Unalienable Rights of Jews

            The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday goes back to the beginning days of the United States of America. The Declaration of Independence outlined clearly what the American colonists wanted in their new country: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

            After fighting for independence for eight years, wise men raised up by God created the new government with the U.S. Constitution and its Bill of Rights. The First Amendment in the Bill of Rights states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; …”

            Embedded within these two founding documents are two principles that are being overlooked today. The first is that all human beings are created equal and given rights that cannot be taken away, including life, liberty, and the right to own property. The second principle is that the government will not respect an establishment of religion or prohibit anyone from exercising their religious freedom.

            Yet, there are members of Congress who seek to take these rights away from certain groups of people while allowing other groups to do and say whatever they choose. I am writing specifically about the hateful anti-Semitism of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and the support she receives from the Democrat Party, particularly the progressives and the Black Caucus.

            Omar, 37, was born in Mogadishu and lived her first years in Somalia. Her mother died when she was two years old, and she was reared by her father and grandfather. She fled with her family when civil war in Somali broke out in 1991, and they lived in a refugee camp in Kenya for four years. Her family was resettled in the United States in 1995, first in Virginia and then in Minnesota. She attended school in Minnesota and graduated from North Dakota State University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and international studies in 2011. She is a naturalized citizen. She was elected in 2016 to serve in the Minnesota House of Representatives. In November 2018 she was elected as the first Somali American to the U.S. Congress. She was sworn into office on a copy of the Quran and is the first woman to wear a hijab on the House floor. She identifies as a Democratic Socialist, is the Congressional Progressive Caucus whip, and serves on the Committee on the Budget, the Committee on Education and Labor, and on the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

            Omar is also guilty of anti-Semitism and is decidedly against support for Israel. She supports the boycott Israel movement. She made some anti-Semitic comments about a month ago, gave a weak apology, and then doubled down on them. Apparently unable to help herself, she made more anti-Semitic comments, which were threatened with a House rebuke. The Democrat Party leaders backed down on the rebuke.

            It seems that the Jews, the chosen people of God, are coming under greater threat these days. Having an anti-Jew Muslim on the powerful Committee on Foreign Affairs does not bode well for the Jews who are threatened by both the far-Left and the far-Right elements.

            Omar in particular and the Democrat Party in general do not appear to like Jews in spite of the fact that Jews overwhelmingly support the Democrat Party. The Jews are somewhat like Blacks in that they continue to support a party that cares nothing about them. Maybe the latest action will convince them that Democrats do not support Jews or Israel. Maybe there will be an exit of Jews from the Democrat Party just as there is an exit of Blacks.