"A man walks through the crowd at the Ground Zero protest and is mistaken as a Muslim. The crowd turns on him and confronts him. The man in the blue hard hat calls him a coward and tries to fight him. The tall man who I think was one of the organizers tried to get between the two men. Later I caught up with the man who's name is Kenny. He is a Union carpenter who works at Ground Zero. We discussed what a scary moment that was for him. I told him that I hoped it did not ruin his day."
I say even if he was a Muslim so what? Should Muslims not take a stroll in the vicinity of "GZ" as some (not me) like to call it? What a bunch of despicable morons!
YouTube - Anti-muslim Rally at Ground Zero
Replies
166Beach Fanatic
it's not a democrat or republican viewpoint,t.
It is democratic or republican.
Democrat is a noun.
Democratic is an adjective.
Democratic Party (United States) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
🙂
Edited
Beach Fanatic
Bingo! Scooterbug. We have a winner. I think that is all the poster was trying to get across. There needs to be intolerance of a race to have racism. Intolerance and lack of understanding do not ALWAYS indicate racism. Usually they have some sort of -ism, but not always race.
Will B's definitions of racism and bigotry are the ones I also use. However, I think you will find people who have stretched and changed the definition of racism to also include bigotry. Half the problem of this thread seems to be the lack of communication of our thoughts. That is why we used to rely on dictionaries -- to express what we mean.
back to the crazy...
mob mentality -- I didn't watch the video, but can only imagine. One talk show host calls that "dumb masses," (don't say it too fast) which often seems appropriate. People have a way of justifying almost anything as long as they see enough others doing the same.
Will B's definitions of racism and bigotry are the ones I also use. However, I think you will find people who have stretched and changed the definition of racism to also include bigotry. Half the problem of this thread seems to be the lack of communication of our thoughts. That is why we used to rely on dictionaries -- to express what we mean.
back to the crazy...
mob mentality -- I didn't watch the video, but can only imagine. One talk show host calls that "dumb masses," (don't say it too fast) which often seems appropriate. People have a way of justifying almost anything as long as they see enough others doing the same.
SoWal Insider
So you think maybe this is just kind of an attitude problem indigenous to NY?? I wouldn't know, but if that's the case, it's no excuse.
I've seen much worse bigotry and racism in the South, (predominately Blue States as we all know) but that not the point and you know it. My point is this was dramatically made into much more than it was and you just played right into the media's hand. One could even say that you are a bigot by definition by lumping everyone in that crowd as a bunch of despicable morons. For all you know, the man that confronted the construction worker with the hat on may have lost his brother or wife in the Towers.
and what I mean by left leaning attitude is the far reaching fixation on this being a religious or racial issue and not having any valid concerns. The Iman involved with the community center is currently on a taxpayer-funded State Department trip to the Mideast, where he is serving as a representative of the United States and this is what he has been quoted as saying in the past:
"We tend to forget, in the West, that the United States has more Muslim blood on its hands than Al Qaeda has on its hands of innocent non-Muslims," said Imam Fiesal Abdul Rauf, speaking at the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Center during a question and answer session dedicated to what sponsors say was a dialogue to improve relations between America and the Muslim world.People are concerned that these mosques could become training grounds for terrorism. Whether their concerns are valid are not, an Iman, needs to be more careful about what he says so as not to breed contempt from possible terrorists. Further, does no one not have a problem with the opening day being 9/11? As I said earlier, if peaceful relations are the ultimate goal, I do not take issue with the Center/Mosque, but leave 9/11 as a day for those to mourn or do their community service. This is obviously a charged topic and why add to the angst, which I feel the Center is doing.
"You may remember that the U.S.-led sanctions against Iraq led to the death of over half a million Iraqi children. This has been documented by the United Nations," said Rauf, who called himself a spokesman for Islam.
