An untraditional way to start. But these are untraditional times. And since Donald Trump fans obviously read this — trust me on that — and they seem to like hearing that phrase, why not keep them happy too?
There, I said it twice. They must really like me now. President Obama, on the other hand, refuses to say it because he realizes that the whole purpose of the phrase is to weld these three concepts together. Republicans may be against gay marriage, but they’ll happily wed “Radical” to “Islamic” and “Islamic” to “Terror.”
Yes, there is terror inspired by Islam. In their zeal to make those who disagree seem ridiculous, the GOP insists that not using the phrase means you are unaware there are terrorists who blame Islam for their actions.
Look at it this way: terrorists also have two legs, and mirrored left and right halves to their bodies — every single terrorist is like this, in fact — and yet we don’t scream “BIPED BILATERAL TERROR!” because that would draw white folk into the range of blame, which is what this exercise is really about: offloading responsibility for terror from those who commit it to innocent individuals who share their religion.
Regarding the gun nuts: Steve Chapman of the Trib, whose stuff I normally can take or leave (I'm sure he was behind the idiotic endorsement of Gary Johnson), had a good column yesterday wondering how the NRA will gin up the they're-coming-to-take-your-guns panic that they so depend on. Now that the federal government is entirely in the hands of Second Amendment absolutists, how will they keep gun owners paranoid? Oh well, I'm sure they'll think of something.
ReplyDeleteAlso: It is quite impossible to imagine Barack Obama tweeting a petulant complaint about his portrayal on "Saturday Night Live."
So true, that Wayne LaPierre is such a yuge with a capital L Loser, holding right fist to forehead with extended thumb and index finger. So dumb he doesn't even know "In the Chinese language, the word "crisis" is composed of two characters, one representing danger and the other, opportunity." If I was running the NRA those mailings would be sent to the members of the Hispanic, Muslim, and African America communities.
DeleteTimothy McVey is labeled "an American domestic terrorist." Almost seems harmless as contrasted with "Radical Islamic Terrorists."
ReplyDeletejohn
McVey has largely faded from the public memory, but not from mine. I knew people who worked on the fourth floor of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Office Building.
DeleteTom Evans
Love the photo: the rosy-cheeked Muslim lady could easily be mistaken for a Catholic nun. I suppose there are parts of this lovely country in which she wouldn't be welcome whether in a hijab or a habit. And others in which she would be equally welcome in either garb.
ReplyDeletejohn
It's not just Muslims. Anyone defending their rights under the Constitution are free game now. We'll see the term "Unpatriotic!" applied to defenders of the 1st and 14th Amendments, as it was during the Bush years for anyone protesting his Iraq War BS. This probably will be one of the darker periods of our country's history, looking at the Trump appointments. A president doesn't appoint a racist and bigoted Cabinet if he didn't feel the same regarding minority populations.
ReplyDeletedarkest periods of our country? right up there with slavery, the genocide of american indians, using nuclear arms against japan and the mcarthy era? ok I'm in whats the plan to protect ourselves, you've got me frightened now
DeleteThat photo is a stitch!
ReplyDeletestanford vs rice
ReplyDeleteclemson vs south carolina
penn state vs michigan state
wisconsin vs minnesota
west virginia vs iowa state