A message from a liberal to liberals: wake up

[fundingfather]

<p>I found this to be an interesting read. In the light of other threads by the CC-left which is eager to equate Christianity with radical Islam, here is one liberal who sees Islamic terrorism for what it is.
<a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-harris18sep18,0,1897169.story?coll=la-opinion-rightrail%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-harris18sep18,0,1897169.story?coll=la-opinion-rightrail&lt;/a>

[quote]
On questions of national security, I am now as wary of my fellow liberals as I am of the religious demagogues on the Christian right.</p>

<p>This may seem like frank acquiescence to the charge that "liberals are soft on terrorism." It is, and they are. </p>

<hr>

<p>At its most extreme, liberal denial has found expression in a growing subculture of conspiracy theorists who believe that the atrocities of 9/11 were orchestrated by our own government. A nationwide poll conducted by the Scripps Survey Research Center at Ohio University found that more than a third of Americans suspect that the federal government "assisted in the 9/11 terrorist attacks or took no action to stop them so the United States could go to war in the Middle East;" 16% believe that the twin towers collapsed not because fully-fueled passenger jets smashed into them but because agents of the Bush administration had secretly rigged them to explode. </p>

<p>*Such an astonishing eruption of masochistic unreason could well mark the decline of liberalism, if not the decline of Western civilization. *</p>

<hr>

<p>Given the mendacity and shocking incompetence of the Bush administration — especially its mishandling of the war in Iraq — liberals can find much to lament in the conservative approach to fighting the war on terror. Unfortunately, liberals hate the current administration with such fury that they regularly fail to acknowledge just how dangerous and depraved our enemies in the Muslim world are.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I think the last quoted sentence pretty well sums up the situation as I see it on CC.</p>

[Invirginia]

<p>When I read an article like the one referenced, I always want to know the names of some of the "liberals" the author makes reference to. And what does he think generic "liberals" should be doing differently? If I agree that Islamist fundamentalism is very dangerous, which I do, what does the author think that I should therefore be doing? Is the article intended to be a defense of torturing prisoners? detention without trial? warrantless wiretapping? classifying all government documents on the grounds of national security? I personally do not think that what the U.S. military is doing in Iraq or what the Israeli armed forces did recently in Lebanon is the moral equivalent of terrorists killing non-combatants, but that doesn't mean that I think that everything the administration says must be done to combat terrorism needs to or should be done.</p>

[mini]

<p>"Given the mendacity and shocking incompetence of the Bush administration"</p>

<p>I think he was being very generous. Like "mendacity" though. ;)</p>

<p>What about Clinton?</p>

[weenie]

<p>I guess I'm wondering, at this point, what exactly are liberals SUPPOSED to do about anything really? Basically completely powerless -- it hardly matters what we think about terrorism (or anything else). The radical conservative lunatics are in charge of this country. It's all their's to screw up.</p>

<p>Granted, it is all Clinton's fault, but really...</p>

[TheDad]

<p>An idiotic article. "Liberals" are treated as homogenous, "Muslims" are implicitly acknowledged as having a diversity of opinions. </p>

<p>Odd to have a Bush supporter quoting an anti-religious nutcase...THE END OF FAITH is as anti-Christian as anything else.</p>

<p>But even a blind pig finds a truffle now and then:</p>

<p>
[quote]
I also think that the Bush administration deserves most of the criticism it has received in the last six years — especially with respect to its waging of the war in Iraq, its scuttling of science and its fiscal irresponsibility.

[/quote]
</p>

[fundingfather]

<p>
[quote]
But even a blind pig finds a truffle now and then:

[/quote]
</p>

<p>You're right, that's why I figured I would point out how this "blind pig" who is wrong on so many things is right when it comes to understanding that his fellow liberals are so myopic as a result of BDS that they overlook the real threat to America and the West.</p>

[OpiefromMayberry]

<p>"that they overlook the real threat to America and the West."</p>

<p>Would that be our current political system? The polarization of America is the biggest threat to America. Because the only people "talking" are the nutbags in BOTH political parties and leaders of groups that should be ignored.</p>

<p>Islam is not the threat, changing the consitution, ignoring the GC, Borrowing to fight a war, encouraging the deeper mixing of church and state and destroying the other side of the arguement are the real threats.</p>

[zoosermom]

<p>"Islam is not the threat, changing the consitution, ignoring the GC, Borrowing to fight a war, encouraging the deeper mixing of church and state and destroying the other side of the arguement are the real threats."</p>

<p>Oh phew. I'm so glad I imagined the plane flying into the building. Thanks for clarifying that Opie. I see death and destruction as actual threats, but to each his own, right.</p>

[barrons]

<p>Opie needs to see the business end of a scimitar up close and personal. Then he'll see the distinction. The US was just as polarized under Clinton. But nobody here is running around with bombs and swords. Well, except for that Muslim who shot the women at the Seattle Jewish center.</p>

[zoosermom]

<p>"But nobody here is running around with bombs and swords."</p>

<p>Hey did I ever tell you about the guy with the sword on the Staten Island Ferry. Now that was an ugly scenario.</p>

[leanid]

<p>weenie - Your term "radical conservative" is a contradiction. The Left may be radical (in its extreme) while the Right may be reactionary (extreme case also). The Left can no more be reactionary than the Right can be radical.</p>

<p>chiaro?</p>

[barrons]

<p>We had a guy here walking around downtown brandishing a large sword. The police shot him--end of problem.</p>

[zoosermom]

<p>"We had a guy here walking around downtown brandishing a large sword. The police shot him--end of problem."</p>

<p>OUr swordsman killed two and wounded about 4 others. We've been trying to deport him for years but he's mentally ill, so that's a no-go.</p>

[OpiefromMayberry]

<p>"Oh phew. I'm so glad I imagined the plane flying into the building. Thanks for clarifying that Opie. I see death and destruction as actual threats, but to each his own, right."</p>

<p>:) everyday you prove me correct.</p>

[OpiefromMayberry]

<p>"Opie needs to see the business end of a scimitar up close and personal"</p>

<p>How DO YOU EVEN BEGIN TO KNOW WHAT I'VE SEEN UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL? </p>

<p>Besides you've missed the point again.</p>

[zoosermom]

<p>"everyday you prove me correct."</p>

<p>And you are a stereotype with fingers. Do you actually wear your tin-foil hat or just keep it nearby?</p>

[OpiefromMayberry]

<p>:) nice one.</p>

[OpiefromMayberry]

<p>:) you continue to prove me correct.</p>

<p>Continue your personal attacks, they certainly make me feel bad. It's enough to rust my tin foil hat. Maybe now the aliens can alter my mind.</p>

[zoosermom]

<p>Hmmm. Opie, I responded in kind to what you posted to me. Reciprocity not your thing?</p>

<p>Do you seriously think that political disagreement is more dangerous that murder?</p>

[OpiefromMayberry]

<p>zooz,</p>

<p>The sad thing is you are attacking me rather than my point. Last time I checked, we're both American's. So while a middle eastern man with no education may hate me because he is told to, you hate me and try to destroy me because while we're both educated, my opinion is different than yours, and for some reason you and a few others just can't live with that without labeling me, challenging my loyalty, intelligence and sanity. Who is a bigger threat to me and my way of life?</p>