{"article":{"id":19037,"heading":"READY FOR WAR!","author":"peacefrog","created":"2002-09-14 03:28:39","modified":"2005-08-15 01:01:36","last_modified":"Mon, 15 Aug 2005 08:01:36","article":"","contact":"","link":"","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","summary":"Resident Bush asked the US Navy to 'be ready' for action. This is the reply from the carrier Abraham Lincoln on patrol off Arabia yesterday","numcomment":15,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/2002\/09\/ready.jpg","filesize":"14.4 kibibytes","article_url":"\/news\/2002\/09\/19037.php","image":{"original":"\/uploads\/2002\/09\/ready.jpg","small":"\/uploads\/2002\/09\/ready.jpgthumb.jpg"}},"attachments":[],"comments":[{"id":19049,"heading":"good for them","article":"Good for them. ","author":"me","parent_id":19037,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2002-09-14 10:42:16","modified":"2002-09-14 10:42:16","fileurl":""},{"id":19052,"heading":"Patrick Henry was right!","article":"What happened to the American spirit of Liberty? It has succumbed to the spirit of Empire. . .Liberty is long dead, the Corporate Empire assassinated it. Poor young fools, led by older cynical fools: hope they make it home in one piece. And I hope they leave others in one piece too.\r\n\r\nAn aircraft carrier so far from the shores of America. . .Aggression on the move.\r\n\r\nKim","author":"Kim Whitmyre","parent_id":19037,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2002-09-14 11:43:07","modified":"2002-09-14 11:43:07","fileurl":""},{"id":19053,"heading":"Liberty","article":"Fortunately, Kim, our opponents in this struggle, the medieval primitives of the Middle East, do not live in Kansas.  They congregate in their ignorant masses far from here.  In order to more efficiently locate, isolate, and annihilate them we must travel to where they are.  Aircraft carriers enable us to do so without the necessity of first seizing and then utilizing airfields in the region.\r\n\r\nAs for Liberty, I suggest that you consult Webster:\r\n\r\nMain Entry: lib\u2022er\u2022ty \r\nPronunciation: 'li-b&r-tE\r\nFunction: noun\r\nInflected Form(s): plural -ties\r\nEtymology: Middle English, from Middle French libert\u00e9, from Latin libertat-, libertas, from liber free -- more at LIBERAL\r\nDate: 14th century\r\n1 : the quality or state of being free: a : the power to do as one pleases b : freedom from physical restraint c : freedom from arbitrary or despotic control d : the positive enjoyment of various social, political, or economic rights and privileges e : the power of choice\r\n\r\nSeems to me that our opponents in the Middle East don\u2019t have any of the above, and we have all of them.\r\n","author":"Douglas O'Brien","parent_id":19037,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2002-09-14 13:33:04","modified":"2013-11-10 23:45:33","fileurl":""},{"id":19061,"heading":"except one","article":"Try holding a protest sign within sign of George W Bush.","author":"Bill","parent_id":19037,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2002-09-14 19:03:24","modified":"2002-09-14 19:03:24","fileurl":""},{"id":19066,"heading":"Re: Liberty-O'Brien","article":"O"Brien:\r\n\r\nYour submitted positions at this website demonstrate a general dissent from the values of the United States, Mr D O'B:  Racism and hate-speech is not accepted.\r\n\r\nYou previously used the term "wog" when referencing the Filipino,  Korean and Columbian Peoples. (Lefty Loonies Laundry List Lacking. Listen:by Douglas O'Brien \u2022 Wednesday August 21, 2002 Wedt 12:51 PM)\r\n\r\nToday, you use the term "medieval primitives" to illustrate your views.\r\n\r\nAs you cite the Webster dictionary to strengthen your above position, one is certain that you willfully intend to indicate the historically racial and ethnic hatred associated with the terms  "wog" or "medieval primitives."\r\n\r\nWhen you cite Merriam-Webster's online collegiate dictionary do not forget to cite the words you bring forward in your public messages:\r\n\r\nMain Entry: wog\r\nPronunciation: 'w\u00e4g, 'wog\r\nFunction: noun\r\nEtymology: perhaps short for golliwog\r\nDate: circa 1929\r\nchiefly British, usually disparaging : a dark-skinned foreigner; especially : one from the Middle East or Far East\r\n\r\nYou think you entertain views seen as humorously uplifting, but in truth your opinions separate you from the majority who have no room for such hateful and xenophobic language.