How utterly disheartening:

From our friends the Saudis via MEMRI. Thank you Gail for the point.

What will it take to convince these people that this is not a year, or a time, to be dicking around?

---Christopher Hitchens in Slate

He's talking, of course about the Democratic Party leadership who have painted themsleves into a corner in which they are forced to hope for bad news for America in order to help their candidate.

Ever since The New Yorker published a near-obituary piece for the Kerry campaign, in the form of an autopsy for the Robert Shrum style, there has been a salad of articles prematurely analyzing "what went wrong." This must be nasty for Democratic activists to read, and I say "nasty" because I hear the way they respond to it. A few pin a vague hope on the so-called "debates"—which are actually joint press conferences allowing no direct exchange between the candidates—but most are much more cynical. Some really bad news from Iraq, or perhaps Afghanistan, and/or a sudden collapse or crisis in the stock market, and Kerry might yet "turn things around." You have heard it, all right, and perhaps even said it. But you may not have appreciated how depraved are its implications. If you calculate that only a disaster of some kind can save your candidate, then you are in danger of harboring a subliminal need for bad news. And it will show. What else explains the amazingly crude and philistine remarks of that campaign genius Joe Lockhart, commenting on the visit of the new Iraqi prime minister and calling him a "puppet"? Here is the only regional leader who is even trying to hold an election, and he is greeted with an ungenerous sneer.

The Kerry Presidential campaign would do well to pay attention to Mr. Hitchens, but there's no chance in that.

unless he conclusively repudiates the obvious defeatists in his own party (and maybe even his own family), we shall be able to say that John Kerry's campaign is a distraction from the fight against al-Qaida.

Seen first at Roger Simon

Meme found at Pamibe's

read more »

Not all of us were lucky, but like the kid below, we're just moving on.

Nothing major at Casa Ocean.. only the loss of cable service... no football and no modem. All but about half dozen homes in the neighborhood are without power, thankfully I'm one of the lucky ones. One large limb did fall and hit the roof, causing me to get up in the dark and walk around inspecting for damage, there was none... But the yard is a swamp… the sandy soil is completely saturated, I'm surprised all of the trees stood. Give us a couple of days to dry out and bring on the next one.

Officially there are 2 months left, but really only a month more of real concern. Bring it on.

When my only complaint is that my tan is fading because of, yet another, weekend without sun, I ought to be thankful. Others haven't been so lucky. To put the loop in motion...

It looks like we're going to dodge the worst of Jeanne, but my prayers will be with those who suffer the damage. God-willing we'll simply lose power for a while. It's raining and blowing, but the lights and A/C are still on... Just hunkering down and waiting.

I have a Hat and I am mighty. ["So it's a kippah, he shrugs. A kippah is not a hat?"]

To see a loop of the storm from NOAA

If you're fasting, I hope you have an easy fast. If not, have a great weekend...

It looks like Jeanne will hit us Sunday night... Great... here's hoping for a big, rapid turn to the northeast and a wide miss.

The Dems made a colossal mistake in nominating John Kerry. Every day Kerry stays in the news it looks more and more like he's going to suffer a Dukakis-like pummeling at the polls. I don't relish the thought of Bush misinterpreting the apparent mandate the victory will give him. Just because Kerry is such a dismal choice for Commander-in-Chief, doesn't mean the landlside is an overwhelming approval for all of the President's agenda. As for Kerry?... he's better suited for Secretary of State, or better yet, UN Ambassador where his nuanced flipping and flopping will be appreciated.

In appreciation of the complex nuance involved in Kerry's fluid positions, John Hawkins has assembled a collection of Kerry's contradictory position statments.

For those of us in the Northeast part of the state, this one will be worse than Frances...

Projection Courtesy of the US Navy

... are Arafat and his PLO. Ignorant, fanatic, uncivilized barbarians, who glorify death and celebrate those who murder Jews. Their sicko religion teaches them that murdering Jews is a way to heaven. Violence is bliss for these slaves to some form of Islam. When are we going to get serious about dealing with this palestinian death cult? Two more dead today, as another shaheed / shithead blows herself up for the chance of going to paradise by killing a Jew. Terrorists have begun looking for more women and girls to use as guided bombs.... Scumbags.

