Plea for tolerance

Email | 09/18/01 | Mick Andersen

[Jim Robinson]

Just received the following plea via email:

Friends,

Amid all the horror that the events of September 11 brought to our nation are news reports of attacks and threats against Arab Americans around the country. In Arizona, a Sikh Indian man (a Hindu, not a Moslem) was just murdered, most likely by someone who confused a darker skinned man in traditional dress with someone of Arab descent. The attack was only the worst example of an unfortunate vigilantism that seems to be popping up in a number of places. It is an ugly way to honor the memory of the people of many races, creeds and religions who died last Tuesday.

It is not only un-American to discriminate because of race, religion or national origin; those who do so risk creating divisions within the United States where none need exist, and cause the world to shake its head in wonder at how quickly the terrorists have succeeded in changing our country into something it wasn't before their hideous deeds.

For those whose hearts are now hardening out of an understandable feeling of fear and vulnerability, one should remember that the language skills and overseas contacts of Arab Americans will likely prove to be invaluable in defeating the terrorists. There is a historical precedent--after World War II, the mobilization of the Italian-American community here in defense of freedom was crucial in avoiding a communist takeover of Italy in the post-war period.

In the past few days our national political leadership has rightly pointed to the many contributions made by Arab Americans to our way of life, as professionals, taxpayers, friends and neighbors. In the days and weeks ahead, we should all be vocal in our condemnation of the voices of hate and unreason. If you know someone of Arab descent, now is the time to be a friend in deed; if you know of an Arab-American owned business in your area, you may want to patronize it now with even greater frequency, as a sign to those who would want us to live in terror--and those who would "defend" us through hate--that their tactics didn't work.

Please send this message to as many people as you can.

God Bless America!

Mick Andersen
Churchton, Maryland

I think this is good advice. I'm asking for the rhetoric on Free Republic to be toned down. We were attacked by a vicious terrorist group. These terrorists are being supported by a relatively small segment of the Muslim community. Please do not condemn all members of a race or religion for the barbaric acts of a few. We are at war against the terrorist groups and the rogue government regimes that harbor them. With few exceptions, the rest of the world is allied with us against these groups, but we are not at war with an entire people or race or religion. We must rid the world of the scourge of terrorism, while continuing to respect and defend the rights and lives of the innocent.

Thanks,

Jim Robinson

[RnMomof7]

YEP

[StoneColdGOP]

Thank you, sir.

[StoneColdGOP]

Goodbye, you won't be missed.

[TERMINATTOR]

I find no racism or violence in these posts. This discusion is more to do with religion than race. I seek the advice of those who know muslims best, like their Christian, and israeli neighbors. Do they consider all muslims a threat, or just the radical ones? That is the question, in my opinion. They're the muslim experts. I value their opinions.

[RnMomof7]

Dear Jim, I love ya and FR..but I want to say that I am concerned that political correctness has taken over FR.

A thread from a legit Muslim site,commenting on a couple funny traditions was just pulled..

The question now needs to be asked are you going to protect all of our feelings?..

I am very hurt by comments on Hillarys weight (as I am weight challanged) also all those "tin foil hat" jokes 'hurt' people that want to share their particular conspiracy.

I think we also need to stop making fun of Chelsea because alot of people have ugly kids..also you need to start pulling all those very nasty homosexual threads..

Now I know that you are afraid of inflaming" anti arab feelings...but please remember that every politically correct censor has a good resaon for the good of our nation.

This is your site..you may do what you like..but a knife with no edge doesnt cut...it is the same with political discussion...

[Jim Robinson]

"This is your site..you may do what you like..but a knife with no edge doesnt cut...it is the same with political discussion..."

Well, if you do not mind, I'd still like to keep racism, religion bashing, profanity and threats of violence, etc., off of Free Republic. I support the President 100% in tracking down Osama bin Laden and wiping out his entire terrorist organization and defeating any country that would spawn or host these animals, but I am not going to condemn the entire race or religion. I'm sure there are other places on the Internet where you can express these things to your heart's content. But not here. Thank you.

[FITZ]

It is really simple.

If it was all so simple as you say then there should have been some indications ahead of time they planned something this awful to us. I don't think it's simple, I don't think it's over. I also think there is little or no evidence of racism because I work with Christian Arabs and none have experienced any harassment at all. The Jews are hiring security guards for synogogues, so it's clear they are feeling harassed but they aren't complaining, they are doing something themselves about it. We have a Jewish doctor working with us, and now we have a security guard, I think the Jews are at far more risk and no one seems to mind anti-Israel or anti-Jew posts. I read people posting that we should pull out of Israel now and let the Muslims have at them but that isn't considered hate.

[Darth Reagan]

Do they consider all muslims a threat, or just the radical ones?

That's the question I want answered, as well. I've seen a lot of posts suggesting that all Muslims must be a threat because they are required to be so by the Koran. I'm not convinced. I'm sure, however, that JimRob's rules will allow a discussion of this issue.

[AppyPappy]

We adopt college students through the International Center here at the University. It gives international students a chance to learn American culture. Our student is a Muslim. She no more blindly follows some Mullah than I blindly follow Pat Robertson. The vast majority of Muslims students are not identifiable by any means. The women don't wear head coverings. The men don't wear those beanies. They are typical college students. The only discernable difference is they don't eat pork.

A guy at mu church is from Sri Lanka (below India). He is scared to death that some nut is going to come after him. This is insane.

[No Truce With Kings]

I said it was simple. I did not say it was easy. Nor do I care if it is easy.