\r\n\r\n"Remember, when the judgment's weak the prejudice is strong"\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tKane O'Hara, Midas-Air (act I, sc.3)\r\n\r\nIgor Justus\r\n","author":"Igor Justus","parent_id":19037,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2002-09-14 20:03:58","modified":"2013-11-10 23:45:33","fileurl":""},{"id":19312,"heading":"Igor","article":"Igor Justus;\r\n\r\nNo doubt, English is your second language, so I will forgive your appalling ignorance of HUMOR and SARCHASM both as concepts and your failure to identify them in their implementation.  No one who reads the post \u201cLefty Loonies Laundry List Lacking\u201d could misinterpret the fact that I am in favor of the liberation of all peoples suffering under despotism, and that the morally bankrupt position of the Left is inherently self-serving and racist in that they are quite content to let others continue to labor under the heel of despots.  It is implied in their position that they think of all others as wogs unworthy of the fruits of democracy and self-determination.\r\n\r\nPlease explain to me how the term \u2018medieval primitive\u2019 is in any way racist.  It is descriptive of the relative level of civilization that cultures have attained, not IN ANY WAY a description of an ethnicity or a racial group.  Some of these cultures practice \u2018honor killing\u2019 of women.  Some of them practice \u2018female circumcision\u2019.  All of them disenfranchise women.  Some of these cultures have \u2018warlord\u2019 as a career track.  Most of these cultures haven\u2019t contributed anything to the worlds of science, medicine, the arts, humanities, or even sport since the 15th century.  They are, in a word, medieval.\r\n\r\nIn summation, you are an ill-informed, ill-mannered shitheel to call someone a racist merely because you either a) haven\u2019t the ability to understand English or b) are a typical Leftist bedwetter who thinks that they can call anything they don\u2019t like racism.  I\u2019d smash your fucking face in if you had the courage to call me a racist in person.\r\n\r\nAdios Jackass  \r\n","author":"Douglas O'Brien","parent_id":19037,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2002-09-25 19:18:49","modified":"2013-11-10 23:45:34","fileurl":""},{"id":19410,"heading":"Thank you for supplying the audience with an illustrative example of how you act.","article":"\r\nO'Brien:\r\n\r\n"You think you entertain views seen as humorously uplifting, but in truth your opinions separate you from the majority who have no room for such hateful and xenophobic language."  (please see my above post)\r\n\r\nI did addressed your attempt at humor and sarcasm. You must think I do not recognize your level of grammar skills.  If I praise you for well-crafted sentences, will you stop the spiteful "english as a second language" nonsense?  I do not think you will because without  hatred for others and xenophobic trite about liberation, you have little to offer. On Tuesday you defend yourself by submitting rhetorical filler, and when this is not enough, you use violent language and threats of violence as tools of resolution. \r\nYour new statement only clarifies my position, O'Brien.\r\n\r\nThink strongly about enrolling in a anger management course:  Tests are available to help individuals identify prejudices that they unknowingly harbor. I wish you success in your self-analysis, and hope you are able to fulfill your "liberation of all peoples" role by starting one step at a time.  \r\n\r\nIn addition, I want to apologize for making you uncomfortable when pointing out what is obvious. \r\n\r\nGood luck, O'Brien.\r\n\r\nIgor Justus\r\n\r\n"Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom."\r\nBertrand Russell\r\n","author":"Igor Justus","parent_id":19037,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2002-09-29 18:28:18","modified":"2002-09-29 18:28:18","fileurl":""},{"id":19468,"heading":"Igor, Igor, Igor.","article":"Fascinating reply.  Strange that you fail to answer any questions.  Making unfounded accusations of racism and then failing to back them up.  