Posted on Mar 23, 2015
Is it rational to fear ISIS & Al Quaida? So why does the press call it Islamophobia?
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Is it rational to fear ISIS & Al Quaida? So why does the press call it Islamophobia?
I was taught "phobia" means "an irrational fear of"...but it's rational to be afraid to get your head chopped off, isn't it? Is this PC run amok, or just another attempt to grab you with a headline?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/french-muslims-caught-between-rising-islamophobia-and-growing-extremism/2015/03/22/7359329c-c739-11e4-bea5-b893e7ac3fb3_story.html
I was taught "phobia" means "an irrational fear of"...but it's rational to be afraid to get your head chopped off, isn't it? Is this PC run amok, or just another attempt to grab you with a headline?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/french-muslims-caught-between-rising-islamophobia-and-growing-extremism/2015/03/22/7359329c-c739-11e4-bea5-b893e7ac3fb3_story.html
Terrorism
Islam
Political Correctness
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 45
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TSgt John Temblador, PI, CIPA
Video shows that MIT’s Muslim chaplain Suheil Laher was also an Al Qaeda fundraiser. MIT Muslim chaplain Suheil Laher used his leadership of the MIT Muslim S...
Who's responsible for backgrounds with Muslim's and their ISIS ties... like this one.. video: https://youtu.be/gaRMPzBtnt8 Muslim chaplain Suheil Laher was also an Al Qaeda fundraiser.
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COL Ted Mc
TSgt John Temblador, PI, CIPA - Sergeant; Strangely enough the judgement appears to have forgotten to include the facts that
[1] he knew about the diversion of the funding, or
[2] he was convicted (or even charged) with respect to the funding.
You might want to do a bit of research into that peaceful Christian organization (Noraid) that operated in the United States of America.
[1] he knew about the diversion of the funding, or
[2] he was convicted (or even charged) with respect to the funding.
You might want to do a bit of research into that peaceful Christian organization (Noraid) that operated in the United States of America.
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no. some our allies are muslims, some of our enemies are also christian and some have no faith. maybe just fight whom ever tries to hurt others for a unjust cause. Vague I know.
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Yelling fire in a crowded theater is an "ACTION", whereas insulting a religion is an "OPINION", a belief. However, burning the United States flag, whilst first and foremost an "ACTION" the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled in Johnson V state of Texas (1989) that burning OUR flag in effigy (although an ACTION" is symbolic of a deeper belief and thus finds protection under the 1st Amendment of our Bill of Rights. So SSG Reilly, it is my belief that you misunderstand what SCOTUS stated. The Westboro Baptist Church is a perfect example of your misunderstanding as the actions and speech of WBC can and have led to violence and disorder.
Although I do NOT approve of Ms. Pamela Geller's actions what with the draw a Muhammad cartoon contest, I will defend her actions as would ANY American. As much as I find the Westboro Baptist Church to be despicable, I will also defend their actions. The thing about freedom, the thing about OUR Bill of Rights, more specifically OUR 1St Amendment rights to freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion is those ideals apply to those actions, words, and beliefs we find despicable. Most importantly, OUR 1st Amendment rights apply to those actions and beliefs, REGARDLESS of whether we agree with them or not.
Although I do NOT approve of Ms. Pamela Geller's actions what with the draw a Muhammad cartoon contest, I will defend her actions as would ANY American. As much as I find the Westboro Baptist Church to be despicable, I will also defend their actions. The thing about freedom, the thing about OUR Bill of Rights, more specifically OUR 1St Amendment rights to freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion is those ideals apply to those actions, words, and beliefs we find despicable. Most importantly, OUR 1st Amendment rights apply to those actions and beliefs, REGARDLESS of whether we agree with them or not.
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I would say yes it "is rational" to fear the potential actions of ISIS/ISIL/Al Quaida/Radical Islam/those seeking to destroy our ally and the only democracy in the middle east Israel/those seeking the rise of a Caliphate or whatever else you want to call islamist fanatics and terrorists. The Media likes to confuse things by creating the Straw Man argument that fearing islamist terrorists (and taking actions against them) is the same as fearing all Muslims. It is definitely not the same thing. For example, most of us are discriminating enough to be able to detest the actions of the Westboro Baptist Church while not detesting all Christians around the world.
