It's all our Fault!

[boater1217]

And who attacked who This article seems to think it was us who started this. http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/...r.202a5e9.html I guess the incidents (USS Cole, etc.) prior to 9-11 where accidents. Well I guess if we would just lie down and roll over, all would be well.

[gsh341]

Some people are just idiots. What are you gonna do?

[Neomet]

Just from his email address it looks like the writer is Dr. Mansour O. El-Kikhia, a professor atthe University of Texas I think. He has, shall we say, a rather strong anti-american, anti-semetic tone in most of his op-ed pieces. Not known for a balanced, rational analysis of issues. While he is certainly entitled to his (vastly flawed) opinions I generally won't waste my time reading his stuff.

[bd]

The man's got a point.

Lumping all people of Islamic faith into the radical extremist terrorist category is like saying all Republicans are greedy, hypocritcal, warmongering neanderthals.


bd

[Neomet]

Oh, I totally agree with that point, but he does exactly what he accuses others of doing.

[amishclark]

while the rehtoric in the piece could be taken as extreme or left-ist, i think you guys are misinterperating(sp?) the intent. or maybe i am, but here's how i read it...when the threat of the "communists taking over" subsided, there was no more evil boogey-man. according to the author, it is the governments general concept that, in order to keep the people in line, focused, and productive (sheep, if you like), we need an evil boogey-man. the actions of a few people (in relative terms to the vast majority), who happened to be muslim, allowed the present administration (and perhaps further back...i'm trying to accuse bush at this point...) to recreate the evil boogey-man. "islamic" seemed like a nice label...it's unfortunate, however, because most muslims are not violent, and do not hate the "white devil." maybe i missed the part where the author said "all of this is because americans attacked muslims and muslims merely retaliated."

[Neomet]

Originally Posted by amishclark

while the rehtoric in the piece could be taken as extreme or left-ist, i think you guys are misinterperating(sp?) the intent. or maybe i am, but here's how i read it...when the threat of the "communists taking over" subsided, there was no more evil boogey-man. according to the author, it is the governments general concept that, in order to keep the people in line, focused, and productive (sheep, if you like), we need an evil boogey-man. the actions of a few people (in relative terms to the vast majority), who happened to be muslim, allowed the present administration (and perhaps further back...i'm trying to accuse bush at this point...) to recreate the evil boogey-man. "islamic" seemed like a nice label...it's unfortunate, however, because most muslims are not violent, and do not hate the "white devil." maybe i missed the part where the author said "all of this is because americans attacked muslims and muslims merely retaliated."

I didn't read that either, but I have read several of his other op-eds (can't point to any specifically now however) and he frequently becomes too much of a zealot.

His, and your point about a boogeyman is absolutely true IMHO. After WWII it was the commies in general, then The Soviets, then the "war on drugs", then gay marriage, then the same terrorism that the rest of the world has been dealing with for decades (or longer)....whatever. You are right, without some villian to play against, governments have no way to be seen as the people's savior/protector.

[Brickboy240]

I am willing to bet that while this guy is saying Americans should not put all Muslims in one category, he and his other pointy-headed leftist professor buddies at UT probably have no problems in sterotyping all conservatives or marginalizing their beliefs.

Much the same way that these sorts get all riled up over Abu Ghraib but cannot seem to muster up the same amount of anger over the westerners that got their heads cut off on video.

...strange how that works.

- Brickboy240

[boater1217]

I would say that the Islamic thing started with the Iranian Hostage crisis. Our overall relations with this part of the world have been going down hill ever since but because of oil we can't seem to walk away. Except for historical things I have no interest in that part of the world. I wish we could let them do their thing against each other as much as they want but because of the our dependence on off shore oil we can't. I really think we are in a no win situation.

As far as lumping all muslims into the same group, I don't now but if things keep going the way they seem to be I think that it is a natural reaction to start doing that. Especially if we don't hear any counter response from the "moderate" wing. Lumping people together seems to take place on this site all the time. I see frequent posts saying that if you agree with something Tom says you must be a right wing fanatic or if you are a christian you must be a fundamentalist. Just my humble opinion.