You may not know who Bo French is; I didn’t until this issue came up. He is an extreme MAGA politician from Texas known for his harsh views towards all kinds of minorities and is a proponent of the “Great Replacement” theory, the idea that white people in the United States are being replaced by people of color as part of a purposeful plan. About a month ago, he posted a photo from a University of Texas football game depicting a section of the crowd that was almost completely filled with people from SE Asia. He wrote, “heard UT graduation this year looked like this. I didn’t believe it. The problem is now obviously far worse than anyone imagined.” Last March, French appeared on a Conservative Political Action Conference panel called, “Don’t Sharia My Texas,” advocating that 100 million people in this country should be deported. That’s almost a third of the population. His approach has become known in his circles as “the Indian problem”, a nod to the term used by the Nazis about Jews.
While his statements have been widely rejected by Texans, his views have become fairly common among conservatives. Fears about Sharia law in America – growing anti-Semitism all over America (also a problem among progressives) – ICE attacks on brown-skinned people even when they can prove they are citizens – all of this is part of a growing willingness of Americans to express hatred of minority groups. The backlash against DEI is part of this fearful rhetoric; but it isn’t just rhetoric. Even the Trump administration has produced a commercial called “Mr. Singh”, which targeted Sikhs, Indians, and Hindus in the trucking industry. All over America, non-white, non-Christian people are being targeted as an invading enemy – even if they are here legally. Even if they are citizens.
This kind of bigotry should be a non-starter. The moment we hear hatred coming out of someone’s mouth, we should reject them and their ideology. We don’t. Historically, we looked the other way, seeing bigotry as just one of those things. All of us have likely said bigoted things or heard racist comments and done nothing. It is uncomfortable to confront people like this, especially if they are family or friends, so we laugh it off or think of it as harmless. They are too old to change, we say; they are set in their ways. Like any illness, however, bigotry grows; like a fungus, it infects every part of our world. People like Bo French should never serve in our government, but they do. They should never preach in our faith communities, but they do. For people of conscience, they should be rejected – yes, canceled – by voting against them. Bigotry should never be ignored. If it is, the Indian – or ______ problem becomes something more.
Prayer – Holy God, You have created each one of us, so to reject someone over their appearance or faith goes against Your desires. Heal us, we pray. Amen.
Today’s art is “Liberty and Justice for All” by Kimberly Lennon.