These are Christopher Hitchens' words (in Slate), and so you are not surprised to find them sharp, even cutting. Doubtless, some of you are provoked. But please don't repair to the self-righteous. Self-righteousness is an awkward response to the truth.
Given the "seven salient facts" about Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan easily assembled by Hitchens I doubt that even President Obama would want us to withhold judgement on the killer. He, too, as clearly made his own. Even unto grasping the justice awaiting the culprit in the hereafter. Understandably, as Philip Elliott of the Associated Press wrote on Saturday, Obama would prefer that Senator Joe Lieberman and Representative Peter Hoekstra not press for hearings in their respective Senate and House committees. But I believe there is zero chance for that restraint to hold. And why should it?
Hitchens' salient facts illumine the propensity of government agencies (and respectable journalistic institutions) to avert their gaze from realities that would get them into murky places they have learned to avert. For example: the point at which you have to admit "that an alarmingly high proportion of terrorists are Muslim." Or that "political correctness" now subverts domestic and military intelligence from doing their jobs.
The Obama administration has announced that immigration reform is next on its legislative agenda. I am personally disposed to a rather open Emma Lazarus-inflected policy: "I lift my lamp beside the golden door." We cannot simply dispose of immigrants we've decided, after years and years of winking at them, to call "illegals." But we also don't know how to keep unwanted--by whom, by the way?--aspirant immigrants out. We do not know either how properly to judge asylum cases.
And then there is the protection of liberal values with regard to civil freedoms, religion, family policy and violence in the home, sexuality, education. Does a society have the right to insure the safety of its virtues that are distinctly American or western? Some of you, I assume, are already furious. Well, go ahead and cancel your subscription.
Here's another way of posing this dilemma. Has Holland the right to remain Holland? England the right to remain England? France the right to remain France? And what about Rotterdam, Manchester, Paris?
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COMMENTS (154)
Of course, Hitchens even wrote a (short) book about Mr. Jefferson in order to make the case that 18th century Muslims were terrorists (you know, the pirates against whom President Jefferson chose to send the US Navy). I suppose an "alarmingly high" number of 18th century Muslims were terrorists. What percentage were pirates? I don't know. Maybe Mr. Peretz knows.
Of course, Hitchens even wrote a (short) book about Mr. Jefferson in order to make the case that 18th century Muslims were terrorists (you know, the pirates against whom President Jefferson chose to send the US Navy). I suppose an "alarmingly high" number of 18th century Muslims were terrorists. What percentage were pirates? I don't know. Maybe Mr. Peretz knows.
Hitchens thinks all religions a stupid Marty, including yours.
Hitchens thinks all religions a stupid Marty, including yours.
I don't know if this comes as news to you, Marty, but a president and a journalist have two different jobs. The journalist (or commentator) is allowed to say more or less what she or he wants. The president, on the other hand, represents the laws and constitution of the United States, and these laws and constitutional provisions have a problem with the notion of delivering judgments before the facts are in -- especially when an actual trial is pending.
I don't know if this comes as news to you, Marty, but a president and a journalist have two different jobs. The journalist (or commentator) is allowed to say more or less what she or he wants. The president, on the other hand, represents the laws and constitution of the United States, and these laws and constitutional provisions have a problem with the notion of delivering judgments before the facts are in -- especially when an actual trial is pending.
We have 1.5 million Arabs in this country and you're foaming at the mouth over whether we'll be able to maintain our "American" values? First of all, how many of these people are raving lunatics. Secondly, you're starting to sound frighteningly like Pat Buchanan. If we lived in France and the numbers and nature of the immigrants were different, I'd say, "Well, you might have a point . . . ." But we don't, and you don't.
Yesterday you went on about the Somalians. A few bad boys who decided to join a gang thousands of miles away. Maybe you should get foamed at the mouth about the thousands of US-born-and-bred gangsters in this country who kill innocents by the week. Oh, I forgot, tha ... view full comment
We have 1.5 million Arabs in this country and you're foaming at the mouth over whether we'll be able to maintain our "American" values? First of all, how many of these people are raving lunatics. Secondly, you're starting to sound frighteningly like Pat Buchanan. If we lived in France and the numbers and nature of the immigrants were different, I'd say, "Well, you might have a point . . . ." But we don't, and you don't.
Yesterday you went on about the Somalians. A few bad boys who decided to join a gang thousands of miles away. Maybe you should get foamed at the mouth about the thousands of US-born-and-bred gangsters in this country who kill innocents by the week. Oh, I forgot, that wouldn't help build support for Israel so why bother. And don't get on me about being a Jew-hater to any of you who want to pounce. Marty's gone loco.
Mr. Peretz comments are similar to many of the comments regarding Blacks in the 1960's.
Back then the Newspapers and News Shows identified suspects in criminal investigations by race and often had photos of these black criminals. A lot of suburban folks who had little contact with Blacks made the same analogy as Mr. Hitchens. Seems like a lot of these criminals are Black.
Nowadays, the suspects race is withheld unless it's materially relevant.
Is Mr. Peretz really trying to revisit some of these older shibboleths of liberal policy? It's really hard for the NYT to identify the religion of these suspects when it's really not relevant to the crime.
Mr. Peretz comments are similar to many of the comments regarding Blacks in the 1960's.
Back then the Newspapers and News Shows identified suspects in criminal investigations by race and often had photos of these black criminals. A lot of suburban folks who had little contact with Blacks made the same analogy as Mr. Hitchens. Seems like a lot of these criminals are Black.
Nowadays, the suspects race is withheld unless it's materially relevant.
Is Mr. Peretz really trying to revisit some of these older shibboleths of liberal policy? It's really hard for the NYT to identify the religion of these suspects when it's really not relevant to the crime.
WandreyCer
"Hitchens thinks all religions a stupid Marty, including yours."
I thought you said that Hitchens wasn't a bigot?
WandreyCer
"Hitchens thinks all religions a stupid Marty, including yours."
I thought you said that Hitchens wasn't a bigot?
MOLLYSIMON
"We have 1.5 million Arabs in this country and you're foaming at the mouth over whether we'll be able to maintain our "American" values? First of all, how many of these people are raving lunatics."
I assume that this was a question.
Anyway, if you want to find out how many of them are raving antisemites let your son put on a skull cap and walk into one of their neighborhoods.
MOLLYSIMON
"We have 1.5 million Arabs in this country and you're foaming at the mouth over whether we'll be able to maintain our "American" values? First of all, how many of these people are raving lunatics."
