Has everyone gone mad?

[Lauren Hynde]

U.S. Homeland Security. Again.

You probably already heard about the United Air Lines flight 919 from London to Washington that was diverted to Bangor, Maine after Cat Stevens' name turned up on a "watch list" designed to keep terrorists from boarding flights. As a British citizen, he will be deported back to London today. According to U.S. officials, he is an active supporter of Muslim charities. The monster.

You can read the whole story on CNN, here.

The Muslim Council of Britain called it, rather tamely, "a slap in the face of sanity." You can read this and other reactions to the incident also on CNN, here.

The real insanity, though, the thing that has left me stunned, is that CNN is running one of those little QUICKVOTE polls together with the news, asking their readers, "Should the singer formerly known as Cat Stevens be denied entry to the U.S. on national security grounds?"

At the time I'm writing this, the results are:

- Yes: 56%
- No: 44%

So, my question today is, what the fuck are they putting in the drinking water over there? There has to be an explanation. No country could be, on average, so completely idiotic.

 

[oggbashan]

"Should the singer formerly known as Cat Stevens be denied entry to the U.S. on national security grounds?"

At the time I'm writing this, the results are:

- Yes: 56%
- No: 44%

So, my question today is, what the fuck are they putting in the drinking water over there? There has to be an explanation. No country could be, on average, so completely idiotic.

Yes they can if they are influenced by their media. TV polls in the UK come up with weird results for phone ins. It depends on how the question is worded and how the news report was slanted.

Ask the UK: Should paedophiles be hung, drawn and quartered?

If there has been a recent unpleasant child murder case the answer will be yes.

Ask the UK: Should paediatricians be hung, drawn and quartered?

If there has been a recent unpleasant child murder case the answer will still be yes.

Og

 

[Guest]

Cat Stevens can crash my pad anytime. Muslim or not. I can't believe they would even think he would be a danger to anyone.

Rediculous knee jerk reactions piss me off.

 

[cheerful_deviant]

So, my question today is, what the fuck are they putting in the drinking water over there? There has to be an explanation. No country could be, on average, so completely idiotic.

I think the poll answered the question for you.

To put this in perspective, think of how stupid the average person is. Now remember that half of them are stupider than that.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Re: Re: Has everyone gone mad?

Yes they can if they are influenced by their media. TV polls in the UK come up with weird results for phone ins. It depends on how the question is worded and how the news report was slanted.

Ask the UK: Should paedophiles be hung, drawn and quartered?

If there has been a recent unpleasant child murder case the answer will be yes.

Ask the UK: Should paediatricians be hung, drawn and quartered?

If there has been a recent unpleasant child murder case the answer will still be yes.

Og

Not exactly the same thing, Og. Those answers mean that the audiences are uneducated and inattentive. Not much of a surprise.

In this case, though, it isn't about syntax or even about this particular piece of news. The report is presented on a surprisingly neutral manner, listening to both sides (although it's interesting that the The Muslim Council of Britain's reactions are featured on CNN Europe and NOT on CNN U.S. Edition), so I don't know if I could lay the blame on the media, on this particular incident. Of course it is but one in a series of mass-hysteria incidents and can't be seen isolated from all the rest, but still...

"Should the singer formerly known as Cat Stevens be denied entry to the U.S. on national security grounds?" - There are no two ways of interpreting this question.

 

[Edward Teach]

U.S. Homeland Security. Again.


So, my question today is, what the fuck are they putting in the drinking water over there? There has to be an explanation. No country could be, on average, so completely idiotic.

Lauren, it ain't the water they're poisoning, it's the news media. They began poisoning it and buying it up thirty years ago and we are just now beginning to see the results.

The brainwashing has been so effective that most don't even realize it has happened.

Ed

 

[Shock Chick]

The real insanity, though, the thing that has left me stunned, is that CNN is running one of those little QUICKVOTE polls together with the news, asking their readers, "Should the singer formerly known as Cat Stevens be denied entry to the U.S. on national security grounds?"

At the time I'm writing this, the results are:

- Yes: 56%
- No: 44%

So, my question today is, what the fuck are they putting in the drinking water over there? There has to be an explanation. No country could be, on average, so completely idiotic.

