Open Letter From An American Airlines Pilot

Very well said, although the PC group is usually quick to censor common sense.
This part I have heard so many times though, and I don't get how Americans can be so obtuse.

The terrorists have made it quite clear that they attacked the United States due primarily to the foreign policy decision to support Israel with a constant stream of money (largest single recipient of US foreign aide of any country in the world) and advanced weaponry (which they sometimes like to sell to the Chinese to reverse engineer... thanks for that btw), which they perceive as the lifeline for the Israeli occupation of Palestine and oppression of Muslims in the middle-east at large.

Considering the US quite admittedly heavily influences politics in Muslim countries, and in some cases even arguably has setup puppet governments, it is definitely true that US foreign policy does exert influence on the middle-eastern socio-political climate. And if the Axis powers won WWII and decided that Texas would make a great place for a new Muslim country (well if I were religious and cared) and they started using force of arms to expand, I could see myself being kinda ticked off about it and if the occupied Texans had an inferior military force then small militias would likely resort to guerrilla tactics and hitting soft-targets that they had any hope of engaging. The label they would get would surely be "terrorists".

Don't get me wrong, they are still by and large Muslim extremists, which we have seen with the calls for beheading from simply drawing the Mohammed cartoon , but many Muslims are sympathetic or at least willing to look the other way thanks to US foreign policy of interventionism IMO. I work with Pakistanis (in IT we call that in-outsourcing lol) that love the US, but having lived overseas can go on for an hour about why Muslims feel threatened by the Judeo-Christian alliance. During the Iraq/Iran war for example, the US supported Iraq and Israel supported Iran simultaneously, supposedly in an effort to maintain a balance of power but it could be perceived as just an effort to support Muslims fighting Muslims to weaken each other and reinforce the US/Israeli supremacy of the region.

He says the US has the "greatest constitution in the world" but he wants people running around shouting for their god to bless America. Ironic.

Timothy McVeigh was white and in the army. Terry Nichols - also white. I wonder if employees working in federal buildings get nervous every time a white guy walks into the building?

Thought not.

That's two. If we work together, I'm sure we could come up with perhaps eight or nine white American terrorists. Fairly certain that there are a lot more confirmed Muslim terrorists than nine. To not acknowledge that basic fact is also to be divorced from reality for the sake of political correctness.

Fact is, the overwhelming majority of terrorists today are Muslim, so if you get profiled at the airport, don't blame the security guys blame all the terrorists. The other fact is that a very large number of Muslims, although not terrorists themselves, are sympathetic to their cause as we saw the dancing in the streets post 9/11.

The question is, WHAT are their grievances, and until the United States as a country sits down and addresses that, playing whack-a-mole in the middle-east is going to be fruitless as they just breed more and more recruits IMO.

Wow, this e-mail has been going around since 2002. And I suppose it's only supposed to be allegorical, not really taken literally. . .but hey, I like Snopes: http://www.snopes.com/rumors/soapbox/worryme.asp

I wouldn't be surprised if my mom had sent this to me years ago and I just forgot about it. It's something she would do.

Ducman - I know you conservatives love to blame "political correctness" every time someone sticks up for a group of people being treated inferior to whites under this "greatest constitution in the world" but consider this - I don't believe in god, I don't fly an American flag, I haven't said the pledge of allegiance (especially that lame "under god" clause) since grade school, and I abhor that professional sports have taken to playing "God Bless America" during every. single. game. So by the logic portrayed in this "open letter", I should be scarier than a law-abiding Muslim citizen. And last time I checked, judging someone based on the color of their skin was racist.

Maybe their grievances could be discussed and acted upon if Muslims had some sort of government representation... Though can you imagine what might happen if an Arab-American actually ran for office? Because "THEY WORRY US", after all.

^This
(Never though I'd say that. :P)

Does it matter who wrote it? It's the sentiment of many in this country.

If someone lives in this country, yes, they should be shouting <insert any God> Bless America. It's the country they are in. Why shouldn't they?

I'll say it- GOD BLESS AMERICA

Why does that offend people?

Ditto on all accounts, but I didn't read it as such. To paraphrase I think "he" (if that's a real person) was asking for a little bit of patriotism, which can be shown in a myriad of ways. I absolutely agree that many Muslims in the US are very actively AVOIDING assimilation and are staying huddled in little micro-communities, and seemingly are here only to capitalize on American prosperity while shunning everything else. Having traveled the world, I can assure you that a reasonable "when in Rome" interaction is respected universally, so I don't show the soles of my feet or wear wife-beaters when visiting Thailand and so forth. As such, they intentionally stand out and don't blend in with all the other American immigrants (which save for native americans we all are), and combine that with the fact that nearly every terrorist attack or cry for beheadings is coming from another Muslim puts the pilot on edge.

