I usually find the content here interesting, but the “Dearbornistan” stuff is a little upsetting. Sure, there are some unsavory folks where I come from, but that can be said for any city in this country. To single out a community because of a few bad seeds is unfair and un-American. We are a nation of immigrants – my grandfather one of them. He arrived here – from southern Lebanon – in 1906 and fought in two wars for my freedom, and YOURS. You would never think to associate him with terrorism, nor should you blanket the overwhelming majority of Lebanese and other Arab immigrants and their descendents with that claim. None of us would associate you – with your apparently German surname – with Hitler or the Holocaust. We ALL trace our heritage to immigrants and none among us is without events in the history of our ethnicity that we disapprove of.
As to the “terror” cases this past week regarding the TracFones, it is now apparent (based on the CURRENT reporting of just about every news source – right, center and left) that the FBI and DHS find no credible link to any terror affiliation or plot. Both indicate that no charges are pending or planned against any of them. Apparently, these are simply kids out hustling to make a few bucks.
How interesting.

AmericanFromDearborn on August 14, 2006 at 8:20 pm

People keep talking about the “overwhelming” muslim, arab or middle eastern community of immigrants who say they denounce the world terrorism or say, “don’t paint us all with the same brush” or we are a “religon of peace”…
Yet we never see rallies of them in force at the local political meetings screaming for the terrorists heads or making an effort to publicly and imfatically denounce the actions of those “rare extremists who have hi-jacked their religon.”
What we get… at best, is a very low keyed and rather tepid, almost hushed protest out of an isolated and rather small faction of the so-called “vast number of peaceful muslims.”
I have absolutely no doubt there are muslim americans and muslim immigrants of arab decent who are patriots in every sense of the word, who embrace america’s core values and those who sacrificed their safety and their lives and defending freedom by serving in our american armed forces. I too am a veteran and know how many served.
But if you want to change the way a wide segment of US citizens view the muslim community and religon as a whole, may I softly suggest that the good people of the muslim persuasion “Take Back Their Religon” from those radical extremists who so have nothing but hatred in thier hearts and murder in their souls. The so called “vast majority” of people from the “religon of peace” should be out in force, in vast numbers in the streets and in their mosques screaming like banshee’s for the extremists among them to be brought to justice and thrown in prisons until they rot.
The world over, we see the extremists by the thousands in streets of their native countries screaming “death to infidels” and burning U.S. flags and manikins of american icon’s and yet in this country we see nothing of the like from the so-called “good & true” muslims denouncing the extremists.
I feel, if the good people of Islam want to have americans think differently of them, then get up off your butts and take control of Islam! Scream at the top of your lungs, “Get out of Our Country, You’re Not Wanted Here!”
Then quite possibly, more and more americans may slowly become sympathetic to your beliefs and respectful of the heritage you come from.

Bark'n on August 14, 2006 at 11:29 pm

Now, I also feel I should post a disclaimer regarding my above post… Personally, and this is my opinion here… but I don’t believe that Islam, as a religon is in fact, a religon of peace.
While I admit, I have not read the entire Quran, I have read a great deal of it on-line and from more than one translation.
In a nutshell, what I walk away with is that Yes, Islam is a religon of peace, but with one caviat… “that there will only be peace when All The Infidels are Dead and there is One Global Nation of Islam!”
Now color me confused… but to me, you Jesus of Nazareth on one hand and Mohammad the Prophet on the other hand. It seems to me that Jesus preached peace, tolerance, turning the other cheek and those that live by the sword shall die by the sword… and then there’s Mohammad. Sounds like a war monger to me!
Of course that’s just my opinion… I could be wrong. But the good folks of the nation of islam are free to prove me wrong with their actions. Hey, I’m open minded.

