March 10, 2011 – Daily Brief

Petz has had the pleasure of discussing Islamic extremism with a local Muslim who acknowledged this problems in America and here in Santa Clarita. Those who would criticize congressman King for this needed inquiry refuse to acknowledge a serious problem which has cost American lives, on American soil.

Till America understands Islam it can never defeat it. The war with the extremists will continue to rage on because of our own hypocrisy. Peaceful America Loving Muslims should be able to practice their religion without persecution because we are the land of free and the home of brave. It takes a balanced, mature and couregous person to not lump all Muslims in with the extremists.

Some of the first issues I see are that Congressman King is adopting a philosophy of collective punishment, which even the military rarely uses since it’s not effective. He is also being very hypocritical since he backed the military wing of the IRA and gave them the same moral standing as our allies, the British. All this while they murdered close to a thousand civilians. My point with that is there is one standard for everyone. Just because we as Muslims may be brown or believe something different doesn’t mean we need to be judged differently. If you commit violence and hate, you are guilty and need to be punished regardless your race, religion, creed, or gender. For example, a Muslim guy kills his wife out of jealousy and rage. The news reports that a Muslim American murders his wife. Now if a Christian guy kills his mother and says God told him to do it, the media doesn’t report it as a Christian man murders his mother, it is simply reported as a man kills his mother. Pretty hypocritical but it doesn’t sell papers unless drama is involved. I think there is entirely too much fear and xenophobia in America right now and we all need to take a deep breath and understand we are ALL Americans and have a responsibility to each other. This is something I preach to my religious community on a daily basis and know we have to do a better job of. I know we have ALOT of work to do in the Muslim community and right now I am focused solely on what goes on in American. There are alot of people like me who believe this and continue to serve this Nation. You just dont know them because we tend to live in our little circles and most our interactions occur online or by watching TV news. I am the one who Petz met and talked to and I personally invite anyone else here who wants to either end the negative dialogue or just ask questions to meet me. I’m Active Duty in the Army here in the SCV so give me a little advance notice though lol.

@Mr. Perez you said: “I think there is entirely too much fear and xenophobia in America right now and we all need to take a deep breath and understand we are ALL Americans and have a responsibility to each other.” While I understand you are referring to those like yourself of the Muslim faith, that statement is incorrect. Not all Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, etc are in fact Americans nor do they all pledge allegiance to the flag or the United States of America. Just as not all Italians, Canadians, etc are Americans. PS I wish we would refer to ourselves as Americans of _____faith/ancestry/etc. since that indicates we are Americans first, and not the other way around such as “Muslim Americans” which indicates we are something else first and Americans second.

But I thought Jesus was an American? That’s why we’re so favored. http://defendingcontending.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/american-jesus.jpg?w=195&h=300

Oh Snap!

People can refer to themselves by what they want and you should respect that. If someone wants to be called African American… I will call them that. If they want to be called Black… I will call them that. Doesn’t matter to me.

@Nate I have the right to voice my opinion and you should respect that.

I have the right to say it is stupid and should respect that…

@Nate you and the Westboro Baptist folks can say whatever you want. I don’t have to respect either.

Oh I have to respect you but you have to do nothing of the sort. #hypocrisy Also don’t try to lump me in with Fred Phelps. I believe in freedom of speech even freedom of speech I hate. Which means people can refer to themselves by what they choose.

Berta, I can only refer to those who are either US citizens or permanent residents. Anyone outside of the borders of this country are not on my agenda of working with to the level I do now. And I agree that we should call ourselves Americans but I wont get upset if someone places their ethnicity/race/religion in their description so long as they put American in there. I personally say I am an American Muslim but that’s what works for me.

@Mr. Perez, I appreciate your comments. I perhaps need to clarify what my point was. My reference to not all___being Americans and pledging allegiance was that there are many people from various countries who are not citizens or legal residents of this country. Some of those folks in fact are here to do us harm. I am not speaking exclusively of those of the Muslim faith either. I personally believe that the common denominator and what unites those here legally is the fact that we are all Americans, whether by birth or choice, and again I WISH, as I stated previously, that folks would put the American part first as do you and I.

Yes we are very hypocritical that way. The Islamaphobic agenda is to keep de-humanizing Muslims so we don’t feel bad for killing them and invading their homeland.

