[url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/52132.html]POLITICO[/url]
[img]http://images.politico.com/global/news/110329_dick_durbin_muslim_605_shinkle.jpg[/img]
[release]Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin said it wasn’t a response to Republican Rep. Peter King’s comments at a congressional hearing this month on post-Sept. 11 Islamic radicalization and terrorism — but it sure seemed like it.
The Illinois Democrat’s hearing Tuesday on anti-Muslim bigotry — the first congressional hearing of its kind — was an opportunity for Democrats to present Muslim-Americans in a different light: as a community that is facing growing discrimination and intolerance.
Durbin noted that King, chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, previously stated that there are too many mosques in the United States. And Durbin referred to comments by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a possible GOP presidential candidate, that the country is “experiencing an Islamist cultural-political offensive designed to undermine and destroy our civilization.”
“Some have even questioned the premise of today’s hearing: that we should protect the civil rights of American Muslims,” the No. 2 Senate Democrat said in his opening remarks. “Such inflammatory speech from prominent public figures creates a fertile climate for discrimination. So it’s not surprising that the Anti-Defamation League says we face an intensified level of anti-Muslim bigotry.’”
Three weeks after the Committee on Homeland Security’s hearing, a new Sen**ate Judiciary Committee panel heard testimony from Muslim civil rights leaders and past and present Justice Department officials. Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the department has investigated more than 800 possible hate crimes against people perceived to be Muslim or Arab.
[b]“It is our government’s responsibility to prevent and punish this kind of illegal discrimination. And it is incumbent upon all Americans who love this nation and the values our Constitution protects to make it clear ... the civil rights of our Muslim neighbors are as important as the rights of Christians, Jews and nonbelievers,” Durbin said.[/b]
“Of course, the First Amendment protects not just the free exercise of religion but also freedom of speech. But all of us, especially those of us in public life, have a responsibility to choose our words carefully.”
Tuesday’s hearings drew a sharp rebuke from King. The New York Republican told Fox News: “This just perpetuates the myth that somehow Muslims are the victim of Sept. 11.”
While Senate Republicans insisted that Americans must protect religious freedoms, they pointed out that the front lines of the war against Islamic terrorists are “at our front door.”
“Efforts to recruit and radicalize young Muslims must be dealt with,” said South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee’s panel on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights. “To the American Muslim community, I will stand with you, but you will have to help your country. ... Get in this fight and protect your young people and your nation from radicalization.”
Graham later added: “There are two sides to this story, and I want to talk about both, not just one.”
Among those who testified were Assistant Attorney General Tom Perez, who heads the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division; Muslim civil rights leader Farhana Khera; and Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the archbishop emeritus of Washington.
Perez highlighted specific examples of hate crimes against Muslim and Arab-Americans. His department recently secured a guilty plea from a man who set fire to a Texas mosque after the Sept. 11 attacks. And last year, three men were sentenced for firebombing a mosque in Tennessee.
Perez opened with the story of Balbir Singh Sodhi, a gas station owner who was shot to death while pumping gasoline in Arizona, four days after Sept. 11. Sodhi was Sikh but was confused for a Muslim because of his beard and turban.
“Regrettably, while nearly a decade has passed since 9/11, we continue to see a steady stream of violence and discrimination targeting Muslim, Arab, Sikh and South-Asian communities,” Perez said.
“In each city and town here, I have met with leaders of these communities. I have been struck by the sense of fear that pervades their lives — fear of violence, of bigotry and hate. The headwind of intolerance manifests itself in many different ways.”
During a pointed exchange, Graham questioned Perez about the Justice Department’s decision to sue a Chicago-area school district for rejecting a Muslim middle school teacher’s request to take three weeks off to travel to Mecca for a religious pilgrimage, or hajj. The school district’s decision — and subsequent Obama administration lawsuit — ignited a political and religious firestorm.
Could the woman have met her religious obligation during the summer, when school is out? Graham asked.
“No, sir,” Perez replied.
“She could not have?” Graham asked. “I’m no authority on the hajj, but is it these three weeks in this one year that this lady could go?”
