Terrorism is a tool. Terrorist acts are not the last act of a terrorist mission, they are the first act of the much bigger mission.
In their stampede towards cowardice and embrace of the flip side of prejudice that ISIS relies on, a number of Republican Governors are obliviously following the desires of ISIS in proclaiming that they won’t accept refugees from Syria, Iraq and the region under siege by ISIS. And this is exactly what ISIS wants, overt bigotry and hatred by those in the West against Muslims, affirming the Crusaders vs. Righteous ISIS scenario which is their primary recruiting propaganda.
To be clear, Republican Governors are blindly providing support for ISIS’ recruiting efforts to make ISIS grow bigger and more powerful. And they’re doing it through knee jerk cowardice, almost crowing about how their prejudice against non-whites and non-Christians (those who are different form them, that is) is now completely justified.
Which Republican Governors have jumped aboard the Cowardly Bigot Express? The 24 (so far) are the governors of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. Only one Democratic governor (NH) has joined this panic party.
The first question that comes to mind is why these Republicans, especially those in The South, think that panicking after a terrorist attack and proclaiming how fearful they are, comes off as macho in the supposedly “macho” Republican community. Their fear doesn’t make them look strong to those outside of Republican communities, they look like small, weak, cowardly men.
It seems clear that these Republican Governors are acting politically, they know that the xenophobes that make up the core of their voters will reward them for using the attacks to proclaim Islamophobia as state policy. Still, consider the stupidity behind such declarations:
- All but one of the Paris terrorists were citizens of France or Belgium. Are all these governors going to also bar everyone who’s French or Belgian from entering their state? Are they going back to Freedom Fries and Freedom Chocolate? Didn’t that defeat the terrorists too?
- Once in the U.S., Muslims can drive cars, ride on planes and buses and even walk. So Republican governors, you’ve refused to allow the U.S. government to settle Syrian refugees in your state. Instead, they’ve been settled in a state near yours. Guess what? They can come into your state anytime they want by driving, flying or taking a bus. Unless you ask Donald Trump to build a “yuuuge” wall around your state, of course. BOO!!!
- Islamophobia creates more terrorists that could come and attack you. It’s pretty well documented that the ISIS volunteers coming from The West to join ISIS are disaffected Muslims who feel oppressed and mistreated. Openly and aggressively voicing support for Islamophobia as these Republican governors are, is exactly the desired outcome that ISIS was hoping its attacks would inspire. Unintentionally, these Repubs are collaborating with ISIS as top tier recruiters.
- Brave people are defiant against evil people, not their victims. As President Obama is displaying, brave men and brave leaders encourage their citizens to not give into fear and to defy the intent of terrorists. They urge people to continue acting on their principles and not allow the terrorists to win by compromising who they are. America and the world have long believed in the moral responsibility of providing a haven for the refugees of terrible conflicts. It is part of the American character and the nation’s humanity to do so. Republican Governors might be quick to throw away such principles but when they do so, they allow terrorists to have power over them and their alleged principles.
- An American Muslim community that is supported by our political leaders is a strong defense against extremists and terrorism. Instead of smearing all Muslims as possible terrorists, embracing Muslims as equals and non-automatic terrorists helps build a community that embraces America back. Part of the reason France is such a target for Muslim extremists is that their government has been at odds with the Muslim community over the years. Some will remember the Muslim protests that swept France a decade ago, this tension has been around fro some time. It is a different situation in America, in general, Muslims are more comfortably integrated into the country. This provides for a more positive sensibility for Muslims in America and is more conducive to their feeling a part of the country instead of feeling like outcasts in an Islamophobic nation and more prone to hatred and committing violence.
