Right Wing Blogger Calls Native American Prayer, 'Ugly'

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Dr. Carlos Gonzales

A right-wing blogger who criticized the Native American opening prayer at the Tucson memorial service as "ugly" has gotten in trouble at his day job -- working for a law firm that also defends Native American rights.

Here's what happened:

Paul Mirengoff is a blogger for Power Line, a right-wing blog. In one characteristic December 28 blog post he compared Barack Obama and George W. Bush:

Moreover, and at least as importantly, Obama's periodic belligerence and petulance must have reminded many of how gracefully Bush carried himself. Though significantly less popular as president than Obama, and more widely reviled, Bush never seemed to whine and rarely attempted to blame others. Unlike Obama, he was willing to praise his predecessor. And he steadfastly declines to criticize his successor.

Despite these criticisms, Mirengoff praised President Obama's speech at the Tucson memorial, calling it "a brilliant, spellbinding, and fitting speech," in a January 12 blog post.

But, in a post on the same day that has since been removed, Mirengoff explained his disapproval of the memorial service in general, calling it a "mixed bag." Particularly, he cited the opening prayer by Carlos Gonzales, an associate professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, and a member of the Pascua Yaqui Nation, who delivered a traditional Native American blessing.

Here's what Mirengoff wrote, via MediaMatters:

As for the "ugly," I'm afraid I must cite the opening "prayer" by Native American Carlos Gonzales. It was apparently was some sort of Yaqui Indian tribal thing, with lots of references to "the creator" but no mention of God. Several of the victims were, as I understand it, quite religious in that quaint Christian kind of way (none, to my knowledge, was a Yaqui). They (and their families) likely would have appreciated a prayer more closely aligned with their religious beliefs. But it wasn't just Gonzales's prayer that was "ugly" under the circumstances. Before he ever got to the prayer, Gonzales provided us with a mini-biography of himself and his family and made several references to Mexico, the country from which (he informed us) his family came to Arizona in the mid-19th century. I'm not sure why Gonzales felt that Mexico needed to intrude into this service, but I have an idea.

In any event, the invocation could have used more God, less Mexico, and less Carlos Gonzales.

http://tpmmuckraker....r_i.php?ref=fpb

Edited January 28, 2011 by 8TBVBN

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

While I don't agree with implying that any culture's beliefs are "ugly" (not saying the blogger did that here) I would agree with the idea that a memorial service is no place for any of the following:

1) Personal Agendas

2) Political Statements

3) Religious Commercials

Memorial Services, public & large or private & small, should be about the deceased person(s) and nothing more.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

While I don't agree with implying that any culture's beliefs are "ugly" (not saying the blogger did that here) I would agree with the idea that a memorial service is no place for any of the following:

1) Personal Agendas

2) Political Statements

3) Religious Commercials

Memorial Services, public & large or private & small, should be about the deceased person(s) and nothing more.

What? This was a public memorial service for the slain victims in the Tucson massacre. Did you feel same over similar memorial services such as the one for the 9/11 victims?

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... Gonzales provided us with a mini-biography of himself and his family and made several references to Mexico, the country from which (he informed us) his family came to Arizona in the mid-19th century. I'm not sure why Gonzales felt that Mexico needed to intrude into this service, but I have an idea.

He's right. Mexico had nothing to do with this.

Edited January 28, 2011 by \

[one...two...tree 2,762]

He's right. Mexico had nothing to do with this.

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Enlighten us.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Enlighten us.

Are you plural?

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Are you plural?

We are many.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

We are many.

Not as many as all them Mexicans trying to turn this country brown.

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Not as many as all them Mexicans trying to turn this country brown.

And that has what to do with the Giffords story?

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

What? This was a public memorial service for the slain victims in the Tucson massacre. Did you feel same over similar memorial services such as the one for the 9/11 victims?

Yes I do, wasn't my post rather clear on that?

A Memorial Service is about many things; remembering those who are now gone, mourning the loss, fellowship with those who share in our grief, just to name a few.

As American's we stood in horror at the 9/11 attacks but Memorial Services should have been about those who were lost not how hot we were for revenge.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

And that has what to do with the Giffords story?

Gonzales was introducing himself to the audience, not handing out pamplets or CD's that his cousin Jesus burned, on how Mexico plans on taking back U.S. territory.

Edited January 28, 2011 by 8TBVBN

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Gonzales was introducing himself to the audience ...

So it is safe to say you and the "right wing blogger" have very different interpretations of what he was doing.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

So it is safe to say you and the "right wing blogger" have very different interpretations of what he was doing.

I don't break out in hives when I hear the word, 'Mexican'. In fact, it makes me hungry.

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I don't break out in hives when I hear the word, 'Mexican'. In fact, it makes me hungry.