It takes a balanced, mature and couregous person to not lump all Tea Partiers in with the Racist/extremists

I dont think Tea Party members are racists/extremists anymore then Muslims. I think we just negative elements amongst us who give us a horrible image.

*have

Congressman King is a total hypocrite who has vocally supported and even raised money for the IRA, a terrorist group that has killed British civilians. Shame on petz and King for their hypocrisy.

True story. He is on record comparing the conduct of the IRA to the British army and was an avowed supporter of the IRA, describing their terrorist activities as a “legitimate force” against the British. On the flipside, he did eventually urge and promote the path to peace between the British Government and the IRA in the 90s. King saw the similarities of the IRA to the African National Congress and Mandela’s struggle against their oppressive government. Even still, the IRA was a terrorist organization who used the same tactics as Al-Quaeda in getting their message across. Either way, to attempt to hold an entire religious community responsible for the acts of a few in the way that puts them on the Congressional hot seat seems a bit hypocritical to me. When we see acts of domestic terrorism by groups associating themselves with the Christian faith, we don’t call anyone before Congress. Has their ever been a Congressional investigation into communities in the South for the terrorist acts perpetrated by the KKK? These actions are putting us on a slippery slope, and it goes against our values as Americans to respect all people for their differences and promote better understanding, rather than promote fear and loathing because of those differences.

Shame on Petz…Really ? The one talker who attended the Jihad Turk- David Wolpe debate at Cal Arts. Perhaps one of the only Santa Claritans (other than Joe Messina) who has reached out to the Muslim community to discuss the life of Muslims in America. Jeff is being pretty liberal throwing the hypocrite word around, which is really meant to stifle debate. Shame upon the guru for slandering Joe McCarthy-he should read Ann Coulter’s Treason which tells the real story. Petz respectfully disagrees with Perez. The mainstream media and US government does everything it can to misrepresent Islamic terrorism including the recent shooting in Germany and Col. Hassan investigation. If a Christian kills his wife because God told him to do it-it is front page.

Yeah. Ann Coulter is the embodiment of fair historical accuracy! Give me a freakin’ break! I prefer to stick to actual sources like congressional records and REAL history books and not read partisan crap from a woman who knows no bounds of decency or good taste…or even historical facts. Thanks (but no thanks) for the reading recommendation.

Let me add that McCarthy was nothing more than a fear-mongering, blathering fame seeker who rarely produced any real evidence to back up his claims. His witchhunts ruined a lot of people’s lives for no good reason, and his fate in history is sealed, for VERY good reason.

Joe McCarthy did not believe that Communists belonged in the code room of the Pentagon after WWII. The Guru does not know the real Joe McCarthy-especially if he relies on his high school history book.

The Guru knows that if Petz is relying on Ann Coulter for his history, then he would understand that the Coulter apologists and McCarthy defenders are always falling back on the files of the Venona Project. While the files certainly confirm that all the Red Scare paranoia wasn’t necessarily all paranoia (confirms guilt of the Rosenbergs, and likely Alger Hiss, etc.), today they take it as an across the board defense and vindication of the witchhunts that McCarthy carried on with. It is a bit like seeing the evidence today that red wine in moderate consumption can have a beneficial effect on blood pressure and the like, and making the argument that David Hasselhoff (or pick your favorite alcoholic) is trying to be an example to others of a healthy lifestyle with his drinking.

You don’t really believe that the Congressional Record is a real record do you. Do you know how entries make it there?

Petz maybe you can explain this “Those who would criticize congressman King for this needed inquiry refuse to acknowledge a serious problem which has cost American lives, on American soil.” What needs to be acknowledged? That extremists the world over want to kill people in the name of their cause and many claim to be Islamic? It has been NOTED…

It’s not front page though as an actor from Ugly Betty stabbed his mother to death with a samurai sword while screaming Bible passages. Had he been reciting ayats from the Qu’ran he would be labeled a terrorist instead. http://www.wpix.com/news/wpix-samurai-sword-son-mother,0,490069.story

Still reeling that anyone would recommend a book by Ann Coulter while sober.

The statement, “Most terrorists are Muslim” (whether true or not), is not equivalent to the statement, “Most Muslims are terrorists.” Even if you concede the first statement as true or nearly true, the second statement is not true because of it. As an Atheist, it continues to amaze me that those who demand their right to practice their chosen religion unfettered on one hand, can ignore the implications of the actions by the likes of Peter King. I call for an immediate change to our Nation’s Pledge of Allegiance to: “One Nation, under god (as long as it’s MY god!) ..” And further, “In (MY!) god We Trust” Ramble, ramble … blah blah blah … etc.

