'This surprising frequency of Muslims winning beauty pageants'

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"I've been seeing plenty of links to Daniel Pipes's blog post on Rima Fakih, the first Muslim to become Miss USA. But I only just decided to click through. Wow. Citing five Muslim victories in beauty pageants over the past five years, Pipes says that "this surprising frequency of Muslims winning beauty pageants makes me suspect an odd form of affirmative action," then offers an update from a reader:

(O)n a more serious level, affirmative action appears to play a role in some of the Nobel Prizes.

And more reader insight:

No surprise here. Affirmative action was first applied in beauty contests for black women to win in the 1980s, then it was the turn of Latin, brown skinned women, and now it's Muslims. That's why most people ignore these rigged "events." They are money losers and require controversy.

This comes not from a penny ante blogger but from a former State Department staffer, former member of the United States Institute of Peace (holding a recess appointment after being filibustered by Democrats), and former adviser to Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign. Just wow."

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/right-now/2010/05/this_surprising_frequency_of_m.html

[alp227]

1. Dear Dr. Pipes:

Five victories divided by five years equals one Arab victory per year. In a sea of a whole bunch of other pageants where people of other ethnicities win. Can't you see your tomfoolery here?

[aquart]

7. HOW many other ethnicities?

Never underestimate the sympathy vote, the underdog appeal. Or do you seriously believe the white men in the Democratic primary had a snowball's chance in hell once Hillary and Obama entered. It was going to be the first white woman or the first black man and you ask yourself which would make you feel more virtuous? Please.

As an animal rescuer I know that a beautiful healthy kitten or cat might never find a home, but give me one with three legs, no eyes, or an amputated tail and I'll have it placed in a week. It's a genuine factor in any vote and you're just unrealistic if you pretend it isn't there.

[Incitatus]

2. I doubt 99% of the critics could even name the winner of the last Miss USA pagent. nt

[napi21]

3. Isn't it wrong to call any middle eastern winners of beauty contests Muslims?

I honestly don't know if Miss USA is muslim or mot, but who cares? I find most middle eastern women very beautiful. I worked with a woman from Lebann, one from pakistan, & one from SA. All of them were very attractive and could easily have competed in a pagent & won!

[calimary]

6. Hey, I found this new Miss USA staggeringly beautiful! What's their problem?

I think too many people have forgotten what America's basically about: we're a MELTING POT. We have all the colors of the rainbow here. And they are all beautiful!

[BlueMTexpat]

4. I have no statistics to prove this, but I was

under the distinct impression that most Arab-Americans of Lebanese origin are Christian.

At least some ME Christian sects go back even further than does the establishment of the Roman Catholic Church, from which the overwhelming majority of contemporary "Christianity" (Catholic or Protestant) derived.

Because the "Christian" label has been so righteously and wrongfully co-opted by far RW authoritarian fascists, I can't imagine why anyone in their right mind would be proud to identify with it, especially if they actually believe what Christ taught and practiced.

[stuball111]

5. Hmmm... seems nothing can happen

Without it turning into a race/religion/gender issue. The Girl is damn stunning! And has a spirit that seems to shine! I read some posts at youtube that were absolutely disgusting. But that's just human nature I suppose. Sure, it may be a meat market pageant to some, political to others, race/religion to more yet, but the ladies all have fun, and it's a celebration of the beauty of women. So what? The creepy pageants are the ones that parents stick their 4 and 5 year old kids up there dressed like street walkers! Some people just gotta find shit in a pile of flowers....

[Rex]

8. You are surprised that a racist opened his mouth and inserted his foot?

This guy has real prospects in the Bagger party! I think he is making a switch from RWing idiot to Ratshit Crazy!

[NJmaverick]

9. Their hatred and intolerance is beyond shameful