How typical. ","author":"Douglas O'Brien","parent_id":19037,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2002-10-01 20:49:48","modified":"2002-10-01 20:49:48","fileurl":""},{"id":19484,"heading":"Socio-historical Context: Oppression, Race and Cultural Identity and Superior-Self","article":"Okay, O'Brien:\r\n\r\nI just got down watching a documentary on the Statue of Liberty What a magnificent video. I think you can get it through PBS.\r\n  \r\nLet me start by saying that I impressed that you came back to discuss detail.  What I see as obvious apparently is not.\r\n\r\nOne question asked, correct? Explain medieval primitive as racist.\r\nLike the title?\r\n\r\nfirst, a little light fun: \r\n"Morally bankrupt position of the Left":  Oxymoron.  Do I have to spell this one out to you, O'Brien? I think this is your funniest phrase yet. I think you should continue to use it regardless if it is foolish.\r\n\r\nOkay, now for some rhetorical fill:\r\n\r\nI am certain you are familiar with European colonial expansions of 17th through 19th centuries into what we now call the Third World.  But are you aware that these expansions arguably founded the modern concept of race when invaders needed to justify why it was acceptable to exploit resources and labor?(1)  After racial distinctions (non-white racial status) -- the concepts of a less-advance culture was developed to distinguish inferiority to European culture ("advance culture").(2)\r\n\r\nToday, their is an uproar in the use of the terms "medieval, primitive, archaic and barbarian" (blogs, chats, cafe-my notes)--terms used specific to colonial expansion; the same cultural biases that you so efficiently demonstrate by your statements.  (Remember, racism is precursory to cultural bias. see above references) \r\n\r\nYour generalizations in defining medieval primitive: "Most of them, Some of them, All of them.," "haven\u2019t contributed anything to the worlds of..."  equal the superior (advance culture-race) positions the expansionists took.  To use the same terminology while defining  your own stance (beliefs) infers knowledge of the historically racial and ethic (and cultural) hatred that gave context to the terms in the first place.  To not know this is to be naive.  You use "...All of them., some of these cultures..." to simplify and then isolate these cultures from your own by vague references to killing women and for lack of world contributions-- a sensationalist's statement intent on stirring up a hateful response. (Or a passionate response....)\r\n\r\nArguably, your only sign of fear is when referencing women; regularly you resign to combatant-type tactics- baiting, and authoritarian language, and cliches.  Is this the inferior Self showing?  It is okay to be afraid, O'Brien. I am typically afraid. Yet to use fear to construct cultural generalizations is, to coin your term, "morally-bankrupt."\r\n\r\nSensational statements & Passion\r\nJean-Paul Sartre argued that anti-Semitism is a passion and with choosing hate, he argued that the anti-Semite loves the state of passion.  Later he states "only a strong emotional bias can give a lightning-like certainty; it alone can hold reason by the leash...for a whole lifetime"(3)  While Sartre may speak specifically of the anti-Semite, it is important to realize that this information addresses general requirements for a racist.\r\n\r\nYet, Sartre also states "ordinarily hate and anger have a provocation: I hate someone who makes me suffer.," (Sartre, J.P.,1948) This is what you contend, right?  You hate (my word) all those that heed an individual's self-determination (political theory) and want all Peoples liberated.  That is an excellent example of provocation with a rational result.  However, you wander off the track creating a paradox by your righteous  "syncretic totality" (Sartre,J.P.1948) rooting your justifications to cultures, and the history you wield by the words you choose.  Don't you think it is dangerous to do that to "most of them"? Your generalities only clarify " ...a common history of oppression"(4) does in fact exist. \r\n\r\nDo you not see racial theory in your statements because, unlike the KKK (or similar bigots,) you believe all Peoples deserve to be liberated?  