I assume that this was a question.
Anyway, if you want to find out how many of them are raving antisemites let your son put on a skull cap and walk into one of their neighborhoods.
CRS9TNR
"Mr. Peretz comments are similar to many of the comments regarding Blacks in the 1960's."
In what way are they similar?
CRS9TNR
"Mr. Peretz comments are similar to many of the comments regarding Blacks in the 1960's."
In what way are they similar?
Wandrey, yes, Hitchens thinks all religion is stupid, and dangerous-stupid too, with Islam tilting more toward the dangerous-stupid, as opposed to harmless-stupid, end of the spectrum. The so-called new atheists cropped up -- or, decided to talk about what they thought anyway -- all at around the same time. It wasn't a coincidence. It was a reaction, I think, to a couple of things: (1) 9/11 and (2) Bush -- that is, the freshly felt evil influence of religious belief in international and domestic affairs. Bill Maher's movie ends with visuals of mushroom clouds and a sermon predicting the apocalypse at the hands of religious fanatics. Perhaps it's hyperbolic, but the idea that the world ... view full comment
Wandrey, yes, Hitchens thinks all religion is stupid, and dangerous-stupid too, with Islam tilting more toward the dangerous-stupid, as opposed to harmless-stupid, end of the spectrum. The so-called new atheists cropped up -- or, decided to talk about what they thought anyway -- all at around the same time. It wasn't a coincidence. It was a reaction, I think, to a couple of things: (1) 9/11 and (2) Bush -- that is, the freshly felt evil influence of religious belief in international and domestic affairs. Bill Maher's movie ends with visuals of mushroom clouds and a sermon predicting the apocalypse at the hands of religious fanatics. Perhaps it's hyperbolic, but the idea that the world as we know it could end prematurely by the hand of an Islamo-fuck does not strike me as far-fetched as it did on 9/10. For myself, even if I think that all religious belief is, let's say, misguided, I don't necessarily regard all religious belief as equally abhorrent or equally dangerous when preached to those who are inclined to take it seriously.
Jackson, you're changing the subject. In answer to your suggestion, though, I say I love my son. Enough not to let him walk around parts of Compton--with or without a skull cap. There are bad people everywhere who want to do bad things.
The point I'm making is that here in America we are not in danger of becoming over-run with Sharia--though Marty seems to get his rocks off waving that phantom menace. Along with the idea that Arab immigrants as a group aren't as American as the rest of us.
Jackson, you're changing the subject. In answer to your suggestion, though, I say I love my son. Enough not to let him walk around parts of Compton--with or without a skull cap. There are bad people everywhere who want to do bad things.
The point I'm making is that here in America we are not in danger of becoming over-run with Sharia--though Marty seems to get his rocks off waving that phantom menace. Along with the idea that Arab immigrants as a group aren't as American as the rest of us.
If memory serves me correctly, every factor save the invocation of the name of Allah while committing murder can be said of the terrorists who have cold bloodedly murdered obstetricians who perform abortions in this country. All of those factors save the Allah akhbar can also be said about the lunatics now selling t-shirts, onesies and teddy bears that say, "Pray for Obama" and cite Psalms 109:9 ("May his children be orphans, his wife a widow") inspired by rabies infected Republican rhetoric in Congress. Whatever you do to Isalmic groups and leaders who preach the return of the caliphs and the practice of terror and their followers who buy guns and fertilizer you must do to radical Christi ... view full comment
If memory serves me correctly, every factor save the invocation of the name of Allah while committing murder can be said of the terrorists who have cold bloodedly murdered obstetricians who perform abortions in this country. All of those factors save the Allah akhbar can also be said about the lunatics now selling t-shirts, onesies and teddy bears that say, "Pray for Obama" and cite Psalms 109:9 ("May his children be orphans, his wife a widow") inspired by rabies infected Republican rhetoric in Congress. Whatever you do to Isalmic groups and leaders who preach the return of the caliphs and the practice of terror and their followers who buy guns and fertilizer you must do to radical Christian leaders who preach death and advocate for and cheer on those who murder doctors and invoke the God of Israel as justification to murder our President, and their congregants and Facebook followers who openly buy multiple guns with scores of rounds of cop killing ammunition at weekend gun shows. If there is a consensus in Congress and state legislatures to do that, it has escaped me.
Molly Simon says that "we are not in danger of becoming over-run with Sharia." True for most us, but our country has been thrown into conflict with Sharia believers. And there are believers among us who are potential actors of violent jihad. They have had a chilling effect on our willingness to understand events, terming all anti-Sharia sentiment Islamophobia, as though Islam were a race/ethnicity and not a militant messianic political religious ideology with global ambitions. Islamic states are trying to squelch criticism of Islam and Sharia through law suits and "anti-hate" laws in many countries, including those in the European Union. Which is ironic considering the 24/7 abuse heaped by I ... view full comment
Molly Simon says that "we are not in danger of becoming over-run with Sharia." True for most us, but our country has been thrown into conflict with Sharia believers. And there are believers among us who are potential actors of violent jihad. They have had a chilling effect on our willingness to understand events, terming all anti-Sharia sentiment Islamophobia, as though Islam were a race/ethnicity and not a militant messianic political religious ideology with global ambitions. Islamic states are trying to squelch criticism of Islam and Sharia through law suits and "anti-hate" laws in many countries, including those in the European Union. Which is ironic considering the 24/7 abuse heaped by Islamic preachers on Christianity and Judaism on Arabic (and other languages) satellite television. In their view, Buddhists, Hindus, pagans, and atheists don't even qualify for the dubious "protected" status (dhimmi-hood) accorded to Christians and Jews under Islam.
We must understand Sharia and what it dictates to Muslims about their relations to non-Muslims. Most Muslims believe in Sharia. It explains the ferocity of their resistence to Western intrusion in their world. It explains why they want to spread Islam beyond its historic lands. Under Islam, the penalty for apostasy is death. Young American and Canadian Muslim women have been killed by their families for dating non-Muslims or merely enjoying the more innocent prerogatives of most American teenagers. Those are known as "honor killings". Today, in Ohio, the life of a 17-year old Sri Lankan girl, Rifqa Bary, is in danger, because she converted to Christianity, left her abusive Muslim parents, and fled from Ohio to Florida. She has been returned, like a run-a-way slave, to Ohio. The child welfare authorities are likely to return her to her parents who will likely have her killed. The Islamic defense organizations have supported the parents. The authorities refuse to take Sharia seriously.
