Some of our neighbors are our greatest danger

[mudplanet]

Bob Ray Sanders (http://www.star-telegram.com/196) with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram pegs it again with a column about domestic terrorism:

Americans who are obsessed with the thought of foreign (and more specifically Muslim) terrorist acts against this country, must realize that throughout the years we have been in much more danger of home-grown terrorists, most of whom had no concept of Islam.

The numerous lynchings, cross-burnings, bombing, rapes and sundry other destruction of people and property over the last 100 years far outweigh the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

For most of my life I've lived in "redneck" land where my views on economics and politics (I believe in free markets but if they aren't closely regulated people are exploited, I believe that unions are necessary to keep owners from stepping on the human rights of workers, I believe that women should have equal rights, and that people have a right to marry whomsoever they want) have labeled me as a communist, a ni**er lover, and a faggot by my neighbors and co-workers. Openly expressing these beliefs has resulted in being fired from jobs, being denied employment, and being both directly and indirectly threatened with physical and other types of violence. I live with the knowledge that many of my fellow citizens believe that it would be a good thing if someone murdered me. I can't even imagine what it would be like to be black or gay.

Ironically, most often the people that are doing the threatening are the same people that spend most of their political energies insisting that "America is the freest country in the world."

[Oregone]

1. "are our"?

[mudplanet]

4. thanks

[cowman]

9. How the hell

do you maintain your sanity in such a place?

[PDJane]

2. If they can say that with a straight face

and a modicum of sincerity, it merely proves their ignorance.

[Warpy]

3. Democracies have always been overhthrown by the right, never the left

and that's something our own government has never come to terms with, thinking the right is disciplined and tractable and would never be a threat because of its unthinking support for both the status quo and business.

Unfortunately, that's the most blinkered, pig ignorant attitude they could ever have and one that will be the end of this country as we know it unless they are forced to wake up soon.

[RKP5637]

5. As is often said, they walk among us. These people scare me more than those whom we claim to be

terrorists, those over there. I remember the 50's/60's well. And these people still walk among us, young and old. This country has a history of home grown violence that is appalling and all should be concerned.

[Gman2]

6. I've some news for you. You are both, black and gay.

[mudplanet]

8. Well, yea. Except that I have the advantage that I can "pass."

I can put on my jeans, get on my motorcycle, and go to a bar and (as long as I keep my mouth shut) everyone just assumes I'm "one of them." Or I can put on a suit and tie, shave, and pass for a banker or real estate agent. I've been on jobs where all the questions were addressed to me, despite the fact that I'm there as an assistant and the person that knew everything and had to make all the decisions was the diminutive woman standing next to me. And I've never sat in a job interview and felt that the person on the other side of the desk was thinking "ni**er".

Half of the decent jobs I've had I've gotten because I knew the person doing the hiring, or knew someone he knew, or went to college where he went to college, i.e., I was in some "club" to which the interviewer belonged as well. I'm not a person with talent, all I've ever really striven for is competence. I think reliable competence is pretty good performance in life.

Despite my physical appearance, I've still been unfairly discriminated against. I've been denied consideration for jobs because I'm not married and because I don't belong to one of the churches the interviewer finds "acceptable." Despite my experiences, I'm privileged. Which is why I say that I can't even imagine what it would be like if I couldn't "pass" (if I actually was black, or gay, or a woman).

[Doctor_J]

7. I fear Palin, Beck, and Cheney a LOT more than Osama

they have done much more damage to my way of life and to my country than any Muslim or foreigner.