More so, do you think race and racism must be exclusive to a physical or biological criteria (scientific racism), having nothing to do with socio-historical and\/or cultural criteria?  Yet, "...we can notice that the race-culture ambivalence engendered by the American system of racial classification is frequently resolved along cultural lines. For black Latinos, such as Puerto Ricans, Cubans, or Dominicans, language exerts an overriding influence on their identity.  Latino groups would, in most instances, be more inclined to identify with people who share their cultural orientation than with people who share their physical characteristics despite a great deal of pressure from the dominant society to abide by the prescribed racial classification."(Lott T.L 1992-3)  Hey, you said something about language when I confronted you about being a bigot.  A chance statement on your part?\r\n\r\nIntimidation, in the end:\r\nIn the end, you threaten me with violence.  Why?  \r\n\r\nBut before that, you needed to out wit me(?)-- placing yourself above me by condemning me as a foreigner.  That is what "...English is your second language" states:  a slur that condemns and isolates Others to whom the English language is not native.\r\n\r\nOh, and I might be bed-wetting liberal who labels everything racist that I find disagreeable? \r\n\r\nDo you call everyone a bed-wetter and a liberal if they confront the emotional charged biases you use to justify this superiority over others branding you with a champion liberator position?  What happens if world "liberation" occurred and "bed-wetter's" disappeared?  Do you return contently to mediocrity ? Are you able to live after "the war"-- and confront this part of yourself-- or do you need hate to exist continuing the righteousness your xenophobic self-determination grants you when you are Liberator?\r\n\r\nToo typical, I know. That's all for tonight. \r\n\r\nSee you tomorrow night?\r\n\r\nIgor Justus\r\n\r\nReferences:\r\n1)  Gluckman, M., "New Dimensions of Change, Conflict, and Settlement," in Kuper, ed., Race, Science, and Society (NY:Columbia Univ. Press, 1965) pp 320 - 39\r\n2) Dunn, L.C. and Dobzhansky, T., Heredity, Race, and Society (NY: Mentor, 1960)\r\n3) Sartre, J.P., "Portrait Of An Anti-Semite", in Anti-Semite and Jew. (Schocken Books Inc., 1948. Copyright renewed 1976 by Schocken Books Inc., re-published by Pantheon.)\r\n4)Lott, T.L.,  "Du Bois On The Invention Of Race" source The Philosophical Forum, Vol XXIV, No 1-3, Fall-Spring 1992-1993\r\n\r\n","author":"Igor Justus","parent_id":19037,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2002-10-02 04:10:11","modified":"2013-11-10 23:46:50","fileurl":""},{"id":19504,"heading":"Once more into the breach","article":"I really don\u2019t know where to begin to reply to this.\r\n\r\nFirst, a question.  How is \u2018Morally bankrupt position of the Left\u2019 an oxymoron?  Are you saying that the left equals morally bankruptcy?  I would tend to agree on most points, but not all.\r\n\r\nTo say that the European colonial expansions of the 17th through 19th centuries founded the modern concept of race is ludicrous.  Is it your contention that prior to the 17th century all men looked at one another without the acknowledgment of skin color or culture?  Are you saying that the Egyptians of the Lower Nile didn\u2019t discriminate against the Nubians of the Upper Nile?  That the Romans didn\u2019t speak of the barbarian island of Hibernia? I vaguely remember a series of military expeditions initiated to expel Moslems (Muslims?) from the Holy Lands.  Are you saying that there was no concept of race then?     And are you contending that the white Europeans created the concept of race to justify their seizure of land and resources?  Why would they bother?  To whom would they have to justify this behavior?  Seems like a lot of extra work to me.  Conquerors have always taken the land and resources without resorting to chicanery to justify it.  Did the Ottoman Turks seize Constantinople and then claim they did so because the Byzantines were primitive?  No.  This is errant nonsense.\r\n\r\nFor me to make value judgments on whether or not a culture is primitive is not based on my membership in a more advanced culture nor on a subconscious state, but rather on empirical evidence.  