Hooray, it's Texas Muslim Capitol Day! It's that one special day of the year when Muslim residents of Texas come to Austin to learn about political activism, have civil discussions with their representatives about issues that are important to them, hear a small group of angry protesters shout "Go home!" and "Jesus is the lord!" at them, and have a legislator demand that they swear a loyalty oath to prove they're real Americans. Oh boy!

Participants in the event formed a circle to block out the 25 or so people holding "Radical Islam is the new Nazi" and "Go home and take Obama with you!" signs and had their mic stolen by a dingbat who thinks Islam is trying to "dominate the United States." Organizers said it was the first time the interfaith lobbying event had been protested since it began in 2003.

But easily the dumbest, saddest thing to come out of this day of very dumb, very sad things was the reaction of freshman Republican representative Molly White. White wasn't in her office today, but she made her position on the event clear in a Facebook post:

Well, sort of clear. I guess she wants American Muslims to renounce terrorism (of which they aren't actually a part) and pledge allegiance to the United States (the country where they already live) by taking a solemn oath in front of that very American icon, the flag of Israel*? Cool. Good. Neither crazy nor bigoted. Definitely what you want to hear from your elected representatives.

Earlier in the day, White had shared a scaremongering story, originating from Breitbart, about a Texas "Sharia court" (actual headline: "This Is How It Starts"), writing,

"Remember, in the Koran, it is ok to lie for the purpose of advancing Islam. Texans must never allow fringe groups of people to come here so that they can advance their own culture instead of becoming an American and assimilating into the American way of life. That, I can assure is not the intent of most Muslims who move to America."

White is, of course, an expert on the intent of "most Muslims," through her experience refusing to let them "advance Islam" with sinister tactics like speaking to elected officials (that's how It Starts, you know).

Later in the afternoon, the Texas Tribune reported, White added on Facebook that she wouldn't apologize for her comments:

If you love America, obey our laws and condemn Islamic terrorism, then I embrace you as a fellow American. If not, then I do not.

That post appears have to have been deleted now, but the original demand for a loyalty oath is still up.

Another victory for cultural understanding. Another proud day for Texas.

* Not actually in America.

[ Photo: Molly White/Facebook]