Arne thrashes on the hook with the best of Glenn's Army. Keep waving your hands, Arne, some folks might be distracted. You've certainly managed to bury your own head in the sand.

Translated into proper English (so to speak):

"Oh. Oh, I see. Running away, eh? You yellow bastards! Come back here and take what's coming to you. I'll bite your legs off!"

Cheers,

Hey nitwit, the 70 you refer to wouldn't do anything, it's the 30 who would, that you should worry about.

You're soooo cute when you try to talk tough. But as usual, when you try to engage an argument you can't seem to keep up with what's actually being discussed.

We were talking about GB's characterization of the religion of Islam. He wants to claim it's an inherently violent one that has designs on the whole world. But the poll that he uses to back that claim up shows over 70 out of 100 American Muslims openly state beliefs that counter GB's claim. If 27 out of a group of 100 Muslims claim their religion should be interpreted in a way that supports violence, and 73 out of that group say otherise, how can you claim the group is inherently violent? Are you going to tell the 73 that they are wrong, and try to convince them that the other 27 are right?

GB's only response was to ask me if I knew what the 73 were really thinking? GB wants to believe they secretly do support violence, and cites conversations with a handful of Muslims as proof that they all secretly want to rule the world. But obviously if a person doesn't have the poll numbers in their favor and has to fall back on convincing people that some group "secretly" wants something or other, they've lost the argument.

I'm not sure why GB wants to believe what he does. The last time this subject came up the inevitable question was asked of him, "if , just for the sake of argument, we accept your premise that muslims are out to rule the world by violence, what would you like to see America do about this terrible threat?" GB said basically "nothing, I was just making an observation." Which is belied by the fact that he is so vehement about this subject every time it comes up. For somebody just making an observation he's awfully animated. It frustrates him that he can't convince anybody he's right, so he does what delusional people always do--claims everybody else is blind, stupid and ignorant and stomps off in a huff.

What GB is waiting for is the day when enough people are as scared as he is of those spooky Ay-rabs to feel free to say what he would really like to see done to protect us from them.

You, on the other hand, are just doing your usual best-you-can-do imitation of your radio and TV heroes at FOX. Like them you can't actually understand an argument, let alone win one. You've watched too many episodes of Johnny Quest and gotten so scared of the men in turbans that you had a little accident. Either learn to change that diaper yourself there little man, or wait outside 'til Mommy comes home. You're stinking up the place.

It's Godwin, not Goodwin, you buffoon.

Too much fun, GoldenBoy! More of your same tired self-defensive postures, and overused GB phrases ("creeping ___" is a favorite these days, eh?)

You've made it clear that your purpose for posting is primarily to express a fear of Islam and Muslims. Fine. You have a phobia, and you're using Salon as a place to express the phobia in its full glory.

But if you truly want to convert anyone to your phobic cause, you're going to have to do better.

GoldenBoy, do you really think that a handful of isolated, one-time incidents constitutes "making the case for the "creeping influence of Islam in this country?"

You really believe this? Your list is "making the case?"

This is actually what you think is a reasonable rationale for your position???

Because, geesh, let's admit it -- we can find a handful of isolated incidents about anything, group 'em together, and ominously label it a "creeping influence."

Hallelujah, guy, why don't we jump into a debate over the ominous implications of the "creeping influence of Buddhism" or the "creeping influence of Guatemalans."

Just like the "evil dangers of electrical tower emanations" are of no concern to those of us not inclined to wear tinfoil hats, your isolated incidents -- even when grouped together -- don't warrant hysteria and fear in those of us who don't suffer from irrational phobias.

If you all worries, fears, and Islamophobia are justified because of some idiotic thing that a city council did in the UK, plus something some obscure university does, plus the homicidal aspirations of isolated criminals, plus the beliefs of a extremely radical yet small minority of Muslims, then you know what -- it's truly time to get some help.

In the meantime, get some better examples. Because, if your posts are somehow meant to be instructive, then we can only conclude that the "creeping" infiltrating America is "creeping Islamophobia."

-Aruru

Arne,

Now that is funny. Nice reference.

Arma,

I don't want to believe what I do about Islam. Events and observations have forced it on me, as sadly I'm afraid it will on many people. I think that the Republican agenda for foreign policy and national security is pernicious and wrong-headed, but I see no sense in denying the reality of what Islam is and how Muslims practice it. Sorry to end on a down note, but there is a basic contradiction between Islamic ideology and Western style liberalism; I cannot see how denying that makes things better.

This is from a resident of San Antonio, TX. I am an avid reader of Mr. Greenwald. He has a calming influence. Delusional Islamophobes, please be courteous. We are busy down here defending our borders from illegal immigrants sent to reoccupy the Mexican Southwest. Most of us are not good at multi-tasking. Our President has already said we are fighting the Islamics over there so we don't have to fight them over here. I suggest you focus on the matters at hand and order your priorities.