Hysteria and Islamaphobia - Lawmakers Can't Help Themselves

By Ann

sonofthesouth.net

Warning:  Consumption of rye grain infected by a fungus commonly known as ergot may cause an innocent person to become bewitched.    

Today the ailment is referred to as ergotism and its symptoms include but are not limited to: painful seizures, hallucinations, mania, and psychosis.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ergotism

The Salem Witch Trials were started by three girls who convulsed, cried out, and expressed other bizarre behaviors which were explained as afflictions caused by witchcraft.  This was entirely plausible to Puritan society who firmly believed that witchcraft was prevalent and a danger to the people.  http://www.unmuseum.org/salemwitch2.htm

Where am I going with this?  Am I going to make the connection that ergotism is still a threat and that it could be the explanation for Charlie Sheen’s most recent “afflictions”.   While it has been reported in the news that experts believe he may be bi-polar, that is just speculation.  Sheen, himself, has expressed a complete denial and maintains that he is not bi-polar but is bi-winning.  Who can argue with that?

unmuseum.org/salemwitch2.htm

I am concerned about ergotism in Tennesee.  This is because I am convinced the new proposal being offered by the state representative is so outrageous that the only explanation for the drafting of such a piece of garbage has to be the result of a serious case of ergot poisoning.

The bill proposes to make people who practice a particular type of Islam, known as Shariah, felons and to expose them to up to 15 years of jail.  

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-02-23-tennessee-law-shariah_N.htm

A copy of this proposed piece of inhumanity can be viewed here. 

Am I consumed with outrage because this bill is the product of an Anti-Muslim, xenophobic, racist, prejudical, islamaphobic, ethnocentric, fascist, bigotted, and hysterical group of lawmakers?   

Well, yes, there’s that too.

But what I find to be incomprehensible is the fact that the legislators have completely ignored the Constitution. 

The first amendment of the Constitution expressly states, that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Am1

I don’t think this is ambiguous or hard to find in the Constitution (it is the 1st sentence of the 1^st Amendment).  Therefore, the only conclusion that I can come up with that makes any sense would be that Tennessee’s political leaders are probably suffering from a severe case of ergotism and should be treated immediately before they cause any more damage!