A German’s Point of View on Islam

From a post on the Issues of Concern for Justice and Society (ISCJ) web site

by Paul E. Marek
Wednesday January 2, 2008
from (forwarder) Dr. Emanual Tanay

A man whose family was German aristocracy prior to World War ll owned a number of large industries and estates. When asked how many German people were true Nazis, the answer he gave can guide our attitude toward fanaticism. 'Very few people were true Nazis' he said, 'but many enjoyed the return of German pride, and many more were too busy to care. I was one of those who just thought the Nazis were a bunch of fools. So, the majority just sat back and let it all happen. Then, before we knew it, they owned us, and we had lost control, and the end of the world had come. My family lost everything. I ended up in a concentration camp and the Allies destroyed my factories.

'We are told again and again by 'experts' and 'talking heads' that Islam is the religion of peace, and that the vast majority of Muslims just want to live in peace. Although this unqualified assertion may be true, it is entirely irrelevant. It is meaningless fluff, meant to make us feel better, and meant to somehow diminish the spectra of fanatics rampaging across the globe in the name of Islam. The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history.It is the fanatics who march. It is the fanatics who wage any one of 50 shooting wars worldwide. It is the fanatics who systematically slaughter Christian or tribal groups throughout Africa and are gradually taking over the entire continent in an Islamic wave. It is the fanatics who bomb, behead, murder, or honor kill. It is the fanatics who take over mosque after mosque. It is the fanatics who zealously spread the stoning and hanging of rape victims and homosexuals. The hard quantifiable fact is that the 'peaceful majority', the 'silent majority', is cowed and extraneous.

Communist Russia was comprised of Russians who just wanted to live in peace, yet the Russian Communists were responsible for the murder of about 20 million people. The peaceful majority were irrelevant. China's huge population was peaceful as well, but Chinese Communists managed to kill a staggering 70 million people.The average Japanese individual prior to World War ll was not a warmongering sadist. Yet, Japan murdered and slaughtered its way across South East Asia in an orgy of killing that included the systematic murder of 12 million Chinese civilian s; most killed by sword, shovel, and bayonet.And, who can forget Rwanda, which collapsed into butchery. Could it not be said that the majority of Rwandans were 'peace loving'?

History lessons are often incredibly simple and blunt, yet for all our powers of reason we often miss the most basic and uncomplicated of points: Peace-loving Muslims have been made irrelevant by their silence. Peace-loving Muslims will become our enemy if they don't speak up, because like my friend from Germany, they will awaken one day and find that the fanatics own them, and the end of their world will have begun.Peace-loving Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians, Rwandans, Serbs, Afghan is, Iraqis, Palestinians, Somalis, Nigerians, Algerians, and many others have died because the peaceful majority did not speak up until it was too late.

As for us who watch it all unfold, we must pay attention to the only group that counts: the fanatics who threaten our way of life.Lastly, at the risk of offending, anyone who doubts that the issue is serious and just deletes this email without sending it on, is contributing to the passiveness that allows the problems of expand. So, extend yourself a bit and send this on and on and on! Let us hope that thousands, world wide, read this - think about it - and send it on.

Emanuel Tanay,
M.D. Ann Arbor, MI

And my own thoughts:

Remember:

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing

Have you ever noticed that in most all photos and videos of Hezbollah, Hamas, Al Queda, and other radical Islamists/terrorists, they are always wearing masks? Could it be that they are gutless cowards afraid to show their faces? As they walk into crowds and blow up innocent women, children and old men, as they launch rockets from hospitals and crowded schools, as they use their friends and neighbors an human shields is it any wonder that they want to cover their faces?

From Annual Jihad Report 2008
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/

Jihad Attacks: 2204 Countries: 41 Religions: 5 Dead bodies: 10779 Critically Injured: 18213

Should We Bail Out Detroit??

Or maybe the question should be:
"Should We Bail Out The United Auto Workers Union?"


It has been a while since Ford, GM, and Chrysler CEOs flew to Washington, tin cups in hand, asking for $25,000,000,000.00 (that's what $25 billion looks like when spelled out). They were told by Nancy Pelosi to come back and show us (read that as US Tax Payers) a plan before we show you the money. Tell us why you won't be back in three to six months asking for another handout.

But the lingering questions are why do they need the money? Who will it really benefit?

A recent republished article in the business section of the Austin (TX) American-Statesman addressed "6 myths about the Detroit 3" which showed that Detroit is holding their own in terms of volume, quality, fuel efficiency, and hybrids.

What is the difference that is causing the problems? The major difference between the Detroit auto makers and the foreign auto makers is the UNION. In Detroit the UAW workforce and the Corporations have an adversarial relationship. With foreign auto makers, the workforce works for the company and work hard to see it succeed. They are a stakeholder.