The newest swiftvets ad is out... It goes over the top and loses some of its punch. The most effective part of the new ad is the comparison with Jane Fonda... specifically, that she has apologized to Vietnam Vets, while Kerry remains unrepentant. But they go just a little too far with the "Kerry Betrayed his Country" claim. Certainly one can argue it's a valid claim, but it's a stretch to make the case in such a short spot... it's not as simple and factual as "Even she apologized. While Kerry remains unrepentant" The betrayal charge is made with language that is stronger than it needs to be, even over the top. It's making them sound shrill.

Captain Ed disagrees. He makes a good case for the truth of the Betrayal claim, but for a short TV spot that argument is meaningless. If the charges in the ad become a story and a debate over treasonous acts is engaged, I'd be surprised. However strong the arguments for the validity of the claims, it's just too complicated to present in a short TV ad... at least in a level-headed, rational manner. Captain Ed does a good job, but his case won't fit in a short spot. The more the swiftees stick to facts, the more credible they appear. “Hanoi Jane apologized”. “John Kerry refuses to” is devastating.

From the International Herald Tribune Steven Weisman reports on options being debated within the Administration on action in Iran.

A parallel concern in Washington is Iran's continued backing of Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite group that the administration and the Israeli government say is channeling aid to groups attacking Israeli civilians. Israel also warns that Iran's nuclear program will reach a "point of no return" next year, after which it will be able to make a bomb without any outside assistance. The Bush administration has yet to forge a clear strategy on how to deal with Iran, in part because of a lack of attractive options and in part because of a debate between hard-liners and advocates of diplomatic engagement. But in another similarity with the Iraq situation before the war, Washington is in considerable disagreement with key allies over how to handle the threat.

Britain, France and Germany say Iran's nuclear program is unacceptable, but they also warn that a confrontation could backfire and that positive incentives as well as punishments need to be presented to Tehran.

European views cannot be dismissed, especially after the discord over Iraq, administration officials say. Last weekend, under European pressure, the United States agreed to defer its demand that the International Atomic Energy Agency immediately refer Iran's noncooperation on nuclear issues to the UN Security Council, where sanctions might be considered.

Instead, Iran was given two more months to show that it was cooperating in shutting down its arms program, with the consequences of Iranian defiance not entirely clear. Even Secretary of State Colin Powell, the leading advocate of diplomacy in President George W. Bush's inner circle, cites a gathering threat from Iran.

This debate needs to continue, it cannot wait until after the election. The debate needs to be engqaged in the public domain as well as within the Administration, for as Mr Weisman points out, a "lack of attractive options," means there are no good solutions. Any action taken will have to have broad support because of the potentially explosive consequences... and time is running out.

Can you say Osiraq?

I've long suffered the accusations that Israel is a racist country, that the suicide bomber barrier is an apartheid wall, that Zionism equals racism... Meanwhile the noble savages of the Middle East, the Arabs, get a free pass from Western Intellectuals and the liberal western press on their utterly blatant racist words, beliefs and actions. It sickens me.

A related phenomenon that baffles me is the allure of that racist and intolerant culture to so many in Black America. Black American Muslims embracing the people and culture that sold their ancestors into slavery and still, TODAY keeps black African slaves, is something I can't understand. I hope and pray they find peace and can, maybe, even change the culture of hatred and bigotry they have joined.

Baldilocks has a few words on the subject that echo my thoughts.

It has been fascinating watching CBS news and Dan Rather squirm as their overly zealous pursuit of the President's defeat is exposed. Still, the once respected news organization clings to their stubborn belief that they are just bringing us the unbiased and objective facts. Correctly the blogosphere has taken a great deal of credit for bringing the story to light, and now a week and a half later, the story is everywhere. It is a terrific example of the growing influence of the new media. But what has it really accomplished?

Is exposing Dan Rather as a Democratic Party shill really significant? Or is the larger story the newfound influence of the new media? I'd argue it's the latter, but with that newfound influence, I believe, comes responsibility. If the new media can really influence the way that news is presented, then the new media ought to be tackling stories that really matter. If the new media can influence the stories that the MSM presents to the public, then the new media should be focusing more and more on bringing to light important stories, and highlighting important issues.

