what do you think?

Gina

It seems that some did not like what you wrote, nor what I wrote.

I suggest caution at all times . . . if you knew the real terror threat level - you would understand. The threat level is much worse than they say it is.

I really cannot believe that they took you to task for telling the truth . . . that as a mother you felt fear . . .

As a grown man that could take care of himself - I would feel fear. Anyone that says they do not feel fear in the face of danger is stupid or crazy or lying.

Let caution be your judge - protect you and yours.

God bless

Wayne

 

Jamie

I wrote to Gina. You inserted your prejudice into that conversation between us - this time I read your doublespeak.

*** This time I wasted my time and read your post.

Which one is it? Flawed or reasonable?

So you wasted my time and still had nothing to contribute to the conversation that I had with Gina.

Thanks for trying.

 

Vera

This is a loaded question.

Not all people in the ME are Arabic . . . there are so many people groups that trying to break them down would take too much time.

But, the Armenians, Jews, & Maronites are all under represented because of historic ethnic (religious) cleansing that has reduced each group of people to less than 10% of what they would have been if left to live. [note - about 30% have relocated outside of the ME]

It sounds like you are not concerned about the other 'Arabic' peoples but only the muslim peoples . . .

Again, there are so many - and they do not even like each other . . .

Actually, people are treating the muslim Arabic people much better than they treated them during and after the hostage crisis with Iran . . . Much, Much, Much better. Then my ME friends would not go out at all - for fear of being beaten . . . Maronite, Iranian & Palestenian - none would go out for fear of reprisals.

Ironic . . . this time there is much less stereotyping.

Oh well . . .

 

Not that it matters to you, but this thread was here, and started before you came along.. I am not sure how you can say I inserted my prejudice into a thread when it was asked for opinions to start with.

In most any thread in this forum, when people tell others what they think/how they feel and people don't agree with them, they post their disagreement. Which is what I did.

Just because you don't agree, do run off on a tangent and try to say I inserted myself into YOUR conversation...

you see, you're so mad at "me butting" in that you can't even see that it's FLAWED and REASONABLE...


YOUR scenario you gave about the Street corner was Reasonable...

The thought that ALL Middle Easterns should be treated unfairly until THEY prove themselves is UNReasonable..

That is why your scenario or example you tried to show to make it seem like it was/is ok to treat Middle Eastern people suspiciously is flawed...

I would suggest if you want to have a private uninterupted conversation, then you should do it in a PM. In a thread, there are several people here...

Jamie

 

Keep in mind that this is NOT a debate forum, but for fellowship. Hence the remarks should be related to the op and not debating one's viewpoints, right or wrong, in your opinion.

Cheers,

Jim

 

You're right Jim, this should be moved to the debate forum. The poster who opened it is new and most likely didn't realize that the fellowship forum wasn't going to work for a thread of this nature.

How am I treating them unfairly? That's silly. I have no power or authority to do anything but look on, maybe hold my kids a little tighter, or vacate the airport premises if I get too nervous. I hardly see that as causing anyone but myself any extra stress!

Here is a list of the major terrorists known to us, along with their photos: http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/terrorists/fugitives.htm

Go ahead and tell me that after 9-11, you can honestly board an airline, sit between two people of ME descent, and not have any questions or concerns pop into your head. (and for the record the safety of my family comes before my concern for political correctness or a worry that people might think I'm prejudice)

You know, if more people were AWARE of what's going on, and thank you so much El Guero for understanding and bringing that up...it could be that 9-11 wouldn't have happened in the first place. However, it's "wrong" to judge...right? Let's not be concerned. Let's sleep. Let's trust God will use magic to keep us safe instead of the silly idea that he gave us brains and common sense so we could USE them. I see where that got us so far, and it wasn't a good place.

It doesn't mean running around like chickens with our heads cut off, but it does mean to keep our eyes open, know the dangers, know what to look for, and what the government tells us to look for with these terrorism threats isn't blond-haired blue eyed Aussies. Here's the list again: http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/terrorists/fugitives.htm

How do you think the security of our nation is functioning now? Do you honestly believe that when someone of ME descent tries to come into the country, board a plane, apply for citizenship or what not, that they are not scrutinized a zillion times more closely than others? Why is it ok for the government to use caution to protect us, but we're wrong if we use that same caution as citizens? They're not supposed to be a separate entity, we're all part of this country and share the same concerns and responsibilities.

