Letters to the Editor
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Mr. Rosendall
I would also describe myself as unapologetically and stridently critical of radical Islam, and critical of the flaws in Islamic culture that has allowed it to flourish. That doesn't mean I feel these views have a place in a critique of the ultra-xenophobic, anti-intellectual and ignorant anti-Muslim right wing whose flourishing points to flaws in our own culture, (or that not including them implies refuting them). Why would that not be so?
It bears noting that the latter of these is both highly topical and important while the former is academic. Malcolm X used to say there was nothing that White America could do for Black America, that Black America was the only salvation for Black America and that White America was only capable of helping itself by eliminating the scourge of racism from its own ranks, for its own ends, (i.e. to ease the debauching effect of racism as it permeates society). In this context, that means we cannot help the Islamic world with its problems, but we can help ourselves. By doing so, which necessitates such expression as GG's post, we will be doing the only thing it is in our power to do to help the Islamic world address its own problems.
Golden Boy and his ilk want to intern Muslims and throw away the key while we pursue invasions and bombings of Muslim countries so as to preempt them imposing Sharia law on the United States by committing heretofore unprecedented homegrown perpetrated terrorism. In this context, you may want to weigh whether Glenn should make a greater effort to speak to flaws in the Muslim world, or not.
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Home of the brave?
I guess we can throw that part out along with land of the free...
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Policeman Paul
your misreading of Glenn has gotten you off to a bad start here, but there's no reason that cannot be corrected.
Yeah, Rosendall, didn't you know you have to explain yourself to Paul and get your permission slip signed by Kitt before you post here? Jeez, of all the nerve.
Now, if you'll kindly report to the re-education center, we'll see if "that cannot be corrected."
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Anonymous
Your tedious snark precedes you. If you indeed revel in the cloak of anonymity, as you claim, you should really mix it up now and again with a point, or hell, even throw in a few facts. Otherwise people are going to know it's you after the first perfunctory zinger and move on.
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Correction
Glenn's army is really taking it on the chin in this discussion, so I hesitate to pile on, only I cannot let this one go by:
"Golden Boy and his ilk want to intern Muslims and throw away the key while we pursue invasions and bombings of Muslim countries so as to preempt them imposing Sharia law on the United States by committing heretofore unprecedented homegrown perpetrated terrorism."
I do not want to intern Muslims, and I certainly do not want to see us pursue invasions and bombings of Muslim countries. I have written many times against the war in Iraq; it is illegal, pernicious to our national interests, and does not even have the excuse of being conducted competently. For a good understanding of my views read Richard Clarke's excellent Against All Enemies; I also recommend Herb Cohen for his clear thinking on terrorism and the appropriate responses to it (he is an internationally known negotiator whose advice had been sought by Reagan, Carter, and Clinton).
Other than that correction, I'm happy to let my arguments stand. No one can dispute the chilling implications of the Pew Poll, and I see that no one has, and it is certainly relevant to Glenn's article. The flying imams, naively used as an example of innocents, are instead connected to the murky world of 9/11 operatives and "fundraising" for Palestinians; if you are comfortable with that you certainly won't be discomfited by me pointing it out.
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Correcting "Correction"
Golden Boy:
Repeating lies does not make them true. If anything, repeating a lie once it's been refuted only makes it more damningly false.
And, of course, the one who repeats it all the more of a damn liar.
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Oh, You Sweetly Promise
I'm happy to let my arguments stand.
Golden Boy
Somehow I doubt that.
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Back to the mat it can seem as if the guy standing over you is lying down
Golden Boy, there's a refutation of the Pew Poll that's been posted for you. I would argue much the same way and since I can't be asked to preach to someone with their fingers in their ears, I'll take the short cut and repost the link.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2007/05/22/polls/index.html
Some highlights:
"Polling data of this type can be used to "demonstrate" that substantial numbers of virtually every religious group within America holds similar views, and in many cases, views which are even more extremist and, one could say, rather deranged. A 2005 Pew poll, for instance, found that large majorities of Christians believe in torture -- not "enhanced interrogation techniques," but torture"
and:
"...the Pew Poll from today itself revealed that 42% of American Christians -- 42% -- consider themselves "Christians first," not "Americans first."
There is more to your hopelessly obtuse interpretation of that poll's findings that is not pointed out in Glenn's piece. Foremost among that is your liberal (small l) application of the percentage of persons who answered "I don't know" to their view of Al Qaeda to whatever classification fits your argument. Fyi, the GWM patented 'what's your gut telling you' method is not something statisticians sanction. Rather it is something that talk radio morons indulge in that anyone with half a brain must suffer. Less obvious but also important is that the very small number of Muslims in the US who support Al Qaeda is tiny by comparison with the poll's margin for error, which means we really do not know the number of people who sympathize with these extremists, but, in any case, that it is not unlikely to be smaller than the proportion of home grown radical militia-men that want to violently overthrow the federal government a la Timothy McVeigh. Finally as regards the poll, it included vast number of foreign born Muslims, possibly including as well many recently immigrated, who are taking with them the views prevalent in their home countries which the Bush administration has been so key in fomenting.
Glenn's army taking it on the chin indeed.
Finally, as for what you would have done about this, and how my characterization of it is off the mark, your no contest plea has yet to convince me. You point to dark accusations of the intentions of Muslims in our midst without wanting to be the first to point up what that these "facts" mean we must do about it to protect ourselves- even as it's as obvious as the towel on a Muslim's head. So, please, don't force me to speak for you. Given the important facts you've availed us, the followers of Muslim-apologist Glen Greenwald, of, what should America do? After all, we can't just sit around hoping that this Evil Force will not come after us. Right?