One issue that is being under-reported, that neither campaign is really talking about, and that the MSM is finding a hard time discussing, is: Iran.

An Iranian Islamic Republic with nuclear weapons ought to make everyone in the world very, very nervous. Right now, neither candidate wants to discuss it because the issue is extremely complex and has the potential to be extremely controversial, but does anyone doubt that in the months ahead the issue is going to stay in the background? The new media, if its importance is to be confirmed, needs to tackle the complexity of the Iranian situation and help the MSM shed light to its wider audience. Is the blogosphere up to the task?

...and for something completely different, open the extended entry.. Hat Tip Jewschool read more »

This might also be filed under Moderate Islam Watch, but what it really says is frightening... Thank you Gail for pointing me to these articles. Roger Simon also has commented on them, but not about a portion that stands out to me.

Horovitz speaks of an acquaintance, a plumber, who is — pardon the expression — "a good Palestinian." What is a good Palestinian? "He doesn't want to kill me." That is a low threshold — but a critical threshold, in this part of the world. As the plumber sees it, Islam sanctions suicide bombing. But he himself is opposed to it. Does that make him a bad Muslim? He worries about that.

Yes, that's right, he worries about being a bad Muslim because he is opposed to suicide bombing... He is afraid he is a bad Muslim because he is opposed to suicidal murder. Sick, that society is utterly sick.

Here are some other notes I picked out of Mr. Nordlinger's diary:

-- [Professor] Israeli was recently in Málaga, where he encountered two Moroccans (who had immigrated to the country). They asked him to join them for tea, because he was a fellow Moroccan, in a way. Israeli inquired about life in Spain: "Are you used to it yet?" They replied, "What? No! We don't have to get used to them; they have to get used to us. It's our country!"

-- "Why are the Iranians building nuclear weapons? Not to greet them with 'Good morning' every day, that's for sure."

-- We wake — some of us — to the sound of muezzins, as Muslims are called to prayer. This is no big deal: Jews live and pray freely in Arab-controlled cities, don't they?

-- Another point: Journalists talk all the time about the hardship imposed on the Palestinians by the fence. They are "humiliated." Well, forgetting the countless lives saved by the fence, what about Israelis (asks the spokesman)? What about our hardship, what about our humiliation? Israelis have to go through security checks constantly. Their daily lives are disrupted. They drive to the mall, they have to have their car trunk inspected. They have to open up all their bags. They have to stand in line — in line after line. Life is a hassle.

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You're welocme. : )

comment by Gail at 10:17 AM on 09.17.04

Great stuff. Jay rocks. He also loves the greasy burgers at Ronnie's on Dean Forest Road outside Savannah. Another plus.

comment by Velociman at 03:20 PM on 09.18.04

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September 14, 2004

Jackie Mason on Choice in November

Here's Jackie Mason and Raoul Felder with a bit of advice to American Jews:

There are three things certain in life: death, taxes and anti-Semitism. Well, death is death, taxes are down and anti-Semitism is up. Like some demon seed that lay dormant, sleeping, covered over or ignored, it has now sprouted once again. The hated symbols are scrawled across the grave stones in Jewish cemeteries and on the walls of the ancient capitals of Europe and the Near and Middle East. Jews are blamed for every thing from the destruction of The World Trade Center to the war in Iraq, and are called "baby-killers" in relation to the Palestinian problem, even while the world's media prints the photographs of the arms of small slaughtered Jewish children hanging from the side of a bus that Palestinian terrorists had decided to destroy.

American Jews are peculiarly disconnected from these happenings, and apparently are determined to make their disinterest evident in unfolding world events by their support of the Democratic candidate for President. An ostrich buries its head in the sand, and in so doing leaves another part of its anatomy vulnerable. American Jews should take heed and perhaps consider emulating the eagle, rather than the ostrich...

...The Jewish knee jerk reaction to vote Democratic is unrelated to any particular advantage the party offers them as it relates to the modern world

Indeed, the reflex to vote Democratic is in many ways counter to Jewish interests, especially if we look at how the Democrats deal with enemies of Jews. The strangle hold that the Democratic party has on Jews is weakening, but it still remains strong.