So he's just asking for a little outward visible sign that they love America as he says "it is up to you to show me where you stand".
You don't need a representative of the same religious beliefs or color to represent you, and that doesn't have anything to do with what the person quoted was saying as I understood it. He was asking for the Muslim community and religious leadership to police themselves, and by and large they are not.

Sorry, that post of mine is way too long, heh. ^

Cliffs Notes: Blame for this situation is to be shared IMO. The pilot is right, so muslims, police yourselves against the extremists and show a little patriotism now and then if you're living in America. And American voters stop allowing your representatives to mess with the middle-east and stop the perpetual warfare, foreign aide, trade blockades, and arms dealing which are helping to create an environment that breeds extremism.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZtPzOukjZA

I do fly an American Flag right on my front porch, and on my truck, I attend church every Sunday, I say the Pledge of Allegiance proudly, (Including that "under God" clause) since it is my country, and I have allegiance to no other country. I love the fact that I can count on hearing MY national anthem and it will always give me goose bumps, and a lump in my throat when I hear it at every single professional sports game in this great nation. I hold my hand over my heart and I sing along proudly.

I don't hate that there are people that don't believe, I DO hate that there are people that hate that there are people that DO believe. I guess I don't understand people that claim tolerance for everyone, except people that show and display allegiance to God and country.

If an Arab-American ran for office, I'd have to actually hear them state, out loud to their fellow Arabs, all of them, that they LOVE America, and hate those who would do her harm. I expect it out of ANY person that runs for office, since, heck-if they cannot say the pledge of Allegiance to this countries flag, why the heck should I allow them to hold office here?

Yes, matters a great deal. It may be nothing more than a ruse by extremists who are always, day in and day out looking for ways to drive a wedge between American Citizens and make Muslim Americans feel alienated and angry...and continuing to post this letter could very well be aiding their cause. Just as the anonymous "radical Muslims" posting in online forums could very well be white Christians with a reverse of the same agenda.

Everyone has an opinion. It's simply laziness to repost someone else's. And if it's perpetuating a ruse, then it's adding to the problem.

Just an aside, not responding to any post in particular; the sheer number of instances of "us" versus "them" when talking about American citizens in this thread is very revealing.

An excellent, well-thought out post, as usual, Mike.

Completely agree, well said.

On a related note, I'm completely out of tin foil!
When you share an opinion that you agree with as Catkiki has, and find it well worded, it becomes your opinion. That is why its quite popular to use famous quotations when making a point. I'll have to remember to call someone lazy next time they quote one of the Founding Fathers.
Revealing of what? And if you do a CTRL+F search, the word " us " has not been used by anyone in this thread. Only the word "US" capitalized as in "United States".

Based on what? Your stance that Arabs, not being white, aren't smart enough for such a tactic?

Cutting and pasting IS lazy. If you cut and paste and then explain why you have an opinion that matches or closely follows, then it's IMO.
Exactly. So how do Muslim Americans become "them"?

I don't think you're following. You said the "sheer number of instances of us". I pointed out there isn't a single instance, and you responded "Exactly". Resqchick used the word "them" in one of her sentences, after earlier specifying who that refers to. So... there is no sheer "us vs them" instances when talking about American citizens in this thread to be telling of anything.

*hands Skippy some coffee*

My mistake. I was under the mistaken impression that you had at least read the letter from the alleged "Airline Pilot" that opened this thread. I seem to keep over estimating you, sorry about that.

I don't "hate" people who believe in god... I just disagree with them. And heck, several of my family members believe in god and I love them. I also have no problem with people displaying allegiance to their country or flying the flag in their front yard. What I do have a problem with is how our pledge of allegiance has the phrase "under god" in it when we are supposed to be a nation of religious freedom. What I do have a problem with is people using the phrase "god bless America" as a unifying rally call when they feel threatened, as if any god would choose to favor one nation over another on this rock that he supposedly created.

Oh, my bad, I thought this non-bold part was your addition:

The United States was built on Christian roots and ideals. That is why "Under God" is included in the Pledge of Allegiance. Whoever finds it offensive, is always free to omit that part. It is not a rule that you must say it.

I don;t believe that God FAVORS one country over another, however, I pray TO God for protection for those I love, and my country is also beloved by me.

I don't expect that anyone should find that offensive since we can all use as much help as possible, huh?

I agree. When people minimize the cowardly attacks on this nation, they are minimizing their humanity, IMO.
When people say we asked for it, or deserved it, I can't possibly THINK bad enough things of them. Again, that's ME.