- Islamophobia right after 9/11 only made everything worse. Osama Bin Laden made clear that he had a goal to bring America to its knees. The attack on the World Trade Center didn’t do that in itself. But the Islamophobia and knee jerk fear and rage driving more violence and wars, accomplished Bin Laden’s goals for him. President George W. Bush whipped up and rode the wave of Islamophobia in America to go to war in Iraq which helped destroy our economy (not to mention cost us so many irreplaceable lives of our soldiers and innocent Iraqis) and created ISIS. At least in comparing the economic and human toll that Al Qaeda directly caused and that Bush directly caused, it’s hard to argue that the attack on 9/11 caused more losses to our country than the Islamophobia-driven responses by our leaders afterwards.
It is an important goal for ISIS to have the response to their terrorism be one of Islamophobia. They want and need an existential battle between Muslims and non-Muslims and inspiring Islamophobia is key to that. So when we see the rise of xenophobic, anti-immigrant nationalists like The National Front party in France, UK Independence Party in the UK, the Danish People’s Party in Denmark, etc., we see ISIS’ wet dream coming true.
And watching Republican governors jump onto this Islamophobic dog pile makes one ashamed at the cowardice and ignorance they proudly display on behalf of America.
Those who are smart, learn from experience. Panicking about Muslims after 9/11 led to disasters that continue today as we’ve seen this past week.
We need to be smarter than our fears, holding on strongly to our principles especially when confronted with hatred and violence. It will always be what’s best in us that protects us in the end, not catering to the worst of our fears and prejudices.
(UPDATE: This article has been updated to reflect the increased number of Governors opposing refugees. Also, Republicans in Congress and running for president are unsurprisingly jumping on the Fear and Bigotry bandwagon, Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz even stating that only Christian refugees should be allowed into the U.S..)
Republicans rarely miss an opportunity to punch down.
The constant mantra drilled into the head of conservatives is:
1. What to be afraid of
2. Who to blame
3. It isn’t your fault
The Right Wing Entertainment Industrial Complex can’t miss an opportunity to reinforce this message with real-life examples.
Funk – Republicans kick down, even at 4 year old orphans.
I think your first two items are actually all they focus on but like an algebra problem, “Who” to blame doesn’t even need to be a variable, it’s actually a constant, it’s always the Democrats and their presidents.
I do think that the racism Trump has been whipping up is as horrible as the nationalistic groups around Europe and the world, something many of us have been bewildered and offended by as they gain power. Thankfully, the racist and bigot vote is limited to those who already support Trump or Carson, around 50% of the Repub base which is only around 12% of all voters. There is a “yuuge” firewall (that Mexico didn’t have to pay for) against Trump and any accompanying white supremacy candidates would be stopped by when the full electorate comes out.
It has been this ugly before, decades ago when racism and white supremacy were both seen as positive Christian and American values. But the days of such people being able to win majorities in national elections is over and the mostly older voters who make up much of this base are dying out.
I’ve said it before and will once again suggest that 2016 could be the modern day Goldwater election for the Republicans, putting up an extremist, offensive candidate that turns the country farther to the Dems and Progressives and damages the Repub brand for decades.
And you know I’m looking forward to a GOP civil war exploding afterwards that leaves the party inoperable and in ruins. I’m just that kinda guy!
Ad, I think some people forget that the period of time that this type of inflammatory rhetoric was unacceptable is very very small. 40 years? 50 at the outside?
Our nation’s history is full of racism from the regular guy on the street all the up to the Presidency. It took a tremendous amount of effort, awareness, introspection and LEGISLATION to beat it back.
Like other battles we’ve won I think many people just assumed the war was won and that was that.
It doesn’t take much to crack the door wide enough for this evil to seep back in. Governors and Presidential candidates and their language go a long way to giving people permission to act on their baser instincts.
This article is perfect AdLib, it explains a phenomenon that has been happening in this country for centuries. Almost since the time this nation was usurped by the tactics used by the first invaders, tactics such as those you described are happening now with the mostly Republican governors.
Cowardice? No, not cowardice, at least not in my opinion. Instead of cowardice, it is a blatant attempt to frighten the rest of us, those of us that will have to give up our loved ones to go off to fight a war that they are steadily trying to drum up against ISIL. Boots on the ground yes, but not for their friends and family, only for those that they continue to oppress and then utilize when their butts are in the ringer.
