Ground Zero for Tolerance

[G_j]

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/08/18-0

Published on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 by Truthdig

Ground Zero for Tolerance

by Robert Scheer

Are the Republicans terminally stupid or are they just playing the dangerous fool? In either case, the irrational attack on Muslims everywhere by the GOP's leadership is not only deeply subversive with regard to the American ideal of religious tolerance but also poses a profound threat to our national security. Nor does it help that some top Democrats like Harry Reid are willing to demean Muslims even as we fight two wars in which victory depends on our ability to convey a respect for their religion.

Just ask Gen. David Petraeus, who is leading the war without end to win the hearts and minds of Muslims in Afghanistan, how helpful it is to the Taliban for American politicians to identify all Muslims with terrorism. Or to the theocratic leaders of Iran who justify their hard line with the insistence that the U.S. is obsessively anti-Muslim.

Demonization of the Muslim religion is what this brouhaha is all about. Talk of the sensitivity of the victims of 9/11, ignoring those who were Muslim, is just camouflage. It is as absurd as it would be to blame all religious Jews for the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, killed by one gunman from a fanatical Jewish fringe group, or to ban the erection of an Orthodox synagogue anywhere near Rabin's grave. As irrational an act of scapegoating as blaming all ethnic Germans for the acts of Nazis, many of whom claimed to be God-fearing Christians.

Yet that is the logical implication of the comparison that Newt Gingrich made when he likened the proposed erection of a Muslim community center two blocks from the World Trade Center site to putting a Nazi sign next to the Holocaust Museum. On his website, Newt goes further in identifying all Muslims with terrorism: "There should be no mosque near Ground Zero in New York so long as there are no churches or synagogues in Saudi Arabia. The time for double standards that allow Islamists to behave aggressively towards us while they demand our weakness and submission is over."

..more..

[Karenina]

1. The results of this inanity are global.

Check out AJ's latest "Inside Story."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jsAmNhmRRI&feature=channel

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Here's what they ought to build....

[G_j]

3. perfect -nt

[Karenina]

4. Bill, did you watch my link?

This ain't no party, this ain't no disco, this ain't no foolin' around...

[G_j]

5. some of it

I had a hard time listening to the (jackass) Blakeman. Did I miss something important after that.

[Karenina]

6. At the end he equates Park 51 to

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have you guessed yet? ;-)
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Building a synagogue at Mecca.

[G_j]

7. LOL

ground zero is the historic heart of...Christianity?

similar insanity to Newt's comments

[Karenina]

8. But seriously, G_j

This stampede is like Ionesco's "Rhinoceros." The imprint being made on this side of the pond really frightens me. I always held out hope. When my ESL clients demanded to know "WHY DOES DONALD RUMSFELD STILL HAVE A JOB? WHO THE FUCK ELECTED RICHARD PERLE?" I alwasy assured them that although Amis were a bit slow on the uptake, once they GOT IT their core values would shine through. I WAS WRONG. Amurikka has reverted to the thread running through its founding till today. KILL BROWN PEOPLE. THEIR VERY PRESENCE AMONG "US" IS AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT (even if we're invading and occupying their space).

[G_j]

9. so well said

you are so right and it is frightening. I've spent a good amount of my life trying to help this country be better, less bigoted, more humane..

:shrug: