Imams' lawsuit

[great cornholio]

I was too lazy to look at the links so this might have been said in one of the links, but didnt these guys ask for seat belt extenders (even though they arent big enough to need them) and not sit in their assigned seats...on top of praying and acting wierd at the gate? Either way I'm sure a jury will feel bad cause their feelings got hurt and award them money which will just be used to blow something up here in the US.

 

[avbug]

I'm no fan of the ACLU, and I will say without reservatio that while I don't consider myself a "person of prejudice," racial profiling works. I don't care what anyone has to say to the contrary. Profiling in general has been very effective, and while I recognize as much as any the right to free speech, and the freedom to worship as one will, these Sheiks were knew exactly what they were doing and had every expectation to receive the treatment they did. They acted as they did with the intent of receiving the treatment they did.

I have but little doubt that most juries will see this, and act accordingly.

 

[Alamanach]

I'm no fan of the ACLU, and I will say without reservatio that while I don't consider myself a "person of prejudice," racial profiling works. I don't care what anyone has to say to the contrary. Profiling in general has been very effective, and while I recognize as much as any the right to free speech, and the freedom to worship as one will, these Sheiks were knew exactly what they were doing and had every expectation to receive the treatment they did. They acted as they did with the intent of receiving the treatment they did.

I have but little doubt that most juries will see this, and act accordingly.

I sure hope you're right. I think what you said earlier about publicity is on target, but I would add one thing: the purpose of the publicity is to get us to water down our security.

America does have a weakness in that we are often too reluctant to upset people's feelings, and too quick to prove we're not prejudiced. It's a virtue that we take too far. Our enemies know this, and I believe this stunt on the part of the imams is a naked attempt to exploit it. I think they're trying to get us to all feel guilty at how yet another minority group is (supposedly) being discriminated against, and through that guilt get us to soften up our security measures. Then the terrorists can get back to hijacking planes.

I have a feeling it's not going to work this time around. I hope I'm not being overly optimistic.

 

[AC560]

America does have a weakness in that we are often too reluctant to upset people's feelings, and too quick to prove we're not prejudiced.

This a pretty recent weakness because when I was a kid we beat people up who were different from us. Now we are all beautiful flowers.

While my generation isn't perfect, the beatings we got as kids and gave as kids made us tough. Somewhere down the line this has been lost and is why this country has turned into a bunch of effeminate pussies on the highway to hell.

 

[avbug]

I bet you thought that was an adult thing to say...but it surely came out sounding like the wisdom of a 14 year old.

You advocate beating people up, you think this accomplishes something? Is ther value in getting beaten up? Chances are I'd walk through you and 30 of your friends and you'd never know what hit you...you think that builds character for you, or for me? Or more importantly, if something like that happens because one of us is different? Utter stupidity.

Profiling does work, insofar as one determines typical values pertaining to a threat, and looks for that threat in a crowd. Beating people up because they are different does not build character, nor does it make you tough. Nor does it toughen up those who are beaten. It engenders hatred, fear, and represents the lowest of character traits.

By your reckoning, perhaps I'd be an "effeminate *************************" for failing to beat you senseless. You and I can both be grateful that's nonsense, can't we? I can gaurantee you that there would be nothing character building about it.

Before you get worked up about the topic...the Imam has every right to speak as much as the Rabbi or the Priest...or Joe Blow in his T shirt and jeans. Likewise, he has ever bit the right to sue, just as do you. He only has the right to win if he's...right. That's why we have a justice system. All the braying and cawing about he decay in the system is sheer nonsense right now, as the court case hasn't been presented or tried. All we have is an accusation. You might wait until intelligent facts are in evidence before flying off the handle too far.

As a nation, we're doing quite well, thanks.

 

[Alamanach]

Is ther value in getting beaten up?

Strangely, yes. It teaches you that life is unfair, that you are tougher than you think, that unfairness will not kill you, that you have it within you to fight back, etc.

It engenders hatred, fear, and represents the lowest of character traits.

Of course, that's possible too. As my Maasai friend used to always tell me, too much of anything is no good. That's as true of beatings as it is of sunlight.

Chances are I'd walk through you and 30 of your friends and you'd never know what hit you...

Watch out, he may have only two friends-- Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson!

But, seriously... AC560, I think the difference between those days and today is that back then, we were a little less sensitive and a little more loving. These days, people confuse the two, and sensitivity (which is easy) ends up displacing love (which is difficult).

 

[Van Hooydonk]

Like I said, this country is going downhill; unless the government stops catering to all these looney tunes.
But, wait, that would be unconstitutional.

It is quite ironic, that you attribute one of the documents, which sets forth the principles that this country is founded upon, and which sets forth ideals that men and women have sacraficed their lives for, with the alleged "decline" of our country. Is it really a shame that the constitution gets in the way of how the government treats people.

 

[AC560]

I bet you thought that was an adult thing to say...but it surely came out sounding like the wisdom of a 14 year old.

Certainly your opinion but moving to a society where we don't have winners or even keep score in elementary school sporting events, where individuality is encouraged, etc. isn't making us a defined country. It is instead making us a country of whiny individuals who think we are all special.

While I don't advocating beating people up past say the 10th grade, I certainly learned a few things from occasionally getting my face stomped in. It certainly didn't engender any fear or hate in my classmates it developed a healthy respect between all of us that exists to this day (though I certainly didn't appreciate it at the time).

 

[avbug]

Now there's a brilliant philosophy. Why not just return to the 10th grade, then?

Over the years I've been hit, kicked, cut, stabbed, shot, struck, tripped, slammed and run over. I can't say it built character, but it did result in stitches, casts, instensive care, broken bones, a fair amount of blood loss, variosu physical traumas, three broken noses, two broken kneecaps, ribs, leg, arms, all fingers but one, and so on. Now historically I hit back a lot harder than I'm hit, and you know what? I have no desire for it. I see absolutely nothing redeeming in violence at any level. It's sometimes necessary, but I take no enjoyment, and the only possible good that can come of it is stopping something worse from happening. That's it.

There is absolutely nothing to be gained from kids beating up kids, let alone adults beating up adults.

You may find sports redeeming. I find them stupid and wasteful...but to each his own. If you believe that playing sports at any age in life is necessary for character development, then for you that may be true. You'll find no valid supporting data to back it up, of course, but whatever floats your boat. Your postulus that it's necessary for proper development is incorrect.

Nothing wrong with a society that doesn't advocate winners; such a society does not promote losers either, and that's not a bad thing.

All irrelevant to the issue of the Imams. They have their day, and are entitled to the same legal recourse as any other.

You can pummel people all day long until the cows come home. You must still answer in court, and that's where these men have gone; to the courts for their case to be heard.

 

[AC560]

Now there's a brilliant philosophy. Why not just return to the 10th grade, then?

Looking at the caliber of girls in the 10th grade today who wouldn't want to?