Mike Reynolds Calls On Henry To Overhaul Or Disband Ethnic American Advisory Council
State Rep. Mike Reynolds today urged Gov. Brad Henry to overhaul his Ethnic Advisory Council or disband it, saying the group has failed to represent the true diversity of Oklahoma.
"Governor Henry, why would you have an 'Ethnic Advisory Council' that includes members from only one ethnic group?" asked Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City. "The council should either be reformed to reflect its apparent mission or preferably disbanded."
The Governor's Ethnic American Advisory Council, he said, consists of Muslim activists who recently received national attention for their efforts to provide "Centennial edition" copies of the Quran (the holy book of Islam) to Oklahoma state lawmakers. Reynolds said tying the proposed gift to Oklahoma's Centennial celebration was inappropriate since "the United States and Oklahoma were founded on Judeo-Christian values and traditions. Islam simply has not played a role in our state's or country's history.
He also noted that Marjaneh Seirafi-Pour, chairwoman of the Governor's Ethnic American Advisory Council, asked lawmakers if they wanted a copy of the Quran when she notified them of the gift in an e-mail.
Seirafi-Pour has complained that some lawmakers were rude, he noted, when they declined the Quran: "I don't understand why she rushed to the media and acted outraged that we turned her down," Reynolds said. "What was the point of asking us if we wanted a copy? I contacted her last week and she could not provide me with any mean-spirited responses. In fact she agreed to forward all of the e-mails on Saturday, but I have yet to receive them.
"I know that I have nothing to hide," Reynolds said."Apparently, that's more than the members of the Ethnic American Advisory Council can say. Why else would they and the Governor choose a name that disguises their Muslim identify?" Governor Henry said said he won't change the the council, which he said “plays an important role for the large community of Middle Eastern immigrants living in Oklahoma.”
His spokesman, Paul Sund, added, “Other boards created for Asian-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, Native Americans and other groups are equally important because they provide a forum for discussion of issues that are often unique to a particular ethnic community."
"Governor Henry, why would you have an 'Ethnic Advisory Council' that includes members from only one ethnic group?" asked Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City. "The council should either be reformed to reflect its apparent mission or preferably disbanded."
The Governor's Ethnic American Advisory Council, he said, consists of Muslim activists who recently received national attention for their efforts to provide "Centennial edition" copies of the Quran (the holy book of Islam) to Oklahoma state lawmakers. Reynolds said tying the proposed gift to Oklahoma's Centennial celebration was inappropriate since "the United States and Oklahoma were founded on Judeo-Christian values and traditions. Islam simply has not played a role in our state's or country's history.
He also noted that Marjaneh Seirafi-Pour, chairwoman of the Governor's Ethnic American Advisory Council, asked lawmakers if they wanted a copy of the Quran when she notified them of the gift in an e-mail.
Seirafi-Pour has complained that some lawmakers were rude, he noted, when they declined the Quran: "I don't understand why she rushed to the media and acted outraged that we turned her down," Reynolds said. "What was the point of asking us if we wanted a copy? I contacted her last week and she could not provide me with any mean-spirited responses. In fact she agreed to forward all of the e-mails on Saturday, but I have yet to receive them.
"I know that I have nothing to hide," Reynolds said."Apparently, that's more than the members of the Ethnic American Advisory Council can say. Why else would they and the Governor choose a name that disguises their Muslim identify?" Governor Henry said said he won't change the the council, which he said “plays an important role for the large community of Middle Eastern immigrants living in Oklahoma.”
His spokesman, Paul Sund, added, “Other boards created for Asian-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, Native Americans and other groups are equally important because they provide a forum for discussion of issues that are often unique to a particular ethnic community."
Labels: Brad Henry, Governor's Ethnic American Advisory Council, Mike Reynolds
posted by Mike McCarville @ 3:26 PM
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