With all due respect: dopey gits.

 

[oggbashan]

Re: Re: Re: Has everyone gone mad?

Not exactly the same thing, Og. Those answers mean that the audiences are uneducated and inattentive. Not much of a surprise.

In this case, though, it isn't about syntax or even about this particular piece of news. The report is presented on a surprisingly neutral manner, listening to both sides (although it's interesting that the The Muslim Council of Britain's reactions are featured on CNN Europe and NOT on CNN U.S. Edition), so I don't know if I could lay the blame on the media, on this particular incident. Of course it is but one in a series of mass-hysteria incidents and can't be seen isolated from all the rest, but still...

"Should the singer formerly known as Cat Stevens be denied entry to the U.S. on national security grounds?" - There are no two ways of interpreting this question.

In one of my entries for the National Nude Day competition I wrote a story that I hoped would win the coveted LAST place.

It came close. Why? Because I intentionally included the word 'Muslim' in the title and the story was about Muslim attitudes. The US media has implied since 9/11 that Muslim=terrorist. Cat Stevens is Muslim and has changed his name to reflect this. I'm surprised he wasn't shot as soon as he landed.

Og

 

[R. Richard]

The situation seems to be and may be stupid. However, the reader needs to understand Islam.

A muslim is directed by the Q'ran to give charity (alms) to the less fortunate. The actual belief behind this is not strange, as Christians, Jews and many other eligions also pass the collection plate. However, the extent and amounts collected by Muslims are far beyond most other religions.

With the great amount of fudamentalist Islam terrorist organizations, it is not unusual to find that the "Blessed Islamic Holy Peacful Charity" is a major funding source for, perhaps, Hamas. The actual use of the money donated by the faithful is not normally revealed to the contributors. Thus, a Muslim who thinks he is donating to the poor may well be buying suicide bomb belts for Hamas.

If this last seems unrealistic, then consider this. The distributors of Islamic charity are normally rich and powerful Muslims who are deemed to be above greedy diversion of the charitable funds. One such rich and powerful Muslim is Osama bin Laden.

 

[GingerV]

He's an internationally recognized peace activist, he's critical of this administration's policies, and he's adopted a recognizably muslim name.

Nope, I think we can be EXACTLY that stupid. I get reminded every single time I read a "love it or leave it" post from my patriotic countrymen. Hell, there's still an uproar about a dozen or so syrian musicians being allowed to fly in the country, isn't there? Or has that died down while I wasn't looking.

G

 

[gauchecritic]

To add a little perspective

With the great amount of fudamentalist Islam terrorist organizations, it is not unusual to find that the "Blessed Islamic Holy Peacful Charity" is a major funding source for, perhaps, Hamas. The actual use of the money donated by the faithful is not normally revealed to the contributors. Thus, a Muslim who thinks he is donating to the poor may well be buying suicide bomb belts for Hamas.

The same thing happened through much of the 20th century with regard to the U.S and the IRA.

Remember than any poll will only reflect the feeling of those willing to respond.

Gauche

 

[oggbashan]

If I travelled as Oggbashan I think I'd be banned from the US.

As the real me I am unwelcome in some parts of the world just because I have a beard, and in others because I am British.

Og

 

[Lauren Hynde]

The situation seems to be and may be stupid. However, the reader needs to understand Islam.

A Muslim is directed by the Q'ran to give charity (alms) to the less fortunate. The actual belief behind this is not strange, as Christians, Jews and many other eligions also pass the collection plate. However, the extent and amounts collected by Muslims are far beyond most other religions.

With the great amount of fudamentalist Islam terrorist organizations, it is not unusual to find that the "Blessed Islamic Holy Peacful Charity" is a major funding source for, perhaps, Hamas. The actual use of the money donated by the faithful is not normally revealed to the contributors. Thus, a Muslim who thinks he is donating to the poor may well be buying suicide bomb belts for Hamas.

If this last seems unrealistic, then consider this. The distributors of Islamic charity are normally rich and powerful Muslims who are deemed to be above greedy diversion of the charitable funds. One such rich and powerful Muslim is Osama bin Laden.

