Posted on 08/26/2010 3:32:01 AM PDT by Scanian
A crazed film student who recently embedded with Marines in Afghanistan is accused of a drunken, hate-fueled attack on a Muslim cabby in Midtown -- further heightening tensions in a city already gripped by the Ground Zero mosque controversy.
Michael Enright, 21, of upstate Brewster, asked his victim if he was a Muslim and exchanged pleasantries in Arabic before going berserk and slashing the driver's neck and face through the taxi's partition, police said.
He has been charged with attempted murder as a hate crime for the attack, in which he allegedly shouted, "This is a checkpoint, motherf- - -ker! I have to put you down!"
Cabby Ahmed Sharif, a Bangladeshi immigrant, said anger over the proposed Park Place mosque may have played a role in the horrifying attack.
"I know many people are upset. I didn't support the mosque at Ground Zero, either," the Jamaica, Queens, resident said.
"I've lived in this country for 35 years. I've worked hard. This country has helped me a lot. But before yesterday, I never felt like I didn't belong here.
"I feel very sad," Sharif, 43, continued. "I have been driving a taxi more than 15 years. All my four kids were born here. I never feel this hopeless and insecure before.
"Right now, the public sentiment is very serious. All drivers should be more careful."
Enright -- whose alcoholism has lead to several minor brushes with the NYPD -- returned to the United States in May after five weeks in Helmand Province filming the Marines.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
The stabber is a Liberal. MSM will put a quick Kibosh on the story.
YES! “Enright — whose alcoholism has lead to several minor brushes with the NYPD — returned to the United States in May after five weeks in Helmand Province filming the Marines.
He shot film projects for Intersections International, a nonprofit group that supports the mosque and “promotes interfaith dialogue and cross-cultural cooperation, specifically with our Muslim brothers and sisters.”
Michael Enright in court Wednesday on charges he slashed cabbie Ahmed Sharif.
The moral of this story is - don’t pick up intoxicated fares.
Yes, film students are almost always right-wing tea baggers.
Hmm, he’s a film student who did volunteer work for a lefty intercultural organization. But he embedded with the Marines, then comes back and stabs a Muslim cabbie saying “consider this a checkpoint, MF’er”. That’s an odd combination.
His appearance reminds me of the Kennedy clan. His drinking sure does, too.
Yeah, but how many lefties embed with the Marines, then come back and use military-inspired language about checkpoints before stabbing a Muslim? This guy is a nut but I think the odds are at least 50/50 that he turns out to be some kind of right-winger.
Sharif don’t like it...
Having been a cabbie about a million years ago- that translates to 'starve'. That's where a lot of your business is.
I'm just having a question nagging at me while reading this...
Did the Ft. Hood Shooter's charges rank hate crime status?
To quote another Lefty
“What’s the frequency Kenneth?”
ML/NJ
Then Cabbies would have no fares after 10:00 pm.
I'm seres. When I used to drink and over imbibe at the 'local watering hole', it was SOP to go back to the office and sleep on my couch. I always called a cab, even though it was less than a mile away.
Though I was such a 'good customer ($$$$$)' many times the Owner would give me a ride back in his Benz. Or his partner would have his chauffeur take me in his limo [I only drank in classy joints ;-)]
does anyone remember the movie...
Heavy Metal
?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.