Sharia is an offense to all of our liberal values. It must be vigorously exposed and opposed. We are threatened by Islamic sharia.
Ah touche Jackson, you always catch things I leave out, thank you.
I don't agree with Hitchens, I find him amusing and well reasoned in his book but alas, atheism seems to be a gene I do not have. Is atheism bigotry? I think it can be, you're right. In his case, I wouldn't call it that. He's an equal opportunity religion basher. He's very astute on Islam without being a hate monger, which we desperately need.
It's just that using the well argued words of a known atheist to somehow support his looney rantings against a specific religion, as if we'd forget Hitchen's whole ouvre.
It's very Marty-esque. Not the sharpest tool in the shed.
Marty's post sounded verbatim like something in a l ... view full comment
Ah touche Jackson, you always catch things I leave out, thank you.
I don't agree with Hitchens, I find him amusing and well reasoned in his book but alas, atheism seems to be a gene I do not have. Is atheism bigotry? I think it can be, you're right. In his case, I wouldn't call it that. He's an equal opportunity religion basher. He's very astute on Islam without being a hate monger, which we desperately need.
It's just that using the well argued words of a known atheist to somehow support his looney rantings against a specific religion, as if we'd forget Hitchen's whole ouvre.
It's very Marty-esque. Not the sharpest tool in the shed.
Marty's post sounded verbatim like something in a letter between WASPS in the 20's and 30's
about Jews. I know, my Grandmother left me lots of them written to her, arguing against the work she was doing advocating for Jews in Europe. The letters writers were often Ivy Leaugers too. It makes me equally sick.
Mr. Wild. I suppose your posit is roughly analogous. Especially concerning the martyr type. I'm not going to tease out the problems with your example beyond the fact that ' hypocrisy ' is a living and contending concept as a counterweight per the Christian claim. It's not likely too many Muslims regard Major Hasan as having violated Islamic tenets. And therein lies the problem. Many may think that violent jihad is not a very good idea for whatever reason. But there is ground for sanction governmentally speaking per Koranic dictate.
Mr. Wild. I suppose your posit is roughly analogous. Especially concerning the martyr type. I'm not going to tease out the problems with your example beyond the fact that ' hypocrisy ' is a living and contending concept as a counterweight per the Christian claim. It's not likely too many Muslims regard Major Hasan as having violated Islamic tenets. And therein lies the problem. Many may think that violent jihad is not a very good idea for whatever reason. But there is ground for sanction governmentally speaking per Koranic dictate.
I'm not going to tease out the problems with your example beyond the fact that ' hypocrisy ' is a living and contending concept as a counterweight per the Christian claim.
should be ' hypocrisy ' is a living contending concept contained within the Christian consideration.
Sheesh. I've gotta get some sleep.
I'm not going to tease out the problems with your example beyond the fact that ' hypocrisy ' is a living and contending concept as a counterweight per the Christian claim.
should be ' hypocrisy ' is a living contending concept contained within the Christian consideration.
Sheesh. I've gotta get some sleep.
"I know, my Grandmother left me lots of them written to her, arguing against the work she was doing advocating for Jews in Europe. The letters writers were often Ivy Leaugers too."
Could you provide a few quotes from your grandmother's letters that Marty's words remind you of?
And can you provide a context to these letters, for example, a repeated record of Jews terrorising non-Jews, planting bombs, committing violence upon the bodies of non-Jews, for the sake of promulgating the virtues and greatness of Judaism?
Were Jews ever in the same position of Islamic minorities in the West? Aren't there mechanisms that protect Muslims from the random wrath of the mob?
"I know, my Grandmother left me lots of them written to her, arguing against the work she was doing advocating for Jews in Europe. The letters writers were often Ivy Leaugers too."
Could you provide a few quotes from your grandmother's letters that Marty's words remind you of?
And can you provide a context to these letters, for example, a repeated record of Jews terrorising non-Jews, planting bombs, committing violence upon the bodies of non-Jews, for the sake of promulgating the virtues and greatness of Judaism?
Were Jews ever in the same position of Islamic minorities in the West? Aren't there mechanisms that protect Muslims from the random wrath of the mob?
WandreyCer “I don't agree with Hitchens, I find him amusing and well reasoned in his book but alas, atheism seems to be a gene I do not have. Is atheism bigotry? I think it can be, you're right. In his case, I wouldn't call it that. He's an equal opportunity religion basher. He's very astute on Islam without being a hate monger, which we desperately need.”
No atheism need not be bigotry, though, the current fashionable atheists tend to be bigots for the most part.
Hitchens book which I read is unconvincing, (like most of his books that I have seen) he seems to believe that ancient Hellenistic culture was more moral, more rational than ancient Judaism. This is palpably false. Even a cursor ... view full comment
WandreyCer “I don't agree with Hitchens, I find him amusing and well reasoned in his book but alas, atheism seems to be a gene I do not have. Is atheism bigotry? I think it can be, you're right. In his case, I wouldn't call it that. He's an equal opportunity religion basher. He's very astute on Islam without being a hate monger, which we desperately need.”
No atheism need not be bigotry, though, the current fashionable atheists tend to be bigots for the most part.
Hitchens book which I read is unconvincing, (like most of his books that I have seen) he seems to believe that ancient Hellenistic culture was more moral, more rational than ancient Judaism. This is palpably false. Even a cursory acquaintance with some ancient writers, (Herodotus, Thucydides, Plutarch, etc.) shows that the ancient Greeks like the Romans were a particularly superstitious group of people who thought nothing of despoiling whole peoples and selling them into slavery.
What Hitchens and many other pop atheists don’t seem to understand that while religion may be false (in the sense that one can’t prove the existence of a god or gods) it isn’t therefore irrational as the systems of a Maimonides, a Thomas Aquinas shows.
Islam too, if one accepts its premises is a rational faith. Rationality is not the same as truth.
It would be far better for Hitchens to have said what many other honest non religious people have said, “I don’t believe in god” and live it at that. His own non-belief has the zeal of the missionary, wanting people to adopt his belief system. And missionaries are often bigots.
down in Ciudad Juarez 7 people a day are being killing by drug violence, the cartels will kill anyone who gets in their way, from Law enforcement to the families of other cartels. In addition, there is an active sex slave trade that winds its way up from Central America to the brothels of America. There is a serious and sustained war of terror here (in Mexico) and in the streets of many American cities (unless you believe that 15 year old Honduran girl really wants to be a prostitute).
