Busload of Lebanese Olympians refuse to let Israeli team on bus!

[Anonymous]

Again, just get on the correct bus and move on to continuing with your respective country's irrelevant roles in the Olympics. The Pavlovian responses when the words "Israel" and "Muslim" are used is so very sad. Land for peace, land for peace. That's what they used to say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Please enlighten us, why have the Jews been gassed and persecuted and expelled? I am waiting with baited breath for your answer.

Please enlighten us, with what have you "baited" your breath?

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:
Unless you have called me a "Muslim lover" then you probably would have also called me an "n-word lover'. I understand your need to respond to every post whether it was directed to you or not -- frequently multiple times -- but at least try to follow the conversation.

Temporary prejudice is no better than permanent prejudice. If there is a refugee from a country in which terrorism is rampant and that refugee can be vetted reliably, why would you block him? Based on what you have said, you would block him because of his religion. Yet, you deny having religious prejudice. It is true that we can't vet every potential refugee reliably. But that does not mean that we can't vet any of them reliably. In the case of Syrian refugees, those coming to the US have been in camps for years. What does the existence of terrorism or lack thereof in Syria have to do with them?

I congratulate you on finding a way to put pretty wrapping paper on your religious bias. But, we only have to tear that paper away to see what is underneath.

I get it. You weren't talking to me with that n-lover remark. It's hard to tell, given how quickly and vehemently you attack people who disagree with you.

There's no temporary religious prejudice on my part. You're just irrational on this topic and therefore revert to hateful insults and accusations when someone suggests a compromise solution that would provide some relief to the refugees. It's that same liberal rant I keep hearing when someone disagrees - "you're a racist!" The typical smackdown to silence dissent.

My position: Despite your beliefs to the contrary, I am a decent and compassionate person who would like to see the Syrian refugees provided some help without creating more risk of terrorists killing Americans. I am certainly happy to see my tax dollars provide humanitarian aid while we figure out a way to vet the refugees reliably, given Comey's remarks that we currently cannot.

Your position as you've stated it: You have acknowledged there is a risk to Americans (how small or large is debatable), but you said - amidst your accusations that I am an Islamaphobe and fear-monger who should be ashamed of herself - that it is BETTER for the refugees if they come here. We get it. Obviously. But it is not better for Americans, who run a small risk (which you admitted) of terrorist attacks as a result. You want what is best for the refugees - no compromises - even at a risk to Americans. I want to find a compromise solution, and I'm accused again of religious prejudice.

in summary, I am incredulous that you come out with hateful, virulent attacks against anyone who even hints that maybe all Muslims are not loving toward us and that a minority of them do wish us harm - while at the same time making excuses for the terrorists themselves. Your hatred is misplaced.

I know you like the last word - I notice a lot of topics end wih your post - so I won't be surprised with another bigoted rant against me. I won't be replying. I'm done.

This is an interesting post. In your first paragraph you accuse me of "vehemently" attacking people. In your second, you say I am "irrational" and make "hateful insults". In your third paragraph you stress your compassion while standing by your position of discriminating on the basis of religion and you misstate Comey's remarks. But, then having supported discrimination against Muslims and exaggerating the thread described by Comey, you object to being called an Islamophobe and fear-monger. Maybe you have better words to describe someone who supports anti-Muslim discrimination and who exaggerates threats, but those seem pretty good, if not perfect, choices to me. Finally, you summarize things by attacking a straw man.

My position is that blanket policies based on religious discrimination are wrong. While it is not possible to vet every potential refugee, it is possible to vet some refugees. Those who can be vetted and otherwise meet the criteria to enter the US as a refugee should not be prevented simply due to their religion.

BTW, the same claim you repeatedly make about Comey was made by Ted Cruz and found to be "Mostly False":

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/dec/15/ted-cruz/ted-cruzs-claim-head-fbi-told-congress-they-cannot/

FBI Director James Comey added in congressional testimony last month that “a number of people who were of serious concern” slipped through the screening of Iraq War refugees, including two arrested on terrorism-related charges. “There’s no doubt that was the product of a less than excellent vetting,” he said.

Although Comey said the process has since “improved dramatically,” Syrian refugees will be even harder to check because, unlike in Iraq, U.S. soldiers have not been on the ground collecting information on the local population. “If we don’t know much about somebody, there won’t be anything in our data,” he said. “I can’t sit here and offer anybody an absolute assurance that there’s no risk associated with this.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/federal-eye/wp/2015/11/17/senior-obama-officials-have-warned-of-challenges-in-screening-refugees-from-syria/

[Anonymous]

I'm not Israeli, or Jewish. As a student I supported the first (rock throwing) intafada. But every foray into violent terroristic resistance alientaed and disgusted me. I was born in the 70s and have been flipping through an encyclopedia of the 20th century that I discovered in my library. Wow..the volume of terroristic attacks- some I remember, some I dont. Many PLO. This one in my childhood - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma%27alot_massacre 22 children dead. I have zero sympathy for what Arafat begot. I had great sympathy for children throwing rocks. But not for this long long legacy of futile grudge culture and terror which so many other terror groups and totalitarian countries have opportunistically latched on to. If your truly care about Palestinians, support a peaceful political solution which acknowledges Israel is not going to vaporize overnight.

[Anonymous]

The Israeli team has won a medal!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Israeli team has won a medal!

Oy, it was only a bronze. And for judo.