Should Prager resign?
Here are some links to kick off the debate:
Calling Prager a ‘Bigot’ Is Simply Irresponsible:
Whether one agrees or disagrees with Dennis Prager, he is not taking issue with Keith Ellison’s religion or the Quran (“Koch: Kick Pundit off Shoah Board,” December 15). He only takes issue with the fact that Ellison has declared that he will leave the Bible out of his private swearing-in ceremony.
Prager has been very clear that he would make the same statement whether Ellison were an atheist, a Mormon or a Jew. If one believes he is sincere on that point, then what makes him a bigot?Moreover, it is highly irresponsible to say that no matter how much Prager has embraced the many gays, atheists, blacks, Hispanics and people of other races and religions throughout his life, one heartfelt statement representing his beliefs about a precious symbol of this country disqualifies him as a decent human being.
It’s simply reckless and irresponsible to sling the term “bigot” in Prager’s case. Here’s a man who, as a passionate Jew, fought to retain the cross on the Los Angeles County Seal, who has flown to other cities to support black politicians for re-election, who has spoken at mosques, and has likely brought more Jews and even people of other faiths to their religions than anyone else alive today. It would be hard to find someone less bigoted than Prager.
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council Does Damage Control:
After avoiding the issue for weeks, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council has issued a tepid response to critics who say that conservative pundit Dennis Prager should be booted off the panel.
Prager has been in hot water since late November, when he published an online column arguing that a Muslim congressman should not take his oath of office on a Quran. In recent weeks, former New York City Mayor Edward Koch, a fellow member of the memorial council, had said he would call for Prager’s ouster at a December 18 meeting of the 55-member panel. Yesterday, Koch told the Forward that he did not even bother to make the trip down to Washington, D.C. on Monday after being told that the Prager issue was being kept off the agenda.
It looks like Prager’s there to stay. This morning, the council’s executive committee quietly issued this resolution:
UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL COUNCIL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE RESOLUTION
On December 20, the Executive Committee of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council adopted the following resolution.
Resolution
WHEREAS, the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, the governing body of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, is charged with implementing the mission of the Museum as a living memorial to the victims of the Holocaust devoted to teaching the lessons of the Holocaust for the benefit of all mankind; and
WHEREAS, Dennis Prager, a member of the Council, has recently publicly expressed and disseminated certain statements which have been widely interpreted as being intolerant;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Executive Committee of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, while recognizing that Dennis Prager has the right to express his personal views freely, disassociates itself from Mr. Prager’s statements as being antithetical to the mission of the Museum as an institution promoting tolerance and respect for all peoples regardless of their race, religion or ethnicity.
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