One of my anonymous respondents properly challenged me to say something about yesterday's attack on a Muslim cab driver in New York. The victim received stab wounds, and a man has been charged with attempted murder. The incident merits a response since I have been writing about the mosque issue and taking the side of the protesters.
First of all, the attack must be condemned. I have written a few such articles before condemning any acts of violence directed toward Muslims or Muslim sites. This is hardly the first time I have stated that such acts are wrong.
Having said that, I don't feel it paints the protesters who have turned out at Ground Zero to protest the proposed mosque. That is legitimate protest. What happened to the unfortunate cabbie happened apart from any mosque protest.
I don't deny or doubt that many in America have come to hate Muslims in recent years. To do so is wrong. Most Muslims in America are simply trying to get along as best they can and have no desire to engage in Jihad, depending how you define that term. In a sense, I suspect that many of them have been victims of the militant forces that seek to control thought and speech within that community.
The incident in New York reminds us that no matter our feelings about terrorism, Jihadists, shariah and all that, there is no reason to direct anger toward the innocent. We can stand up to the Islamists and those who want to impose Islam as a political ideology on the rest of us without resorting to violence or acts of hatred. The Islamists and the news media are itching to jump all over stories like this in an effort to discredit anyone who speaks out about the undeniable evils that are being committed in the name of Islam, Allah, Jihad or whatever you call it.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
The Elitists Ridicule Common Folks
Several days ago, I posted a rant by MSNBC Keith Olbermann condemning those who are opposed to the Ground Zero mosque. This week, we witnessed two more attacks upon large segments of the American population by what I term media elitists, Dave Letterman, Brian Williams and Katie Couric.
Here is the text of Couric's Notebook comment this week.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Among the protesters near Ground Zero this weekend - a woman held a sign that read "Unmask the Mosque." It had a cartoon sketch of President Obama on it - and the implied message needed no interpretation. In speaking out about an Islamic group's right to build a center there, the President had given another shred of evidence to a growing conspiracy theory that he is Muslim. He is not.
The Pew Research Center found 18 percent of Americans believe that...and a whopping 43 percent are not sure what religion he is. For the record he's Christian.
It might be Islamophobia, Obamaphobia, or both...but when loud speakers are blaring "Born in the USA" and signs say "No Clubhouse for Terrorists" it's clear we aren't just talking about a mosque anymore.
There is a debate to be had about the sensitivity of building this center so close to Ground Zero.
But we can not let fear and rage tear down the towers of our core American values."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Unmask the mosque"? "No clubhouse for terrorists"? "Born in the USA"?
Give me a break! And just for the record, Katie, I do not believe Obama is a Muslim, OK?
As for Letterman and Williams, I would suggest they actually go out and ask tea partiers what it is they would take their country back from-as they wonder. I think they would get very well-thought out and articulate answers.
As for Couric, she throws out the old canard about the Ground Zero mosque opponents seemingly blind to the issue of freedom. Has she actually left the comfort of her CBS studio and gone to a protest? If so, has she ever heard anyone shout, "Muslims out of America!"? Or "Death to Muslims!"? Or "Death to Rauf!"? I seriously doubt it. Yet, she, perhaps, in more circumspect language than Olbermann, seems to think the people who oppose a mosque at Ground Zero would deny Muslims the right to build a mosque anywhere. That has never been part of the debate.
Of course, in their arrogant dismissals, these elitists ignore the concerns and arguments being made against the mosque. They ignore the questions about the intent of the mosque at that location. They ignore the statements made by Imam Rauf about America. They ignore the questions about the funding. They ignore the symbolism of the location in relation to 9-11. They ignore the feelings of many of the 9-11 family survivors who object.
What is important to point out is that in neither tea party rallies nor mosque protests have we seen unlawful activity or violence. No threats of violence. Just ordinary people doing what left-wingers have been doing since the 1960s, amking their voices heard-finally.
And they wonder why they are so unpopular among the people who have figured out the biased agenda of the mainstream news media.
Here is the text of Couric's Notebook comment this week.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Among the protesters near Ground Zero this weekend - a woman held a sign that read "Unmask the Mosque." It had a cartoon sketch of President Obama on it - and the implied message needed no interpretation. In speaking out about an Islamic group's right to build a center there, the President had given another shred of evidence to a growing conspiracy theory that he is Muslim. He is not.
The Pew Research Center found 18 percent of Americans believe that...and a whopping 43 percent are not sure what religion he is. For the record he's Christian.
