editorial in my local paper today

[maxanne]

http://www.mountwashingtonvalley.com/buildInclude1.lasso?-database=WWW_CDS_Article&-layout=WEB&-response=Story.lasso&-recordID=42356&-search

This editorial appears in my local paper today. The writer is a history teacher from Maine. He's a racist, a bigot, a homophobe, and a misogynist - and if anyone wants to respond to this, I'd be thrilled. I can't - because I work for the paper - and few if any will bother.

Eighth grade history, he teaches.....really frickin scary:

"Arab leaders like Bin Laden claim that Americans are exploiting Arab oil resources. Democrat leaders here echo such charges. But who is exploiting whom? It’s American petrodollars that enrich Moslem Arab countries and make the extravagant lifestyles of their leaders possible. It’s western money and western technology that keep them operating. What other resources do they have but oil and rugs? They need us more than we need them. They know it and they hate us for it."

[maxanne]

1. bump

was I the only one who found this offensive? :shrug:

[dwillison]

2. What do you find that is so upsetting about this? Point out the bigotry.

lies, homophobic language to me.

[maxanne]

4. there is no homophobia

Are you truly unable to see the racism inherent in this bizarre editorial?

[dwillison]

8. No. Point it out to me

nt

[Terwilliger]

12. oil or rugs?

if you cant figure it out, MAYBE THEY DIDNT TEACH YOU VERY WELL IN SCHOOL

[dwillison]

14. Can you give me a short list of the major industries besides oil

and possibly expensive carpets in the middle east?

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Ripley]

33. Can you give me a list of major industries besides corn

in Iowa? How about Idaho, other than potatoes?

There is a wealth of artistic tradition in the middle east and has been for thousands of years. Of course exporting art or any decorative items wouldn't be a "real" industry to you huh?

Give me a list of the major industries in America today? Guess what, most of them are moving to China and Mexico. Pretty soon the only thing that will read "Made in America" will be the worthless American dollar.

[drdigi420]

16. Let's not forget opium

The US-led drug war makes opium production 1000s of times more profitable than it would be with a regulated market.

Afghanistan is producing at record amounts now.

End the drug war and cut the terrorists' budgets.

[Redleg]

37. How's this for bigotry:

"What other resources do they have but oil and rugs? They need us more than we need them. They know it and they hate us for it."

The Arabs have nothing more than oil and rugs? That's akin to saying the Germans have nothing but sauerkraut or the Cubans nothing but cigars.

[lisafromstlouie]

40. You guys are wrong about his "racist" remark: oil and rugs

Having lived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for 4 years and having traveled extensively throught the Middle East including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qutar, I think many of the people on this thread don't really understand commerce in this part of the world.

Oil, oil products, carpets, rugs and other tapestries are in FACT what this part of the world produces for export. Almost everything else that is produced over there is produced by a joint venture with a western company for domestic consumption. BUT, these items are not exported.

I'm sorry, I just don't see the racism in this op-ed that others see. Color me dumbfounded.

[Ripley]

42. I think it is the tone of what was said.

It is belittling to say they only produce rugs. It sounds like a superior statement...hey we Americans make, um er, uh movies?

In my post above I state that yes this part of the world has a long history of producing fine handcrafted art and decorative items for export. Turkey has astounding metalworks. However the tone is that these aren't really industries.

As far as oil goes...what the hell does Houston produce? What are they supposed to do, give away their natural resources and make widgits?

[buddhamama]

3. no, i too, think it is offensive

for a history teacher he doesn't seem to hold any historical knowledge on Arab/Muslim regions at all.

this is the general thinking of most repub types. they choose to believe that Arabs/Muslims are an uneducated backwards lot.

it is their folly to believe so.

[maxanne]

5. thanks buddhamama

I was feeling so alone.

[dwillison]

6. So you approve of the general treatment of women in the arab world?

"they choose to believe that Arabs/Muslims are an uneducated backwards lot."

[maxanne]

7. hmmm....

please point out where it was I said that.

Are you finding yourself in agreement with Mr. McLaughlin? Please feel free to defend his POV.

[dwillison]

9. Do you consider the treatment of women in the Arab world

to be forward thinking?

[maxanne]

10. are you unable

or unwilling to answer my questions?

[dwillison]

13. Here is your post. Either you are saying the Arabs are not

a backward lot or you made a dumb statement to slam "repub Types"

Which is it?





"for a history teacher he doesn't seem to hold any historical knowledge on Arab/Muslim regions at all.

this is the general thinking of most repub types. they choose to believe that Arabs/Muslims are an uneducated backwards lot.

it is their folly to believe so."

[DemExpat]

20. That was another poster's post..... # 3..

DemEx

[I AM SPARTACUS]

44. dwill - does this alot, it's either dyslexia or intentional misattribution

[buddhamama]

21. for one, oh bright boy,

realize the distiction between Arab/Muslim. Islam is a religion. Arab represents a region and/or heritage/race.

i won't make generalizations as you have.
not all Muslims treat their woman according to religious extremists. notice i stated Muslim only,again i'm making the distinction.