Of course any fears of terrorist actions needs to be moderated against the potential for you to be harmed. In my case, it is very unlikely that a terrorist bomb will go off in rural Southern New Mexico. However, if you have friends and relatives as I do, in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, or even certain areas of the the Pacific, the odds of a loved one being harmed by a Islamist terrorist is greatly increased (if still very small). On the other hand, everyone in America should be afraid of (and seek to reduce) the potential for terrorists to gain access to ground to air missiles, nuclear weapons, or any other form of WMD
Of course any fears of terrorist actions needs to be moderated against the potential for you to be harmed. In my case, it is very unlikely that a terrorist bomb will go off in rural Southern New Mexico. However, if you have friends and relatives as I do, in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, or even certain areas of the the Pacific, the odds of a loved one being harmed by a Islamist terrorist is greatly increased (if still very small). On the other hand, everyone in America should be afraid of (and seek to reduce) the potential for terrorists to gain access to ground to air missiles, nuclear weapons, or any other form of WMD
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Col Joseph Lenertz - Colonel; I'm in the middle of reading "Canada and the United States: Differences that Count, Third Edition" - [University of Toronto Press, Higher Education Division; 3 edition (January 1, 2008) - ISBN-10: [login to see] - ISBN-13: [login to see] 126] which, although dated (and written from the Canadian perspective) is an interesting exploration of the similarities and differences between the US and Canada. (There actually are differences.)
However, even though its statistics are a bit dated they are taken from both multi-national and bi-national studies where the identical questions were asked.
One interesting datum (which I forgot to flag) was the number of Americans killed over a 10 year period by "terrorists" and the number killed by guns (all causes, deliberate, accidental, and 'other' were included in this comparison. I forget what the "gun death" number was, but the "terrorist" number stuck in my mind because it was only EIGHT.
Possibly that will put SOME of the issue into perspective.
However, even though its statistics are a bit dated they are taken from both multi-national and bi-national studies where the identical questions were asked.
One interesting datum (which I forgot to flag) was the number of Americans killed over a 10 year period by "terrorists" and the number killed by guns (all causes, deliberate, accidental, and 'other' were included in this comparison. I forget what the "gun death" number was, but the "terrorist" number stuck in my mind because it was only EIGHT.
Possibly that will put SOME of the issue into perspective.
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COL Ted Mc
Col Joseph Lenertz - Colonel; Please accept my apologies for a defective memory. From 2002 to 2013, a total of 390 Americans have been killed in terrorist attacks. From 2002 to 2013, a total of 376,923 Americans have been killed in firearms related incidents. I've amended my original post and provided a link.
This means that for every American who has been killed in terrorist attacks (between 01 JAN 03 and 31 DEC 13) there have been ~966.5 Americans killed in firearms related incidents. [ I've excluded 2001 because it's such an outlier but even if included the ratio is 1 :: 120.3.]
I didn't raise this point out of any concern over "gun control", but only to question the relative priorities vis a vis "terrorism" and "firearms related deaths".
I've linked to as news story might put the problem into some sort of perspective and the question the story raises is "Why would an eleven year old think that it was appropriate to kill someone just because they wouldn't let them see a puppy?".
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2015/10/05/11-year-old-charged-with-murdering-8-year-old-after-arguing-about-puppies/
You might also wonder if the second article should qualify as "terrorism" or "terrorism related".
Anti-Semite yells ‘Heil Hitler!’ after Kansas judge sentences him to death for killing three people at Jewish sites [ http://news.nationalpost.com/news/anti-semite-yells-heil-hitler-after-kansas-judge-sentences-him-to-death-for-killing-three-people-at-jewish-sites ]. Personally I'd lump it in with "terrorism" (but it also falls under "firearms related deaths".
This means that for every American who has been killed in terrorist attacks (between 01 JAN 03 and 31 DEC 13) there have been ~966.5 Americans killed in firearms related incidents. [ I've excluded 2001 because it's such an outlier but even if included the ratio is 1 :: 120.3.]
I didn't raise this point out of any concern over "gun control", but only to question the relative priorities vis a vis "terrorism" and "firearms related deaths".
I've linked to as news story might put the problem into some sort of perspective and the question the story raises is "Why would an eleven year old think that it was appropriate to kill someone just because they wouldn't let them see a puppy?".
