Paris Under Attack....the hell?

[Kepler]

Re: Paris Under Attack....the hell?

Flag, some Oregon herp-a-derp official going on a Facebook rant about Sharia coming to Hamtramck, doesn't make your bullsh*t true.

The most bizarre thing about this story is the guy is from just south of McMinnville, which is Hippy Country, and just west of Silverton, which is essentially North Honduras. Point being that this isn't some cracker out in La Grande or a skinhead out of Pendleton -- this dude's neighbors are fairly liberal and (for Oregon anyway) diverse.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Paris Under Attack....the hell?

Religion can be an amplifier. If you're a good person religion can multiple your goodness many times. Likewise if you're a bad person. What religion basically says is human standards are not important in the face of the Almighty. That's great if you're fighting slavery. Not so great if you're trying to force everyone back to the 17th century (Christian fanatics) or the 7th (Muslim fanatics).

If Africa is included, the percentage of religious and non religious individuals perpetrating violence is about equal. No difference. That violence is veiled in something...and that varies.

In fact, crime has decreased in local high Muslim populated areas...including Minneapolis. Non Muslim areas of St. Cloud and Rochester have seen increases in crime. To that end, why haven't 100,000 'angry intolerant' American Somali Muslims not blown the Midwest to smithereens yet?

To all of you. If you don't understand the drivers of terror, you will make it worse. Islam is not the cause of terror. Period. People freak out and over react against people who themselves are victims every time something like this happens.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Paris Under Attack....the hell?

To all of you. If you don't understand the drivers of terror, you will make it worse. Islam is not the cause of terror. Period. People freak out and over react against people who themselves are victims every time something like this happens.

Exactly so. I'll give people the benefit of the doubt because the terrorists themselves say they're doing it for religion, but it's really something else that makes them homicidal and religion just happens to be the window dressing they fit it to. God happens to get invoked as a justification for violence because in some places God is a big deal. If you're Hitler you invoke biological woo, but that doesn't mean the science of biology caused WW2, or even dumb interpretations of biology. Likewise both bad biology and religion were invoked to defend slavery.

When only a small percentage of a population that shares a trait is violent, that means the trait is not the cause of the violence.

 

[leswp1]

Re: Paris Under Attack....the hell?

This does not get nearly enough attention. It very well could be part of ISIS's strategy in Paris was to shut off the emigration valve so the people they're trying to have dominion over are forced to stay and be dominated. On the other hand, they're having a hard enough time controlling the region even with the refugees leaving, so I can't imagine that they really want even *more* enemies who are even more desperate to be hanging around. They probably haven't really thought it through beyond "west bombs us, we bomb them."

Also a good point. We absolutely need more native speakers (and thinkers) on our side.

THis country doesn't look at anything outside its borders unless it has to do with a celeb. The BBC has been covering this the whole time while our news talks about whether Charlie Sheen gave his ex AIDS pr what Polls are saying about things. How the hell can anyone form an opinion when the only coverage of an issue is what people are thinking, not what is actually happening?

If Africa is included, the percentage of religious and non religious individuals perpetrating violence is about equal. No difference. That violence is veiled in something...and that varies.

In fact, crime has decreased in local high Muslim populated areas...including Minneapolis. Non Muslim areas of St. Cloud and Rochester have seen increases in crime. To that end, why haven't 100,000 'angry intolerant' American Somali Muslims not blown the Midwest to smithereens yet?

To all of you. If you don't understand the drivers of terror, you will make it worse. Islam is not the cause of terror. Period. People freak out and over react against people who themselves are victims every time something like this happens.

THIS! But is is much simpler to just squall about Muslims and Islam then it is to actually look at the dynamic of what is happening. I can sort of understand the general populace being ignorant of the situation but when you have people running for president who cannot realize this and react in a simplistic way it is really scary.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Paris Under Attack....the hell?

I can sort of understand the general populace being ignorant of the situation but when you have people running for president who cannot realize this and react in a simplistic way it is really scary.

At least a few of the pols realize it clearly, but are giving the morons what they want. "Nobody ever went broke..."

As for loony tunes like Huckabee and Carson, no, they probably don't get it. And Trump, gad, who knows -- is he a fool or a charlatan playing a fool or a fool playing a charlatan playing a fool... He is the Ouroboros of Republican cynicism and stupidity.

