Posted on 09/16/2001 7:26:43 PM PDT by jokemoke
Edited on 04/23/2004 12:03:31 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
Are Americans.
Let's Act Like It.
Friday, September 14, 2001 12:01 a.m. EDT There's a famous photo of a Japanese-owned grocery store in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor with these words emblazoned across the front: "I AM AN AMERICAN." It accurately encapsulates the way many of us in the Islamic and Arab community feel at this hour. As it becomes ever more apparent that our co-religionists have visited slaughter upon our compatriots, so many of us want to declare from the rooftops our allegiance to this great nation, to show our solidarity with our fellow citizens, and to join the fight against our common enemy.
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I understand where you are coming from, but in all honesty, I wouldn't trust their sincerity if they had put up the American flag in their windows. Don't forget, alot of these guys put up signs in their windows saying "black owned" during the L.A. riots in 1992.
How about a word about the persecution (mild word, "SLAUGHTER" is more accurate) of Christians in the Sudan, East Timor, Kosovo, Macedonia, The Phillipines? That's just this year. Your peace-loving co-religionists have been converting by the sword for 1400 years.
How about you and your fine, upstanding American co-religionists dropping a dime on the terrorists many of you know? Instead, you give them money, places to hide, cars, houses, jobs, papers. You wanna be an American, tell the cops what you know, right now.
How about one of your Arab-American newspapers condemning this act? Instead all we get is weasel-words. And as far as your clerics go, not one condemnation of these monstrous acts.
How about tonight, after you wash your various orifices in keeping with Mohammed's (may praise be upon Him) dictates, you unroll your rug and face the WTC. You might also want to face the fact that while washing is generally a good idea, many other of Mohammed's dictates are incompatible with residence in this country as a free man.
The anti-German hysteria was mostly during the First World War. Nebraska banned the teaching of German, sauerkraut was renamed 'victory cabbage' or some such nonsense, decent beer became hard to find. Many with German names changed them during the Great War.
No doubt there was some truth to this. I think, however, it was used to ease the conscience of those who wanted to implement the policy. But, those were different times, pre Civil Rights movement, hopefully we are a little more enlightened these days.
I'm surprised to hear about an internment camp on the West Coast, I thought they moved them more in country. Did I get that right?
The view of many of the internees, as the veteran relates, are not too surprising. If I had been locked up in an internment camp, I'd be feeling rather treasonous myself.
I just figured she'd be interested in seeing this.
Hmmm... It couldn't be because they secretly believe that the real justice has already been done, could it??
As far as the alleged racist basis of this, Chinese were *not* relocated.
~200k Germans and Italians together were interned, however all of these were enemy nationals.
A handful of people from smaller enemy nations such as Croatia and Romania were registered and monitored. Most were not because there were no Soviet-style population controls in the USA at the time -- unless these people came forward there was no finding them.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
Also, in 1993 the Bosnian govt. issued a passport to bin laden...they LOVE THAT guy...their President at the time issued him a special invitation to LIVE in the country ALONG SIDE the thousand or so of his mujahadeen soldiers who now live in formerly Serbian villages....with numerous bosnian wives.
On the other hand, it's quite reasonable for the FBI to take a close look at Muslim immigrants from Arab nations whose histories indicate any possible connection with terrorist organizations (through family, friends, writings or other sources), or whose actions in recent months parallel those of the hijackers. They'd probably be mobile, have no families here and be interested in skills that could be used in future attacks (demolition, flying planes, etc.), among other indications.
There's no reason to suspect that most American Muslims, especially those with deep familial and community ties here in the United States, are a threat to our security. Law enforcement can be vigilant for possible sleepers without resorting to blanket persecution of all American Muslims based on hysterical stereotypes.
What happened to Japanese-Americans during WWII was wrong, and should not be repeated. There are indicators beyond just skin color or religion that can be used to sniff out genuine threats to national security; hopefully, investigation and not prejudice will decide who becomes a suspect.
Quite correct. And I have a response. Here is something the US Muslim community could do that would really help.
We are about to engage in a war of ideas with the extremists of radical Islamicist sects and parties. I say a war of ideas, because the whole result will turn on the "recruitment" question, on the question of how the rank and file of average citizens in Muslim countries react to the struggle. Laden and company are counting on them reacting by excusing their murder policies, rather than siding with us. For our part we need to carefully aim in order to seperate moderate Muslims from the extremists.
This war of ideas will be decided by where the "split" is located, that define the two sides of the struggle. If the wedge is driven between all Muslims and all non-Muslims, then Laden and company have won. If it is driven between Laden and company and the majority of Muslims, then we have won.
Thus, it is a war of ideas. Laden offers a vision of medieval blood feud as the essence of a world civilization. I've studied that civilization, and I think Laden's rather a cramped and narrow view of it. I find his vision distinctly unappetizing, and can't recognize the Merciful and Compassionate anywhere within it.
The issue of the struggle will turn on whether most Muslims can see and side with a more attractive understanding of their civilization, and one less extremist and hostile to us, than the one Laden is offering. So here is what you can do.
Present such a vision. Preach to the majority of the Muslim world. Regard Laden as a direct competitor to yourselves, for the souls of your fellows throughout the Muslim world, and reach them. Save them from his grasp.
This would be good theology, and good patriotism. It would also be heartily appreciated, and a serious service to your country, your faith, and mankind.
If we start attacking Muslim nations and groups, what will the Muslims who live in America do? Who will they support? That is where the cutting edge will be defined.
Well we know what one German-American did, lead the Allied forces against Germany (Eisenhower).
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