Posted on 08/19/2006 6:07:18 AM PDT by CobaltBlue
Arab Americans are as diverse as the national origins and immigration experiences that have shaped their ethnic identity in the United States, with religious affiliation being one of the most defining factors. The majority of Arab Americans descend from the first wave of mostly Christian immigrants. Sharing the faith tradition of the majority of Americans facilitated their acculturation into American society, as did high intermarriage rates with other Christian ethnic groups. Even though many Arab Christians have kept their Orthodox and Eastern Rite church (Greek Catholic, Maronite, Coptic) affiliations, which have helped to strengthen ethnic identification and certain rituals, their religious practices have not greatly distinguished them from the Euro-centric American culture. Roughly two-thirds of the Arab population identifies with one or more Christian sect.
(Excerpt) Read more at aaiusa.org ...
Listen to me. I want to profile MUSLIMS! Like the FBI profiling German-Americans who belonged to a Bund or Irish-Americans who have connections with the IRA. And let us not forget that there is a Jew in jail for feeding the Israelis secret information. ANYONE whose first loyalty is not to the United States is suspect, especially when that cohort representats a potential threat to the United States.
"At the same time, we have to make sure we're not trampling on American values/ideals either in our thinking or our policies."
During most of our history American leaders have recognized that when at war, we almost always "trample on American values/ideals" to some extent.
Your Mr. Lincoln used US troops to intimidate the Maryland legislature so that it did not secede. He closed Northern newspapers that criticized his administration. He suspended the writ of habeas corpus. He defied court orders, and at one time at least contemplated arresting a number of judges, including members of the US Supreme Court. The latter didn't happen, but it could well have.
During WW I H.L. Mencken was stopped from publishing because of his German sympathies. Life as a Japanese American was not terrific during WW II (despite Bob Taft's opposition to Earl Warren's and FDR's incarceration plans).
In general, the infringements of American ideals have been greatest when the threat was greatest. No infringements of consequence were enacted during the Spanish-American War, because Spain's military might was a joke.
During most of our history American leaders have recognized that when at war, we almost always "trample on American values/ideals" to some extent.
I somewhat object to the "phrase war on terror" just as I object to the phrase "war on drugs." It leads people to believe the problem can be solved solely through military action and that there is a beginning, middle and end.
I believe we're engaged in an open ended conflict that will require much more than the military.
Well, extra surveillance on all Mohammeds, Husseins, Alis, Osamas, Ismaels, and Abdullahs (whether as first or middle name) and their known associates, probably would cut down the terrorists options quite a lot.
A good scholar of Islam could doubtless lengthen the list with a few more distinctly Muslim names.
I appoint you to go "profile" Massad Ayoob.
Great, you go tell Massood Ayoob which camp his family is to report to. Come heavily armed, You might last a few minutes longer that way.
True in many if not most cases. Many however came for the same reasons most Germans, Poles, etc, etc, came here. A better life for themselves and their children. Of course many Germans, Poles and so forth also came because of religious persecution in their homelands. Menonites, Jews, etc.
We also need to sell our foreign policy to the rest of the world. I'm NOT saying that foreign public opinion should determine our policies, but we need to do a better job laying out the facts as we see them and stating what our policies are. The Voice of America did a pretty good job during the Cold War. We also maintained reading rooms in American facilities around the world, which helped get out our views. A relative small amount of money can have a disproportionate impact where our case is just not being presented at all.
Agreed. The Arab Americans who are Christians still need to be profiled just to keep them out of the real procedures the govt. can use to trap the Muslim-Americans who seem to be CONFUSED on which nation to honor and which citizenship rights to drop or pick up. Profile all Muslims is my main concern and bug all, all Mosques.
(The Christan Arab voices are loud and strong in condemning the Islamic Terrorists. /sarcasm)
You can thank the media for this. I've seen it close and personal where several people were interviewed and only the pro-Hezbollah view was aired.
Oh yeah, in regards to foreign policy, I don't think we'll ever sell it. Our position in the world is unique and much more difficult.
On Free Republic, it seems to be about race, not about religion.
Not everyone on FR thinks that would be a bad idea.
One of the greatest guys I ever met was a Citadel grad, the father of a girl I dated. I was sorry to lose him when I dumped the girl.
Exactly. And for those who think profiling of any sort is unamerican, consider:
1. Bid for a city contract or apply to a public university. Not all races are equal.
2. The Voting Rights Act creates electoral districts based on . . .
3. Only american males must register for the draft.
All three of the above are approved by and found constitutional by the Blackrobes/ACLU.
And yet they tell us we cannot use the one factor common to all terrorists, their religion in a time of war? We are a nation gone mad.
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