 

[unofan]

At least a few of the pols realize it clearly, but are giving the morons what they want. "Nobody ever went broke..."

As for loony tunes like Huckabee and Carson, no, they probably don't get it. And Trump, gad, who knows -- is he a fool or a charlatan playing a fool or a fool playing a charlatan playing a fool... He is the Ouroboros of Republican cynicism and stupidity.

I attended a taping of Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me where Jake Tapper from CNN was the special guest. One of the questions that didn't make it on air was whether Trump on camera is the same as Trump behind the scenes. He said no, he's much calmer off camera.

He's clearly playing a character to some extent. For what purpose besides feeding his ego, who knows. But take that for what it's worth.

 

[unofan]

THis country doesn't look at anything outside its borders unless it has to do with a celeb. The BBC has been covering this the whole time while our news talks about whether Charlie Sheen gave his ex AIDS pr what Polls are saying about things. How the hell can anyone form an opinion when the only coverage of an issue is what people are thinking, not what is actually happening?

I count no less than five articles on France/ISIS/Syria on the top of nytimes.com, for what it's worth. Four of the top six stories on Google news are similarly related.

I agree that our television news sucks in this country, but quality reporting can be found if you're willing to read.

 

[JF_Gophers]

Re: Paris Under Attack....the hell?

I stated my thoughts on religion were unrelated to terrorism. It's flag who was putting them together.

 

[mookie1995]

It's also a huge drain on resources that could be better deployed. We could vet every single Muslim in the US, and tie up our intelligence, security and law enforcement for decades, or we could apply simple layered scoring of risk factors, reduce the search field 99%, and actually get stuff done and find the bad guys.

You mean like making Mookie run his shoes through an X-ray?!?

 

[Slap Shot]

Meh. France lets in a refugee from Syria and ends up with 129 dead. That's nothing. Oklahoma let in a refugee from upstate New York and ended up with 168 dead.

I didn't think any of the attackers were refugees?

 

[Rogie21]

Re: Paris Under Attack....the hell?

This boggles the mind.

The real terror threat Congress should confront

As Republicans grope for rationales to block asylum for Syrian refugees, Texas State Representative Tony Dale, a gun rights stalwart with an A rating from the National Rifle Association, is arguing that they should all be blocked because it’s far too easy in this country for people with terrorist motives to buy guns and cause mayhem.

Point taken. It wasn’t his intention but the lawmaker’s petition to Congress for a blanket halt to the admission of Syrian refugees is a reminder of a far more real threat to the nation. An egregious loophole that Congress has failed to close has allowed over 2,000 suspects on the federal terrorist watch list to freely buy firearms and explosives across a 10-year span.

And the NRA uses its "slippery slope" argument to block the closing of this dangerous loophole. Planning to ask my Congressman where he stands on it.

 

[burd]

Re: Paris Under Attack....the hell?

You mean like making Mookie run his shoes through an X-ray?!?

The minute mookie takes his shoes off, people sense an act of terrorism.

 

[leswp1]

Re: Paris Under Attack....the hell?

I count no less than five articles on France/ISIS/Syria on the top of nytimes.com, for what it's worth. Four of the top six stories on Google news are similarly related.

I agree that our television news sucks in this country, but quality reporting can be found if you're willing to read.

Recently. Has there been coverage for the last year? Our local rags barely acknowledge there is a world outside our borders and if there is one it is only in the context of what immediate effect it has on the locality, not the big picture.

Lived in England when I was a kid. News was worldwide because the commonwealth was worldwide. Came back here and even as a kid asked my parents why no one talked about anything except the US.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Paris Under Attack....the hell?

Guess what 'Murica? Compared to France you're a bunch of gutless cowards.

In a move that puts the heated U.S. debate over taking in Syrian refugees in perspective, French President Francois Hollande declared on Wednesday that his country would accept 30,000 Syrian refugees over next two years. He announced this at a gathering of mayors from French cities, where he received a standing ovation.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Paris Under Attack....the hell?

The U of M just posted this for football games;

To ensure the comfort and safety for fans in light of recent worldwide events, the Department of Athletics and Department of Public Safety are announcing enhanced security measures to be in place for Minnesota’s upcoming football games against Illinois on Nov. 21 and Wisconsin on Nov. 28 at TCF Bank Stadium.