In the beginning, they called the Native Americans savages and justified their savagery against them by acting as though they were terrified of the people who occupied this land before they arrived, even though those very people had the winter before saved their lives by sharing their intelligence regarding ways to live in the new land that they were not familiar with. They shared their food and other belongings with those that would later commit a veritable genocide against them. It appears the sins of the father’s are definitely visited upon the sons.
You know the history of this nation, so I don’t have to go through what they did to every other minority that came to this country, legally illegally, in bondage or whatever. They did the same thing they are attempting to do to the people in the middle east. Why did they do this in this country? If you know your history you know why. Why are they trying to do it in the middle east? Same reason…GREED. They have something valuable, the Oligarchs want it, and they will go to no lengths to get it. ISIS is in the way? Okay, they will pretend to be terrified of ISIS, AL Qaeda and any other group that dares to fight back.
One thing you forgot to mention when discussing those horrible governors that are now denying Syrian refugees entry into their states and that is this: When the “terrorist” attacked the U.S. on 9/11, they were majority Saudi citizens, yes, they were from Saudi Arabia. Did you hear any of those governors protesting saying no Saudi’s will be allowed to migrate to the U.S.? Did you hear any of them clamoring for war against Saudi Arabia, or even discussing Saudi Arabia in a manner that would be detrimental to the Saudi government? Of course not, remember Bandar Bush? Well, he was like one of the Bush family, instead of declaring the Saudi’s savages, they allowed them the opportunity to leave the nation by plane during a time of restricted flight, remember? Again, I should say not, Saudi Arabia had and still has something their corporations need, something they continue to say that we need. OIL…circle complete, GREED.
Now then, how dare those savages that claim to be forming a caliphate steal our oil, attack the country of our now most prized ally (an ally that was completely hated during the run up to the Iraq war, because they were trying to be sensible and prevent what is happening to them now, remember? Some even wanted to change the name of French Fries to Freedom Fries because we were so mad at the French for not immediately supporting our decision to attack an innocent nation.) Now because ISIS is attempting to do the same thing we did and is fighting back when we attempt to stop them, we are all of a sudden realizing that this thing that they are doing is horrible.
How dare ISIS and Al Qaeda and anyone else try to make the world think the way they do. And, how dare they attempt to prevent us from continuing to rule over our new colonized nation of Iraq, and prevent our attempts at imposing our will upon the government of Syria. How dare they get in our way and put up a fight not only against us, but also against our allies. We are going to have to do something and we have to do it now, or those savages will be over here beheading your women and children, or still worse, raping them and then beheading them. Be afraid, be very afraid, and remember, a Muslim is a Muslim, doesn’t matter if the person is Shia or Sunni, no matter if they are from Syria, Russia, the U.S. or whatever country, because after all, if they practice the religion of Islam they are all the same, so remember, be afraid of them all, and begin the slaughter of them all, that will of course fill the coffers of the Oligarchs also, and even if you can’t eliminate them all, at least you will have eliminated enough of them to make the job of the Oligarchs which is to control them much easier.
As you say in your article, when will we learn. The Oligarch’s have killed millions of Native Americans, millions of African Americans and millions of everyone they consider other, and continue to eliminate the other in more ways than I would care to count because they think the rest of the world is coming for their toys, and they just won’t have it under any circumstance, and of course in the back of their minds they still somehow think they are going to rid the world of everybody and everything that doesn’t look like them, act like them, or meet their expectations in whatever way they deem is acceptable. And also too, there is the pie, the thing the rest of us call the earth, they feel she, the earth, is theirs, and refuse to slice that pie equally. They refuse to share any of it so that the rest of us might be able to enjoy this planet that is actually here for all of us, maybe more so for those willing to share it than those who would try to usurp all of it for themselves.