Wow, I think that's all I have to say. I usually don't run out of words before I decide to close a post. HA

 

I'll be blunt. If they're muslim, I distrust them. If they're not, I don't. And I don't feel bad about it either, because I know what islam teaches. I have friends who were originally from the Middle East. But they are not muslim. They are Christians, the born-again kind. And they are Americans, meaning, they don't defend islam and they speak English and they call America "home." In fact, did you know the original founder of Thomas Nelson Publishing Company (Bibles) was a Lebanese American? So to ask a loaded question about middle easterners is just that - loaded. Not all people from the Middle East are muslim - most of the non-muslims have been chased out of their countries by muslims. I had no idea how dangerous islam was until 09/11. Then I researched and found out the truth.

Gina, there is nothing wrong with your post. Most non-muslim Americans would probably agree with you, at least those who would err on the side of caution. If I see a snake, I'm not about to go up and get a close look to see if it has rattles. God has put into human beings a "fight or flight" instinct when faced with danger. And these are dangerous times. This is the third jihad.

 

We can change the name of the "file" if you wish to the "everyone that is trying to kill me is of middle eastern descent" if that would make you happy.:smilewinkgrin:

 

Jamie,


Do you still breathe?

then the first part of your statement is probably incorrect.

"Flawed and Reasonable" - from you I take that as a compliment.

Thank you for your gregarious attitude, intelligence analysis, and summary of what a woman should do with her children to protect them . . .

I just pray that she does not follow your summary . . .

 

But, wait!

Certainly there is one exception?



God bless you brother!

Wayne

 

There is nothing in the Bible that says a Christian is supposed to trust everyone, and that being distrustful of anyone is sin. In a fallen world, such emotions are natural.
Think, for example, of Luke 16:9, and the friends of the mammon.
What was the Savior saying ?
That we have to be as shrewd as those who are of mammon. Business acumen, if you will. I take it to mean that we must be shrewd in our dealings with people, especially those who are, as we see them, not Christians.
It is easy to think that human nature will equate trust and humility with naivette, no disrespect to you or anyone of different opinion, and the Savior knows that.

I am with Gina here.

If I were to board a plane to my country or to any State from anywhere in these United States, and I see someone who looks Middle Eastern, and I don't care if he's wearing a Jewish cap, I will think many times about boarding that plane.

Most especially so, if I see one who may not be Middle Eastern in appearance, but wears that white cap that Muslims who have gone on haj
put on.

 

It's too broad a question. Even narrowing it down to "Arabic" people encompasses way too broad a spectrum. I don't care much for the Saudi princes or the Kuwaitis, but that's a class prejudice, and the mullahs, for the most part, don't care much for them. But an ordinary person? It depends on who he or she is...

 

That is exactly what I meant when I said that we shouldn't throw a whole race of people to the wind, but if you had a reason to suspect something, then I there would be a reason to be cautious.

Many posts into this thread, I have said that over and over again, but you said it better.


Jamie

 

It would makea big difference in the debate, yes.


Jamie

 

You're funny.

I would also hope that no one takes what they get here in a "debate thread" as 100% sure thing and run with it in every day life.

A question was asked, and I didn't think Gina's response was fair. I am sure you have replied back to someone in a thread before where you didn't think their response was fair.

Others have better summed it up, the whole point I was trying to get across was that to lump every from the Middle East into a pot and called them "bad" was/is wrong.

Now, if we limit it to Muslims that are trying to kill us, to Known Terrorist groups trying to hurt the USA and such, and other such groups, then Gina's statement would have been spot on.

But to lump everyone into that group just because of where they came from, is wrong.

Lady Eagle said it much better than me.


Jamie

 

Jamie, how do we know if any given person is in such a group?

Think of it logically. You're walking down the street between 5pm and 8 pm and you know that members of an Asian gang have been going around stabbing people who walk that street between 5pm and 8pm.
As you walk down this street, you see two people of Asian descent walking towards you.

What is your first thought?

 

You got yourself into it this time, didn't you Gina? LOL....

I differ with you here, but mostly because of my own personal ignorance. I can't tell, by looking, if a person is a Muslim, a Jew, or an eastern Christian! So while I understand racial profiling at airports, and applaud it, in my own personal life I just wander through the world rather blithely, I guess, either trusting or mistrusting everyone, depending on how much sleep I had the night before.

 

1. are the Arabs or Ayrabs a Semitic people?

2. if so, is suspicion of / antipathy towards the Arab people an example of Anti-Semitism?

justathot! :type:

 

Lady Eagle did?

 

Sounds good to me . . .

Distrust is an operative word.