Most of these cartel members are nominally Catholic. Must be something in the holy water.
I am with Molly, Marty has gone loco. Look, I have nothing against arguing there is a sickness in Arab and Islamic cultur ... view full comment
down in Ciudad Juarez 7 people a day are being killing by drug violence, the cartels will kill anyone who gets in their way, from Law enforcement to the families of other cartels. In addition, there is an active sex slave trade that winds its way up from Central America to the brothels of America. There is a serious and sustained war of terror here (in Mexico) and in the streets of many American cities (unless you believe that 15 year old Honduran girl really wants to be a prostitute).
Most of these cartel members are nominally Catholic. Must be something in the holy water.
I am with Molly, Marty has gone loco. Look, I have nothing against arguing there is a sickness in Arab and Islamic culture, a combination of rage, feelings of superiority/inferiority, ignorance, etc. When the Taliban kill a group of their fellow citizens in Peshawar by truck bombs, I find it utterly insane that these mutts consider it some kind of great victory, but Marty does go over the edge with his obsessiveness. There are no Muslim boogiemen hiding under your bed.
And lest we revel in our own moral superiority, if the environment does go over the tipping point and we have serious and catastrophic climate change, then we have to admit it was we superior Americans that bear the brunt, and we will end up killing far more than the worst tyrants in history, and we know the danger is there, yet Republicans would rather shriek in terror at the sight of a Muslim than consider getting off our oil addictions.
"And lest we revel in our own moral superiority, if the environment does go over the tipping point and we have serious and catastrophic climate change, then we have to admit it was we superior Americans that bear the brunt, and we will end up killing far more than the worst tyrants in history, and we know the danger is there, yet Republicans would rather shriek in terror at the sight of a Muslim than consider getting off our oil addictions."
Very sensible, but unless the Democrats start taking the terror threat more seriously, the Republicans will use the issue to their advantage in next year's election.
"There are no Muslim boogiemen hiding under your bed."
Not under my bed, but have you che ... view full comment
"And lest we revel in our own moral superiority, if the environment does go over the tipping point and we have serious and catastrophic climate change, then we have to admit it was we superior Americans that bear the brunt, and we will end up killing far more than the worst tyrants in history, and we know the danger is there, yet Republicans would rather shriek in terror at the sight of a Muslim than consider getting off our oil addictions."
Very sensible, but unless the Democrats start taking the terror threat more seriously, the Republicans will use the issue to their advantage in next year's election.
"There are no Muslim boogiemen hiding under your bed."
Not under my bed, but have you checked under Marty's bed lately?
i absolutely agree jackson, our oil addiction and arab terrorism go hand in hand. Why Obama and the Democrats don't make this a Crusade is beyond me. If we are going to blow a hole in our budget let's do it on energy. Where I live all of the electricity is supplied by a huge wind farm in La Ventosa, the campesiños in the area pitched a fit, but the whole region has benefited. Wind power can now be generated at about .04 cents a kwh, which is competitive with fossil fuels.
As to what is under Marty's bed, I think I will pass on that.
i absolutely agree jackson, our oil addiction and arab terrorism go hand in hand. Why Obama and the Democrats don't make this a Crusade is beyond me. If we are going to blow a hole in our budget let's do it on energy. Where I live all of the electricity is supplied by a huge wind farm in La Ventosa, the campesiños in the area pitched a fit, but the whole region has benefited. Wind power can now be generated at about .04 cents a kwh, which is competitive with fossil fuels.
As to what is under Marty's bed, I think I will pass on that.
I do not say that all Men are Rapists but I have noted that an alarmingly high proportion of Rapists are Men.
I do not say that all Men are Rapists but I have noted that an alarmingly high proportion of Rapists are Men.
Blackie, we can't even get this crowd to drill for OUR OWN oil. I'm all for wind and solar, but wake me when they provide even 1% of overall US energy. It will be decades.
There is no principled way to oppose drilling for US oil. It would provide jobs, and every barrel produced is one less we don't buy from people who hate us. For those who worry about oil spills, I say when do they start? We've been pumping oil in the Gulf for decades - where are the spills?
The Dems can't crusade because they are in the enviros pockets. The politically popular energy sources can't produce enough energy, and the sources thaht produce energy aren't poltically popular. At least on the Left.
Blackie, we can't even get this crowd to drill for OUR OWN oil. I'm all for wind and solar, but wake me when they provide even 1% of overall US energy. It will be decades.
There is no principled way to oppose drilling for US oil. It would provide jobs, and every barrel produced is one less we don't buy from people who hate us. For those who worry about oil spills, I say when do they start? We've been pumping oil in the Gulf for decades - where are the spills?
The Dems can't crusade because they are in the enviros pockets. The politically popular energy sources can't produce enough energy, and the sources thaht produce energy aren't poltically popular. At least on the Left.
kinninmont "I do not say that all Men are Rapists but I have noted that an alarmingly high proportion of Rapists are Men."
If you are speaking of penile rape then the analogy doesn't work as only men have the instrument necessary for rape. This is why we developed penal institutions of incarceration.
Are you suggesting the setting up of Islaminal institutions of incarceration?
kinninmont "I do not say that all Men are Rapists but I have noted that an alarmingly high proportion of Rapists are Men."
If you are speaking of penile rape then the analogy doesn't work as only men have the instrument necessary for rape. This is why we developed penal institutions of incarceration.
Are you suggesting the setting up of Islaminal institutions of incarceration?
The Dems are useless, B & B.
Here is a story that increased my blood pressure:
"Push to curb credit-card rates fades
Democrats resist consumer outcry"
By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff | November 18, 2009
"WASHINGTON - Efforts in Congress to cap credit-card interest rates are faltering because of opposition from Democrats and a lack of specific support from the White House, despite growing consumer outrage over a rush by banks to impose rates as high as 30 percent."
view full comment
The Dems are useless, B & B.
Here is a story that increased my blood pressure:
"Push to curb credit-card rates fades
Democrats resist consumer outcry"
By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff | November 18, 2009
"WASHINGTON - Efforts in Congress to cap credit-card interest rates are faltering because of opposition from Democrats and a lack of specific support from the White House, despite growing consumer outrage over a rush by banks to impose rates as high as 30 percent."
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/11/18/support...
