Re: OfB.biz: It's Official: SCO Declares IP Jihad on Linux

On Wed, May 07, 2003 at 07:56:52AM -0400, Bob Rea wrote:
> I want to thank whoever started this thread for starting me to think. The
> transfer of "jihad" from literal to metaphorical, once pointed out to me,
> set off an alarm in my mind. The identification of moslems with terrorists
> and the Homeland security moves that go with it struck me as parallel to a
> certain european anti-semitism of the last century. No, I'm not calling
> them Nazis, no I'm not invoking the Hitler effect, whatever that's called.
> But the ears of my mind have pricked up with a slight alarm. I will watch
> more carefully.

Other than Tim, the only ones to use jihad in the non-literal way *are*
the terrorists and the likes. It's not our goal to identify muslims as
terrorists, it's exactly what terrorists themselves want.

HSD's purpose is to improve America's security. That includes all American
muslims, mosques and whatnot. Most large commercial areas include places of
worship, I would not be surprised if the same were true for the WTC towers.

But since you mention the Hitler effect..

Yes, one could think 9/11 was as staged as the Reichstag fire, that OBL is
Marinus van der Lubbe, that the Bush administration is the new Hitler regime
and that HSD formation is the SA/SS. All TLC-sponsored, of course. But it
one link in the chain is missing.

On February 28, 1993, Hindenburg and Hitler invoked Article 48
of the Weimar Constitution and suspended all civil liberties. On March 24,
the Law for Terminating the Suffering of the People and Nation effectively
gave Hitler dictatorial powers.
(http://www.weyrich.com/political_issues/reichstag_fire.html)

The US constitution doesn't have these flaws. Suppose, for a moment, Andreas
is right and it's the same old story all over again. The mere fact that he
has been doing so for months and is still unharmed makes me worry less. The
fact that Bush faces elections in 18 months, and possibly another round four
years later, are comforting. Elections for Congress and the House will
continue as planned.

Our liberties are continously in jeopardy. It's good that people are on the
watchout. Kde-cafe might be a tad extreme and vocal at times, but if it
helps to involve some people into politics, that's good.

Oh, and Bob: good luck on finding a nearby parish. I'm not religious and
disagree with religious views often, but I wouldn't want to live in a world
without it either. There's an awesome 13th century church downtown where I
live
(http://static.capsi.com/img/photography/2003-01-04/800x600/dscf0005.jpg,
you can see its top to the right of the highrises in the middle) and while
it has no religious meaning to me, I'm glad it's there. And ironically, the
city market is on the square next to it, which includes a large group of
muslim traders (including food, carpets, religious books). Right next to the
shoarma and kebab store.

It's a wonderful world.

Now, this is not the USA (13th century churches *would* be hard to find
there), but I've seen similar tolerance and diversity in San Francisco and
Berkeley. But unlike those, Rotterdam currently has a city administration as
politically right as possible with our coalition system.

As long as I keep finding those equilibriums at home and anywhere else I go
(all the doner stores in Frankfurt right near the highrises, downtown
Chinatown in SF, religious places in Turkey (Muslim *and* Christian) as
tourist attractions), I simply don't feel I need to be that worried. :)

Rob
-- 
Rob Kaper     | "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little
[email protected] | temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
www.capsi.com | - Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759

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