I lost MANY friends, close enough as family on that day. in 2 weeks is the 10 year anniversary, and wouldn't you know it-my sons first football game is that day. I can tell you this: most parents in the organization have stated, and I agree, that if the games are scheduled before noon, they will NOT be sending their children, since they will be watching and remembering while the memorial is going on. My son understands my position, and since he was only a baby when these cowardly attacks took place, he has been raised in a home that has been deeply affected by that day, and he will be watching with the rest of my children and myself. My husband will be at the memorial at his old firehouse, which lost 2 men that day. (Since the first responders cannot attend at the trade center this year due to space constraints)

There were many muslims killed that day, I wonder how that can be justified by anyone. Is it the fact that they were living as Americans, therefore not considered by the roaches that killed them, to be good muslims? Were they expendable to the killers? Life means nothing to them, it is all about martyring themselves. It sounds like they were brainwashed by professional killers to believe this garbage.

It was not because they were considered not good muslims. It was because it was from act of terrorism from terrorist, who claimed to be Muslim. Just like other terrorist acts committed by someone claiming to be a christian.

The fact is that it wasnt an act of Islam just as terrorism from someone claiming to be Christian is not an act of Christianity.

How very true! I cannot help but wonder why so many people have a difficult time understanding this.

The Pledge was amended in the 1950's to include those two words after several failed attempts to do so by the Knights of Columbus. They just finally found a sympathetic ear in the form of Eisenhower.

When you agree with something, it's always easy to say "I can't see why this offends anyone". But can't you see that injecting Christian dogma into patriotism - in what is supposed to be a country of religious freedom - might make an atheist feel a little less than patriotic?

Yup, during the Red Scare, where non-religious were at risk of being accused of being communist, so opponents were cautious to speak out against changing the Pledge. So that was never in the pledge at its creation nor most of US history. I see nothing wrong with a pledge though, and am simply silent during that particular phrase since it would be dishonest for me to say it.

But to get back on topic, the original statement by "the pilot" (or author) was more than content with people saying "Allah Praise the United States" or something to that effect, so basically just asking for SOME kind of sign of patriotism or love for this country.
Absolutely, but if you had quite a large group of militant Christians en masse killing in the name of Christ, it would reasonably be expected to be the responsibility of the Christian community and Christian religious leaders such as the pope and others to be VERY vocal in condemnation of this, and using all means at their disposal to distance themselves from the militants and give information to authorities whenever possible.

Instead what we have often seen are Muslim religious leaders and many non-violent Muslims that are quite sympathetic, and terrorist recruits are primarily from mosques around the world. But again, part of that blame lies on Americans electing officials that are implementing foreign policies that create sympathy for the jihaadists.

There is however a huge difference between implying that random innocent civilians DESERVE 9/11 or any terrorist attack, and acting completely oblivious to why religious extremism is on the rise and what is motivating people to be so filled with hate that they are willing to blow themselves up just to get a message across.

The American media and government has more or less just decided to declare that terrorists are irrational PURE EVIL, and is thus unwilling to even consider that there are changes in policy that are possible that might stop fueling the fire of hate that is bred in the region.
The terrorist attacks were organized and under the instruction of Islamic religious leadership. The Holy Crusades or Inquisition may not have been very Christian, but they were arguably an act of Christianity when they are sanctioned by the Pope. Lets not pretend that there aren't mosques around the world preaching hate and are the primary venues for breeding new recruits. It doesn't mean that ALL Muslims and mosques are bad, but as an organized religion it does mean there are obvious problems in the organization that need to be addressed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64V09tTIjR4

No. Since I don't see why you can't just omit the "Under God" and state your allegiance for this nation. I have friends that are Wiccan, I also have no problem telling them "Blessed Be".

I think this country is going directly down the toilet due to everyone trying to please everyone and compromising their own values. I will not. I don't wish to insult people, however, I am a Catholic, and will not change myself to please others. I will not claim to celebrate Ramadan, nor will I claim to celebrate Hanukkah. I also WILL say Merry Christmas, As I would not take offense at someone wishing me a Blessed Samhain, Happy Hanukkah, or any other religious greeting. They, do not, as I do not, wish anything but good stuff with a greeting, so why do people feel I should change what I say depending on who I speak to?

Overly sensitive people need to think about that themselves, not impose their beliefs or the lack of them on others.

The crusades were also several hundred years ago, when many religions were trying to impose themselves in a "I'm right and you're wrong" way. This is no longer acceptable behavior, and I'm sure if there are Templar Knights out there, they need to be reigned in by the Pope, and the Catholic religion as a whole, and not supported under the table. Muslims who do not speak out and act against Muslim extremists, to me, are also terrorists.