Politi-flicks: Burden

It seems like the most buzzed-about political web videos lately -- the ones sucking all the air out of the room -- are the citizen journalism exposes, on-the-spot videos of guys getting Tasered by cops.

But I'm more interested in a clip of CNN Glenn Beck's Islamophobic asking of Rep.-elect Keith Ellison (D-MN), now the first Muslim ever elected to Congress, to prove his patriotism.



What seems un-American is made real by the O'Reilly-wannabe, Beck. As reported previously by Media Matters:

Beck previously warned that if "Muslims and Arabs" don't "act now" by "step[ping] to the plate" to condemn terrorism, they "will be looking through a razor wire fence at the West" and declared that "Muslims who have sat on your frickin' hands the whole time" rather than "lining up to shoot the bad Muslims in the head" will face dire consequences.

Check it out on the Media Matters page itself. Beck's most revealing moment:

No offense, and I know Muslims. I like Muslims. I've been to mosques.

Some of my best friends...you get the picture. In a sense, Beck is just voicing the prejudices of the average American white guy who didn't have a big interest in international affairs before 9/11 but has developed a fearful one now. Money quote:

And I have to tell you, I have been nervous about this interview with you, because what I feel like saying is, "Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies."

He's a Democrat as well, so it goes without saying.

Ellison does an admirable job of standing up for himself without grandstanding, but Bechat we've had five whole years to absorb the terrible events of that day, it's time to start asking ourselves what have we learned about our country?

It's time to start asking ourselves, who are the real patriots...

...and who's just afraid.


As always, Politi-flicks is cross-posted to Nettertainment.