Another item is the wages paid the UAW workforce vs the workforce for foreign auto companies. It is roughly stated as $70/hr on average for union work verse $40/hr for non-union. There seems to be a lot of controversy about this. Most of the arguments state the pay for the fully employed worker is roughly the same including wages, benefits, vacation, etc. But the way Detroit figures their hourly wage average includes all benefits for retirees (pension and health care) divided by the number of full time workers. So it would again seem that wages are about the same except Detroit carries a greater load for benefits for retired UNION workers.

All things being equal, it looks like the real root cause is the United Auto Workers Union. I believe that if the Big Three were allowed to get rid of the UAW that they would become more competitive in the world market. As proof text here is a video from detnews.com (The Detroit News) on how Ford's most advanced assembly plant operates in rural Brazil.

So back to the questions of should we bail out the Big Three and the UAW. I strongly recommend against a bailout. The best way for Detroit to get going again is to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. All the pundits scream "no-one will buy a vehicle from a company that is in bankruptcy". Well, to that I say HOGWASH. Anyone who wouldn't buy a vehicle from a company in Chapter 11 most likely would not have bought a vehicle from them anyway. Chapter 11 will allow Ford, GM, and Chrysler to reorganize/restructure under court supervision. One of the main benefits would be breaking with the UAW and dumping/reducing benefits for workers, including retirees.

Where's My Money??

Congressman Barney Frank
Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee
2252 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515

Subject: Financial assistance for my home enterprise

Dear Congressman,

I am seeking $2,000,000.00 in financial assistance for my home enterprise. I am retired and have my financial resources invested in the stock market to support my retirement. In addition I receive an income form social security and a pension. So you may say that my home enterprise is managing my investments which qualify me as a financial manager.

With the ongoing financial crisis I have lost a substantial amount of money and fear my enterprise will fail without this assistance. Please note that this is not a bailout but more of a loan. Following is my business plan (something the Detroit Big Three forgot back at the ranch) showing how the US Government will be repaid.

1. The $2 million immediately sent to the US Treasury Internal Revenue Service as a estimated tax payment. Thus the government will have full use of this money until I file a tax return.
2. The after tax, including alternate minimum tax, refund will then be placed into the now depressed stock market, investing in a balanced portfolio (well maybe not the Big Three).
3. As this portfolio grows over the next ten to fifteen years I will be cashing in stocks and paying capital gains tax, most certainly at a higher rate that the current 15% for long term investment. This capital gains tax will be the basis of loan repayment.

This is money that the US Government would not have made from me otherwise. I look at this as a win-win situation for both the Government and myself.

I look forward to receiving the $2 million check at my business address.

Free Speech vs Privacy Of Names of Dead Soldiers

There seems to be a controversy between the rights of Vincent Greene's, an Austin artist, and Dan Frazier's, an Arizona T-shirt vendor artistic rights to create and sell -shirts which display the image of President Bush overlaid with the names of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan and those who think it improper to use the names of these dead soldiers without the permission of the families. The t-shirts contain the slogan "He Lied, They Died".

These names, I'm sure, came from publicly available resources with no apparent restrictions. And yes, the intent was to make a public statement about Bush's handling of the war on terror. The real issue here, on the part of those who object, is the fact that these t-shirts are being sold. If the design were simply a poster or silkscreen displayed somewhere there would be no issue.

The First Amendment to the US Constitution states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

And the real issue is the exercise of our First Amendment right to "freedom of speech", which both Greene and Frazier were clearly doing. It is sad that over 3000 soldiers have lost their lives and thousands more have been severely injured and maimed. Let's not forget that those soldiers were not only fighting for the Iraqis freedom they were also fighting for our Constitution, including the right to freedom of speech. I would like to think that every one represented on that t-shirt, if they were alive today, would tell you they were OK with it.

And by the way, I was a US Navy aviator and combat decorated Viet Nam Vet. So no arguments about what I know of combat.

National Healthcare

So you think everyone should have healthcare? Well, yes they should. But be careful about opening Pandora’s box. Be careful about what you might wish for you may get it.

Imagine that your 86 year old mother has a heart attack and must be taken to the emergency room. Then imagine that when you arrive the hospital is waiting to see if you have private insurance or if you will pay all the costs accordingly. What is this you ask?

Well you see, under most national health care systems treatment is rationed. Doesn’t it make more sense to spend the money perform a triple bypass on a young, virile, male of 27 who may live a productive life for many more years that on an old woman who may very well have another attack and die in just a few months?

Do you really think national health care would waste all that money keeping Terri Schiavo alive? The plug would have been pulled as soon as she was declared brain dead, not allowed to live in a vegetative state for 13 years. And how about that treatment for brain cancer that Ted Kennedy got. Flying town to see a specialist immediately. Think you'd see that under a national health care plan?

And look how well the government manages the veterans’ hospitals. With the government running all the hospitals and looking to minimize costs to what do you think our health care system would degenerate?

Most countries that provide universal health care do so at a high cost which is in fact paid for through high taxes. What, you thought it was free?? What, you thought Michael Moore was telling you the entire truth?

Posted by Steve Bernstein at 4:28 PM