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2015/10/05/11-year-old-charged-with-murdering-8-year-old-after-arguing-about-puppies/
You might also wonder if the second article should qualify as "terrorism" or "terrorism related".
Anti-Semite yells ‘Heil Hitler!’ after Kansas judge sentences him to death for killing three people at Jewish sites [ http://news.nationalpost.com/news/anti-semite-yells-heil-hitler-after-kansas-judge-sentences-him-to-death-for-killing-three-people-at-jewish-sites ]. Personally I'd lump it in with "terrorism" (but it also falls under "firearms related deaths".
Boy, 11, charged with killing 8-year-old girl after argument about puppies
The girl's mother said she reported bullying before the deadly shooting in Jefferson County, Tennessee.
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Col Joseph Lenertz
COL Ted Mc No worries. I appreciate the update, and your point regarding the relative impact (and importance we should place on) the terrorism vs firearms is a solid one. I assume "firearms related" includes all crimes, gang-related and other, all suicides, all self-defense and police actions, and all accidental discharges. I cannot fathom, or process, why an 11 year old would do such a thing. It would be easier to process (and excuse) if the shooter were 3 or 4. Although some would argue this child might still have killed with a knife or rock (it has happened), I think most 11-year olds with anger but no judgment but would stop at the first sign of blood and a screaming victim. I agree your second example falls under both categories.
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COL Ted Mc
Col Joseph Lenertz - I learned early on that when you are in the wrong the best course of action is to admit that you screwed up.
As far as I can tell the "firearms related" deaths DOES include deliberate killings, suicides, accidental killings and anything else where the proximate cause of death was a bullet. As the article says, the figures are CDC figures.
As far as the eleven year old is concerned, there are ONLY two reasons that I think might apply:
[1] mental illness/deficiency to the extent that the child was simply unable to comprehend the fact that shooting people kills them; or
[2] a belief that shooting people was an appropriate way of resolving inter-personal conflicts.
My (admittedly anecdotal) observations lead me towards the second one.
Although this shooting doesn't fall into the "high volume school shooting" category, there APPEARS to be one factor that all of the perpetrators in the "high volume school shootings" have in common. NONE of them have been reported to be involved in a relationship which was sexually satisfying. Why "getting laid" is a preoccupation to the point of homicide I simply cannot understand.
As far as I can tell the "firearms related" deaths DOES include deliberate killings, suicides, accidental killings and anything else where the proximate cause of death was a bullet. As the article says, the figures are CDC figures.
As far as the eleven year old is concerned, there are ONLY two reasons that I think might apply:
[1] mental illness/deficiency to the extent that the child was simply unable to comprehend the fact that shooting people kills them; or
[2] a belief that shooting people was an appropriate way of resolving inter-personal conflicts.
My (admittedly anecdotal) observations lead me towards the second one.
Although this shooting doesn't fall into the "high volume school shooting" category, there APPEARS to be one factor that all of the perpetrators in the "high volume school shootings" have in common. NONE of them have been reported to be involved in a relationship which was sexually satisfying. Why "getting laid" is a preoccupation to the point of homicide I simply cannot understand.
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Col Joseph Lenertz
A very serious topic, though I laughed when I saw your common factor, because it always make ME feel better and more relaxed. Similar effect to the first beer or whiskey on a Friday.
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Col Joseph Lenertz
Somebody who wants to kill me simply for being an American and/or not subscribing to their personal interpretation of Islam/Muslim religion makes me and any rational person fear and feel sorry for/dislike them. That is not a phobia, that is logic.
Somebody who wants to kill me simply for being an American and/or not subscribing to their personal interpretation of Islam/Muslim religion makes me and any rational person fear and feel sorry for/dislike them. That is not a phobia, that is logic.
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For me to have an extreme fear of Islam is a "NO"! I could care less who you worship as long as you are not a terrorist! For some people I would say "YES" to having a phobia to Islam! Most people only believe what they see on social media (Facebook) and TV. Although, with the extremist that kill in the name of Islam this does create a hatred and fear for people around the world. This extreme violence just makes the religion look bad!
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Fear=Phobia comes from Ignorance
Ignorance =Weakness
Ignorance =Weakness
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