This New York Times op-ed is one of the more dishonest things I've seen written from the left side in quite some time. In it, Clark Kent Ervin (is he Superman?) argues that the recent arrest of eight terror suspects in Miami should caution us to not stereotype "Arabs as terrorists." Because none of the eight men were Arabs.
But all eight of them were radical Islamists. And that's why Ervin's argument is dishonest. Almost no one has ever argued that there is something about being Arab that makes people become terrorists. Many, many, people have argued, however, that there is something about being a radical Islamist that makes people terrorists. The lesson of this case, therefore, is that we must be watchful and confrontational towards radical Islam. Not, as Ervin writes, that "it's not always Arabs."
Posted by Stephen Silver at June 27, 2006 12:48 PMGood point... But how can I spot a radical islamist? And who do I call when I do?
What about radical fundamentalists?
Posted by: Jeff S at June 27, 2006 10:40 PMThe point, sir, is that being a radical-anything-[i]ist[/i] is the precursor to violent demonstration - not simply being a radical islamist. Anyone who feels neglected, exposed, 'done-wrong' or even witnesses injustice is potentially a terrorist or a prime candidate for Al Qaeda (to keep with the example) - but keep in mind that these same potential terrorists can also be our true revolutionaries (MLK, Gandhi, Jesus - to name a few). Could you imagine the power they could have had if they had asked for violence??
Does anyone [i]stop[/i] to ask where terrorists find the motivation for violence? Does it not seem logical to assume it stems from injustice? Oh, I forgot that some people are 'just born that way'? Hum-bug.
People are 'just born into' utter poverty or rediculous riches - could this be a link(hint: yes)? I digress.
Remember McVay? I do. He was poor.
Unibomber - Yup. Poor. By choice? I don't know.
Columbine - I was [i]in[/i] school then. Rich kids.
KKK - Rich and prominent.
Black Panthers - Poor with rich backing.
Gandhi, MLK Jr., Jesus? Trick question; no fair!
Hitler - His terrorism was legal through state sponsorship.
White America (cir. 18-1900's) - One word: nigger ([i]still[/i] sounds shitty - unless you suck)
Business/World Market - the stomping ground for terrorism at it's ugliest and most destructive form.
I'd much rather be killed within 10 minutes than suffer my whole life in utter despair, all the while witnessing people I care about and interact with dying, suffering and slaving everyday, then seeing my street corner change from hosting 'Mom n Pops...' to hosting 'Wine, Cheese and Gucci Socks'.
Look at small towns across america, for example. I used to hunt wild game 10 years ago at a place that now has a mega mall and super-mini-mall-ritzy-poshy-trend-[i]ist[/i] hangout. It all started with the wal-mart we'd buy our ammunition/tackle from. Ha. Consequences.
We push animals to the fringes just like we push out our poor - and animals are attacking back... don't you think human beings would, too?
The slums of my neighborhood (inhabited by the working poor who [i]support[/i] my community) get re-zoned into quiet obscurity while each day, as they look out of their boxey-houses' only window, they see the fancy 'old-town[i]e[/i]' section where $1500 a month apartments stand between two coffee houses, 3 restaurants and 2 deli's. Who are the patrons? The rich kids from the 'west-side' of town who moved east for the 'quaint-ness' and nostalgia - a.k.a. it was old and dilapidated... note, I said [i]was[/i].
Now, you might be asking yourself, "but isn't that good that it's being renovated?"
Of course.
But who physically did the renovation?
The same people who can't even hope to afford to set foot inside, but are forced to look daily at others enjoying the fruits of their labors.
"Then who was [i]really[/i] payed for the construction?", you might ask.
The rich contractor on the west side of town.
This is, IMHO, the rooting of the tree of violent expression. Where does the violence in my community come from?
Guess.
Why is it slowly decreasing?
Well, I know that the state/local prisons [i]aren't[/i] as underfunded as the schools (those on the poor side of town, of course). Of course, this doesn't mean that the prisons are properly funded, either - however, that's another story entirely.
Why aren't we worried about providing food, clean water, and shelter to all people (hint, outgoing, caring people are)? Ahh... because there is no money to be [i]made[/i] when compared to infrastructure sales (that aren't always needed by the people) and weapons sales - just to name two.
I [b]definately[/b] don't sympathise for either, so-called, 'side' (so piss off if you are going to call me a terrorist), in fact, they both need to grow up, but I definately see where both sides are coming from. All people need security in their lives. What is the root of the problem?
Lies - Lies designed to sweep the poor under the rug - no, designed to [i]weave[/i] a rug OUT OF the poor - so that the rich can have more toys and more room to play with them. It just so happens the way they make money is by providing violent toys to little boys and giving them a reason to fight - over, already, scarce resources, of course.