I don\u2019t think that anyone in the world would go to Iran for heart surgery in preference to the United States.  This is because the United States is more ADVANCED in medicine than is Iran.  It is not racist to notice this.  The fact is that the various peoples of the Middle East operate on a level of civilization that is empirically more primitive than our own.  Take any example you like:  Transportation?  Medicine?  Communication?  How about Dentistry?  In NO area are the peoples of the Middle East as ADVANCED as the West.  This isn\u2019t a matter of conjecture, it is fact.  If it wasn\u2019t, then those charming Saudis would have flown an Arabic jet into the side of the Pentagon.  But there aren\u2019t any Arabic jets.  Or cars. Or medicines.  Or anything.  And don\u2019t tell me the Saudis don\u2019t have access to education or natural resources, or the ability to construct production facilities.  They have enough money to do what they will.  And what they will is to rule a regime of semi-literates and live in idle luxury.\r\n\r\nYou criticize my noting the treatment meted out to women in the Islamic world and attempt to turn my noticing it into an example of MY intolerance.  This is a rather shabby parlor trick.  The fact that I have noticed a crime doesn\u2019t make me a racist for having done so.  It does call into question the morality of those who defend it, however.  And the Islamic states don\u2019t only maltreat women.  They also, for example, have philosophical discussions over whether they should throw homosexuals from buildings or pull down walls on top of them.  Very advanced indeed.  They make constant entreaties to their God to punish the Jews, whom they are told, are apes and pigs.  What an advanced concept.\r\n\r\nMy comment on English being your second language was based on my reading of your posts.  Many of them employ turn-of-phrase and syntax that is not typical of American dialects.  Oh, and am I correct?\r\n\r\nMy desire for the liberation of all peoples comes from my earnest belief that no man prefers serfdom to democracy.\r\n\r\nFinally, I don\u2019t take it lightly when someone accuses me of racism.  I didn\u2019t threaten you with anything.  I merely pointed out the fact that you wouldn\u2019t have the courage to make such accusations in the flesh.  You spit your accusations of racism and site quotes from existentialists from the comfortable anonymity of cyberspace.  But if you had to face me, and insult me in person, my guess is you\u2019d piss on yourself and walk away rather than risk affronting me so.\r\n","author":"Douglas O'Brien","parent_id":19037,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2002-10-02 18:13:01","modified":"2013-11-10 23:46:50","fileurl":""},{"id":19515,"heading":"O'Brien trolls the SF site also","article":"Don't waste your fingers on this idiot - he's a moron (probably on SSI in an institution somewhere) taking up activist's time.","author":"leaves","parent_id":19037,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2002-10-02 21:22:14","modified":"2002-10-02 21:22:14","fileurl":""},{"id":19531,"heading":"O'Brien","article":"Your examples  of \u201cEmpirical evidence\u201d are better defined by Rationalism and Sensationalism.  Read Hobbes for  Sensationalism, Descartes for Rationalism, and Plato for the roots of Rationalism.  That should get you up to par.  Outside of that, your hypothetical defense is rather weak. Not that I wanted to hear you  justify the culturally insensitive language that you toss around for grand entertainment.  But, I\u2019ll take a look at what you offer as rationales shortly.\r\n\r\nSartre isn\u2019t the only author I referenced.  There are other theories presented. Did you read  or even cross-check the references?  (See if I am pulling this out of a hat- you know, gather your facts?) If so, then you realize that the issues I raise are not about the concept of race in antiquity, but are specific to the modern concept of race --which also connects to the concepts of race constructs in the US via black slavery (1)  Ding-dong- tra-la-a-la. Pay attention to the detail.  What kind of data collector are you?  Empirical what?\r\n\r\nYour an authority on syntax and phrases in American Dialectics?