BannedAuthor
I've seen much worse bigotry and racism in the South, (predominately Blue States as we all know) but that not the point and you know it. My point is this was dramatically made into much more than it was and you just played right into the media's hand. One could even say that you are a bigot by definition by lumping everyone in that crowd as a bunch of despicable morons. For all you know, the man that confronted the construction worker with the hat on may have lost his brother or wife in the Towers.
and what I mean by left leaning attitude is the far reaching fixation on this being a religious or racial issue and not having any valid concerns. The Iman involved with the community center is currently on a taxpayer-funded State Department trip to the Mideast, where he is serving as a representative of the United States and this is what he has been quoted as saying in the past:
People are concerned that these mosques could become training grounds for terrorism. Whether their concerns are valid are not, an Iman, needs to be more careful about what he says so as not to breed contempt from possible terrorists. Further, does no one not have a problem with the opening day being 9/11? As I said earlier, if peaceful relations are the ultimate goal, I do not take issue with the Center/Mosque, but leave 9/11 as a day for those to mourn or do their community service. This is obviously a charged topic and why add to the angst, which I feel the Center is doing.
OK so you're on the defensive about NY, I get it. I don't know what brought that on.
Banned
I'm sorry, but I need to clear something up. What you see in that video is NOT racism. It's bigotry. As I've posted before, people need to relearn what racism is...
A bigot is a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices, especially one exhibiting intolerance, irrationality, and animosity toward those of differing beliefs. The predominant usage in modern American English refers to persons hostile to those of differing race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation and religion.
Racism is the belief that the genetic factors which constitute race are a primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
Regardless...they are showing their collective arses and are showing their true colors.
Are you stating you're able to tell the difference between a bigot and a racist in a video? You and Bill Frist have a lot in common.
Banned
Further, does no one not have a problem with the opening day being 9/11? As I said earlier, if peaceful relations are the ultimate goal, I do not take issue with the Center/Mosque, but leave 9/11 as a day for those to mourn or do their community service.
No one can claim ownership of a date on the calender, many things happened on that date.
Moderator
Are you stating you're able to tell the difference between a bigot and a racist in a video? You and Bill Frist have a lot in common.
OK...maybe I'm not, but what I am saying is that the term or label "racist" has become so bastardized that most people don't really know what it means or how to use it correctly in a sentence. It has lost all relevance.
So, are you saying you can tell the difference?:sarc:
BannedAuthor
Are you stating you're able to tell the difference between a bigot and a racist in a video? You and Bill Frist have a lot in common.
In fairness, I think Will is genuinely trying to educate, but oftentimes the terminology police are simply trying to avoid acknowledging the true gravity of a situation. It's called quibbling. It's meant to be a distraction.
Beach Fanatic
Are you stating you're able to tell the difference between a bigot and a racist in a video? You and Bill Frist have a lot in common.
The distinction is valid, I agree....then I think Bigotry is Racism's daddy. Racism is a way to empirically validate your bigotry. :idontno:
SoWal Expert
Further, does no one not have a problem with the opening day being 9/11? As I said earlier, if peaceful relations are the ultimate goal, I do not take issue with the Center/Mosque, but leave 9/11 as a day for those to mourn or do their community service. This is obviously a charged topic and why add to the angst, which I feel the Center is doing.
1) They haven't even started construction or raised all the money needed for the project, so I am not too concerned that the opening date is fixed in stone.
2) I can see why some might dislike the chosen date, but I do not think we properly honor those whose lives were lost with negative actions. Opening a community center on that day to bring people together and dedicating a new building as part of the plan to rebuild that part of the city is a positive thing IMO. Various other memorials and events are scheduled for that day as well.
3) I like to say "f you" to the Taliban. Nut jobs fly planes into buildings to kill innocent people using Islam as their justification. Ten years later we open a new taller building nearby to promote goodwill between Christians, Muslims, and to bolster the neighborhood tax base and infrastructure.
Edited
SoWal Insider
No one can claim ownership of a date on the calender, many things happened on that date.
Like what?? The date has great magnitude and if they really are trying to bridge a cultural divide and are taking the opportunity to serve a burgeoning, peaceful religious population, theirs amongst others, it's my opinion it is in bad taste to try and take something away from that date by bringing attention to themselves.
BannedAuthor
The distinction is valid, I agree....then I think Bigotry is Racism's daddy. Racism is a way to empirically validate your bigotry. :idontno:
Words have connotations too, so I think racism can have connotations of bigotry and vice versa.