I believe this is a time of a great awakening, I believe the Oligarch’s have finally been allowed the luxury of making the mistake of creating this disaster in the middle east, and maybe they are being given an opportunity to do the right thing this time and try to find a way to learn from their past mistakes, admit the world isn’t theirs and allow those that would in my opinion be more capable handle the problem of ISIS. I feel those of the religion of Islam understand better what is happening with this group and are the only ones that can prevent the spread of what many consider a departure from the true religion of Islam.
One day, hopefully soon, this nation will understand what President Obama appears to have learned, no amount of boots on the ground, no amount of blood and treasure is going to dispense with an idea. Maybe, just maybe we will get some grown ups in a room, grown ups from every nation to discuss the better course going forward. It is for sure, the U.S. and NATO should not be left alone to make the decision as to what to do about this problem.
The U.S. the nation that I believe is most responsible for creating this mess should definitely not be allowed to make the decision as to how we should move forward, and those governors, shrewd cowards they are, should be praying that those that have been so horribly wronged in their own nations decide to bless them by coming to live in their states, if for no other reason than to prove to them that not everyone in this nation is like the evil Bush administration that caused these problems in the first place.
If the Oligarchs don’t reconsider and start trying to find ways to get along with the rest of the world, and learn to share the abundance that is available for all on this planet, THEY are going to regret it.
Thanks for this wonderful article, and for giving me the opportunity to express my feelings in this what I’m sure some will call a rant. Have a great day. 🙂
monicaangela, I think you’re right, though the behavior of the Repub governors is that of cowards, their intent is really to whip up fear and Islamophobia in Americans for political gain. They don’t care if they tear this nation apart and represent Americans as terrified, ignorant bigots, as long as it helps them grab power and pour more trillions of dollars into the hands of the wealthy who profit from war.
Indeed, the true and ugly history of American bigotry is not as recognized as it should be but in almost every instance, minorities have been demagogued, oppressed, imprisoned and killed.
Beginning with the genocide of Native Americans, slavery, anti-antisemitism, hatred of the Irish and Italian when each came over in large numbers, anti-gay bigotry, hatred of Muslims after 9/11 and of course, hatred towards Latinos.
On one hand, America can be a melting pot over time, oppressed minorities can gradually become seen by a majority of white Americans as peers but there will always be a section of the population, our institutions and leaders that hold on tightly to their bigotry.
There is a terrible irony to the fact that France opposed going to war in Iraq with Bush and is now the victim of terrorism that was born by the war they opposed. And the US Congress, in one of their most ridiculous and shameful actions, did indeed pass a bill to change the menu at the commissary in the Capitol so it read “Freedom Fries”. And that Iraq war sure did bring just the opposite of freedom to just about everything except french fries, didn’t it?
For Republicans, something is only wrong unless they want to do it. They’re decrying the killing of innocent people in Paris by ISIS because it furthers their maniacal schemes…but they’re simultaneously screaming for indiscriminate and massive bombing in Syria where they would kill scores of innocent Syrians.
Killing innocent people is wrong for others but just an unfortunate necessity for them.
In a way, ISIS has so much in common with RW Repubs and is actually demonstrating aspects of the ultimate Republican government. A state controlled by fundamentalist and perverted religious beliefs, a mercenary and unrelenting campaign for dictatorial power, total intolerance and hatred for those who don’t conform to their beliefs, delusions that their actions, no matter how horrible, are the will of God and overall, a lack of compassion and respect for the lives of other human beings.
No wonder the GOP is acting like ideal partners of ISIS. There used to be a phrase, “Politics end at the water’s edge”, meaning of course that when there is a critical international situation, all Americans come together. With the pile of slime the GOP has devolved into, such a sentiment makes no sense to them. When there is a threat to America, Republicans’ first reaction is to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our enemies in attacking our President.
President Obama is not President of United Democrats. He is President of all Americans including Republicans and I find it giving aid and comfort to America’s enemies for Republicans to always joining them in despising the President of the United States at every opportunity.