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September 13, 2004

High Holidays In Israel

Maariv has an article about a poll on service attendance for the Holidays in Israel. Seventy percent of the population will be attending Services between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but this caught my eye...

However 40% of those who will be going to services said that if they had the option of attending a non-Orthodox congregation within walking distance of their homes, they would prefer it to the Orthodox synagogue they plan to go to out of lack of choice.

Forty percent of those who do not intend going to any holyday services said that if they had the option of attending a non-Orthodox synagogue near their homes they would do so...

...According to Kariv, "Hundreds of thousands of Israelis are forced to forfeit the uplifting spiritual experience of attending services, because they are unable to attend a synagogue of their choice. The Jewish identity of these Israelis is the ultimate victim of Orthodox establishment’s bigotry and coercion, and its determination to maintain its monopoly on religious life in Israel no matter what.”

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Slowly changing. Where we plan to move to there is only a Reform schul.

comment by Expategghead at 01:53 AM on 09.14.04

I am not surprised to see this.

comment by Jack at 02:23 AM on 09.15.04

This makes it sound as though there is some law against building a reform (progressive), Conservative or Reconstructionist synagogue in Israel. In fact there are plenty of such synagogues throughout the country. Many of my friends and coworkers happily attend these synagogues.

What the statistic you quote is saying is that these Israeli's, (who do not attend or otherwise support a synagogue during the rest of the year) would like there to be a non-orthodox synagogue within walking distance of their house for Rosh Hashanna and Yom Kippur. That seems sort of cheeky, don't you think? I pay dues and building fund fees at my sysnagogue and sit on several committees to ensure the continued 'good health' of the congregation and facilities throughout the year. I made sure when I bought my house that it was within walking distance of a synagogue where I would feel comfortable. These 40%ers are neglecting to plant in the spring, yet are lamenting the lack of a crop in the fall.

There ARE plenty of issues related to the Orthodox Rabbinate's monopoly (such as marriage, conversion, etc.) but the issue you mention in your post today is a non-issue. They (the polsters) may as well have asked the people 'If there was a swimming pool within walking distance to your house, would you use it?'

Shana Tova.

comment by David at 09:17 AM on 09.15.04

It's been my understanding that most Israeli's are not used to paying dues to support their local synagogue. Is that a false impression? Isn't it a bit tough to compare the building of a privately funded shul with the government building of Orthodox Synagogues.

If government funding of the rabinnate and construction of synagogues is not affected by the Orthodox monopoly in government, then I stand corrected. But my perception is that the issue of the numbers of people who would prefer non-orthodox options is important, particularly if official support of synagogues is controlled by a few.

comment by oceanguy at 10:32 AM on 09.15.04

The overwhelming majority of synagogues in the country are privately funded by their members. The exception being those of historical significance as well as many of the ones belinging to the 'Chief Rabbi' of a particualr city.

Army synagogues are obviously funded by the ministry of defense.

Most (but not all) Israeli synagogues are much smaller affairs than in the U.S. or Europe, and require much less funding to maintain. Most of the big ticket items like a full time rabbi's (and Cantor's) salary don't exist here (obviously there are exceptions.

I know my previous comment sounded more like rant than a resoned reply, but that Maariv article and it's 'statistics' was nothing more than Orthodox bashing... and I don't like hearing anyone bashed without proper cause.

The articel points an accusing finger at the orthodox for stripping away the Jewish identity of the non-orthodox Israelis. In fact, that responsibility rests mostly with the Ministry of Education (under the long-ago leadership of Shulamit Aloni) which stripped almost every scrap of Jewish content from what is taught in Israeli secular schools. 20 years ago secular Israelis prided themselves on knowing Tanach (the bible) as well, and in many cases better, than Religious Israelis. And with good reason... that was their history book! Today, kids graduating from a typical secular Israeli school know next to nothing!