This is a shout out to tgossard. Hey Tom ( if you don't mind my calling you that ) Umm. I owe you an apology for putting on a sharp edge last week. It wasn't at my best to say the least. By my lights you have been a decent sort and didn't deserve the what and how I tossed in your direction. I beg your indulgence.
This is a shout out to tgossard. Hey Tom ( if you don't mind my calling you that ) Umm. I owe you an apology for putting on a sharp edge last week. It wasn't at my best to say the least. By my lights you have been a decent sort and didn't deserve the what and how I tossed in your direction. I beg your indulgence.
butchie, I have no problem with drilling, the problem is that the places to drill are deep water and are far more expensive. To give an example, Cantarell runs about $5 a barrel (in line with Saudi Arabia), Chincotepec is much more. I am not just talking about Wind and Solar and green energy, I have no problem with nuclear as well, but fossil fuels have no future. By the way, there are a number of countries where wind provides significant energy sources. In Denmark it is nearly 25%. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_Denmark
If Denmark can do it, we sure as ... view full comment
butchie, I have no problem with drilling, the problem is that the places to drill are deep water and are far more expensive. To give an example, Cantarell runs about $5 a barrel (in line with Saudi Arabia), Chincotepec is much more. I am not just talking about Wind and Solar and green energy, I have no problem with nuclear as well, but fossil fuels have no future. By the way, there are a number of countries where wind provides significant energy sources. In Denmark it is nearly 25%. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_Denmark
If Denmark can do it, we sure as hell can, don't give me any bullshit why we can't. With the great plains, extensive coasts, high mountains, etc. we can do it, we have more than enough wind, we just lack the balls.
Butchie B, et al,
If we drill for what's left of US oil, we would still not be able to meet our energy needs in the foreseeable future.
Also, what environmental price are you willing to pay? There's a lot of hoopla about the gas underneath the Marcellus shale formation in NY and NJ counties within 50 miles of NYC. That's also the watershed with drinking water for 20 million people. Gas drilling is destructive and leaves a lot of toxic residues in the soil. Talking about the Alberta oil sands, getting at it is also destructive and expensive. There is a high ratio of energy input to output in Alberta. Those two-mile drilling shafts offshore are expensive. Unfortunately, Allah put most of ... view full comment
Butchie B, et al,
If we drill for what's left of US oil, we would still not be able to meet our energy needs in the foreseeable future.
Also, what environmental price are you willing to pay? There's a lot of hoopla about the gas underneath the Marcellus shale formation in NY and NJ counties within 50 miles of NYC. That's also the watershed with drinking water for 20 million people. Gas drilling is destructive and leaves a lot of toxic residues in the soil. Talking about the Alberta oil sands, getting at it is also destructive and expensive. There is a high ratio of energy input to output in Alberta. Those two-mile drilling shafts offshore are expensive. Unfortunately, Allah put most of the cheap oil in the Islamic world. Not to mention that Mexico is running out of oil and Venezuela is not so friendly these days. We have found out how expensive it is to occupy the oil regions and how toxic their religion is.
We have evolved a way of life designed to waste the most energy possible. Why do we build tract houses out in the Arizona and Nevada desert? Why all those sprawling suburban developments in the hot steamy southeastern US? Why do we favor automobiles and suburban sprawl over walkable towns connected by reliable mass transit? Energy analysts like Amory Lovins have argued that we can save a lot of energy from housing, transportation, and industry to reduce energy imports. Amory should set a good example for us and move down from Snowmass, CO into an apartment in Boulder or Denver. We need to up the taxes for petroleum consumption, fix the zoning laws, encourage denser settlements, and improve rail and bus choices for more Americans.
Obviously I have no problems with Marty getting down with it. He's a bit pissed because the tenor of our famous subject was being framed by many with a strange apologetic perversity. The very thing which allowed this to happen in the first place.
Obviously I have no problems with Marty getting down with it. He's a bit pissed because the tenor of our famous subject was being framed by many with a strange apologetic perversity. The very thing which allowed this to happen in the first place.
Butchie, the biggest problem with increased oil drilling anywhere is that it really doesn't harm the bottom line of Muslim extremists with oil under their sands. Oil is a globally priced commodity, so as long as global demand keeps increasing or even remains steady (read = demand from China, India and other growing markets), then the price of oil will stay high enough for oil-rich governments to keep making money and for that money to keep buying mischief. We don't import that much of our petroleum from the Persian Gulf anyway (15% IIRC), and none of that petroleum is for energy generation. What we really should do is a major push for cars that are powered by something other than gasoline ... view full comment
Butchie, the biggest problem with increased oil drilling anywhere is that it really doesn't harm the bottom line of Muslim extremists with oil under their sands. Oil is a globally priced commodity, so as long as global demand keeps increasing or even remains steady (read = demand from China, India and other growing markets), then the price of oil will stay high enough for oil-rich governments to keep making money and for that money to keep buying mischief. We don't import that much of our petroleum from the Persian Gulf anyway (15% IIRC), and none of that petroleum is for energy generation. What we really should do is a major push for cars that are powered by something other than gasoline and to share that technology worldwide.
"we have more than enough wind, we just lack the balls."
Great slogan!
Pretty much sums up most of American politics at the moment.
"we have more than enough wind, we just lack the balls."
Great slogan!
Pretty much sums up most of American politics at the moment.
"Umm. I owe you an apology for putting on a sharp edge last week. It wasn't at my best to say the least. By my lights you have been a decent sort and didn't deserve the what and how I tossed in your direction. I beg your indulgence."
jacko, no prob, and thank you for - do you mean to say "I apologize" or in other words. If yes, thanks very much, of course I accept. If by saying "I beg your indulgence" you are asking me to forgive you, certainly, no hard feelings at all.
Thanks for responding so graciously! Yours sincerely, Tom. :)
(note: I don't usually (actually hardly ever) express myself taking such obsessive care to observe and analyze somebody (anybody) else's choice of words and l ... view full comment
"Umm. I owe you an apology for putting on a sharp edge last week. It wasn't at my best to say the least. By my lights you have been a decent sort and didn't deserve the what and how I tossed in your direction. I beg your indulgence."
jacko, no prob, and thank you for - do you mean to say "I apologize" or in other words. If yes, thanks very much, of course I accept. If by saying "I beg your indulgence" you are asking me to forgive you, certainly, no hard feelings at all.