\r\noxymoron examples: cold hot; cruel kindness. Left, right. and center all come with ethics.You cannot have ethics without morals, or values for that reason. Political philosophy requires ethics.  No morals; no political philosophy- no left, no right; just void. How did you come to morally bankrupt position of the left?  Where did that phrase originate from and what is the American dialect? Come on sing your song.... You had one post from me at the time your \u201cEnglish second language\u201d was sarcastically mentioned in context to your racial motivated humor.  It was not because of syntax and turn-of-phrase.  If you mean different then you need to articulate your point.  To think that  someone like yourself, who marvels the thought of using grammatical skills to champion over others,  unknowingly throws out sensation terminology is so terribly unbelievable that I begin to question your true motive.  \r\n\r\nDo I really need to say that Saudi Arabian Airlines exists?  There are Land Rovers and Kentucky Fried Chicken\u2019s  in Saudi Arabia also.  Cultural-racist theory because Saudi Arabians don\u2019t manufacture planes? who cares? Neither do Norwegians.  Who is buying Boeing planes? \u201cWell, sir those damn medieval primitives,\u201d Oh, and they have bad teeth, and hearts.  Christ, hearts! There are no Iranian Cardiovascular pioneers worth a damn, and no peaceful diplomacy has happened since 1998 (up to very recent times.)? Our US wrestling team has gone to Iran to contend four times since 1998,  The fifth was canceled because a political official\u2019s concerns.  US wrestling is awesome, and the Iranians are unbelievable, so are the Russian, Ukraine, Armenians, and the Turkish to name a few.  Equally. laser surgery occurs in Iran.  I am not defending \u201canyone\u201d or any \u201cculture\u201d  by showing you that you and your \u201cfacts\u201d are limited.  Do I have to pick the rest apart?  You generalize too often for a person who should be fluid in epistemological methodologies.  \r\n\r\nAnd more.... On exploited women and humans:  I am not arguing a statement that people or cultures are exploited.  It is that you throw around sensational statements with terminology specific to cultural-racial hatred; it is that you generalizes and offer sensory statements backed up with weak facts to condemn whoever or whatever as needed. Your latest post is Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Islam. Days ago, it was just slurs about \u201csome., most of them...\u201d and before that it was \u201cmedieval primitives\u201d  I admit, the last post came the closest to you throwing your xenophobic trite at a specific.  It is foolish to say morally bankrupt leftist, but its unconscionable to allocate entire cultures to grand statements specifically brought on by the socio-historical powered words and terminology you wield.  \r\n\r\nI really don\u2019t know why I am even bothering to  address you. You will say whatever you need to stay safe and sheltered in righteousness.  You have a similarity in style to addicts I\u2019ve been fortunate enough to help confront their addictions: It really doesn\u2019t matter what I present. In the end, you can take something as concrete as your own statement,\r\n\r\n\u201cI\u2019d smash your fucking face in if you had the courage to call me a racist in person\u201d\r\n\r\n and dramatically change it  \u201cyou wouldn\u2019t have the courage...my guess is you\u2019d piss on yourself and walk away rather than risk affronting me so.\u201d \r\n\r\nA direct threat is direct.  Just because you don\u2019t have the power of your own conviction doesn\u2019t make it anything less.\r\n\r\nAfter invalidating your own self, what else do you have to offer?\r\n\r\nNo wonder the racial theory in your sensational dogma slips past; your too fanatical to even live by your own words-- Even in the security of anonymity you are damned.\r\n\r\nIf you must continue  From here on out,  I want legitimacy. I insist that you give me verifiable references. Otherwise, after your last post -- everything you say is discreditable and shopworn.  \r\nOn second thought, to hell with this nonsense. \r\n\r\nreferences:\r\n1) Cashermere and Troyman, Race Relations, pp 21-35; John Rex, Race and Ethnicity (Storey Stranford, England: Open University Press, 1986), pp 1-37; Michael Leiris, \u201cRace and Culture,\u201d in Leo Kuper, ed., Race, Science, and Society (New York: Columbia University Press, 1965) pp. 135-72.","author":"Igor Justus","parent_id":19037,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2002-10-03 11:14:06","modified":"2013-11-10 23:46:50","fileurl":""},{"id":19533,"heading":"Finally","article":"I believe that this will be my last comment on this subject.  I am tired of reading longer and longer disjointed missives which spend so much of their length on quotes.  My thoughts are my own, I don\u2019t need bibliographical footnotes.\r\n\r\nThe fact that the Saudis run an airline is different from being capable of designing and manufacturing a plane.  Saudis demonstrated to the world that they are capable of operating machinery on September 11th.\r\n\r\nYou claim to speak for a \u2018majority\u2019, I speak for myself.\r\n","author":"Douglas O'Brien","parent_id":19037,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2002-10-03 16:21:24","modified":"2013-11-10 23:46:50","fileurl":""},{"id":19594,"heading":"Revision","article":"I believe a day of reflection was in order before I last responded.  I regret being tactless and condemning your position. Disingenuous  and pretentious come to mind. The \u201cthe majority\u201d jab was a good observation. In hindsight, I appreciate you stating your position; most of which I think is valid.  (Some of the hypothesis I think are slightly ponderous, and leave me confused.) This is regardless of what I said in my morning tirade before heading off to work.  Nevertheless, there isn\u2019t any excuse even if I am presenting it that way.  Please accept my apology.\r\n\r\nI can understand why, to you, the medieval primitives of the Middle East statement is not racial by any definition: color of skin, socio-historical or cultural.  I trust you can see why I flew off the handle when I started that post weeks (?!?) ago and shot a round(s) over your bow.  Then again, maybe I haven\u2019t  stated my position clearly.  I tend to be tangential\/disjointed.  I beat we are polar opposites in communication styles. \r\n\r\nYour right, a biblio is not needed to say what you mean, and certainly not in a blog.  You consequently have excellent observation skills, it shows by your economy in words-- you don't meander, and are rather accurate.\r\n\r\nI agree with you on specifics.  I am terribly concerned about the al Queda terrorist network and their vow to destroy everything US and anyone wanting to be like us (democratic & free).   Radical fundamentalist Islamic states like the Islamic Liberation Party are intellectuals that care little about the social, medical, or educational concerns of the people.  The idea that the secular tyrant Saddam Hussein is suspected of conferencing with al Queda is dumbfounding. Then again, I do not work in counter-terrorism.  It is probably reasonable that a connection between our (US) worst threats could occur.  Speculation....\r\n\r\nI personally cannot say medieval primitives of the Middle East.  It is not descriptive enough for me as I have obviously demonstrated this by misunderstanding your intent.  I am too hotheaded.  At the least,  anyway, I have opened for a clear shoot.  Take it if needed.","author":"Igor Justus","parent_id":19037,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2002-10-05 21:20:32","modified":"2013-11-10 23:46:51","fileurl":""},{"id":19729,"heading":"Igor","article":"Allow me to apologize.  There is no question that I could have used other language in making my point (medieval primitives), but I chose instead to intentionally provoke a reaction from someone.  This is really just a form of bating.  I shouldn\u2019t have done it, and I am sorry for doing so.  I want my thoughts to come through, not my language to be a sticking point.  In my pique over being branded a racist, I made threats and I want to retract them.  I should show more maturity and self-control.  I respect your intellect and your opinion, and hope we can agree to disagree again in the future.","author":"Douglas O'Brien","parent_id":19037,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2002-10-08 14:58:45","modified":"2013-11-10 23:46:51","fileurl":""}]}