It might be Islamophobia, Obamaphobia, or both...but when loud speakers are blaring "Born in the USA" and signs say "No Clubhouse for Terrorists" it's clear we aren't just talking about a mosque anymore.
There is a debate to be had about the sensitivity of building this center so close to Ground Zero.
But we can not let fear and rage tear down the towers of our core American values."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Unmask the mosque"? "No clubhouse for terrorists"? "Born in the USA"?
Give me a break! And just for the record, Katie, I do not believe Obama is a Muslim, OK?
As for Letterman and Williams, I would suggest they actually go out and ask tea partiers what it is they would take their country back from-as they wonder. I think they would get very well-thought out and articulate answers.
As for Couric, she throws out the old canard about the Ground Zero mosque opponents seemingly blind to the issue of freedom. Has she actually left the comfort of her CBS studio and gone to a protest? If so, has she ever heard anyone shout, "Muslims out of America!"? Or "Death to Muslims!"? Or "Death to Rauf!"? I seriously doubt it. Yet, she, perhaps, in more circumspect language than Olbermann, seems to think the people who oppose a mosque at Ground Zero would deny Muslims the right to build a mosque anywhere. That has never been part of the debate.
Of course, in their arrogant dismissals, these elitists ignore the concerns and arguments being made against the mosque. They ignore the questions about the intent of the mosque at that location. They ignore the statements made by Imam Rauf about America. They ignore the questions about the funding. They ignore the symbolism of the location in relation to 9-11. They ignore the feelings of many of the 9-11 family survivors who object.
What is important to point out is that in neither tea party rallies nor mosque protests have we seen unlawful activity or violence. No threats of violence. Just ordinary people doing what left-wingers have been doing since the 1960s, amking their voices heard-finally.
And they wonder why they are so unpopular among the people who have figured out the biased agenda of the mainstream news media.
"I Got Rights!"
Home schooling not allowed
"What's the problem? It only lasted one day."
(Racist Germanophobe in Paris)
"Boches!"
"Hush! They are exercising their First Amendment rights. Besides, they are only peaceful Germans here looking for jobs Frenchmen won't do."
Local German family court in the occupied countries(only for the German community, of course)
Freedom of expression in action
Turn that man loose! Don't you know dress codes are unconstitutional?
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
California Textbook Committee 1938
It is the year 1938. The California Department of Education, Textbook Review Committee is reviewing new textbooks that would be adopted in the state high school system. The above picture shows the board members posing just after having approved the text for the textbook, "History Today" chapter on Germany.
The chapter is entitled: "Springtime in Germany".
In a prepared statement, the president of the committee, Mr. Caspar Milquetoast stated,
"We want to thank Oberstuermbahnfuehrer, Reinhardt Scheissburger for his imput and advice in formulating the chapter on Germany."
Update on Anti-Semitism in Holland and France
As part of my on-going reporting on the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe, I am cross-posting two recent reports on Holland and France. The first report (on Holland) is from the Jerusalem Post. The second (on France) is from Haaretz (Israel).
http://www.jpost.com/Home/Article.aspx?id=185195
And in France....
(Hat tip to Orange County Task Force on Anti-Semitism)
http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/news/report-french-synagogue-gets-letter-with-death-threats-bullets-1.310194
It is fascinating how two nations that were occupied by the Nazis in World World Two and saw their Jewish citizens rounded up and deported to the East and extermination could tolerate what is happening today. Here we have Holland, a nation that is forever bragging about their tolerance (as they tolerate intolerance in the name of political correctness)and France, where a synagogue built on the ruins of a transit camp to the extermination centers of Poland can be attacked.
What in the Hell is happening in Europe?
Pretty much the same thing (albeit on a smaller scale) as what happened in the 1930s and 1940s). It is shameful.
http://www.jpost.com/Home/Article.aspx?id=185195
And in France....
(Hat tip to Orange County Task Force on Anti-Semitism)
http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/news/report-french-synagogue-gets-letter-with-death-threats-bullets-1.310194
It is fascinating how two nations that were occupied by the Nazis in World World Two and saw their Jewish citizens rounded up and deported to the East and extermination could tolerate what is happening today. Here we have Holland, a nation that is forever bragging about their tolerance (as they tolerate intolerance in the name of political correctness)and France, where a synagogue built on the ruins of a transit camp to the extermination centers of Poland can be attacked.