Beach Fanatic
I've seen much worse bigotry and racism in the South, (predominately Blue States as we all know)
and what I mean by left leaning attitude is the far reaching fixation on this being a religious or racial issue and not having any valid concerns.
(1) I think you mean Red states?
(2) the left certainly has no monopoly on any "fixation" re "religious or racial issue
Banned
OK...maybe I'm not, but what I am saying is that the term or label "racist" has become so bastardized that most people don't really know what it means or how to use it correctly in a sentence. It has lost all relevance.
So, are you saying you can tell the difference?:sarc:
Maybe, I haven't tried. No seriously, like Lucifer said, I know what you were trying to say and you are correct. I just had to give you a hard time on your phrasing.
Banned
Like what?? The date has great magnitude and if they really are trying to bridge a cultural divide and are taking the opportunity to serve a burgeoning, peaceful religious population, theirs amongst others, it's my opinion it is in bad taste to try and take something away from that date by bringing attention to themselves.
Hell I don't know, births, deaths, marriages, many things. I don't feel anyone has a right to lock away a date but it's moot point because I understand the executive director of one of the groups spearheading the project, as well as the Imam involved, have flatly denied that the center is slated to open on September 11.
Beach Fanatic
I feel for the friends and family of the victims of the 9-11 attacks. That was a horrific day in America and the scars remain. We will never forget.
But acting like nuts honors no one.
The analogy that helped me shape my position on this issue is this-
Let's suppose a fanatical Evangelical Christian bombs an abortion clinic. They successfully kill people inside the clinic as well as folks in the neighboring businesses, some passersby and some emergency responders- some of whom are Evangelical Christians in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Now let's suppose that 10 years later an existing Evangelical Church located a few blocks away from the site of the ill fated clinic plans to expand their location to include a community outreach.
In this example does it seem reasonable to judge all Evangelicals for the work of a couple of fanatical nuts? Should we protest their plans? Should we ask them to move their location because they are Evangelicals? Are these Evangelicals and folks who believe protests against them are misdirected and wrong being insensitive?
But acting like nuts honors no one.
The analogy that helped me shape my position on this issue is this-
Let's suppose a fanatical Evangelical Christian bombs an abortion clinic. They successfully kill people inside the clinic as well as folks in the neighboring businesses, some passersby and some emergency responders- some of whom are Evangelical Christians in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Now let's suppose that 10 years later an existing Evangelical Church located a few blocks away from the site of the ill fated clinic plans to expand their location to include a community outreach.
In this example does it seem reasonable to judge all Evangelicals for the work of a couple of fanatical nuts? Should we protest their plans? Should we ask them to move their location because they are Evangelicals? Are these Evangelicals and folks who believe protests against them are misdirected and wrong being insensitive?
SoWal Expert
Hell I don't know, births, deaths, marriages, many things. I don't feel anyone has a right to lock away a date but it's moot point because I understand the executive director of one of the groups spearheading the project, as well as the Imam involved, have flatly denied that the center is slated to open on September 11.
Regardless of whether it is scheduled to open that day or not (I assume not for a variety of reasons), that is a significant day - for our country and for that area.
SoWal Guide
I'm an independent. I want strong, affordable health care and education for my fellow citizens. I also have issues with illegal immigration and you'll pry my guns from my cold, dead hands, but I don't believe that arguing someones rights to build on their property what they want as long as it confirms to zoning and local laws to be a left leaning trait.
This issue should have stayed in the community where it is located and not used as a political football to get everyone geared up before the elections and I don't think that can be stuck on the left's score card. IMHO, both sides need to stfu and let the community that this impacted the most, deal with it, instead of letting the talking heads divide us even more as this thread is evidence of. Now, I'm going to stfu and go outside and pull some weeds or something.
and I'm a member of the Democratic Party. But, really... who cares? :lol:
your political leaning (or anyone else's) is really not at issue here. never has been.
but your thoughtful, respectful contribution is invaluable. like everyone's.
SoWal Insider
who cares? :lol:
your political leaning (or anyone else's) is really not at issue here. never has been.
but your thoughtful contribution is invaluable. like everyone's.
I do and because if I didn't state it, someone would tell me that's my opinion because I'm from the left, supposedly. This entire thread has delved into who is on which side. I stated I'm in the middle and property rights don't belong to either.
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