Thanks for responding so graciously! Yours sincerely, Tom. :)
(note: I don't usually (actually hardly ever) express myself taking such obsessive care to observe and analyze somebody (anybody) else's choice of words and language, to speculate as to their intended meaning - in other words "read their (your) mind" in an effort to respond carefully thoughtfully and sincerely instead of acting like a smart-mouthed asshole which I'm sorry to say I indulge myself at somebody else's expense.) I often appreciate what you say and how you say it in these threads, cuz it helps me think and learn stuff I value very much - unlike the dreck I used to read elsewhere but now avoid since it's a total waste of my valuable time and energy.
If Peretz quotes Hitchens then all religions are assisnine when looked at logically. Only a nutcase would still believe them, whether they be Jewish, Christian or Muslim. As for Hassan how about a hearing on why our nation's lawmakers are so gutless and stupid as to give any terrorrist (McVey, DC Sniper, Jewish Defence League, AL Qaeda) the weapons of mass destruction Hasan so easily got outside of Ft. Hood.
If Peretz quotes Hitchens then all religions are assisnine when looked at logically. Only a nutcase would still believe them, whether they be Jewish, Christian or Muslim. As for Hassan how about a hearing on why our nation's lawmakers are so gutless and stupid as to give any terrorrist (McVey, DC Sniper, Jewish Defence League, AL Qaeda) the weapons of mass destruction Hasan so easily got outside of Ft. Hood.
If a Jew committed an act like Hasan--highly unusual in this country with Arab reared Americans--would that be indicative of something?? Is Bernie Madoff typical of Jewish ethics today? I am from extended family of liberal, honest universal minded Jews who fought for civil rights etc. Yet something in me suggests that Madoff might be just that. I like above post by AudreyCer
If a Jew committed an act like Hasan--highly unusual in this country with Arab reared Americans--would that be indicative of something?? Is Bernie Madoff typical of Jewish ethics today? I am from extended family of liberal, honest universal minded Jews who fought for civil rights etc. Yet something in me suggests that Madoff might be just that. I like above post by AudreyCer
Tgossard acting like a smart-mouthed asshole is ever so much fun though. irony, the slogan was unintentional, comes with being a smart-mouthed asshole I guess.
Adolbe, sorry bro, but the teachings of Christ are not the least bit asinine. In 2,000 years since then we haven't improved upon his story in the slightest. 20 years after Hitchens is dead, he will be forgotten by all but his loved ones, and after they pass he will be forgotten by all. I have seen some of his interviews, the guy is a miserable prick.
Tgossard acting like a smart-mouthed asshole is ever so much fun though. irony, the slogan was unintentional, comes with being a smart-mouthed asshole I guess.
Adolbe, sorry bro, but the teachings of Christ are not the least bit asinine. In 2,000 years since then we haven't improved upon his story in the slightest. 20 years after Hitchens is dead, he will be forgotten by all but his loved ones, and after they pass he will be forgotten by all. I have seen some of his interviews, the guy is a miserable prick.
"(McVey, DC Sniper, Jewish Defence League, AL Qaeda) "
It is important to note that for adolbe, the Jewish Defense League comes before Al Qaeda, when he thinks of terrorists.
It is what Martin Amis shrewdly identified as the rabid Leftist inexorable need to fetishize balance:
" In the summer of 2006 I came back to live in the UK
after two-and-a-half years in South America. I maintain that I had not become
more of a fascist in the interim – at the feet of a Galtieri, say, or at the
knee of a Pinochet. But in politics it is surprisingly easy
to move from side to side while staying in the same place; and the middle
ground, I discovered, was not wh ... view full comment
"(McVey, DC Sniper, Jewish Defence League, AL Qaeda) "
It is important to note that for adolbe, the Jewish Defense League comes before Al Qaeda, when he thinks of terrorists.
It is what Martin Amis shrewdly identified as the rabid Leftist inexorable need to fetishize balance:
" In the summer of 2006 I came back to live in the UK
after two-and-a-half years in South America. I maintain that I had not become
more of a fascist in the interim – at the feet of a Galtieri, say, or at the
knee of a Pinochet. But in politics it is surprisingly easy
to move from side to side while staying in the same place; and the middle
ground, I discovered, was not where it used to be. The extent of the
shift became dramatically clear to me on live television, when I appeared on
Question Time(the BBC’s interactive discussion show) and was asked about our
progress in what was now being called the Long War.
The answer I gave was, I thought, almost tediously
centrist. I said that the West should have spent the past five years in the
construction of a democratic and pluralistic model in Afghanistan, while in the
meantime merely containing Iraq. In Afghanistan we have already seen, not the
“genocide” eagerly predicted by Noam Chomsky and others, but “genogenesis” (in
Paul Berman’s coinage) – a burgeoning census. Since 2001, the population has
risen by 25 per cent. Meanwhile, too, needless to say, the coalition should have
been tearing up the earth of Waziristan in its hunt for the remnants of
al-Qaeda.
At this point I started looking from face to face
in the audience, and what I saw were the gapes and frowns, not of disagreement,
but of disbelief. Then a young woman spoke up, in a voice near-tearful with
passionate self-righteousness, saying that it was the Americans who had armed
the Islamists in Afghanistan, and that therefore the US, in its response to
September 11, “should be dropping bombs on themselves”! I had time to imagine
the F16s yowling in over Chicago, and the USS Abraham Lincoln pumping shells the
size of Volkswagens into downtown Miami – in bold atonement for the World Trade
Center, for the Pentagon, for United 93, United 175, American 11, and American
77. But then my thoughts were scattered by the sound of unanimous applause. We
are drowsily accustomed, by now, to the fetishisation of “balance”, the
groundrule of “moral equivalence” in all conflicts between West and East, the
100-per-cent and 360-degree inability to pass judgment on any ethnicity other
than our own (except in the case of Israel). And yet the handclappers of
Question Time had moved beyond the old formula of pious paralysis. This was not
equivalence; this was hemispherical abjection. Accordingly, given the choice
between George Bush and Osama bin Laden, the liberal relativist, it seems, is
obliged to plump for the Saudi, thus becoming the appeaser of an armed doctrine
with the following tenets: it is racist, misogynist, homophobic, totalitarian,
inquisitional, imperialist, and genocidal. "
JacksonD - Here's a link to a post from Van Jones, former Special Advisor for Green Jobs in a pre-Obama post from Huffington Post from 2005. He is disputing the allegations that Blacks are more likely to be criminals.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/van-jones/are-blacks-a-criminal-rac_b_8398...
I got this on the 2nd hit from a Google Search on 'Race & Crime'.