What in the Hell is happening in Europe?
Pretty much the same thing (albeit on a smaller scale) as what happened in the 1930s and 1940s). It is shameful.
Holocaust Survivor Gets Cursed Out in NY Mosque Protest
Hat tip to Patriot's Corner
A minor disagreement captured on video during the anti-mosque protest in New York.
I think that blond guy has a future in broadcasting-with MSNBC.
A minor disagreement captured on video during the anti-mosque protest in New York.
I think that blond guy has a future in broadcasting-with MSNBC.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Congressman Ron Klein Weighs in on UC-Irvine
I am posting a letter received by a friend and colleague from the office of Ron Klein (D), a congressman from Florida's 22nd district in connection with the on-going controversies at the University of California at Irvine. With the permission of the recipient, I am copying the letter below.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear _____, (name deleted)
My name is Virginia Neale. I’m a policy advisor to Congressman Klein. The
Congressman received your email and wanted me to pass along a letter he wrote to
urge the Department of Education to reign in schools like UC Irvine that fail to
adequately respond to incidents of anti Semitic harassment against students on
their campuses (the letter is attached). The Congressman organized a briefing
for other members of Congress and their staff members to educate them on the
types of incidents that have occurred at UCI and other schools around the
country, and what the federal government can do to stop and prevent future
incidents. He followed up by drafting a letter to Secretary of Education, Arne
Duncan, to ask him to clarify the Department’s policy in these circumstances.
In the past, the Department has used their authority to deny (or threaten to
deny) federal funds to schools that fail to adequately respond to this type of
discrimination and harassment against their own students. I hope this
information is helpful. Please feel free to send us additional information on
this topic, as it is very important to Congressman Klein.
All the best,
Virginia Neale
Virginia Neale
Legislative Assistant
Congressman Ron Klein (FL-22)
313 Cannon House Office Building
202.225.3026
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear _____, (name deleted)
My name is Virginia Neale. I’m a policy advisor to Congressman Klein. The
Congressman received your email and wanted me to pass along a letter he wrote to
urge the Department of Education to reign in schools like UC Irvine that fail to
adequately respond to incidents of anti Semitic harassment against students on
their campuses (the letter is attached). The Congressman organized a briefing
for other members of Congress and their staff members to educate them on the
types of incidents that have occurred at UCI and other schools around the
country, and what the federal government can do to stop and prevent future
incidents. He followed up by drafting a letter to Secretary of Education, Arne
Duncan, to ask him to clarify the Department’s policy in these circumstances.
In the past, the Department has used their authority to deny (or threaten to
deny) federal funds to schools that fail to adequately respond to this type of
discrimination and harassment against their own students. I hope this
information is helpful. Please feel free to send us additional information on
this topic, as it is very important to Congressman Klein.
All the best,
Virginia Neale
Virginia Neale
Legislative Assistant
Congressman Ron Klein (FL-22)
313 Cannon House Office Building
202.225.3026
Let's "Play Name That Bridge (Builder)"!
Match the below bridges with their names.
1
2
3
4
5
a) Golden Gate Bridge
b) Bridge to Nowhere
c) Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf's bridge between America and the Middle East
d) Exploding bridge
e) Collapsed bridge
f) Brooklyn Bridge
Are you confused yet?
Here are the answers (I think):
Number 1---e (Collapsed bridge)
Number 2---b (Bridge to Nowhere)
Number 3---d (Exploding Bridge)
Number 4---a (Golden Gate Bridge)
Number 5---f (Brooklyn Bridge)
But wait! What about "C"-that bridge that Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is building between America and the Middle East?
What bridge?
1
2
3
4
5
a) Golden Gate Bridge
b) Bridge to Nowhere
c) Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf's bridge between America and the Middle East
d) Exploding bridge
e) Collapsed bridge
f) Brooklyn Bridge
Are you confused yet?
Here are the answers (I think):
Number 1---e (Collapsed bridge)
Number 2---b (Bridge to Nowhere)
Number 3---d (Exploding Bridge)
Number 4---a (Golden Gate Bridge)
Number 5---f (Brooklyn Bridge)
But wait! What about "C"-that bridge that Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is building between America and the Middle East?
What bridge?
DEA and "Ebonics"
This week, the Drug Enforcement Administration is announcing that they are looking for "Ebonics speakers".