It amazes me how quickly the persecuted become the persecutor.

Pete King was right then and he is right now.

Baca is my new hero, but he should exercise that power since he is in an incredibly safe elected office.

I agree that labeling people by their faith is not the American way, but Nate, yes, extremism has existed over the centuries even in Christianity, but Christians historically also have always come to the aid of the stricken throughout the world and have strongly criticized their fellow believers when they have done wrong….is this evident in Islam? No. So there is a big difference.

Just ask anyone involved in the Crusades.

Alpiner: There are moderate Islamic clerics but they just can’t get on Fox News. The mainstream Islamic Centers in LA and Orange County issue a fatwa once every two weeks AGAINST terrorist acts, but that just doesn’t get anyone’s attention. The Muslims I know do acknowledge that the lack of a hierarchy does hurt them since the rantings of a lunatic theoretically carry the same weight as the views of the beautiful Iranian woman that works in the office next to you.

Tim, it sounds like you believe that the Media is part of the problem.

Only through Jesus do we have the Gospel of Hope.

Tim, I do not watch Fox News.

Hey Chap, No one likes a sequel. Only true salvation can be found through the original christ Horus. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horus

Hahaha when Islam control parts of Europe. People were allowed to practice their religions in peace without persecution. When Christians expelled the Muslims and decided to invade the “Holy land” they pillage, raped and murdered any Christian, Jew or Muslim who looked Muslim. Then started on their own people. Like it or not Alpiner, A truly Christian American would look much like Saudi Arabi. You would force your will and religion on ever American like you try to so now only their would be much serious consequences for non-compliance. If you think Christian extremists would respond any different the Islamic extremist if their home land was invaded by the competing religion you are pretty dense. Imagine a Muslim country’s tanks rolling down the streets on downtown Dallas. Christianity would declare a jihad too.

Nate the Great writes, Islam is no different then Chrisitianity. Both are religions which if practiced with common sense could make the world a better place. Unfortunately extremists corrupt both religions and make them move toward tyranny and violence. Or so says the kid who has demonstrated time and again he really doesn’t know anything about either religion. You would force your will and religion on ever American like you try to so now only their would be much serious consequences for non-compliance. Much like leftist environmental extremists insisting I should go green when I have absolutely no desire to do so? They are much more likely to force their wills upon me (and are in the process of doing it in many cases) than any “Christian” extremist would. Of course, depending upon how one defines “extremist.”

Yeah you are right. I don’t know anything about Christianity I was only a Baptist Preacher who came from a long line of Baptist Preachers. This is how I know how full of crap you are. I know the version of Christian history that you were told and believe and which is why I know how willingly blind you to the truth. It is also how I know how carnal, prideful and in the flesh you are. HAHA! BTW insisting someone “Go Green” is nothing close to what we are talking about. Putting in measures to help preserve the earth based on REAL science is nothing like trying to Force Christian’s version of morality on a resistant population.

Sorry Nate, but you know that Jesus is a Gospel of Hope. I have never said that there are not those Muslims who are moderate. But there still is a big difference. The errors of the Crusades are well-documented and continually examined by Christians so as to not repeat them again. In addition, there are Christians today that have walked the routes of the Crusades to personally apologize to the descendents of those persecuted by Christians hundreds of years ago. Not to mention, Christianity re-examined itself with the Reformation. Do you hear such things coming from Islam nations where today Christians are condemned to death for their beliefs? Obviously you have a bone to pick. So be it.

Actually Alpiner there is reformation going on but just not at the level that is needed. Mostly the reformation is going on with groups like the Ismaili, Sufi, and Imam Gulen. It will take time but the struggle isnt easy since we the moderates have to face off with the Muslim extremists and those non-Muslims who hate us. Pretty much being caught between a rock and a real hard place.

Well that makes it all better doesn’t. Hey sorry we killed your family many years ago but in our defense they did look Muslim… Oh and sorry about all that torture during the Spanish inquisition but it would have been easier on both of us if you would have just converted. Also our bad on looking the other way while the churches’ allies murdered 6 million Jews, but you know they did murder our lord. Also can we forget about all those molestations and the cover ups in churches of all denominations worldwide and the fact that a kid is 6 times more likely of being molested in a church then a public park…please? But we are good now? You want to be like us now right?

