[spence]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

Extremist muslims have made a well publicized appeal to kill Americans.

And yet I think extremist Muslims have killed far more non-American Muslims than Americans.

They have tried many times - how many reports and convictions of failed terror reports have we seen the last 6 years.

Not very many if the problem is really Islam. I think there have been a few hundred and many of these are somewhat lower on the threat scale. Out of a billion Muslims worldwide that doesn't make for a lot of terrorists.

We just sentenced a nut to prison for trying to kill Americans in Time Square.

Don't forget that he was also an American citizen, business person and wore more Kenneth Cole than Islamic dress.

On 9/11, they were successful. Extremists dont carry a flag, dont wear a uniform. We cant identify them, except for one factor. They're middle eastern and muslims.

Just like Timothy McVeigh, Terry Nichols, Michael Fortier and Coleen LaRose?

You might want to take this comment back, it's pretty ugly.

So its just plain common sense for Americans to show some trepidation or reserve when viewing people that fit that description.

Common sense would really dictate that the trepidation be somewhat on parity with the actual threat. The chances of someone in Islamic dress on an airplane actually being a terrorist out to do you harm are probably as low (or lower) than the chances of you dying from an accident on the same plane.

If the black panthers made similar threats and delivered on them, common sense would dictate that most people would be cautious around black men.

What percentage of black men are Black Panthers? You're stereotyping again...might want to take this one back as well.

While we think this is "new" as you say Islamaphobia is rampant, let me challenge you. Last weekend was watching a classic movie from my youth with my kids. Back to the Future. Anyone remember who pulled up in the VW van and shot Doc? Anyone remember why?
Its was the Libyians, dressed in islamic garb and shooting AK-47s, why? Doc was supposed to deliver plutonium to build a nuclear bomb! Over 25 yrs ago Spence and it was common place to see Islamists as a threat. No one watched that movie and said" Libyians as terrorists? Build a Nuclear Bomb? But Islam is a religion of peace! Thats Crazy!"

The movie is from 1985, made during a period when the US was in a tense period with Libya, making them an ideal target. While a Muslim, I'd consider Gaddafi's identity to be more of a socialist or Arab nationalist and not really an Islamist at all. The fact that he sought reconciliation with the West might have been partially a survival instinct, but certainly isn't the behavior of someone driven by dogma.

-spence