Thanks for the demonstration of how the minds of these people work.

Muslims are, as a rule, truer to the requirements of their holy scriptures, which reflects on the amount of money being given to charity surpassing that of any other religion. Most poor and needy Muslims are Palestinians and the people of other Arab nations, so a lot of the money gathered by the largest Muslim charity organisations is channelled to those countries. Some of it, predictably, will end up financing terrorist and para-military freedom-fighting operations. So, the logic conclusion is that Muslims, being by dogma exceptionally charitable and caring, are all accomplices to international terrorism.

IDIOTS!

I'm catholic. I give money to my parish and whenever I go to any sanctuary anywhere else. Some of that money will be used to feed drug addicts, petty robbers, burglars, probably rapists and murderers. Can I go to bed confident in the knowledge that my door won't be kicked in by the police to arrest me for aiding and abetting a criminal organisation?

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Re: To add a little perspective

The same thing happened through much of the 20th century with regard to the U.S and the IRA.

Hell, the same thing happened with regard to the U.S. and Osama Ibn Laden, the U.S. and Sadam Hussein, and the U.S. and Israel.

Remember than any poll will only reflect the feeling of those willing to respond.

Yes, the truth could be far worse. These are only people who read CNN's website.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

57/43

 

[TheEarl]

So I presume all of the Americans who gave money to Noraid (who openly gave that money to the IRA) in support of those brave Irish freedom-fighters who were suffering under the Jackboot oppression of the evil British Empire (cue the Imperial March from Star Wars) will be arrested any day now.

Terrorism only happens when it affects the USA.

The Earl

 

[TheEarl]

Lauren: I'm sorry about the jack. You brushed close to one of my pet-peeves and I ranted. I appear to be in a misanthropic mood today. Sorry bout that.

Everyone just ignore me as I foam quietly in the corner.

The Earl

 

[shereads]

"Wild World" has an undercurrent of anarchism. "Peace Train" undercuts troop morale.

 

[Guest]

"Father and Son" has definite incest connotations. Those feelthy bastards.

 

[Liar]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Has everyone gone mad?

It came close. Why? Because I intentionally included the word 'Muslim' in the title and the story was about Muslim attitudes. The US media has implied since 9/11 that Muslim=terrorist. Cat Stevens is Muslim and has changed his name to reflect this. I'm surprised he wasn't shot as soon as he landed.

Og

*patiently awaiting thew terrorism accusations against Mohammad Ali*

 

[rgraham666]

Thinking of a line from Walt Kelly, the creator of Pogo. He was speaking of the McCarthy era.

"We amazed our friends abroad and confounded our enemies at home. They had no idea we could be so soft in the head, or so hard in the heart."

 

[Lord DragonsWing]

It's hard to believe Cat Stevens is being sent back and that the poll shows the support for this ridiculous policy that it does.
I've always enjoyed Cats music and own most of his CDs. The American people do not understand Islam, and what scares me I don't think they want to. They're fed the line from the press and believe it. That's what is sad.
We have a great artist, who is muslim, returning to America. He's the most peaceful person I've ever known. Yet the poll shows he should be banned.
This should show what Americans as a majority think of Muslims. I am not one of them, but I hear it all the time from others. They quote from the press and cannot back up what they say. Just what the press says.
When will people think for themselves? When will humanity accept all beliefs and stop being prejudice? When will the press stop quoting political agendas and actually be a free press?

 

[Colleen Thomas]

This was copied from an Ap report on Yahoo news:

A law enforcement official who asked not to be identified said the United States had information that Islam*, who visited the United States in May, had donated money to the militant Islamic group Hamas.

Islam was denied entry to Israel in 2000 after the authorities there accused him of supporting Hamas. The former pop star denied the charges and said his charitable donations were for humanitarian causes.

Islam is the name stevens adopted when he converted in 1977*

-Colly

 

[Lauren Hynde]

A law enforcement official who asked not to be identified said the United States had information that...

Funny enough, another law enforcement official who also asked not to be identified said the Martians are planning a full scale invasion.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Funny enough, another law enforcement official who also asked not to be identified said the Martians are planning a full scale invasion.

It was posted without comment for a reason ya know