But you won't read about that in Maariv.

comment by David at 11:09 AM on 09.15.04

That's a shame too. They should have Tanach classes in Israel. They don't have to be mandatory or at least an introductory class.
The book is a book for debate and history and its the history of the area.
It should be taught and that its not is a freekin travesty.
A friend of mine took a few course on Genesis at Emory in Atlanta. She said it was taught by a reformed she thinks? rabbi and that it was one of her best and most interesting classes. The information about all of the different tribes of all peoples it describes and the area as well as the class debates on the possible different meanings of items in it she said was excellent.
Of course, she said the Rabbi was also an excellent and interesting teacher.
By the way she's not Jewish nor is she a right wing Christian.

Mike

comment by Mike at 02:21 PM on 09.15.04

sheesh... I hope my comments here weren't reponsible for getting me kicked off your blogroll.

comment by David at 01:25 PM on 09.18.04

David... you never left, you have a place of honor in my Daily Stops...

no offense at any comments, I'm glad to get an Israeli perspective

comment by oceanguy at 07:51 PM on 09.18.04

Perspective I have aplenty... apparently, along with a bit of insecurity. :-)

comment by David at 02:49 AM on 09.19.04

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September 12, 2004

Professional Suicide

As I've watched the TexANG documents story over the past few days a couple of things have struck me. The speed and effectiveness of the web's / blogosphere's distributed intelligence. In a story that matters the blogs have delivered a knock-out punch to one of MSM's stalwarts. The story wasn’t Bush’s National Guard service.

The story that matters over these documents is the way that "news" is presented by MSM. Rather's and CBS's decisions in compiling, airing and defending their sources is absolutely astounding either in its ignorance or its dishonesty... it really doesn't matter which... but CBS is guilty of one or the other.

Almost a week after the story's appearance, I am amazed that Dan Rather would risk his professional integrity over an old worn out story. I mean who cares that Bush got some preferential treatment in the 1960's and that he didn't fight in Vietnam. And why does Viet Nam era service all of a sudden matter? The same folks who defended Bill Clinton's behavior are today's loudest critics of George W. Bush's actions in dealing with the draft almost 40 years ago. So what?

But then Dan Rather exposes himself as the ignorant patsy that many of his critics suspected him to be. Why? Hindrocket has the answer and it's not good news for any of us.

So we have entered a new era. We now know that our richest and most powerful news organizations are willing to blow themselves up--to destroy their own credibility, once considered a news organization's most precious possession--to achieve a political goal. The landscape will never look quite the same again. Those of us who still value truth must look at the mainstream media in a new, more skeptical and critical way, taking nothing for granted. Because, like suicide bombers, the mainstream news organs will go farther to achieve their political goals than we ever imagined.

The other thing that strikes me as particularly noteworthy is the ignorance of the internet's workings demonstrated by the MSM and the Kerry campaign.

Thanks to Howard Dean, just a couple of months ago, the Dems touted themselves as internet whizzes. Thanks to Dan Rather, they look like ignorant rubes. Do you think they may have been mistaken to pad their resume?

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CBS = the new Enquirer?
Excerpt: The gossip rags are notorious for going out, finding a person who's willing to tell them something juicy and then reporting on it. Never mind vetting too deeply, it's the story the readers want, and it's the story the readers...
Weblog: Solomonia
Tracked: September 13, 2004 03:58 PM

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September 10, 2004

Western European Socialism

Here's an interesting contrast in the International Herlald Tribune about wealth re-distribution and taxes... The Rich Westerners want nothing to do with it if it means giving up any of their wealth helping their less fortunate Eastern neighbors. [I wonder how Western Europe would look today had the United States not subsidized their development over the past 60 years?]

This spring, some rich nations imposed limits on migrant workers to stop cheap labor from flooding into Western Europe. Now the focus has turned to company tax and businesses that are migrating abroad to exploit the low rates available in the East.

Oh, the delicious irony.