I could probably pull a few examples from the Kerner Commision Report from 1968, but that's hard copy and harder to search & share.
Basically the argument ... view full comment
JacksonD - Here's a link to a post from Van Jones, former Special Advisor for Green Jobs in a pre-Obama post from Huffington Post from 2005. He is disputing the allegations that Blacks are more likely to be criminals.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/van-jones/are-blacks-a-criminal-rac_b_8398...
I got this on the 2nd hit from a Google Search on 'Race & Crime'.
I could probably pull a few examples from the Kerner Commision Report from 1968, but that's hard copy and harder to search & share.
Basically the argument from the 1960s was defending Blacks against various portrayals in the media as criminals.
CRS9TNR "JacksonD - Here's a link to a post from Van Jones, former Special Advisor for Green Jobs in a pre-Obama post from Huffington Post from 2005. He is disputing the allegations that Blacks are more likely to be criminals."
You haven't shown a connection between Marty's post about Islamic terrorism (who have already killed tens of thousands world wide, including thousands here) and the portrayal of Black Americans in the 60's as criminals. The analogy doesn't work for many reasons.
CRS9TNR "JacksonD - Here's a link to a post from Van Jones, former Special Advisor for Green Jobs in a pre-Obama post from Huffington Post from 2005. He is disputing the allegations that Blacks are more likely to be criminals."
You haven't shown a connection between Marty's post about Islamic terrorism (who have already killed tens of thousands world wide, including thousands here) and the portrayal of Black Americans in the 60's as criminals. The analogy doesn't work for many reasons.
adolbe “If Peretz quotes Hitchens then all religions are assisnine when looked at logically. Only a nutcase would still believe them, whether they be Jewish, Christian or Muslim.”
What ignorant nonsense, badly written too. Your assertion is illogical, adolbe, are you a nutcase?
“As for Hassan how about a hearing on why our nation's lawmakers are so gutless and stupid as to give any terrorrist (McVey, DC Sniper, Jewish Defence League, AL Qaeda) the weapons of mass destruction Hasan so easily got outside of Ft. Hood.”
This gives you away as a rabid antisemite. When did a member of the “Jewish Defence (sic) League go on a killing spree in this country? Moreover putting the JDL next to a ... view full comment
adolbe “If Peretz quotes Hitchens then all religions are assisnine when looked at logically. Only a nutcase would still believe them, whether they be Jewish, Christian or Muslim.”
What ignorant nonsense, badly written too. Your assertion is illogical, adolbe, are you a nutcase?
“As for Hassan how about a hearing on why our nation's lawmakers are so gutless and stupid as to give any terrorrist (McVey, DC Sniper, Jewish Defence League, AL Qaeda) the weapons of mass destruction Hasan so easily got outside of Ft. Hood.”
This gives you away as a rabid antisemite. When did a member of the “Jewish Defence (sic) League go on a killing spree in this country? Moreover putting the JDL next to al Kaida but leaving out say, the KKK or some other White supremacist group tells us a lot about you. (Not to mention your British spelling of defence.)
adolbe “If a Jew committed an act like Hasan--highly unusual in this country with Arab reared Americans--would that be indicative of something??”
Another nutty proposition from adolbe. Had any Jew massacred a dozen people in the name of his religion you would be one of the first to call for a pogrom.
“Is Bernie Madoff typical of Jewish ethics today?”
Is he? You tell us adolbe?
“I am from extended family of liberal, honest universal minded Jews who fought for civil rights etc.”
No you are not. You are probably not even an American given the way you write and spell.
“Yet something in me suggests that Madoff might be just that.”
Tell us about that something, adolbe. Could that som ... view full comment
adolbe “If a Jew committed an act like Hasan--highly unusual in this country with Arab reared Americans--would that be indicative of something??”
Another nutty proposition from adolbe. Had any Jew massacred a dozen people in the name of his religion you would be one of the first to call for a pogrom.
“Is Bernie Madoff typical of Jewish ethics today?”
Is he? You tell us adolbe?
“I am from extended family of liberal, honest universal minded Jews who fought for civil rights etc.”
No you are not. You are probably not even an American given the way you write and spell.
“Yet something in me suggests that Madoff might be just that.”
Tell us about that something, adolbe. Could that something be stark Jew hatred?
“I like above post by AudreyCer”
There is no AudreyCer, adolbe. The name of the poster is WandreyCer. You are deluded all the way around, aren’t you?
“Is Bernie Madoff typical of Jewish ethics today?”
Is he? You tell us adolbe? "
He did tell us:
“Yet something in me suggests that Madoff might be just that.”
“Is Bernie Madoff typical of Jewish ethics today?”
Is he? You tell us adolbe? "
He did tell us:
“Yet something in me suggests that Madoff might be just that.”
"Is Bernie Madoff typical of Jewish ethics today?" Touche, adolbe.
"Is Bernie Madoff typical of Jewish ethics today?" Touche, adolbe.
noga1: "He did tell us:
'Yet something in me suggests that Madoff might be just that.'"
Adolbe is deluded. He also said that:
"I am from extended family of liberal, honest universal minded Jews who fought for civil rights etc.”
If this is the case, who is representive of Jewish ethics, Madoff or "adolbe?"
noga1: "He did tell us:
'Yet something in me suggests that Madoff might be just that.'"
Adolbe is deluded. He also said that:
"I am from extended family of liberal, honest universal minded Jews who fought for civil rights etc.”
If this is the case, who is representive of Jewish ethics, Madoff or "adolbe?"
If this is the case, who is representive of Jewish ethics, Madoff or "adolbe?"
Or is it Molly Simon?
If this is the case, who is representive of Jewish ethics, Madoff or "adolbe?"
Or is it Molly Simon?
molly, ".."Is Bernie Madoff typical of Jewish ethics today?" Touche, adolbe"
You don't really believe that Bernie Madoff is typical of Jewish ethics, do you?
molly, ".."Is Bernie Madoff typical of Jewish ethics today?" Touche, adolbe"
You don't really believe that Bernie Madoff is typical of Jewish ethics, do you?
"I am from extended family of liberal, honest universal minded Jews who fought for civil rights etc.”
Suuuuuuuuure you are...
"I am from extended family of liberal, honest universal minded Jews who fought for civil rights etc.”
Suuuuuuuuure you are...
Amis is a compelling narrative artist, both in fiction and in reportage and opinion, but while I'm inclined to agree that he skewers a new type of postcolonial left-authoritarianism in the UK in the passsages you quote, Noga, I don't think that it's necessarily fetishizing balance. What he describes sounds more like a rigid ideological framework held by people who imagine themselves to be supple and open-minded thinkers.