As to your points about the oligarchs thinking they can eternally take everything of value from the masses and manipulate their systems of government to keep them oppressed, history shows that they will always fail ultimately…and how powerful that revolt is against them becomes is determined by the degree of their oppression.
ISIS can be degraded down to a far smaller threat but you can’t destroy ideas with bombs and bullets. It’s kind of amazing that so many have forgotten the lessons of Iraq so quickly. How did “wiping out all the bad guys” work there?
The first step has to be diplomatic. The U.S. has to work with France, Russia and other partners to negotiate a cease fire between the Syrian rebels and Assad’s government, with a specific timetable for Assad leaving and Syrians choosing their new leader. Then there is a role for military action against ISIS in Syria from all sides and it should be led by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and other Arab nations.
That would be destructive to ISIS on multiple fronts. Both in losing numbers of fighters and land they control but also destroying the propaganda of this being a war between cultures, which is what their recruiting is based on.
With all that profoundly damaged, ISIS won’t be totally destroyed but it will be over as a potential caliphate and the recruits will no longer come. Their power will be shrunken, they will be a marginal threat if they still exist.
Or we can just follow the GOP plan and bomb all over Syria, killing some ISIS fighters and innocents alike, revving up recruitment for them in a never ending Iraq-like guerrilla war against our permanently stationed troops occupying Syria.
Who’s up for an Iraq War sequel?
Not sane people (non-Repubs that is).
Yep, that might take care of ISIS, and at the same time get the wish of those in this nation that do not want Assad to be in power, but then I ask the republicans that are so cowered by ISIS, why aren’t they afraid of this:
32 killed – April 16, 2007 – Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. A gunman, 23-year-old student Seung-Hui Cho, goes on a shooting spree killing 32 people in two locations and wounds an undetermined number of others on campus. The shooter, Seung-Hui Cho then commits suicide.
27 killed – December 14, 2012 – Sandy Hook Elementary School – Newtown, Connecticut. Adam Lanza, 20, guns down 20 children, ages six and seven, and six adults, school staff and faculty, before turning the gun on himself. Investigating police later find Nancy Lanza, Adam’s mother, dead from a gunshot wound. The final count is 28 dead, including the shooter.
23 killed – October 16, 1991 – In Killeen, Texas, 35-year-old George Hennard crashes his pickup truck through the wall of a Lubys Cafeteria. After exiting the truck, Hennard shoots and kills 23 people. He then commits suicide.
21 killed – July 18, 1984 – In San Ysidro, California, 41-year-old James Huberty, armed with a long-barreled Uzi, a pump-action shotgun and a handgun shoots and kills 21 adults and children at a local McDonalds. A police sharpshooter kills Huberty one hour after the rampage begins.
18 killed – August 1, 1966 – In Austin, Texas, Charles Joseph Whitman, a former U.S. Marine, kills 16 and wounds at least 30 while shooting from a University of Texas tower. Police officers Ramiro Martinez and Houston McCoy shoot and kill Whitman in the tower. Whitman had also killed his mother and wife earlier in the day.
14 killed – August 20, 1986 – Edmond, Oklahoma, part-time mail carrier, Patrick Henry Sherrill, armed with three handguns kills 14 postal workers in 10 minutes and then takes his own life with a bullet to the head.
13 killed – November 5, 2009 – Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan kills 13 people and injures 32 at Fort Hood, Texas, during a shooting rampage. He is convicted and sentenced to death.
13 killed – April 3, 2009 – In Binghamton, New York, Jiverly Wong kills 13 people and injures four during a shooting at an immigrant community center. He then kills himself.
13 killed – April 20, 1999 – Columbine High School – Littleton, Colorado. 18-year-old Eric Harris and 17-year-old Dylan Klebold kill 12 fellow students and one teacher before committing suicide in the school library.
