Mayor Hagen Apologizes to Muslim Community

Will Meet with Muslim Leaders Saturday, January 2nd

By Doug Dalager

After a week of turmoil and upset throughout the City of Superior and across the worldwide web, Mayor Bruce Hagen has issued an apology to the Muslim Community for his December 21st comments on Facebook regarding President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. Here is the Mayor’s official statement as first reported by the Superior Telegram this morning at 6:00 a.m.

Mayor Bruce Hagen

To the citizens of Superior and the Muslim community:

Recent days have brought considerable responses to my Facebook post regarding our president. The anger, pain and extremely foul comments are duly noted as are the substantial numbers of positive messages received.

I have zero ill will, disrespect or animosity toward the Muslim religion.

Being a strong, God-loving Christian, I adhere to the teachings of Christianity in accepting and encouraging faith and all respective beliefs.

Like most, my very daily existence evolve around basic beliefs and principles: Family, God and the preservation of the freedoms set forth, and guaranteed by, the Constitution of the United States of America.

My reference to the president being a Muslim was indeed a poor choice of words in a moment of anger. My fear is we are a nation of all walks of life, religious beliefs, differing political persuasions and hard-working citizens that are standing by watching this country being denigrated by all of Washington D.C.

I apologize to the Muslim community for being insensitive. My comment was intended to shed light on the resistance of President Obama, and lack of leadership qualities to stand up for America against the world’s enemies.

The Muslim communities across the world do not embrace what is occurring by these terrorists, and I was wrong to include them in my comment.

I ask that you accept my apologies and as we go forward — together — to make Superior a better community, I pledge to you that I will continue to be mindful and respectful of all our citizens.

I have shown Superior’s citizens my dedication to our town for 16-plus years I have served as mayor. I will continue to do so.

Sincerely,
Mayor Bruce Hagen

From what the mayor probably thought was an off-hand, semi-private comment to a personal friend in response to a Facebook post, the controversy grew from five city councilors asking him to apologize on Monday, December 21st, Council President Tom Fennessy making the same request a day later, to a coalition representing the Muslim community demanding that he resign as mayor of Superior by Christmas Eve. All along, a torrent of Facebook comments on both sides of the issue flooded the net, along with comments on news website as well.

The scope of the news coverage of this issue is apparent by simply making a focused Google Search for “bruce hagen” and “muslim” that brings up almost 26,000 results from local, regional, and national news sources. The story has been picked up by all local television and print media, as well such disparate sources as Wisconsin Public Radio, the Tea Party, TheMuslimGuy.com, right-wing Freedom Outpost, the Washington Times, and a New York website called Media-ite. Misidentified as Mayor “Bud” Hagen, a story on Crooks and Liars, a Los Angeles based website also featured a story about the Mayor using some quotes from “Bender” (Council member Warren Bender.)

Although Hagen refused to apologize or resign last week, perhaps the dawning of a new year and the Christmas spirit prompted him to make a New Year’s resolution directed at making amends and moving forward. On Tuesday, December 29th Mayor Hagen announced that he will meet and enjoy dinner with representatives of the Islamic Center of the Twin Ports (ICTP) on Saturday, January 2nd.

Ibrahim “Abe” Al-Qudah, President of ICTP

Hagen said he will discuss with ICTP President Ihrahim Al-Qudah his rationale for saying what he did to start this brouhaha, and try to make amends. As reported in a previous Explore Superior report, Qudah is also a City of Superior employee, having been employed as an engineer by city Public Works for the past eleven years. Qudah went to great lengths explaining to this reporter that the ICTP is open and welcoming of all faiths and that he believes that by being open and friendly that his organization can help local residents better understand that Muslim people are peace loving, patriotic, and proud Americans.

The mayor has been on a vacation on the East Coast since this imbroglio started, but is flying back today to make peace at his own expense. He was quick to add that he is coming home on a one-way ticket and will stay in Superior as long as is needed for city business.

Links to other Explore Superior articles about this story:

5 City Councilors Call for Mayor to Apologize
Council President Disappointed by Mayor
Coalition Demands Resignation/Mayor Refuses
Protests at City Hall Regarding Mayor Hagen

Below is news coverage from the Northland’s News Center regarding Mayor Hagen’s two month vacation, how he works on City business while out of town, his return to Superior today, and his upcoming meeting at the Islamic Center of the Twin Ports.

He says he regrets his comments, and even goes on to say he encourages a recall vote if that is what the people of Superior wish. In surprise comments, Mayor Hagen says he “doesn’t need this job” and is “very tired of it” because the “nastiness is just overwhelming.” Lest anyone have designs on breaking into the Mayor’s house while he is on vacation he cautioned that he has someone living in his home during his absence (please click the video start button twice to make video play.)