Haiji is an honorific title given to a Muslim person who has successfully completed the Hajj to Mecca, and is often used to refer to an elder.

So while the Marines may consider it a "derogatory term for Muslims", the Muslims themselves do not.

So basically if the military consider it an insult, the Muslims consider it a compliment. So neither seems to mind it too much...although the military higher-ups get a bit PO'd when it is used.

I love meat and will continue to eat it. For those of you who say I don't know how they are treated before going to the supermarket to buy them pre-packaged, I have also been IN a slaughterhouse and enjoyed the meat that came from it afterwards. I've even hunted for meat and really enjoyed the taste as well.

Now as for those who say I do not have a conscience, I also have pets and treat them very well, have kids and a wife and treat them well as well.

I just enjoy eating meat and vegetables and will continue to do so until the day I expire from this earth, am returned to the soil and the animals get to eat the green grass my body returns to the earth.

on Obama's part! He's already been accused of not being patriotic enough...he's already been accused of having problems with his religion...he's already alienated his base...NOW he want's to risk being called "too European and too little American"????

NOT a good thing to do right now!!!

@ david sugarman

"@chiefpayne, it it were only 10% that would be fine - but it's over 20%, which means the minimum wage worker would get no refund. it's republicans like you, who vote against your own interests, that has screwed this country royally for the past decade."

AH but it WOULD be 10%...if there were NO deductions, NO tax shelters, NO personal exemptions...simply you earn $1 you pay in a dime - no tax brackets either.

You earn a $1 you pay a dime.

You think those who earn millions would go for that? No way...they would fight it tooth and nail because they KNOW it would cost them more than they are paying now. You think those who earn less than the minimal taxable amount would go for this? Hell no! They would actually have to PAY taxes for a change.

No, this system would only benefit ONE group...the ONE group that is shrinking and getting smaller all the time, going to either the lower or upper bracket. That's the Middle Class!

@ James T. Kirk

"Simply confiscate everything, 100% above some random number, say, $200,000. If you make more than that we just take it. In Europe the effect of high taxation is twofold. One, the obvious one is tax expatriation. The other, is noncash compensation such as free housing, education, live in staff, cars, etc etc etc. Either way would work for me."

Well it sure as HELL wouldn't work for me! Sounds FAR too communistic for my taste. Besides, if you take that amount, why in the world would the rich want to earn more than $200,000? It would just go to the government.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his need (or needs)" Karl Marx 1875

"Malusinka: thanks for the candor, but your pride won't balance the U.S.budget"

Neither will raising taxes.

"Obama proposes progressive taxes that will fall more heavily on those who can afford it - those with the most money. This isn't calling the rich greedy, cheating, or anything else, it's simply raising money from those who have more, both effective (despite what supply side voodoo economists claim) and -- even though you don't want to hear it -- fair."

Indeed...and just what will the rich do when taxes are raised? Why spend less, hire less people to run their businesses, find more tax breaks, - hell, maybe even move their money into a Swiss Bank account. Oh and they will have any incentive to earn more taken away too...so they will just not work as hard or do as much or expand their business - all of which will reduce the number of jobs available to non-rich people.

"In response, we are hearing whining It is not attractive to have someone feeling sorry for herself for being rich and being asked to do her fair share to help out."

You mistake whining for irritation for a lack of knowledge of economics. Rich people make jobs...simple as that...and if they have more disposable income, they will create even more jobs.