The fetishizing of balance we see more often here is not an attempt to "balance" Hamas and the IDF or the U.S. Army and AQ in Iraq or Nazis and American liberals (all of which have indeed been offered at one moment or another) but rather an inability to take a rational look ... view full comment
Amis is a compelling narrative artist, both in fiction and in reportage and opinion, but while I'm inclined to agree that he skewers a new type of postcolonial left-authoritarianism in the UK in the passsages you quote, Noga, I don't think that it's necessarily fetishizing balance. What he describes sounds more like a rigid ideological framework held by people who imagine themselves to be supple and open-minded thinkers.
The fetishizing of balance we see more often here is not an attempt to "balance" Hamas and the IDF or the U.S. Army and AQ in Iraq or Nazis and American liberals (all of which have indeed been offered at one moment or another) but rather an inability to take a rational look at a claim before balancing it with a ludicrous counter-claim, NOT because the reporter/author is ideologically committed to the counter-claim but because it's a new ethical responsibility to do so: so when X claims e.g. that data clearly shows income inequality has risen sharply in the U.S. since 1970, reversing the tendency at mid-century (provably true), the MSM feels to need to give air time to some corporate shill who denies or dismisses the provable truth and asserts without challenge that everyone is richer.
Jacko says:
"It's not likely too many Muslims regard Major Hasan as having violated Islamic tenets."
That is a statement that requires factual support if it is not to be taken as bigotry.
Jacko says:
"It's not likely too many Muslims regard Major Hasan as having violated Islamic tenets."
That is a statement that requires factual support if it is not to be taken as bigotry.
I think Molly is being sarcastic with that touche remark. jackson, after that asinine remark by adolbe I didn't read the next posting so I did miss that classic convolution: I am from extended family of liberal, honest universal minded Jews who fought for civil rights
I hate to say it Jackson but the atrocious grammar is not indicative of being a non native speaker. Have you ever read some of the comments on the Daily Beast? Or any of a number of non subscriber political sites? Anyway, I have a theory that adolbe is the bastard child of George Walton and ndmac.
Hasn't it been wonderful since walton went away? I can read postings in peace, though I am starting to find the whole Hasan threads t ... view full comment
I think Molly is being sarcastic with that touche remark. jackson, after that asinine remark by adolbe I didn't read the next posting so I did miss that classic convolution: I am from extended family of liberal, honest universal minded Jews who fought for civil rights
I hate to say it Jackson but the atrocious grammar is not indicative of being a non native speaker. Have you ever read some of the comments on the Daily Beast? Or any of a number of non subscriber political sites? Anyway, I have a theory that adolbe is the bastard child of George Walton and ndmac.
Hasn't it been wonderful since walton went away? I can read postings in peace, though I am starting to find the whole Hasan threads tiresome, there is not much more to be said without getting redundant. This is a world where the Taliban in Pakistan considers it a great victory to blow up their own people in markets in Peshawar. And the Pakistani victims families blame Israel.
blackton “I hate to say it Jackson but the atrocious grammar is not indicative of being a non native speaker. Have you ever read some of the comments on the Daily Beast? Or any of a number of non subscriber political sites?”
Perhaps, but they don’t usually spell defense “defence” as the Brits do. Besides I have read lots of British posters with very bad grammar and worse logic.
“Anyway, I have a theory that adolbe is the bastard child of George Walton and ndmac.
Hasn't it been wonderful since walton went away? I can read postings in peace, though I am starting to find the whole Hasan threads t ... view full comment”
Bite your tongue, Blackton or curl your fingers whenever y ... view full comment
blackton “I hate to say it Jackson but the atrocious grammar is not indicative of being a non native speaker. Have you ever read some of the comments on the Daily Beast? Or any of a number of non subscriber political sites?”
Perhaps, but they don’t usually spell defense “defence” as the Brits do. Besides I have read lots of British posters with very bad grammar and worse logic.
“Anyway, I have a theory that adolbe is the bastard child of George Walton and ndmac.
Hasn't it been wonderful since walton went away? I can read postings in peace, though I am starting to find the whole Hasan threads t ... view full comment”
Bite your tongue, Blackton or curl your fingers whenever you get the urge to type the above mentioned names. Let’s let sleeping dogs lie in their own dung.
“I can read postings in peace, though I am starting to find the whole Hasan threads tiresome, there is not much more to be said without getting redundant.”
I agree. Soon we’ll move to another Marty obsession. Probably the coming terrorist trials in NY now that “President Barack Obama… expressed certainty that they'll be found guilty and executed”
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/AP/story/1340673.html
H eis probably right, but he should have kept his mouth shut.
“This is a world where the Taliban in Pakistan considers it a great victory to blow up their own people in markets in Peshawar. And the Pakistani victims families blame Israel.”
Yes, and this is not the worse example of la locura del mundo.
"I Do Not Say That All Muslims Are Terrorists, But I Have Noticed That An Alarmingly High Proportion Of Terrorists Are Muslim""
Kinninmont responds: "I do not say that all Men are Rapists but I have noted that an alarmingly high proportion of Rapists are Men."
Kinninmont probably assumed that the posters here would understand the rejoinder. Apparently not. To my mind, the point is that the fact that a high proportion of men are rapists does not imply that all men are rapists, that most men are rapists, or that most men approve of rape.
Or to use a perhaps more apt analogy, if it were true that a relatively high percentage of violent criminals are black, that would not imply that all or most ... view full comment
"I Do Not Say That All Muslims Are Terrorists, But I Have Noticed That An Alarmingly High Proportion Of Terrorists Are Muslim""
Kinninmont responds: "I do not say that all Men are Rapists but I have noted that an alarmingly high proportion of Rapists are Men."
Kinninmont probably assumed that the posters here would understand the rejoinder. Apparently not. To my mind, the point is that the fact that a high proportion of men are rapists does not imply that all men are rapists, that most men are rapists, or that most men approve of rape.
Or to use a perhaps more apt analogy, if it were true that a relatively high percentage of violent criminals are black, that would not imply that all or most blacks are violent criminals, or that most blacks approve of violent crime.
Now of course, one can come up with all kinds of distinctions between blacks and Muslims, between violent crime in the United States and terrorism, etc. But the point is the logical fallacy in inferring from the fact that all Bs are As, that all As are Bs.