Who is the Real Defender of American Values?
I am surprised that no-one has commented on something that should be truly terrifying.
Terrifying, no. Loathsome, repellent, disgusting, and witheringly idiotic, however...
The less said about that flag-shrouding, insult-flinging, faith-baiting, dog-whistling, hypocritical, manure-for-brains, arse-face bigot the better.
Terrifying, no. Loathsome, repellent, disgusting, and witheringly idiotic, however...
Except, that it should be terrifying. (Yes, it is also loathsome, and idiotic.)
The reason for it to be terrifying is that "what can happen to someone else can happen to you."
How long before people like Congressman King are able to narrow what is acceptable under "Religious Freedom."
I don't think it is wise to wait until we are on the wrong side of that divide.
There was an old poem that goes ...
"THEY CAME FIRST for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
THEN THEY CAME for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
THEN THEY CAME for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
THEN THEY CAME for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up."
(From They Thought They Were Free by Milton Mayer)
Terrifying, no. Loathsome, repellent, disgusting, and witheringly idiotic, however...Except, that it should be terrifying. (Yes, it is also loathsome, and idiotic.)
The reason for it to be terrifying is that "what can happen to someone else can happen to you."
How long before people like Congressman King are able to narrow what is acceptable under "Religious Freedom."
I don't think it is wise to wait until we are on the wrong side of that divide.
There was an old poem that goes ...
"THEY CAME FIRST for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.THEN THEY CAME for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.THEN THEY CAME for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.THEN THEY CAME for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up."
(From They Thought They Were Free by Milton Mayer)
To be blunt, that's three steps shy of a Godwin.
And invoking that poem at the drop of a hat is an overreaction at best, and more attention than that worthless fearmonger deserves.Cooler heads will prevail. Open mockery of the fearmonger is the best means to deal with him and his ilk.
I'm busy backing the Unions in Michigan, even if I am a non-member. I've already contributed to making the pants-pissing cowards shake in their yellowed shorts more by donating towards having the Social Center frequently misnomered as the 'ground zero mosque'.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_T._King#Support_for_the_IRA
He'll probably shut up all on his own.
Thing is, there are 13 states that are trying to outlaw Islam. Tennessee has introduced legislation that makes it a crime punishable by 15 years in prison. Arizona also has legislation that makes it illegal to use sharia, cannon, halacha, and karma. The guys introducing those bills? High ranking republicans.
I do not share the AntiElite's confidence that "Cooler Heads will prevail." The post I am answering is why.
Is not just one guy. A whole movement is growing based on fear and hate.
As the AntiElite points out, I am very close to a "Godwin." However, in this case, I do feel that the analogy is correct. We are very close to another round of "Red Scare." Only with a different target.
Thing is, there are 13 states that are trying to outlaw Islam. Tennessee has introduced legislation that makes it a crime punishable by 15 years in prison. Arizona also has legislation that makes it illegal to use sharia, cannon, halacha, and karma. The guys introducing those bills? High ranking republicans.
I do not share the AntiElite's confidence that "Cooler Heads will prevail." The post I am answering is why.
Is not just one guy. A whole movement is growing based on fear and hate.
As the AntiElite points out, I am very close to a "Godwin." However, in this case, I do feel that the analogy is correct. We are very close to another round of "Red Scare." Only with a different target.
The Red Scare is not what worries me. It was exactly that - a scare.
Now, inklings of moves toward the "Generic Middle Easterner" version of the Japanese American Internment scenario? THAT'S when I start worrying, and taking up arms. I'm (barely) confident enough in the Supreme Court, even if I disagree with a surprisingly large amount of the Justices thereupon, upholding the whole Establishment Clause thing, because what's being done is blatantly attempting to circumvent that particular longstanding precedent.
The Siege was fiction. We are, regardless of the teeming masses intent on turning the modern era into Idiocracy: The Society, smarter than that. Vigilance is certainly important, but we should not give way to whinging because one bigoted jackass wants to stoke fears in an overly-audible minority (because contrary to popular belief, that's what most of King's fans are; an exceeding vocal pack of duped rubes).
That would be giving the bigot too much credit.
McCarthy wins hands down, he never said anything Bergen didn't say for him