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January 30, 2015      12:01 PM

Smith: It is the fear mongers we should fear most

From the Left: Quorum Report’s liberal columnist Glenn W. Smith argues that this week’s disruption at the Capitol is indicative of other underlying discrimination in Texas.

Last summer we learned that Houston had become the most racially and ethnically diverse city in America, making Texas one of the most diverse states. But among the diverse are some who hate the diversity, and two dozen of the bigots came to the Texas Capitol on Thursday to snarl and scream at some peaceful Muslims there to promote peace, tolerance and understanding.

The bigoted idiocy became national news when freshman state Rep. Molly White, R-Belton, instructed her staff to disrespect any of the Islamic faithful who might stop by her office on “Muslim Day.” White demanded her staff make them say the pledge of allegiance. I like the pledge. But White’s demand wasn’t honoring America. It was bullying and it dishonored Texas and America. As the late Molly Ivins might say (and I wish she was here to say it!), “Beloveds, we gotta find more flattering ways to make national news in Texas.”

House Speaker Joe Straus was clearly embarrassed by White’s stunt. He said, pointedly, “…legislators have a responsibility to treat all visitors just as we expect to be treated.”

I’d like to remind readers in distant lands that not all Texans are like Molly White or the ugly band of bigots screaming at the Muslims. The protestors carried signs indicating they were Christian. Jesus wept.

We are, generally, a tolerant bunch here in Texas. We have to be to put up with ourselves.

The entire column from Glenn W. Smith is in the R&D Department.

By Glenn W. Smith