said Senate Minority
Leader Brian P. Lees, an East Longmeadow Republican.
"If
there was any indication that we would repeat something like that, I
would never agree to anything like that but he has a right to any
opinion he wants," he said.
