Unqualified Bigotry

Tom, so you are suggesting that during World War II we should have elected a Nazi to Congress, and at the height of the cold war a Stalinist Communist should have been elected as well? And perhaps the head of on of your Gay Rights Organizations should be a person bent on dissolving the organization as well, right? Heck, perhaps, using your logic, someone like David Duke should head a Civil Rights organization, and a Mormon should become the next pope. Right?
Douglas V. Gibbs | Homepage | 08.28.08 - 12:20 am | #

Doug.. making his argument on why Americans who are Muslim should not be allowed to run for public office.

...

I'll relate a personal story of the type that Doug is so fond of..

When I was much younger, I thought it would be neat to study martial arts. I went to a studio near my house, watched people working out, and knew it was for me.

I started working out with them 4 days a week and had a fantastic time. I also started competing in tournaments, and at one time was the #1 ranked light-weight black belt point fighter in the state of Arizona.

The man I trained under is Grandmaster Darryl Khalid..

Grandmaster Darryl D. Khalid, 7th Dan, began his martial arts training in Korea in 1970, while stationed at Osan Air Force Base. His instructor was Master Chun Sik Kim.

Grandmaster Khalid has served as the Defense Tactical Coordinator for Glendale Community College Police Reserve Academy, which serves the west side of Maricopa County in the State of Arizona.

In 1987 he received the Master of the Year award from the World Tang Soo Do Association (WTSDA). In 1988 Master Khalid traveled with Grand Master Jae Chul Shin to China where they placed the first non-Chinese monument at the Shaolin Temple. In 1990 he became the chairperson of the self defense committee for the WTSDA developing new techniques for instructor training.

As an ambassador of the WTSDA he was also sent to Magdan, Russia on a diplomatic tour, where he introduced Tang Soo Do to local police and schools from Kindergarten through 12th grade.

In September of 1997 he formed his own organization, the Universal Tang Soo Do Alliance and currently serves as its president. He also operates Khalid's Martial Arts in Glendale, Arizona.

In 2000 Grandmaster Khalid was inducted into the World Black Belt Hall or Fame.

Master Khalid is a Muslim, and one of the finest human beings I've ever known. Doug doesn't think Master Khalid would be qualified to serve this nation in elected office.

Master Khalid did not only teach martial arts. He also taught character and integrity.. and perseverance and peace.

....

Here's a picture of me from my black belt testing. It's a split kick.. 2 boards about 4 feet apart, about 5 feet off the ground. The trick with that break, was that you couldn't see both boards at the same time. Most of it was muscle memory, but you had to be right on target.. and you just couldn't miss. I used to do that break in demonstrations.

I used to be able to do some really acrobatic skills.. but that was a long time ago.