We are lied to by our government. They are lied to by theirs. The only true enemy is the concept of enemies itself. Have a great day!
blessed love
The point, sir, is that being a radical-anything-[i]ist[/i] is the precursor to violent demonstration - not simply being a radical islamist. Anyone who feels neglected, exposed, 'done-wrong' or even witnesses injustice is potentially a terrorist or a prime candidate for Al Qaeda (to keep with the example) - but keep in mind that these same potential terrorists can also be our true revolutionaries (MLK, Gandhi, Jesus - to name a few). Could you imagine the power they could have had if they had asked for violence??
Does anyone [i]stop[/i] to ask where terrorists find the motivation for violence? Does it not seem logical to assume it stems from injustice? Oh, I forgot that some people are 'just born that way'? Hum-bug.
People are 'just born into' utter poverty or rediculous riches - could this be a link(hint: yes)? I digress.
Remember McVay? I do. He was poor.
Unibomber - Yup. Poor. By choice? I don't know.
Columbine - I was [i]in[/i] school then. Rich kids.
KKK - Rich and prominent.
Black Panthers - Poor with rich backing.
Gandhi, MLK Jr., Jesus? Trick question; no fair!
Hitler - His terrorism was legal through state sponsorship.
White America (cir. 18-1900's) - One word: nigger ([i]still[/i] sounds shitty - unless you suck)
Business/World Market - the stomping ground for terrorism at it's ugliest and most destructive form.
I'd much rather be killed within 10 minutes than suffer my whole life in utter despair, all the while witnessing people I care about and interact with dying, suffering and slaving everyday, then seeing my street corner change from hosting 'Mom n Pops...' to hosting 'Wine, Cheese and Gucci Socks'.
Look at small towns across america, for example. I used to hunt wild game 10 years ago at a place that now has a mega mall and super-mini-mall-ritzy-poshy-trend-[i]ist[/i] hangout. It all started with the wal-mart we'd buy our ammunition/tackle from. Ha. Consequences.
We push animals to the fringes just like we push out our poor - and animals are attacking back... don't you think human beings would, too?
The slums of my neighborhood (inhabited by the working poor who [i]support[/i] my community) get re-zoned into quiet obscurity while each day, as they look out of their boxey-houses' only window, they see the fancy 'old-town[i]e[/i]' section where $1500 a month apartments stand between two coffee houses, 3 restaurants and 2 deli's. Who are the patrons? The rich kids from the 'west-side' of town who moved east for the 'quaint-ness' and nostalgia - a.k.a. it was old and dilapidated... note, I said [i]was[/i].
Now, you might be asking yourself, "but isn't that good that it's being renovated?"
Of course.
But who physically did the renovation?
The same people who can't even hope to afford to set foot inside, but are forced to look daily at others enjoying the fruits of their labors.
"Then who was [i]really[/i] payed for the construction?", you might ask.
The rich contractor on the west side of town.
This is, IMHO, the rooting of the tree of violent expression. Where does the violence in my community come from?
Guess.
Why is it slowly decreasing?
Well, I know that the state/local prisons [i]aren't[/i] as underfunded as the schools (those on the poor side of town, of course). Of course, this doesn't mean that the prisons are properly funded, either - however, that's another story entirely.
Why aren't we worried about providing food, clean water, and shelter to all people (hint, outgoing, caring people are)? Ahh... because there is no money to be [i]made[/i] when compared to infrastructure sales (that aren't always needed by the people) and weapons sales - just to name two.
I [b]definately[/b] don't sympathise for either, so-called, 'side' (so piss off if you are going to call me a terrorist), in fact, they both need to grow up, but I definately see where both sides are coming from. All people need security in their lives. What is the root of the problem?
Lies - Lies designed to sweep the poor under the rug - no, designed to [i]weave[/i] a rug OUT OF the poor - so that the rich can have more toys and more room to play with them. It just so happens the way they make money is by providing violent toys to little boys and giving them a reason to fight - over, already, scarce resources, of course.
We are lied to by our government. They are lied to by theirs. The only true enemy is the concept of enemies itself. Have a great day!
blessed love,
nariman
By the way, I agree that he hid the fact that all 8 were Islamic. Kudos for pointing that out.
Peace out friends.
Oh my god, I didn't know i wrote so much. Please forgive me.
Posted by: Nariman at June 29, 2006 02:21 PMOh my god, I didn't know i wrote so much. Please forgive me.
Posted by: Nariman at June 29, 2006 02:52 PM