bleeding heart

According to the Southen Poverty Law Centre, who watch these hate groups very closely, the Sikhs don't even appear on their radar. No doubt they consider Sikhs to be more or less unwanted in "White" country, or whatnot, but they haven't been even a rhetorically-targeted group. More likely, the genius, like innumerable other ignorant geniuses, look at the turbans and think "bin Laden." And just to clarify, they don't really hate everybody equally. They have a hierarchy, and actually different types of hate. The Jews are bad, because they're cruel, powerful, ingenious, talented creatures, as the story goes. They're not inferior; they're just bad. Whereas blacks and Latinos are actually slightly less than "normal" humans. Arabs, too, are lesser humans. They really do think about these things (if we can call it "thinking") and rather delineate specific differences.

Spot on. And in fact, occasionally--very occasionally--someone here or there no doubt does say just that. But most people don't say it. It's not an especially common notion. Why such reflexive defensiveness over the subject, then? I'm not sure.

How about anti-abortion activists? Tea-bagg...er, partiers?

At any rate, an awfully sad story.

Ah! That guy again!

[ I'm not sure of the equivalence you're drawing between "America" and "Islam." And for that matter, who is saying that there is no serious issue with Islam? With whom are you arguing?

At any rate, an awful tragedy. Does anyone know if the rumours that the shooter was a White Supremacist have been confirmed? Edit: it seems indeed to be the case.

I know, the arrogance is unbelievable.

Don't paint us all with the same brush...or we're gonna get "kraychik" on you!

God has made us atheists because it is best for us.

I call this the "Sarah Jessica Parker Syndrome."

Ye gods.

I'm not against it. I'm for it. I'm against dictatorships.

If you think the way you view the world, on matters of politics, matters of social justice, matters of education, are the preferable views...you should want people to come around to them, incrementally, via (to use an old phrase) a raising of consciousness. You shouldn't wish to dictate it. Leninism is as much an enemy of the Left as it is of any other positions.

They seem to more or less get by. Shady, haven't you worked in the Private sector? I'm assuming you have. Are you going to tell me you haven't seen tons of bad decisions--as common as breathing--about both good and bad employees? Like...continually? Human beings run things, not some magical "invisible hand." It's always human beings. They can't be expected to make the best decisions about everything even half the time, I'd wager. The private sector is beset by nearly identical "human resource" problems as is the public sector.

Yes, well, some folks really believe that free market theory trumps reality every time.

I've been there, so I get that. No worries. It's true I'm not a Blatchford fan.

I agree. We can't have unlimited government power over the lives of citizens. I mean, it's not as if such things have ever gone wrong before, or anything.....

No, I agree.

You made a claim: "many." You made another claim--maybe a backpedal, maybe not, depending on the evidence you were willing to supply: "editorials." (plural) Now you suggest (without linking) one. (Which you refer to now as "them, in an interesting rewriting of the rules of pronoun agreement.) So I'd suggest that I'm not the one moving the goalposts.

Blatchford? I have no doubt. The fact is that it seems most people were likely not offended. Of course a few mouth-breathers were...that's a given.

I agree with you wholeheartedly. Private entities can waste money...and public entities should never do so. All I was saying is the fact that we all agree that private entities waste money is the beginning of the undermining of the (often-stated) beleif that the private sector is always inherently practical, always merit-based...which of course brings into stark relief all sorts of questions about wages, corporate behaviour, and on and on. Of course, those of us who have spent dcecades working solely in the private sector already are fully aware that things such as "merit" and "fairness" and "practicality" are religious beliefs, not factual observations.

I was asking only for evidence of your claim that "many" people took offense. You decline, as is your right.

It might be wise. But I've never claimed to be wise.