Perez explained that the hajj is based on the lunar calendar and came during this three-week period this year.
Graham wasn’t satisfied.
“Put yourself in the school district’s position. If you were a Christian who said, ‘I want to go to Rome for three weeks, or I want to go to Jerusalem for three weeks, in the middle of the school year,’ I would say, ‘No,’” the senator said.
“I’m a Christian. I do not believe there is anything in my faith that says I get three weeks off to observe Easter on any particular year. ... It’s my understanding that she could have met her religious obligations without creating this burden of being the only math lab instructor in the school district. And I think that’s going too far, quite frankly. And the fact that you took this case up will do more damage than good.”[/release]
These hearings really shouldn't be needed.
[QUOTE=Blanketspace;28883203]These hearings really shouldn't be needed.[/QUOTE]
They shouldn't, but it's nice that someone is addressing the bigotry head on.
[QUOTE=Habsburg;28883238]They shouldn't, but it's nice that someone is addressing the bigotry head on.[/QUOTE]
I'm just afraid this will be blown out of proportion and used to fuel the flames.
[QUOTE=Blanketspace;28883258]I'm just afraid this will be blown out of proportion and used to fuel the flames.[/QUOTE]
no matter what happens with anything, some politician will take it and use it as fuel. Thats just how politics work now-a-days.
Dick Durbin sounds like a sexual apparatus.
[QUOTE=Blanketspace;28883203]These hearings really shouldn't be needed.[/QUOTE]
Shouldn't be needed, but nonetheless required with so many misled citizens.
After the September 11th attack (:911:), mass media monopolies and fascist conservatives have vilified Muslims as a scapegoat for the country's problems.
It's a basic principle of Fascism, pin all the issues on a group of people. The masses then actively pursue the scapegoat in a misguided effort to end the nation's decline. It's how Hitler took control of Germany, it's how Conservatives and Neo-Conservatives are taking control of the United States.
[QUOTE=joes33431;28883525]Shouldn't be needed, but nonetheless required with so many misled citizens.
After the September 11th attack (:911:), mass media monopolies and fascist conservatives have vilified Muslims as a scapegoat for the country's problems.
It's a basic principle of Fascism, pin all the issues on a group of people. The masses then actively pursue the scapegoat in a misguided effort to end the nation's decline. It's how Hitler took control of Germany, it's how Conservatives and Neo-Conservatives are taking control of the United States.[/QUOTE]
"media monopolies", "fascist conservatives", "scapegoat", and relating contemporary America to 1930s Germany. Real winner here, friends.
I have never heard Muslims be blamed for the economic or social problems not directly pertaining to the war on terror in any official and or respectable regard.
This seems all around pointless. So there's intolerance in the world.... and what are you going to do about it? Suggest nicely that all the racists stop being racist?
Good luck with that, thanks for wasting money on this.
[QUOTE=joes33431;28883525]
After the September 11th attack (:911:), mass media monopolies and fascist conservatives have vilified Muslims as a scapegoat for the country's problems.
It's a basic principle of Fascism, pin all the issues on a group of people. The masses then actively pursue the scapegoat in a misguided effort to end the nation's decline. It's how Hitler took control of Germany, it's how Conservatives and Neo-Conservatives are taking control of the United States.[/QUOTE]
You are very idiot
[QUOTE=s0beit;28884284]This seems all around pointless. So there's intolerance in the world.... and what are you going to do about it? Suggest nicely that all the racists stop being racist?
Good luck with that, thanks for wasting money on this.
You are very idiot[/QUOTE]
Fuck addressing the problem I mean there's never been a time in history where bigotry has gotten out of control to the point of genocide.
I mean seriously, give me just [B]one[/B] example of widespread bigotry leading to genocide, just [B]one[/B].
Preferably one which killed at least 6 million people. Please I can't really think of one example in all of history.
[editline]29th March 2011[/editline]
"Psh intolerance never hurt anyone! Thanks for wasting my money :downs:"
Good o'l Dick, I voted for him in the Illinois election :love:
[QUOTE=Habsburg;28883238]They shouldn't, but it's nice that someone is addressing the bigotry head on.[/QUOTE]
This guy always brings up controversial subjects, and makes them right. A true politician.