Arab/Muslim contributions in every measure of human society and understanding is well documented. you might try picking up a book some time and finding out for yourself, oh not so bright boy.

[dwillison]

38. I've probably spent more time in the Arab world than you

have spent in formal education.

[buddhamama]

41. oh i am sooo impressed

NOT!

not much to add though huh, in repsonse to my post. i guess i'm supposed to be dazzled by your *cough* education and accept that you know better than i.

thanks ever so much for the stimulating conversation.

[buddhamama]

25. i'm waiting ...

which is it, are you lacking knowledge or do you just like playing dense on message boards.

or now that i've answered your ridiculous questions you have nothing to say.

[buddhamama]

26. still waiting ...

come out come out where ever you are.

[Terwilliger]

15. Have you seen Katherine Harris?

any kind of organized hatred of women will eventually show in the halls of the people with the most power...Katherine and her low-cut, pink dress, stately manner, 3-inch heels, proper (if excessive) makeup...cast upon the waters of white-male arrogance that the bible instructed men to be men and women to wear dresses and makeup so they look loverly...all the while their rights to make decisions for themselves are questioned and ignored.

The Arab world gives women far more power for their assimilation to the male-driven drss code.

[dwillison]

19. That has got to be one of the dumbest statements ever passed

on the internet.

[Rose Siding]

24. dazzling repartee

:silly:

[buddhamama]

28. i'm usually suspicious of people who throw the word 'dumb' around

are they projecting or is that the limit of their vocabulary and debating skills.

[dwillison]

35. Does she only get 60 % of the standard congressional salary, too?

nt

[Ripley]

22. You appear to be misinformed.

The "Arab world" is a big place. Women are "allowed" to pursue careers in many Arab countries. I don't think the women in Jordan, Egypt or Iraq (before the invasion) were treated any differently than women are treated in America (except that in America we hide any misogynist actions by saying "we're protecting the women" ... that's why they can't go into combat, take on corporate leadership positions, become President, etc.

[buddhamama]

27. not entirely correct

Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world and as far as i recollect their president is a woman.

even Saudi Arabia has their share of woman corporate execs.

[buddhamama]

29. profile on Indonesia's President

a woman http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1452246.stm

[Ripley]

31. I think you misunderstood my post.

I was directing it toward that other person here...

I don't believe he was referring to Indonesia when he said "Arab World."

I was trying to clarify that his simple "Arabs=bad treatment of women statement" was not true. As far as Muslims go...I believe the more extreme versions of Islam...i.e. the Taliban are pretty regressive towards women...i.e. no schooling and severe violent punishments.

But of course they are fringe.

[dwillison]

32. Her bloodline might just have had some bearing on

her taking her seat on the throne.

[Ripley]

34. Hahahahahaha!!!

Kind of like George W. Bush!!!!

[CafeToad]

36. Yeah, just like Queen Noor

http://www.noor.gov.jo/index.htm

[buddhamama]

39. hey dwillison, i responded to you

above- tripe that it was.

[Terwilliger]

11. somebody fire that fucker! NO RACISTS IN THE SCHOOLS!

:nuke:

[CafeToad]

18. I only read a few sentences

when he started in with linking Iraq to 9-11.

Right there, appalling lack of intellect to be teaching anyone anything.

I'll right to the editors later on when I'm a bit more inclined towards politeness.

[maxanne]

23. thanks

Cafe Toad - and welcome. I love your name.

Thanks to you, too, Terwilliger - I would not allow him to be my child's teacher. This is small town NH and ME - and this is a great example of the sort of tripe the editors and the rednecks enjoy. Last week he had a rant equating homosexuality and pedophilia.

Buddhamama - thanks again. It's unfortunate that so many are uneducated about the contributions of the Arabic/Muslim world. Before the first Gulf war, Iraq was an emerging first world country - with art, culture, and education - and women were increasingly valued in their society.

[CafeToad]

30. Oops, I mean't I'd write (not right) later on

Which I've now done - I was going to cut and paste the message I sent here, but it got lost in the process, oh well).

[Ekaterina]

43. fascinating thread

and interesting that it is posted today after I picked up and dusted off a book on the shelf at home called "The United States and the Middle East -- A Search for New Perspectives." As I read far into the wee hours of this morning, I realized once again how our attitudes and stereotypes of a rich and complex region and culture are formed by a biased media and ignorant politicians. Until we get busy educating ourselves about the world around us and stop being duped by those with an axe to grind or something to gain, we will never come close to resolution of the conflicts and the possibility of peace. Americans seem to abhor complexity, preferring instead that our world be predigested and fed to us with little required in the way of thought or understanding. Until we change that, we really have little hope of being better citizens and players in the world at large.