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Please elaborate on ' the United States not subsidized their development over the past 60 years?' I'm intriqued.

comment by Expategghead at 10:27 AM on 09.10.04

Short answer: Marshal Plan... NATO... American wealth used to help rebuild Europe after the War and American treasure being used to defend Europe from the Soviet Union...

comment by oceanguy at 12:32 PM on 09.10.04

Doesn't amount to 60 years of subsidy. America stayed in Europe beacuse it was in the interest of America to do so, not out of any great love for Europe. What direct subsidy there was ended in 1954 and shifted to support for the French was in Indochina. Just the spending on that exceeded Marshall plan support.
Rather a modern historian would say it is the other way around. The USA has a unique abillity to run a deficit because the rest of the world will buy T bills in large amounts. Not a bad thing but the evidence does not support the idea of the USA subsidising anyone in Europe. past 1954.

comment by Expategghead at 03:46 PM on 09.10.04

Yes, direct aid through the Marshall Plan ended long ago, but it was essential. The continuing subsidy, through NATO, has benefited the US, no question about it, but Europe has benefited ed at least as much. Europe's ability to rely on the Americans’ defense [defence] $$$’s all through the Cold War, facilitated their recovery as well as supported the expansion of social programs.

The point I'm making is that full and active support of the recovering economies is helpful to everyone. The French and Germans haven't grasped that.

comment by oceanguy at 01:07 PM on 09.12.04

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Ivan

It looks like it will be Erev Rosh Hashanah when Ivan comes to town, or somewhere close by. Is anyone writing about the history of Ivan(s) the Terrible and Jews?

For Ivan images go to NOAA's site, and look here and here for forecast maps.

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So are you still hanging in there? Come visit my side of the pond when you get a break in the clouds.
sidekick aka oysters and pearls...

comment by sidekick at 12:28 PM on 09.10.04

Hope it misses you. I also hope it misses me! You are NE FL?

comment by Kathy K at 01:21 PM on 09.12.04

Yes, Jacksonville here... Looks like we're dodging it, and the panhandle will be absorbing it... if it hits you, we'll get it too.

comment by oceanguy at 06:26 PM on 09.12.04

Jim: Heh. Looks like you're swiping ATCF graphics from our center up at Norfolk. I recognize that design anywhere.

comment by Joe at 11:29 AM on 09.14.04

Guilty!

comment by oceanguy at 08:00 AM on 09.15.04

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September 09, 2004

SUM BITCH

Twelve inches of rain out of Frances and 41/2 days without power was enough... Now Ivan... GO AWAY

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Franklin Affair

Haaretz has a thoughtful article on how the FBI was mistaken in its investigation of diplomatic contacts. There is a thin line between spying and active diplomatic discussion that probably cannot be defined by statute. Haaretz' discussion is probably very close to the reality.

Diplomatic contact means an exchange of assessments and data. At the same time, there are accepted rules for such conversations; you don't hand over the classified document itself, and you don't use a recording device.

The issue at hand relates to intentions of the government of Iran and its progress in the development of missiles and conventional weapons. It is highly important for Israel to hear assessments from authorized sources in friendly countries. These officials will, of course, also want to hear the Israeli assessments. If the Israeli diplomat responds merely by quoting from The New York Times, or with a regurgitation of the Israeli government's condemnation of Iranian policy, he will have a hard time setting up another meeting.

But there are still questions.

Why did CBS and Lesley Stahl break this story with such zeal (and haste)? Does CBS believe that close association with Israel is bad for Bush? Does CBS believe that American Jews are not to be trusted? Certainly CBS does not believe we should not be using diplomatic discussions with our allies on such important matters as a nuclear armed Iran...

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September 08, 2004

Moderate Islam Watch

Finally I see someone from Islam mentioning the obvious. In this Translation from MEMRI, Abd Al-Rahman Al-Rashed, former editor of the London daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, writes

" Obviously not all Muslims are terrorists but, regrettably, the majority of the terrorists in the world are Muslims. The kidnappers of the students in Ossetia are Muslims. The kidnappers and killers of the Nepalese workers and cooks are also Muslims. Those who rape and murder in Darfour are Muslims, and their victims are Muslims as well. Those who blew up the residential complexes in Riyadh and Al-Khobar are Muslims. Those who kidnapped the two French journalists are Muslims. The two [women] who blew up the two planes [over Russia] a week ago are Muslims. Bin Laden is a Muslim and Al-Houthi [the head of a terrorist group in Yemen] is a Muslim. The majority of those who carried out suicide operations against buses, schools, houses, and buildings around the world in the last ten years are also Muslims.