For those of you who are NOT UC Santa Cruz Community Studies majors, Ebonics is the dopey name a bunch of academics gave to black vernacular English, a non-standard variety of English spoken in inner cities populated by African-Americans. Apparently, DEA needs these folks to help monitor wiretaps.
Give me a break!
When I was a DEA agent, we had plenty of black agents who could go into the inner city and buy dope undercover all day. They could use both varieties of English.
More importantly, it's too bad the suits at DEA decided to use that ridiculous term. That's nothing, however. I can remember when some academics were proposing that "Ebonics" be taught in high school and college as a valid foreign language. How demeaning is that?
Not that I have anything against non-standard varieties of any language. (I learned Papiamentu, which is a creole.) They are a valid means of communication. In a sense we all mix standard and non-standard language depending on the social situation. Yet, we must all know that using non-standard varieties can be devastating to any hopes of a career if you can't also use standard English. Indeed, any effort to raise a non-standard variety of English to the same plane as standard English only does a disservice to those speakers (in this case, African-Americans).
But that's not fair, you say. It is discriminatory. It is racist. Hogwash. It's no different than telling a dock worker in Marseilles that he needs to be able to use Parisian French (the standard) if he wants to rise into the higher socio-economic strata. Fair or not, it's reality. We are all judged on how we speak our native tongue.
But to Hell with reality. Here we have some academics encouraging the promotion of a non-standard variety of English. Why?
Political correctness.
For those of you who are NOT UC Santa Cruz Community Studies majors, Ebonics is the dopey name a bunch of academics gave to black vernacular English, a non-standard variety of English spoken in inner cities populated by African-Americans. Apparently, DEA needs these folks to help monitor wiretaps.
Give me a break!
When I was a DEA agent, we had plenty of black agents who could go into the inner city and buy dope undercover all day. They could use both varieties of English.
More importantly, it's too bad the suits at DEA decided to use that ridiculous term. That's nothing, however. I can remember when some academics were proposing that "Ebonics" be taught in high school and college as a valid foreign language. How demeaning is that?
Not that I have anything against non-standard varieties of any language. (I learned Papiamentu, which is a creole.) They are a valid means of communication. In a sense we all mix standard and non-standard language depending on the social situation. Yet, we must all know that using non-standard varieties can be devastating to any hopes of a career if you can't also use standard English. Indeed, any effort to raise a non-standard variety of English to the same plane as standard English only does a disservice to those speakers (in this case, African-Americans).
But that's not fair, you say. It is discriminatory. It is racist. Hogwash. It's no different than telling a dock worker in Marseilles that he needs to be able to use Parisian French (the standard) if he wants to rise into the higher socio-economic strata. Fair or not, it's reality. We are all judged on how we speak our native tongue.
But to Hell with reality. Here we have some academics encouraging the promotion of a non-standard variety of English. Why?
Political correctness.
Andrew McCarthy Nails it
Former prosecutor, now writer and commentator, Andrew McCarthy, has written a thoroughly insightful piece in National Review regarding the struggle within Islam in America. I am proud to cross-post it.
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/244349/which-islam-will-prevail-america-andrew-c-mccarthy
McCarthy has drawn an interesting distinction between everyday Muslims in the US, many of whom came to America to escape shariah, as opposed to their "leaders and spokesmen", who are following the Muslim Brotherhood line. He mentions true Muslim heroes like Irshad Manji, Steven Schwartz and Zuhdi Jasser, who are not afraid to speak out against the Islamist agenda. If there is indeed a climate of fear within the Muslim community, it needs to be exposed. As I have said repeatedly, these are the people who we need to support. It appears our own leaders are reaching out to the wrong Muslims.
Great article, Mr McCarthy.
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/244349/which-islam-will-prevail-america-andrew-c-mccarthy
McCarthy has drawn an interesting distinction between everyday Muslims in the US, many of whom came to America to escape shariah, as opposed to their "leaders and spokesmen", who are following the Muslim Brotherhood line. He mentions true Muslim heroes like Irshad Manji, Steven Schwartz and Zuhdi Jasser, who are not afraid to speak out against the Islamist agenda. If there is indeed a climate of fear within the Muslim community, it needs to be exposed. As I have said repeatedly, these are the people who we need to support. It appears our own leaders are reaching out to the wrong Muslims.
Great article, Mr McCarthy.
