There was a time in American history when race-hate made Black people so despised in capitalist America, that in the Jim Crow South even their money was not welcome in segregated business establishments. Muslims are the new target of derision in today�s America. But today�s bigotry is practiced not in the segregated South, but in New York.

After a memorial service on the one-month anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani shook hands with Saudi Arabian Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, and happily accepted a $10 million donation for his Twin Towers Fund, established to aid the victims of the World Trade Center attack. Shortly afterward, Mr. Giuliani angrily ordered that the check be sent back.

The prince�estimated to be the sixth wealthiest person in the world�holds no official role in the Saudi government. He attached a note to his check that expressed his condolences for the loss of life the city suffered, and which "condemn(ed) all forms of terrorism," and reiterated his country�s "strong stance against these tragic and horrendous acts."

Then Mayor Giuliani learned that members of Prince Talal�s entourage had distributed a press statement which also said: "At times like this one, we must address some of the issues that led to such a criminal attack. I believe the Government of the United States of America should re-examine its policies in the Middle East and adopt a more balanced stance toward the Palestinian cause. Our Palestinian brethren continue to be slaughtered at the hands of Israelis while the world turns the other cheek."

The mayor complained angrily that the Prince�s statement was asking for justification for the slaughter of 4,000 or 5,000 innocent people, which could "only invite this happening in the future." The Prince�s comments, according to Mr. Giuliani, were "highly irresponsible and very dangerous."

Such bigotry is not new to Muslims in and around the world of American politics. Presidential candidates, from Michael Dukakis in 1988, to Bill Clinton in 1992, to Bob Dole in 1996, to Al Gore in 2000 have all found ways to sidestep support from Muslims when it was offered, sometimes even returning campaign contributions. In last year�s New York Senate race, both former First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, the Democrat and victor, and her Republican opponent former Rep. Rick Lazio, returned campaign contributions from Muslim groups.

Ordinarily, there are few politicians courageous enough to take exception to such Muslim bashing. In this instance, however, Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.) wrote a letter of apology to the spurned donor.

"Whether he agreed with you or not, I think [Mayor Giuliani] should have recognized your right to speak and make observations about a part of the world which you know so well," Rep. McKinney wrote. She then cited Israeli peace organizations like B�Tselem and Gush Shalom, as well as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch when she pointed out that "many of us in the United States have long been concerned about a pattern of excessive and often indiscriminate use of lethal force by Israeli security forces in situations where Palestinian demonstrators were unarmed and posed no threat of death or serious injury."

There are many people in America, Rep. McKinney wrote, who have been locked out and marginalized inside this society. Those people desperately need, and would likely appreciate the generosity of Prince Talal, even as their own government ignores their suffering which she pointed out, "is plainly visible" right in the U.S. Capital city.

"Just a few hundred yards from the White House, one can find Black man after Black man huddled in bus shelters, doorways, over subway ventilation shafts, sleeping on the street, thrown away like trash. Ironically, many of them are Vietnam veterans who, having served this nation with distinction, now find themselves without adequate care and accommodation."

The double irony of that complaint is that even as we consider the truth of Rep. McKinney�s letter, a new generation of men and women are being readied to participate in yet another American military campaign overseas.