"What a terrible record. Does this not say something about us, about our society and our culture? If we put all of these pictures together in one day, we will see that these pictures are difficult, embarrassing, and humiliating for us. However, instead of avoiding them and justifying them it is incumbent upon us first of all to recognize their authenticity rather than to compose eloquent articles and speeches proclaiming our innocence…

Others are speaking too, like Bater Wardam, of the Jordanian daily Al-Dustour, who says:

"It is always easy to flee to illusions and to place responsibility for the crimes of Arabic and Muslim terrorist organizations on the Mossad, the Zionists, and on American intelligence, but we all know that this is not the case and that those who murder innocent civilians in Iraq after having kidnapped them, those who turned civilian airplanes into destructive bombs, those who exploded trains crowded with innocent civilians and those who fired on children in a school in Ossetia – they came from our midst. They are Arabs and Muslims who pray, fast, grow beards, demand the wearing of veils, and call for the defense of Islamic causes. Therefore we all must raise our voices, disown them and oppose all of these crimes… Whoever remains silent when faced with the murder of children, he is an accomplice to the crime. Even worse, we are employing the same moral double standard regarding people's lives that the West uses."

Something is seriously wrong with Islam... More and more I think about What Lileks wrote a couple of months ago about the pitifully low number of Muslims willing to stand up against what is being done in the name of their religion...

read more »

There are five reactions one could have to such acts, committed by a coreligionist: Endorsement, Indifference, Denial, Rejection, Participation.

Denial: I’m sure you’ve heard this before: “Islam is a religion of peace.” But those people committed horrible violence in the name of Islam. “Then they are not true Muslims. No Muslim could do this.” Rinse, repeat. It’s the theological equivalent of putting your hands over your ears and humming loudly.

Rejection: This would be speaking out singly or in concert with fellow Muslims, denouncing the acts without making the entire peroration an elaborate plinth on which to place the word “BUT.”

Indifference: I’m a Muslim in Indonesia. I work in a bank. I’m not particularly devout. I like a beer on a hot day, and you know what? They’re all hot days. Some guys slit someone’s throat in Iraq. I think that’s wrong and I think that’s stupid. And what do you expect me to do about it?

Endorsement: I’m not sure what constitutes endorsement – silent pleasure among others not of the faith, chortling delight when you’re with friends. Or perhaps nothing more than thanking Allah when you hear certain things have been done in Allah’s name, and never acting or speaking a way that supports the jihadist’s cause.

Participation. It’s obvious what this means.

Here’s the crux: of these five aspects, four assist the jihadists in one form or another, and the fifth – Rejection – all too often takes a passive form.

Something is Seriously wrong with Islam... and Iran may be the worst of the Islamic state actors... The Iranian Mullahs, posessing a certainty that Allah is with them in wanting the West destroyed, will not hesitate to use nuclear weapons... it only increases the liklihood of their martyrdom... Islam is sick and needs help, but help can only come from within... THAT is scary.

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Nice post. From my reading of the press, Arab newspapers have started to question Muslims and the denial they show over who is to blame.

comment by Expategghead at 03:03 AM on 09.10.04

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Rude Awakening

I ought to be thankful that it's relatively cool while I'm without power, still late in the day and through the evening it's uncomfortable sitting around being all hot and sticky. Last night I was beating the heat by laying on the side of the pool with one arm and a foot hanging hanging into the water. With thunderstorms in the distance, I was resting my head on my arm and timing the gap between the flash and the rumble by counting the seconds tick off on my watch... 68 seconds... 45 seconds... 50 seconds... like counting sheep, and before I knew it... I rolled into the pool.

posted by oceanguy 07:42 AM in |
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I like the cool bit. Stay safe.

comment by Expategghead at 03:47 PM on 09.09.04

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Still No Power

On Saturday, 250,000 homes were without electrical service. Today it's down to 25,000 and I'm one of them. I'm told, now that it may be Monday before we can expect the power to be back on. I can't imagine those folks south of here that are going to go 3 or 4 weeks. At least most businesses are open, including grocery stores and restaurants!