Bark'n on August 14, 2006 at 11:50 pm

Hello AmericanFromDearborn. I am your neighbor. I also live in Dearborn (and attended Fordson H.S.) I find your words interesting as well. Yes, we are a nation of immigrants, some legal, and some not legal. The ones that went through proper channels to become US citizens for the most part appreciate the freedoms and rights which are guaranteed in the United States. I wish to remind you that freedom is not free, and many millions of American soldiers and civilians have paid the ultimate price so that you may speak your mind without fear. I also wish to thank you for your Grandfathers honorable service to this country. Be that as it may, the recent rallies on the East side of Dearborn are a disgrace to freedom loving citizens. Please show me ONE sign, from any of the pics from the recent demonstrations that show proper respect and appreciation for America. It is THIS type of behaviour that is dragging the local Arab community down and all of your whining about being “upset” does not fix anything. As you have noticed, the Islamic community is taking a pounding in the media. There are many reasons for this, some good, some not valid at all. Sept.11 2001 is still fresh in our memories. It showed what extreme Islamic facism is all about. I personally am upset by the lack of understanding by the Arab community regarding this issue. I think most Americans are STILL waiting for a proper response from The Arab Street regarding Islamic Fascism. I ask you, MrAmericanFromDearborn, do YOU condemn Osama Bin Laden and the highjackers from Sept 11 for their cowardly actions?

heatrave on August 15, 2006 at 12:28 am

Islamofascism is not going to go away. And we’re going to have a LOT more of these cases in the future. As a few kids making some fast bucks, who in the hell purchases items in bulk? Maybe an established reputable business. But individuals? C’mon now! Where do they get the money?? And in this connection the Talmud says a man is known by how he spends his money. And what Ali Houssaiky and Osama Sabhi Abulhassan spent theirs on is an indication they were up to no good.

NormanF on August 15, 2006 at 2:19 am

I, like almost EVERY other American of Arab descent, condemn all acts of terrorism against anybody, anywhere. This includes 9/11, Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hizbollah, the tragedy in Beslan, AND Sabra Chatila and BOTH massacres in Qana. What people need to consider is that just because Arab Americans do not rally in the streets of Dearborn, Los Angeles or Fargo burning Hamas and Hizbollah flags does not mean they support terror. What it means specifically is that they support the innocent people caught in the center of the struggles that are fought on behalf of them by groups like Hamas and Hizbollah. For too long, these innocent victims have been fighting simply to survive the constant warfare that has surrounded them, and for too long, the only groups willing to stand up and fight on their behalf have been Hamas and Hizbollah. If given a choice, would the hundreds of thousands of refugees you see right now on your television CHOOSE Hamas or Hizbollah? The answer is no. Otherwise the refugees you see RIGHT NOW on your televisions would be carrying guns and rockets, instead of mattresses and clothing. Yes, their “freedom fighters” are our terrorists, but for no other reason than that nobody else will fight for them and that they fight with whatever means they have. They do not willingly condone the terror tactics, but are simply forced to accept them as part of the only support and protection they are receiving. If they were protected by an endless supply of rockets and smart-bombs, they would not throw stones at tanks or find it necessary to detonate THEMSELVES as a weapon. Stop and consider for a moment HOW DESPERATE a human being would have to be to WILLINGLY blow themselves and others to pieces. It’s a desperation we will never know, having been blessed with a home in the most protected land on earth. If you want images on tv of Arabs dancing in the streets, draping themselves in the American flag and chanting in support of the policies of this country, then this country must begin to support their relatives in places like Lebanon and Palestine with the same level of military, financial and moral support that we lavish on non-muslim nations. And until WE experience the hopelessness of living a hundred thousand at a time behind the fences of a Palestinian refugee camp, with no support from anywhere in the civilized world, can we really pass judgement on their desperate support for Hamas, or Hizbollah – the ONLY help they ever receive?

AmericanFromDearborn on August 15, 2006 at 12:26 pm

To NormanF,
Very good point there, I believe you hit the nail on the head, so to speak…
And to heatrave from Dearborn,
Very well spoken!

Bark'n on August 15, 2006 at 12:52 pm

To AmericanArabFromDearbornistan,
That is some crock of shit!
You’re the typical, mealy-mouthed, double-talking Muzlum scum. You talk about condemning killing innocent people, then you go on to make excuses for it.
And, people who blow themselves up aren’t that impoverished – most of the 9/11 hijackers came from wealthy Saudi families.
Lastly, the reason Muzlums blow themselves up is that Muzlums are taught from birth that the afterlife is paradise – that life on Earth is to be a struggle to kill the infidel. It’s in the Qur’ an, I’m sure you know.
Please spare us the lies and propaganda. We’ve all heard this shit a thousand times from your ilk.

Thee_Bruno on August 15, 2006 at 2:42 pm