While there are currently no known threats against collegiate stadiums, University of Minnesota leaders have opted to increase security measures this weekend for the safety of TCF Bank Stadium attendees.

In addition to increased presence of public safety personnel on campus, the University will be allowing only clear bags in the stadium, similar to the current Minnesota Vikings policy. Stadium personnel will provide clear bags in which to transfer any needed items, and a bag check will also be provided in the Williams Arena lobby located on the South side of the building off University Avenue. Bag check will open at 9:30 am and close one hour following the game’s conclusion. Fans unable to retrieve their bags in the time frame will be able to pick them up at Williams Arena lost and found on Monday.

Permissible Bags include:

* Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12" x 6" x 12."
* One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar).
* Small clutch bags (no larger than 4.5” x 6.5”), approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap can be taken into the stadium with one of the clear plastic bags.
* An exception will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection at any gates.

Outside of the new bag policy, all other permissible and non-permissible items remain unchanged. Non-battery/non-electric blankets will still be permitted.

Prohibited items include: Purses, Backpacks, Clear Backpacks, Tinted Plastic Totes, Printed Pattern Plastic Bags, Over-sized Tote Bags, Mesh Bags, Diaper Bags, Computer Bags, Camera Cases, Binocular Cases, Fanny Packs, and non-approved Seat Cushions.

Click here<https://www.mygophersports.com/ArticleMedia/Files/GopherBagPolicy.pdf> to view a document outlining the prohibited items in TCF Bank Stadium.

The University encourages fans to arrive early to provide adequate time to enter the stadium.
Top

So you can't even bring a seat cushion or camera bag anymore despite the bleachers being ridiculously cold and hard. Hey, now lets force your *** onto the hard, cold metal bleachers unless you fork over extra dough. What a load of BS.

Or a camera case? Yeah, I haven't seen a camera case that isn't thinner and less concealing than a camera would be. A friggin camera would be more dangerous than the bag. This policy is a bunch of reactionary, ill thought out garbage.

 

[SJHovey]

Re: Paris Under Attack....the hell?

I didn't think any of the attackers were refugees?

Yeah, I have no idea. My post was intended for those here and elsewhere freaked out about terrorists embedded in groups of Syrian refugees. Evil, bent on destruction, can be found everywhere, even next door.

 

[alfablue]

Re: Paris Under Attack....the hell?

I didn't think any of the attackers were refugees?

Some had passports that indicated that they were refugees.

But here's something to think about- if you KNOW you are going to die- would you not purposely put specific items on you to mess with the authorities?

Like in this instance, if you want people to fear the refugees- plant an ID showing that they were refugees.

Basically, if someone was going through the trouble of organizing this, they would plant extra info.

 

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: Paris Under Attack....the hell?

This boggles the mind.

The real terror threat Congress should confront



And the NRA uses its "slippery slope" argument to block the closing of this dangerous loophole. Planning to ask my Congressman where he stands on it.

I'd put money on Rep. Dale being downgraded very soon. You know how it is with the NRA - no nuance allowed.

 

[FreshFish]

Re: Paris Under Attack....the hell?

And the NRA uses its "slippery slope" argument to block the closing of this dangerous loophole. Planning to ask my Congressman where he stands on it.

It seems to me that it would be more effective, (a) to ask your state legislature representative and state senator, not your Congressperson, to take effective action; states have more leeway to regulate individuals than the federal government does (e.g., driver's license, requirement to carry auto insurance, these both can be carried over to gun ownership by the states but not by the feds); and (b) not to try to regulate "guns" but instead to regulate gun owners.

 

[joecct]

Re: Paris Under Attack....the hell?

It seems to me that it would be more effective, (a) to ask your state legislature representative and state senator, not your Congressperson, to take effective action; states have more leeway to regulate individuals than the federal government does (e.g., driver's license, requirement to carry auto insurance, these both can be carried over to gun ownership by the states but not by the feds); and (b) not to try to regulate "guns" but instead to regulate gun owners.

Works for me - as long as the requirements are not onerous or designed specifically to prohibit ownership for everyone.