Speaking of restaurants, I learned something interesting about Panera Bread... at least their Bagels. Now, I'm not one of those who think Panera's Bagels are to die for, but they're a lot better than any at the grocery or Dunkin Donuts. The Kosher place was without power so I settled for Panera, they had power. They had power but no Bagels... They don't make Bagels on site, even though they have a huge kitchen area. Instead the Bagels are mixed and boiled in Orlando, 2 hours away, and then shipped across the state where the stores do the final baking. Now I'm curious how long they sotre them before they bake them.

posted by oceanguy 07:31 AM in |
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September 07, 2004

Still Sick of Frances

I'm finally back online, but not from home. Still, no power there, what a miserable weekend.

I had no physical damage except the loss of a couple of banana trees and a mess of twigs and leaves in the pool and yard. Electricity was off for a few hours on Saturday and has been off since Sunday morning... and have been told it might not be back online until Wednesday or Thursday. so a freezer and Fridge full of food will be tossed.

By the way, I have a new cookbook idea for Steve...Hurricane Cooking... Maybe he could revolutionize the contents of our Hurricane Preparedness boxes... A couple of the meals at Casa Ocean: Frances French Toast... Francisca's Spanish Rice... and Cyclonic Meatball Subs. The neighbors had hot dogs and chips… “Puh!” be a little creative, there’s nothing else to do.

Dodged a likely tornado or water spout by just one house. Hope to have a photo of the downed trees later, but a couple of good sized Live Oaks were tipped over by the wind. The combination of too much rain making the sandy soil more like soup than soil, resulted in the trees simply tipping over leaving the root ball exposed and the tree intact. The wind knocked about 6 big trees down in different directions but all were in a line about 200 yards long. Luckily no homes suffered direct hits… it’s too bad the trees can’t just be picked up and put back down into place. A friend living ocean front reported a roof blown off of one nearby house and he sighted a refrigerator and washing machine washed onto A1A. I haven’t been out nor have I seen any TV reports to see how much other damage is around. And we were just at the edge of the storm... other areas were much harder hit.

Part of the problem with the electrical power situation here in NE Florida is that the local utility sent a few line trucks down south to help people there... so we have fewer here to do the local work. It was even a bit frustrating, though entirely understandable, to see a convoy of 20-30 utility trucks from Pennsylvania driving through Jacksonville, heading south... We need help too! But you have to love the help from Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, and even California and Indiana, it's greatly appreciated. It's no fun with no electricity, and all of us affected by the storm are thankful for folks hundreds of miles away pitching in and giving us a helping hand.

More later... all the while hoping Ivan stays away...

posted by oceanguy 10:32 AM in |
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Sorry to hear about the trees, but if the Live Oaks really can't be salvaged, you should contact one of the organizations on the eastern seaboard that do historic restorations of wooden sailing ships... Live oak wood is very hard to come by and many of the ribs and spars in those old boats are made of the stuff.

Glad to hear you weathered the storm.

comment by David at 01:47 PM on 09.07.04

A hurricane made its way up to Virginia last year around this time. We had no electricity or running water for over 24 hours which is nothing compared to what you guys are going through - I know. I remember what a pain in the rear end it was though - having to pour water into the toilet tank in order to flush it, and throwing out food - I'd just stocked the freezer a week or so before.

Anyway, I sympathize with you. Hope everything is back to normal ASAP.

comment by Gail at 05:28 PM on 09.07.04

.. stay safe.. be careful... and grill steaks every night... hell, it beats tossing them into the dumpster.... your hurricane cookbook idea sounds downright delightful.... I know that MY freezer needs cleared out.... although.. hopefully under other than such adverse circumstances.....

all the best to you and yours, Oceanguy... hang in there..

comment by Eric at 08:54 PM on 09.07.04

I was very frustrated when I heard that the power people were starting in Miami and working their way North. (FPL) Miami? Please. They say the folks up in Ft. Pierce won't have power for 2 or 3 more weeks. We have power, but my husband's business partner 5 miles away does not and they're saying 2 weeks. Go figure.

I wish I were closer, I would help! I went by my kid's school today and offered my home to those without power. Most had it.

comment by Boudicca at 11:10 PM on 09.07.04

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September 03, 2004

Shabbat Shalom

For a Higher Resolution photo.

posted by oceanguy 07:26 PM in |
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