Why aren’t republicans afraid of White Males with weapons? Why aren’t they trying to deport them, why aren’t they at least strengthening gun legislation to try to eliminate some of this? Why aren’t they afraid of these people who are IMHO more deadly than those terrorist they are so frightened of. Could it be something else behind their not wanting Syrian refugees in this nation? You can bet your bottom dollar there is. 🙂
monicaangela, you completely nailed it! Horrible but true, as long as Christians and white people are maniacally killing innocent Americans, there’s no need for Republicans to blame an entire religion or race for it or seek immediate action to stop it.
No question, this just feeds into the xenophobia and bigotry of their base…and unfortunately, many more Americans are easily frightened into leaning their way on fearing Muslims.
The rest of us have to stand up this time and not allow the country to cower and retreat into Islamophobia under the Paul Ryan justification of “Better safe than sorry.”
I agree AdLib, we all need to stand up and put an end to this fearmongering that the republicans and the Dino’s have been perpetrating upon the people of this nation.
I never hear the republican cowards say, stay at home, lock your doors and don’t go shopping, or go to the movies, or go to school, or wherever you plan to go because the terrorist in this nation are loose, running wild, and have guns galore with our permission. When are we going to hear Faux News, Limburger Cheese and the rest of those rightwingnuts begin to tell the truth about terrorism, terrorism that is now, and has been perpetrated upon the citizens of this nation for centuries? Why be afraid? Terrorism is a part of our culture.
I’m sure the answer to my question is never, because that’s all they have, that’s what keeps them in power, divide and conquer, and continue to dumb down the electorate so that this overused tactic of theirs will continue to work. I know it’s an overused phrase, but I have to say it. WAKE UP AMERICA!
Monica, one thing I look forward to when I come back to POV are your insights.
I can’t even add anything of substance to what you have written.
Thank you JMB, long time no see, it’s great to see you hear again, hope your presence means you will be stopping around more often, I miss reading your comments. 🙂
Will do my best, my friend. Have been dancing with the Yahoo crowd. Gotta write about that one day.
Also finishing rehearsals on my new play that goes on stage in December. A spiritual take on the Baltimore riots…
You’re a busy man JMB. Your play sounds very interesting. Where are your plays performed? It would be nice if you could video a snippet of it and allow us to see a little of your work. Yahoo? OMG, you really are a glutton for punishment aren’t you. 🙂
Hey Monica,
It is a project I wrote for my church — One God One Thought Center, here in Baltimore. Our first performance will be Dec. 27. Hopefully, we will be able to take it around and expand on the script. I am following the August Wilson method, where you write the script and then have the actors bring themselves into the creating of the full character. Much fun. We are planning to video the play. Will keep you posted.
Yeah. Gotta luv Yahoo. They are now stalking me, giving me “Thumbs Down” no matter what I say…
Keeps me on my toes.
Hello JMB!
It appears we ran out of space for responses, so I’ll answer you here. Just want to say good luck with your play, I’m sure it will be wonderful. Sounds as though your approach to it will be fun for the actors. Good luck with allowing Yahoo to keep you on your toes also, just don’t allow them to change your personality to that of someone who becomes depressed and bitter. Remember, their responses are just anonymous reaction to someone they don’t know. Don’t take offense. 🙂
Ad, I hope the people of the states that have Governors who refuse refugees from Syria vote the bastards out!
“1. Once in the U.S., Muslims can drive cars, ride on planes and buses and even walk. So Republican governors, you’ve refused to allow the U.S. government to settle Syrian refugees in your state. Instead, they’ve been settled in a state near yours. Guess what? They can come into your state anytime they want by driving, flying or taking a bus. Unless you ask Donald Trump to build a “yuuuge” wall around your state, of course. BOO!!!” Was the exact thought I had.
Nirek, unfortunately the majority of residents of all those red states, being mostly Repub voters, base their political views on fear, hate and prejudice. So they are likely applauding this display of panic and Islamophobia by their Republican governors.
Which is why we are so lucky to have Obama as President, he will follow through with our taking in refugees and all these governors may do their best to force the Federal government to provide the basics for the refugees but they can’t do a thing to block them from being settled in their states.