He is also in charge of reviewing the renewal of the patriot act.
Intolerance doesn't affect my white middle class self so let's just ignore it!
[QUOTE=Regulas021;28884207]I have never heard Muslims be blamed for the economic or social problems not directly pertaining to the war on terror in any official and or respectable regard.[/QUOTE]
I find that hard to believe.
And how exactly do you unreasonably blame all the problems of a nation on a group of people in an "official and respectable regard"?
[QUOTE=RBM11;28884511]Fuck addressing the problem I mean there's never been a time in history where bigotry has gotten out of control to the point of genocide.
I mean seriously, give me just [B]one[/B] example of widespread bigotry leading to genocide, just [B]one[/B].
Preferably one which killed at least 6 million people. Please I can't really think of one example in all of history.
[editline]29th March 2011[/editline]
"Psh intolerance never hurt anyone! Thanks for wasting my money :downs:"[/QUOTE]
Can I have another hint?
[QUOTE=Lambeth;28885407]Can I have another hint?[/QUOTE]
armenian
I'm not sure how I feel about the last bit.
The thing about the hajj.
I agree with the last part, you can't just leave during the year for three weeks just because of your religion and not have that rejected
Notably, we don't really have a parallel in any other religion. No other religion requires a hajj.
[QUOTE=Lambeth;28885407]Can I have another hint?[/QUOTE]
[IMG]http://library.usu.edu/specol/digitalexhibits/masaryk/images/swastika.jpg[/IMG]
Seriously guys I'm really having trouble finding out at least one case of genocide due to widespread bigotry.
:godwin:
[QUOTE=RBM11;28884511]Fuck addressing the problem I mean there's never been a time in history where bigotry has gotten out of control to the point of genocide.
I mean seriously, give me just [B]one[/B] example of widespread bigotry leading to genocide, just [B]one[/B].
Preferably one which killed at least 6 million people. Please I can't really think of one example in all of history.
[editline]29th March 2011[/editline]
"Psh intolerance never hurt anyone! Thanks for wasting my money :downs:"[/QUOTE]
So you're saying without this do-nothing discussion people would start genociding Muslims?
You couldn't possibly be more strawman right now
[QUOTE=ratman_122;28884549]Good o'l Dick, I voted for him in the Illinois election :love:[/QUOTE]
Also fuck you, Dick Durbin is a cunt
If someone wants to take 3 weeks off then whats the big deal? That's so unchill to reject her like that.
[editline]29th March 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=s0beit;28885911]
Also fuck you, Dick Durbin is a cunt[/QUOTE]
u mad?
[QUOTE=Regulas021;28884207]"media monopolies", "fascist conservatives", "scapegoat", and relating contemporary America to 1930s Germany. Real winner here, friends.
I have never heard Muslims be blamed for the economic or social problems not directly pertaining to the war on terror in any official and or respectable regard.[/QUOTE]
You haven't been paying attention, have you?
Muslims are the new nigger
[QUOTE=Doozle;28889503]Muslims are the new nigger[/QUOTE]
I don't mean to sound out there, but don't use nigger to describe someones race/ethnicity. Use it to describe someone who is a low-life scumbag. That's a better use for it.
[QUOTE=JoeSkylynx;28889544]I don't mean to sound out there, but don't use nigger to describe someones race/ethnicity. Use it to describe someone who is a low-life scumbag. That's a better use for it.[/QUOTE]
what
nigger is an ethnic slur
there's no other use for it
[QUOTE=thisispain;28889599]what
nigger is an ethnic slur
there's no other use for it[/QUOTE]
Eh... I wish it wasn't sometimes, but what can yah do.
uh
not use ethnic slurs?
[QUOTE=thisispain;28889622]uh
not use ethnic slurs?[/QUOTE]
I rather settle with everyone is just a little bit racist.
uh if you wanna use racial slurs go ahead but don't pretend they aren't racial slurs by masking it
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