Posted on 11/16/2001 1:23:35 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez
I'm throwing #59 in as my "Quote of the Century" nomination!!!
We have a winner!
I am in total agreement with you on this one. Some of his fellow workers even went on to give him a birthday celebration, so obviously not all of them were offended.
Let's face it, we have some very interesting, sometimes heated debates here on FR and in our other lives as we question how we got to where we are now in this war.
Those discussions often bring up mistakes US policy has made -- leaders we have helped to empower who turned out to be bad. It doesn't make us anti-American to have an honest exchange of ideas and views -- unless one is cheering 9-11, which I'm not certain Rahat was doing.
Ah! The magnificent, palm tree-lined streets of Old Ann Arbor in autumn!
Really?? I did not know that. Interesting.............wonder what she'll do about this after popping up out of her gopher hole? Think she'll stick up for the guy or stay out of it, due to today's "atmosphere"?
I'm betting she stays invisible on this one. :)
A "Moderate" American Muslim Parent's View
First, we have to recognize that Islam in America is probably closer to the true teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, may he be blessed, than at any other time in the last five hundred years. No, I'm not saying that Muslims are better believers today. I'm saying that the access to pure Islamic teachings and the ability to live them to their fullest moral and social potential is more pronounced here, in North America, than in Iraq, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nigeria or anywhere else. The Muslim world: forget about it. It's too bogged down in stupidity, corruption, nationalism, racism and every other kind of ailment you can imagine. The light of Islam has been put out in the Muslim world and has been reborn in the heart of the secular, faithless West. (Allah is truly great!)
There is nothing you or I can do to improve the Muslim world. Nothing. Just accept it and get over it. Part of being a Muslim is to choose your battles wisely. Even the Prophet left Mecca when he saw no more change could come. In the open and cosmopolitan society of Medina, the focus of the Muslims was in building a solid community which could live in relative safety. The Medinan situation is where the ideal of the community took form and flowered. We are now in the Meccan times today in the Muslim world and Islam, like so many Muslims, has made Hijrah to safer lands where it can work on regaining its strength.
The head of Goodwill Industries of South Florida has fired Miami mayoral candidate Michael Italie, a member of the Socialist Workers Party, because he is a ``subversive'' presence in the company.
 NO AUDIENCE: Michael Italie, left, stands outside Goodwill Industries on Monday with campaign supporter Heather Page, ready to demonstrate when employees exited. But the workers were sent home early. |
``We cannot have anyone who is attempting to subvert the United States of America,'' Pastrana said. ``His political beliefs are those of a communist who would like to destroy private ownership of American enterprises and install a communist regime in the United States.''
Italie, an obscure candidate for mayor who moved to Miami 18 months ago from Atlanta, says Pastrana is discriminating against him.
Italie had a minimum-wage job sewing jackets for the military. He worked at Goodwill's Allapattah factory for seven months.
``This is an attack on all workers who should not have to fear the loss of their jobs for having an opinion,'' Italie said.
The Miami branch of the American Civil Liberties Union was contacted by Italie and is investigating whether his civil rights may have been violated, chapter president Lida Rodriguez-Taseff said.
``If it is determined that Goodwill gets government funding, he might have a case,'' she said.
William Amlong, a prominent Fort Lauderdale labor attorney, said he doesn't believe Italie has much of a legal case.
``I think it's an outrageous, but probably a legal move,'' said Amlong, who added that by firing Italie, Pastrana may have given him a popularity boost. ``This guy has gone from being a very minor mayoral candidate to a martyr. Anybody who would have given a socialist a snowball's chance in hell in the Miami election would need to have his head examined.''
Pastrana said he researched the matter and fired Italie after receiving legal advice from lawyers he knows. He said he realizes he can't fire someone based on gender, race, religion or sexual orientation, but that firing someone for political views is legal.
Italie is one of nine candidates running for mayor of Miami against incumbent Joe Carollo.
He seldom attends forums and debates, but when he does, he stirs controversy because of his political stance.
He is an outspoken supporter of the Cuban revolution and critic of the U.S. war on terrorism.
At one debate at Miami-Dade Community College's Wolfson campus the week before he was fired, Italie butted heads with Carollo over the U.S. campaign against Afghanistan.
Carollo had few sympathetic words for Italie when he heard that he had been fired.
``I think the man has treasonous points of view,'' Carollo said. ``I think he would have made Benedict Arnold seem like a patriot.''
Italie said he is aware of Miami's powerful anticommunist stance, which is strengthened by large numbers of Cuban exiles -- including Pastrana -- who fled Fidel Castro's regime. But Italie believes he is representing the rights of all workers.
``I was not asked for my political point of view when I was hired,'' Italie said.
He said Goodwill officials began asking him about his beliefs the day after the televised MDCC debate. Three days later, they told him that ``because of your views on the U.S. government, you are a disruptive force and cannot work here any longer. Get your things and go,'' Italie said.
Pastrana said Italie's views are not compatible with Goodwill's mission.
Goodwill of South Florida has a multimillion-dollar contract with the United States government to produce clothes for the military and flags that will be used to adorn the coffins of soldiers killed in action, Pastrana said.
``Goodwill will not allow anyone to bring dishonor to such an important symbol,'' Pastrana said.
Amlong said that while it may not be illegal to fire an employee based on political views, it sets a dangerous precedent of stifling political discourse in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.
``I find it kind of ironic that a company making American flags is firing somebody for having diverse points of view,'' Amlong said.
Funny how these thing loop around the world...
Undoubtably some ancient relative's description from just after the tower of babble...
LOL, it is funny, isn't it? Romanian has some Turkish words in the language. The Turks loved to cross the Black Sea and invade.
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