U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (R-MN) attracted backlash this week over her criticism of a Christian group singing during a flight.
Specifically, she suggested that the reception would be different if it were her and other Muslims worshiping Allah.
I think my family and I should have a prayer session next time I am on a plane. How do you think it will end? pic.twitter.com/5696Erwsl5
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) April 17, 2022
While some fellow liberals expressed support for her sentiment, many conservatives and moderates found her Easter message hostile toward her Christian constituents.
One prominent Jewish political commentator explained that he believes public displays of Christianity are actually a positive thing in America.
Ben Shapiro also took Omar to task for the perceived hypocrisy in her argument.
You can’t whine about public practice of your religion and then demand respect for the public practice of your religion. As a religious Jew, this country is better with MORE of this, not less. https://t.co/zHuCECnxee
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) April 18, 2022
Shapiro was hardly alone in his public criticism, as reported by the New York Post:
“Why do you hate Christians, Ilhan? If the freedom of religion we enjoy here in America disturbs you, feel free to pack your bags and head back to Somalia, Sudan, or wherever you’re from. Take your brother with you,” tweeted Georgia congressional candidate Vernon Jones.
GOP Florida congressional candidate Jose Castillo said that “in America, Muslims can & do pray in public.”
He added in a tweet that if Omar “wants a country where Christians aren’t allowed to do the same [Omar] should go back to her own country,” apparently referring to Somalia, where the naturalized US citizen was born.
Many others weighed in on the matter with tweets of their own.
Shout out to @IlhanMN.
Her anti-Christian hate helped propel a song praising Jesus to 33 million views over Easter weekend.
“Even the rocks will cry out.”
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) April 18, 2022
One thing upon which we can depend: Ilhan Omar /CAIR is a perpetual participant in the Oppression Olympics. And as Easter begins, she has to compete with a Christian “prayer session.” 🤦🏻♀️ https://t.co/QNrTNVQew4
— Asra Q. Nomani 🐾 (@AsraNomani) April 17, 2022
Ilhan Omar asks how people would react if her Muslim family sang their worship songs on a plane. I don’t know, but it’s gotta be better than the reaction to Christian worship in her home country of Somalia, where Christians are slaughtered for praying in public.
— Allie Beth Stuckey (@conservmillen) April 18, 2022
Ilhan Omar was born in the hell hole of Somalia. Her family fled that wasteland and sought refuge in America. They were welcomed here and Ilhan soon became one of the most influential politicians in the country. And yet she despises the country that took her in. Ungrateful brat.
— Dr. Matt Walsh, Women’s Studies Scholar (@MattWalshBlog) April 18, 2022
Prominent progressives, on the other hand, found her social media rant to be a warranted critique.
NBC News published an op-ed by one such critic:
Christian worship is generally considered harmless, happy, uplifting — even good for you. Muslims in the U.S., in contrast, are regularly demonized and targeted with hate crimes. Post 9/11, airports and airplanes are especially Islamophobic spaces.
Christians’ seizing space, attention and power — that’s a normal, cheerful American tradition. As Omar rightly points out, Muslims’ doing the same thing, though, would be perceived by many as a threat.
Here’s the full clip of the supposedly controversial Christian chorus.
Do you think Rep. Omar’s criticism was hypocritical?