IPT Uncovers Rauf Speech
Steve Emerson's Investigative Project on Terrorism has uncovered a 2005 speech by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the organizer of the Ground Zero mosque project, in which he blasts the United States-his adopted country. I am cross-posting this from the Investigative Project on Terrorism web site.
http://www.investigativeproject.org/2121/rauf-lecture-reveals-radicalism
Keep in mind that Rauf is a native of Kuwait, the country we liberated not so long ago from Iraqi occupation. Some gratitude.
How does this match with Rauf's repeated claims that this proposed Islamic center is going to be a bridge between Islam and the West? I'm not buying it. The first time Rauf or anybody else stands up in that building and repeats these charges he will be making a mockery of this whole project. Those words spoken in the would-be Cordoba House, Park 51, or whatever they choose to call it will be a slap in the face to every American.
God only knows what Rauf is telling people in the Middle East as we speak on his State Department-paid trip.
*Update:
Today, State Department spokeshole PJ Crowley defended Rauf's comments and the decision to send him to the Middle East.
"We are aware of those remarks," said Crowley. "I would just caution any of you that choose to write on this that once again you have a case where a blogger has pulled out one passage from a very lengthy speech, if you read the entire speech, you will discover exactly why we think he is rightfully participating in this international speaking tour."
Mr Crowley, the Investigative Project on Terrorism is much more than a blog. Steve Emerson is doing the work our government should be doing.
How stupid and gullible we are.
http://www.investigativeproject.org/2121/rauf-lecture-reveals-radicalism
Keep in mind that Rauf is a native of Kuwait, the country we liberated not so long ago from Iraqi occupation. Some gratitude.
How does this match with Rauf's repeated claims that this proposed Islamic center is going to be a bridge between Islam and the West? I'm not buying it. The first time Rauf or anybody else stands up in that building and repeats these charges he will be making a mockery of this whole project. Those words spoken in the would-be Cordoba House, Park 51, or whatever they choose to call it will be a slap in the face to every American.
God only knows what Rauf is telling people in the Middle East as we speak on his State Department-paid trip.
*Update:
Today, State Department spokeshole PJ Crowley defended Rauf's comments and the decision to send him to the Middle East.
"We are aware of those remarks," said Crowley. "I would just caution any of you that choose to write on this that once again you have a case where a blogger has pulled out one passage from a very lengthy speech, if you read the entire speech, you will discover exactly why we think he is rightfully participating in this international speaking tour."
Mr Crowley, the Investigative Project on Terrorism is much more than a blog. Steve Emerson is doing the work our government should be doing.
How stupid and gullible we are.
Monday, August 23, 2010
What I Would Like to See in the Next Blagoyevich Trial
Now that the first Rod Blagoyevich trial has ended in a partial fiasco and that loudmouth ex-governor is once again proclaiming what he will do in the next trial, here is what I'd like to see on the next go-around.
I would like to see "hot shot" prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald call Tony Rezko to testify. He knows where all the bodies are buried in Chicago.
I would like to see Blagoyevich follow through on his threats to subpoena White House folks like Rahm Emanuel regarding that Senate job.
How about Valerie Jarrett?
How about Jesse Jackson Jr?
Were they not all scrambling for that Senate post being vacated by Obama?
"Uhhh...yeahhhhhh."
It seems to me that either Blagoyevich or the government would have an interest in calling people who were on the other end of all this alleged selling of the Senate seat. Of course, Blagoyevich's thinking is that if Rahm and the crew get subpoenaed, maybe Eric Holder will pressure the prosecutors to drop the case or make a sweet plea deal for Rod.
"Uhhh...yeahhhhhh."
I would like to see Blagoyevich live up to his previous promise to testify.
I would like to see Fitzgerald live up to his hot shot image as a prosecutor and win a conviction when he has the defendant on tape openly talking about selling the Senate seat. This is the guy who enjoyed a Washington DC jury to get a conviction on Lewis "Scooter" Libby for the "outing" of CIA employee Valerie Plame-even after he knew that the "outer" was Richard Armitage (and Plame was not a "secret agent").
This case is so much bigger than Rod Blagoyevich. It concerns the whole rotten Chicago system of politics, and it concerns the White House and their efforts to get Valerie Jarrett that Senate seat. If this case begins and ends with Rod Blagoyevich, then there is a cover-up going on.
Finally, if Blagoyevich is convicted, then he would have every incentive to spill the beans. It will be incumbent on the prosecutors to obtain his cooperation. If they don't, something stinks.
"Uhhh...yeahhhhhh."
Yeah!
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