Agreed, places like this are not perfect for finding resolutions to problems, but heck, where can you go for this much fun, and it's free?

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Courtesy of Swissman

A gun in the hands of a free man frightens and angers the autocrat, not because he fears the power of the gun, but, rather, the spirit of the man who holds it.

ANONYMOUS

What I find telling is the questions the author does NOT ask - could it be that his "honest conversation" is itself limited by his own brand of "political correctness"? For instance:

What IS Sharia? What does Sharia mean in a modern context and is or can it, as a civil code interpreted through a modern lens be compatable with today's values?

How can we protect the liberties and freedom of our Muslim citizens while pursuing terrorists and extremists?

How can we protect our values of free speech yet protect Muslim minorities in our country from threats of violence and discrimination or McCarthiesque accusations of terrorist ties?

Why doesn't the media report on Muslim groups who speak out against extremism and violence?

Should we allow our fear of Islam affect our immigration policies (think back to the "Yellow Peril").


According to the author, such questions would be labeled "PC".

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DISCLAIMER: Extreme amounts of sarcasm can possibly result in inflammatory situations. Not responsible for keyboard violence, spittle on the monitor, irrational responses mistaken for momentary brilliance, one-sided rages against hypocrisy or individual members or unintended consequences such as poor personal hygiene and bad spelling. Please fasten your seatbelts and put your trays in an upright position.

>Shria Law is the Mulsim code, the main purpose of which is to subjugate non Muslims.

> Why protect Muslim citizens when the majority of them are on board with Jihad to one degree or another?

> We certainly should have the Islamic threat influence our immigration policies. There should have been a moratorum on immigration from Muslim countries starting on 9/12/2001.

> I love the way you liberals dredge up Mc Carthy as if he were some kind of boogy man. The Venona tapes declassified in the 1970's prove Mc Carthy was absolutly correct about communist infiltration in the US government and military. We need another Mc Carthy to deal with the Islamic threat.

> The media doesn't report Muslim groups that speak out against Jihad because there are none. It surprises me that the liberal media doesn't make up a group to help push the PC agenda.

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ΜΌΛΌΝ ΛΆΒΈ (come and take them)

Al Gore didn't invent the internet, but he did invent global warming

Spot on with all. Even number 5, concerning gay marriage, he has a point that we have a difficult time discussing it in an adult fashion. Of course, he turns around and lists out the childish arguments we see time and again opposing gay marriage, but he does have a point about the discussion.

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The voice in your head that says "you can't do this" is a LIAR!!!

For damn good reasons. Let's explore:

Sharia has NEVER changed. The laws remain the same. It treats women like second class citizens, it invokes eye for an eye punishment, it orders the execution of homosexuals, etc.

There is no interpretation or backing that changes the laws around Sharia. You are talking about religious decree by the will of Allah.

You cannot rewrite what has been written. Your attempt to put a happy face on such a barbaric set of rules is scary to say the least.

As we do with the laws we have today. why would Muslims need special rules?

Jews suffer 9 times the amount of hate attacks each year. Where is your concern for them?

FBI Hate Crimes Report for 2009:Anti - Jewish Attacks 9 Times more than Anti - Muslim Ones / Prof.B.Rubin | Rivka Shpak Lissak

Where is your proof that they are being silenced?

Islam isn't a race

Our fear is legitimate. The lack of modern progress in Muslim societies around the world and the overwhelming number of terrorist attacks in the world committed by Muslims supports that fear.

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I'm so intolerant I'm not even tolerant of my own intolerance

The reason I asked was because the wording you used is used by many liberals in arguing these points (not that I'm saying you are a liberal because I don't know you) but their principle argument especially on their social agenda is that we the vast majority of the country are children holding onto dated ideas about society. Hence their bastardization of the term "progressive"

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I'm so intolerant I'm not even tolerant of my own intolerance

I am fiscally conservative, socially Independent, each situation on it's own merit. I've been called worse than 'liberal' before.

A great number of people DO still hold onto dated ideas. I have mine too, but I have always been willing to try and see another point of view, if it even vaguely has merit. Some 'old' ideas regarding society have merit and value, others need to change with a changing society as their basis is disproven. And further down the road, some may change again, or revert to their original existence.

One phrase I use to describe some of these instances is 'the inability to accept that there is another point of view.' It doesn't say that you have to agree with that POV, but willing to accept that someone else does. Understanding how they got to that POV has much to do with it.

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"Try and fathom the hypocrisy of a Government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured, but not everyone must prove they are a citizen".

All I know is your avatar is wigging me out

You got an A in philosophy didn't you

Tolerance vs acceptance. Yes that was does show up a lot

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I'm so intolerant I'm not even tolerant of my own intolerance

The Green Man. I'm a plant hugger.


Not quite. The teacher was a little too 'out there' a little too often.


I try for both, where applicable.

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"Try and fathom the hypocrisy of a Government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured, but not everyone must prove they are a citizen".

That is false. How Sharia is interpreted can vary from culture to culture and across sects. In addition, the practice of Sharia is dependent on the quality and training of "experts" which can vary widely. Currently, there is much discussion concerning Sharia and whether it can be interpreted to work in a modern society as more Islamic countries become economically successful and modern communications carry information to even the most remote villages.

BBC NEWS | UK | Q&A: Sharia law explained

The Bible is also the Word of God - yet look at how widely it is interpreted. Some interpret phrases at their most literal, others attach a more metaphorical meaning. Rulings and "fatwa's" made under Sharia can often be inconsistent or even contradictory - again, because the expertise of it's practioners can vary across the board from an ignorant village priest to an educated scholar.

I'm not putting a "happy face" on anything - merely pointing out the facts of an issue you seem to have little knowledge of.

Who said anything about "special rules"? Perhaps you are making assumptions that aren't there.

They weren't brought up in the topic - I was specifically addressing a portion of the topic.

Geezum. You throw in so many unfounded assumptions when you answer stuff I don't even know where to begin.

Since when does "the media doesn't report" become a claim that they "are being silenced"? I did not say that.

What does race have to do with it? (chalk up another assumption)

Everyone thinks "their fear" is legitimate. That doesn't mean it is. Also doesn't mean that questions surrounding it shouldn't be asked.

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DISCLAIMER: Extreme amounts of sarcasm can possibly result in inflammatory situations. Not responsible for keyboard violence, spittle on the monitor, irrational responses mistaken for momentary brilliance, one-sided rages against hypocrisy or individual members or unintended consequences such as poor personal hygiene and bad spelling. Please fasten your seatbelts and put your trays in an upright position.