Another unfortunate thing, I can imagine the Repubs organizing protests of bigotry against refugees in all of these states and helping ISIS to cause damage to the U.S. as well as to the world by proving to Muslims worldwide that the West does hate Muslims and that they are justified in attacking the West.
It’s ironic that Republicans voice fear of ISIS supporters coming to the U.S. as refugees, ISIS couldn’t have better collaborators in instilling fear, validating their claims and driving up recruitment than the GOP.
Wonderful article, AdLib.
My first reaction was shock. My second was utter disgust.
My hope is that the UN will come out to speak in opposition to these lily liveried, pea brains. For anyone who would fail to offer help to those in desperate need should not be in a position of power.
It’s not just a huge embarrassment, they are disgracing America by their unfathomable decision and I hope it buries them.
Just read this. The facts are embarrassing enough but that won’t stop them. When did they ever accept glaring facts?
GOP Guvs Rely on ISIS Lies to Reject Syrian Refugees
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/11/16/gop-guvs-rely-on-isis-lies-to-reject-syrian-refugees.html
Thanks Kalima!
Responsible people are coming out to support Obama but I’m afraid the majority response to something like a terrorist attack defaults to fear and the Repubs are delighting in whipping up fear.
So of course they lie, of course Trump just outright lies and dangerously spreads pro-Isis propaganda that refugees are just being let into the U.S. with no screening at all. The GOP has no principles or ethics that inspire their core supporters, all they have is exploiting fear, hatred, greed and bigotry.
Republican politicians usually describe issues in simplistic, good and evil terms. So how would the political dynamics in the U.S. be described? One party based on the above horrible traits and the other based on equality, fairness and humanity?
GOP = Grotesque Obscenity of a Party.
Great minds, AdLib! You and Paul Krugman are on exactly the same page today. (Link to his “Fearing the Fear” article is in our Twitter feed.)
As you pointed out so eloquently, the craven GOP governors who are looking for their smelling salts and fainting couches as they battle the “vapors” are playing right into the hands of Daesh.
We have a history of having taken in Cuban refugees (right, Ted Cruz?) and Hungarian refugees in 1956 (Surely there must have been some pinkos in their midst). But now — all of a sudden — refugees fleeing horrible violence are too “scawy” for us to handle.
Don’t you have to wonder how things will play out in Germany over the next few months? What we do know at this point is that there are a heckuva lot of Syrian refugees in their country and so far the Cologne Cathedral has not been blown to bits. Could that be in part because so far these Muslims have been treated like human beings?
If only these GOP governors could display one tenth of the courage that this little woman did during the London blitz in WWII. Even when Buckingham Palace sustained significant damage, the Queen Mum didn’t run. She kept calm and carried on:
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/08/17/article-1206978-0056AF8100000258-147_634x668.jpg
“These colors don’t run!” No, they just shyte themselves and scream for their body guards.
KT, seems more like Repubs run from colors.
Hey Kes, very cool.
The last time I think the U.S. denied refugees to enter to country was during WWII when Jewish refugees were refused, a large boat full of refugees even arriving here then being turned back where many of them were murdered after they returned.
You’ve probably noticed this but the GOP is so ISIS-like in their single-minded propaganda, they are all repeating the same word when referring to wanting to block refugees from coming in, “pause”.
“We just want to press the pause button on refugees.”
“We just want a pause in bringing refugees in until blah-blah-blah.”
Just like they want a pause on gun control discussions that are too close or too far from shooting attacks and they want a pause on any immigration legislation until the border is secure.
In other words, they want to block it permanently (they will never acknowledge that their conditions have ever been met).
Cowards, fear mongers, bigots and demagogues…all because they see every issue solely as, “How can we exploit this to get more power?”
Republican politicians have become such maniacal, slimy creatures, it really is disgusting at this point.
Picture perfect Kes!!! 🙂