I always thought Baptists were goofy.

Jesus is happy with this conversation. He is smiling.

“Proof positive that the local Tea Party does not understand numbers.” You forgot to add letters. I do think they understand symbols like swasticas and bathroom signs though.

OMG I totally get it! That’s a joke about tea partiers being dumb and racist! Those tea patiers–they’re almost as predictable as the people who make an immediate pejorative remark whenever the tea party is mentioned.

Kinda like you with law enforcement or the City. Just like the Teabaggers you have all the criticisms without any of the answers.

Even more fascinating is the Sanitation Districts’ old, unpublicized contract with Newhall Land signed by Jo Anne Darcy on behalf of the Sanitation Districts. The contract concerned Newhall Ranch and the contract’s “deal terms”, as they affected the environment, were never disclosed in any of the County approved Environmental Impact Reports concerning that project. Newhall Land’s genius bankruptcy lawyers quietly and perhaps unwisely canceled the contract using the complex Bankruptcy Court procedures in the company’s Chapter 11 case in Delaware almost 2 years ago. But now it appears that the Sanitation Districts’ out of control General Manager is trying to work with Newhall Land to reinstate the contract without any meaningful public participation in the question of what the contract will cost the Sanitation District’s current rate payers, in terms of forcing an even more costly chloride remediation at current Santa Clarita taxpayers’ expense. It appears that 2 of the Sanitation District’s brainless Director/elected official,s who are manipulated by the Sanitation District’s General Manager, want to reinstate that contract, the cost to Santa Clarita’s current taxpayers be damned. Stay tuned for further details. Right now, outside of the secret club of Sanitation District senior staff and elected officials who are put and kept in office by Newhall Land and friends’ campaign contributions, there are only 3 Santa Claritans who know what’s in this blockbuster terminated contract. They’re now trying to figure out how to explain its complex content to the average taxpayer. And someone please tell me how Marsha McLean’s obtaining ownership of a window washing company in Pleasanton, CA, which contracts with big commercial accounts like Lennar, passes the “smell test” in terms of her being able to deceive the Santa Clarita public into believing she is an independent decision maker, either on the Sanitation District’s Board or on the City Council?

CS If you care to share more on this subject, I would appreciate the information. I am presenting information about the Sanitation District fee proposal at next Wednesday’s CCAC meeting. ferdmana@gmail.com

Bully? Says the one person on here who has made physical to people. You are opinion is wrong. A free America means people can and should refer to themselves how they choose. This is essence of freedom. To deny that is to deny freedom, which is Anti-American. Our principles are admired the world around because they are not easy. The mire fact that you can spew your self righteous double talk on here, Fred Phelps can stand on a corner and say “thank god for dead soldiers” and I can stand opposed both is what makes America great. BTW. Criminal Threats like the ones you have made to various members on this site are not protected under the constitution.

I must agree that self-titling is a right, however wrong the title may be in fact. Example: Tea Partiers call themselves “patriots.”

but of course… “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.” ~Samuel Johnson Many people assume themselves to be a “Patriots” therefore their opinion must be Patriotic and in the countries best interest. If you disagree and have a different opinion you must not be a Patriot like me.

@Nate I guess I will just keep repeating or Jeff will “moderate” my response but not your comments that, I have the right to voice my opinion and you should respect that. That bullies like you want to intimidate me, and others, into silence is evident. That your efforts are unsuccessful is also evident.

You have stated your lack of respect for my opinion & guess what? The feeling is mutual. I do not respect your opinion, even when I agree with you the premise of how you got there makes me cringe. So I will continue to stand in opposition of your arrogant hypocrisy in spite of your threats to hinder my freedom of speech. See I am not the Bully here. I have not threaten you or tried to gain personal information in an attempt silence you. You have done both. I will use my freedom of speech fearlessly to call a spade a spade and call you out when you begin one of your self-righteous, shit don’t stink, holier then thou, martyr rants. You are not a victim.