They "got away" with it because we live in an open society. We do not routinely track the movements of all of our citizens, and feed them through databases to see what connections with proscribed organizations shake out. Nor should we. Proscribed organizations can change from Terror International to born-again Christians in the change of an administration.

However, once criminals do provide the government a reasons to go through their lives, the government can and will do so with a remorseless thoroughness. There are 5000+ investigators on this case. That is 250 per terrorist. You can find a lot of information, quickly, on an individual with 250 people pawing through his life. Which leads to others, and so forth.

[dighton]

... no one seems to mind anti-Israel or anti-Jew posts.

Not so. Drooling anti-Jewish posts get nuked here. You haven't seen some of them, because they disappeared within minutes.

[FITZ]

Okay, so some Muslims are scared right now but from what I can see around here, non-Muslims are even more scared. Jews are scared, Christians are scared, atheists are scared. They reported last night on the news here that young kids are showing signs or depression, unable to function in school, many can't sleep in their own beds right now. Why do they feel they should be immune from all fear?

[FITZ]

I have seen some people suggest we pull out of Israel and let the Arabs have at them. I think that sounds like extreme hate and those posters are still around and the threads didn't get pulled. It's okay now to wish the execution of every last Israeli, because we all know full well that's what would happen. That seems to be hate to me.

[AppyPappy]

The kids are scared because the adults fill their heads with this stuff. My kids don't have problems with it because we don't watch TV. But there are kids who come to school after watching buildings blow up all night and they are terrified.

Trust me, you don't want to be a foriegn-looking in this country right now. We have American Indian students getting threats. It's insane. One of my frat bothers was from Lebanon and was a Christian. He HATED Muslims because he was from Beirut. I bet he is keeping low because someone might think he is a Muslim terrorist.

[dighton]

I have seen some people suggest we pull out of Israel and let the Arabs have at them.

No doubt there are pro-Palestinians here, many of whom have little love for Jews. Though I'm of Jewish birth and pro-Israeli, and (naturally) the Pallie faction annoys me, I wouldn't want them silenced. Thick skin is always useful.

For really awful stuff, consider the Abuse button. Best not to *overuse* it -- "break glass only in emergency."

[P-Marlowe]

There are nutcakes on both sides. Those who would attack someone because of their race or religion should not be tolerated. However we must remember that in this war, there is an unseen enemy. The enemy is an IDEA. That idea appears to be rooted in Radical or Fundamentalist Islamic Teachings.

If we tone our rhetoric down in order not to offend some Muslims, then we are going to be literal VICTIMS of political correctness.

If the enemy is an IDEA then we must oppose that IDEA with all our heart and all our soul and all our mind. To tolerate those IDEAS is to tolerate those who would do us harm.

If the Koran really does teach this Hatred of the West and Hatred of Jews and Christians, then it is imperative that this fact be pointed out to everyone in America. If it is not taught by the Koran then this fact must be emphasised by the Muslim Clerics themselves. So far as I can tell only a handful of so-called Moderate Islamic Clerics have condemned this action. Until I see a universal condemnation by nearly every Muslim Cleric in the United States, then I have to question whether their alligiance is to their "Radical" Islamic teachings or to the United States of America.

I've been waiting a week now and the only thing I have heard from these "Clerics" is that most of them are complaining that they have been misunderstood, but they haven't bothered to make their positions clear.

Let us not be ignorant of who our enemy is. The enemy is amongst us. These people who did this have been pretending to be good Americans for years. They are ALL Muslims. Let us not ignore that fact.

[BullDog108]

Don't slam the door on your way out, clymer!

[caddie]

I will comply for one reason, and one reason only, to-wit, my respect for The Man.

But to pretend that there is not widespread support among co-religionists of these terrorists, is to be delusional, which is something I decided long ago in my life never to be.

Many will misinterpret my comments as mindless jingoism or prejudice, but they are wrong.

My aim now is to help my countrymen understand and preserve the Republic against hostiles, foreign and domestic, who heretofore have been broadly underestimated by the Barney/Rodney King/Mr. Rogers types to be mere crazies.

Never forget that the Ottoman empire once included Vienna, and this was not altogether that long ago, compared with the lifespan of our great nation.

Never underestimate the motivation of hostiles against the United States. This should go without saying after September 11, 2001.

I am sorry for offensive comments made to other posters, and plead my aims were as above, not merely to be petty or vindictive.

Remember that much of our laxity with regard to our national borders and sovreignty is due to intimidation from the Left: We must awaken from this sort of reactionism now, to save our country.

If this is labeled as xenophobia or racism by others, I and other real Americans must not listen.

Lest September 11 be but a preview of the new world order.

[caddie]

When are we going to see the 'mainstream' muslim community doing something to ferret out the terrorist networks?

Once I see some action from them, rather than just whining, I will be optimistic.

But show me one news account of anything like cooperation from the American muslim community, since the time of this disaster?

Anyone see news stories of shopkeepers coming forth, helping the FBI, as translators, etc.?

And I don't mean name names, just some indication that the American muslims are getting off their a$$es to help.

I have yet to see such a story. Lots of hand-holding and candle lighting, but where's the beef?

Meanwhile, the "kindler, gentler, caddie" would like to close with my new theme song:

"I love you,"

"You love me"

"We're a FReeping Family"

"With a hug and kiss from me to all of you."

"We won't say anything about minorities, too."

[AFF]

Personaly I don,t give a dam Bella_Bru. If they don't stand up and take care of this, then stand aside or become road kill.