@Nate, I have no idea what you are talking about although that seems to be nothing new given your rants. I have not made inquiries into where you work. I know where you work and lots of other things about you too. I did not need to inquire nor was I interested, folks mentioned all kinds of stuff about you to me. Apparently not every one is a member of your fan club. I could have filed a complaint with your employer already and retain that ability. You use nothing, least of all your mouth, fearlessly. You are a coward using this forum to attack people you disagree with. You and a few others wait to pounce anytime certain people post. You are just waiting for the opportunity to spew your garbage. You are correct that I have no respect for you. You have worked hard to earn that distinction. As you like to say, owned. I cannot believe you were a Baptist preacher… You are also correct I am not a victim. Not yours, not Gang Fang’s, not anyone’s. Jeff moderates my comments when I respond to your nastiness but only after you have had the opportunity to make whatever vile and insulting comments you want. I understand he also moderates other’s comments, but again only after you and a few other cyber bullies have posted those comments on this blog. Jeff does not choose to institute some standards of conduct for his blog, and it is after all his blog. I can take care of myself Nate, even when my “opponent” is some punk hiding behind Jeff’s blog.

Blah Blah Blah. Something isn’t “vile” just because you don’t like it. Quit your whining. If you don’t want to be called out on your B.S. then don’t shovel it. I can’t help but make fun of someone who takes herself so serious but is so earth shatteringly ridiculous.

Berta, I’ll give you a sneak peek behind the curtain. Jeff “moderates” many more of Nate’s comments than yours. No one is being persecuted.

@Mike, thanks for the information. I hate to think what Jeff is indeed blocking based on what is actually getting through.

People need to chill so Jeff can stop being a babysitter in general though

Agreed!

So if I move to Africa and “pay” to become a citizen, will I become an American African or perhaps a white African!? I am with you BG-H. Woman, our country is becoming more screwed up by the hour.

LOL. Maybe you should keep the alcohol and give up the CLWA. I’m following the calendar at Busted Halo, delightful in that they are one-day Lenten projects based on quotes from luminaries like Taylor Swift and Snooki. http://www.bustedhalo.com/features/fast-pray-give

LOVE IT!

Mark Twain: “Whiskey is for drinking. Water is for fighting over.”

Teresa, as to water issues, never believe what you “learn” at CLWA Board meetings. The truth and CLWA’s view are far between.

Thank you. There is a great article I will find and post that showed how the Japanese-American community is standing shoulder to shoulder with the American Muslims based off their experiences with being singled out and thrown into internment camps. I won’t ever be the one who says there aren’t those from my own community who are guilty of criminal acts. Most the major criminals arrests and attacks averted were done so by tips given by others within that community, which is a great thing. But at the same time they should have a motivation for continuing on by doing the right thing, even though just doing the right thing should be reward enough. Alot look at it like no matter what I do right I will never be accepted as a real American so they feel major frustration. I can understand how they feel seeing that probably over 95% of people in this valley have never served and gone to war fighting for the American dream, but yet they would have the audacity to judge me simply because of my faith SMH.

Xenophobia ? Are you kidding me? America is the most accepting and tolerant country in the world except for the leftists at NPR who HATE their fellow citizens who believe in the civil society and adhere to the Constitution and Declaration of Independence.

We are one of the most tolerant countries in the world in that we address discrimination best but that doesn’t mean we can’t suffer from xenophobia. I am glad they canned the CEO at NPR since what was done was wrong and was comparable to Juan Williams. I didn’t think he should’ve been fired even if what he said was insensitive as opposed to prejudiced.

Great piece on an UPDATED fatwa against terrorism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatwa_on_Terrorism Very good article on Japenese-Americans who had lived through the internment camps(of which Michelle Malkin said they deserved to be in), showing support against the current witch hunt aimed at fellow Americans http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/08/AR2011030802876.html?hpid=topnews

Give me a break Petz. Your ability to stay on GOP message is AMAZING! You are truly owned.

@NFIC, could it be because I do not hide behind a phony name and scurry away when someone disagreeable disagrees with me and attempts to bully me to shut me up?

Normal people’s definition of bullying. “strong-arm: be bossy towards; a cruel and brutal fellow browbeat: discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner; intimidate” Berta’s definition of bullying “Calling someone out on their hypocrisy; being made to look like the fool one is.”

Bingo.

@Gang Fang any comments to Nate you can pretty much just “copy/paste” for you. If you are not the same individual, you certainly are the same caliber of person.

I wish I was half as witty as Gang Fang.

And I half as intelligent as Nate. The man knows his stuff.

@Jane, Nate said, “People can refer to themselves by what they want and you should respect that.” My response was “@Nate I have the right to voice my opinion and you should respect that.” You apparently missed the point. The key word was “respect”.

sure. #belongsontwitter