Ground control to Phoenix? You haven’t done “just” that. You’ve also called him names (not just stated you disagree with him and why).

“Get over it” I’ve long been over it. It’s a pattern of many (usually liberals-though conservatives do it too) to do this.

Yes. I recognize you didn’t name call as badly in the “previous” post. Are you getting better?

you like me. Yeah yeah yeah. Baklava is sweet.

“averse to people referring…” Not averse per say. Just using the tool you handed me…

“didn’t see me out there… “ that one was fun to read but I’ve posted my list in previous threads. And… I’m a pretty darn busy guy. I already don’t get enough sleep with the kids and work and 20 projects I’m juggling.

“so [I] could jump [you]“ I had comments for Jan, Cobra, M. Woodward and others recently.

“Bring it on, sugar” You’re having too much fun now.

Ha ha ha. You don’t give up, do you? Not a problem. I used “on this blog” to mean I did not call anyone ON THIS BLOG a name. I most certainly said Graham was an idiot, a fool, and whatever else I called him. Graham is not a commentor ON THIS BLOG if that makes it clearer.

“That’s what I’ve been asking you to say. Just say you disagree with him and why.” Um. Ground Control to Mr. Baklava: I believe I have done just this – over and over and over and over. You don’t seem to get it. Best? Get OVER IT.

“No need to name call.” Didya notice I did not name-call in my last attempt to explain to you why I think Graham is wrong????? I used PC words.. like ‘mentally-challenged’ instead of idiot. Alas, I could not resist the ‘dumb’ part, though. That was just for you because I like you.

Hahahaha…. If you are so averse to people referring to other people as idiots, morons, stupid, etc., why are you a bloglodyte? There was some ferocious name-calling on the Pick Your Top Ten Most Disliked Conservatives thread last night. I didn’t see you out there spanking the name-callers. Were ya too busy waitin’ for me to comment so you could jump me?

Bring it on, sugar.

That’s what I’ve asked you to say. Just say you disagree with him and why. No need to name call. It’s been a lost point on ya.

I don’t call people names on this blog. And, good grief… I hate liberal thinking. I am no more a liberal than you are.

You cannot seem to accept the fact that I simply think Michael Graham is wrong. It is that simple. Get over it.

I couldn’t agree with you more. My comments were obviously in jest. I have to say I am impressed that you dared speak what so many think but are afraid to say. I read a documentarian’s book about Somalia, and it was thorough down to details that were horrifying to even imagine. The author lived there a year before he wrote the book. The very last paragraph of the book, just when the average optimistic mindset was looking for an answer, any answer for the problems of this nation, the author said: “Let Somalia float away and sink into the sea.”

I’m with you. Well, more specifically, I’m with Thomas Malthus and his theory. Let natural forces deal with Africa. No imperialism. Unless Britain wants to go back, or the Netherlands. But they have too much to deal with now to go back to the old days of colonialism.

You are stupid and those are ignorant remarks. How dare you say that 100% of Africans are in a dictatorship or have to save themselves……

You got an “F” and should be fired.

OK. Whew, I feel better No wonder why liberals write that way. It makes them “feel” better.

Ha ha ha…. That is a funny visual you paint for me. Sorry, but I got an instant cinematic image of my fanny sticking out in an otherwise barren wasteland of sand.

I have to say, I won’t be anywhere around if 1.5 billion Muslims come gunning for western civilization. I’ll be running fast the other way. Can you even imagine the sheer numbers?? I can’t. A million people is a lot to imagine. But 1.5 BILLION people on the war path. Sheweee… Now THAT is scary. What is neat to think about is what if that terrorist organization tithes every Sunday one dollar. In a year, that terrorist organization could save Africa. I think they ought to turn that organization into a religion of peace and help out humanity instead of trying to kill it. That’s what I think. Mr. Graham thinks the same. Just ask him.

Islam is a terror organization.

“But nearly four years later, nobody can defend that statement. And I mean “nobody.” Hyperbole. Prove it, Mr. Graham. Prove that NOBODY defends Bush’s statement that Islam is a peaceful religion. Did you ask EVERYBODY?

“Still another is the poll reported by a left-leaning British paper than only 73 percent of British Muslims would tell police if they knew about a planned terrorist attack.” 73% Would tell police. From a left-wing source. I wonder where a right-wing source would put that rather high figure. One thing we do know is 73% of left-wing Muslims do NOT agree with terrorism or that their religion is a ‘terrorist organization’. Misuse of facts. Failure to seek out opposing statistics, ie., conservatives.

“As I’ve said many times, I have great sympathy for those Muslims of good will who want their faith to be a true “religion of peace.” I believe that terrorism and murder do violate the sensibilities and inherent decency of the vast majority of the world’s Muslims. I believe they want peace.” If you believe this, Mr. Graham, why do you state that Islam is an organization of terrorism??

“Sadly, the organization and fundamental theology of Islam as it is constituted today allows for hatreds most Muslims do not share to thrive, and for criminals they oppose to operate in the name of their faith.” So, we are to understand here that Mr. Graham agrees that it is a faction of criminal radicals operating in the name of their faith? I think that is exactly what he is saying here. It contradicts his premise that Islam is an organization of terrorism.

“ But Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf admits what CAIR will not. He’s called for a jihad against the jihadists. He’s putting his life on the line (Islamists have tried to assassinate him three times) in the battle to reclaim Islam and its fundamental decency.” But, wait a minute here. President Musharraf is Muslim. He can’t be doing this. He belongs to an organization of terrorists. Ground Control to Mr. Graham.

“He remembers, I’m sure, that at a time when Western, Christian civilization was on the verge of collapse, the Muslim world was a bastion of rationalism and tolerance. That was a great moment in the history of Islam, a moment that helped save the West.” Mr. Graham doesn’t remember this, but, as he said, he doesn’t care. Ho hum. Failure to produce background references.

Grade: F (That means, Mr. Graham, you are Fired.)

Explanation of grade: Mr. Graham, if you are going to make a bold assertion, please be sure to back up it with facts. Make sure your facts are valid and encompass various sources. For a persuasive essay, do not refute your premise by making statements that are clearly in contradiction to your premise. In persuasive writing, stick to the facts. Avoid personal feelings about the subject matter as this demonstrates any bias you may have, and you must at all times sustain objectivity to provide for credibility. Avoid any and all generalizations as these may be interpreted in various ways not conducive to your argument. Hyperbole demonstrates a lack of research and an over-reaching on your part, based on a weak premise, to prove that you are right. Your average reader sees through hyperbole instantly.

In summation: Mr. Graham, if you want to persuade people that Islam is a terrorist organization, do not include examples where you demonstrate sympathy for the majority of Muslims who don’t like terrorism and who want to live peaceful lives. As well, do not site facts that prove your premise incorrect. Also, it would probably be a good thing to remember that Islam is a religion, not an organization. That alone in your opening statement might turn some of your readers against you.

Final summation: This paper indicates you are intellectually challenged, factually challenged, intelligence challenged, and just plain dumb.

Thank you for your comments. I’ve put together my original article in precis form so we can all shut up about this. But before I send it, let me say you could not be more wrong in stating that Graham did not mean to include 100% of Muslims. If he had meant to say a small faction of radical Muslims are terrorists, he would have said that. And he would not have been fired. He said ISLAM IS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.

As well….what is with all this ‘personal’ stuff you and a few others are bringing up? You are the one who told me to stop posting because nothing I wrote made any sense….that Graham’s writing was better than mine….that WE want you to explain yourself, etc. Hardly comments worthy of decent debate. But, it is your style, and if it makes you feel good, go for it. Just don’t play the transference game on me.

NOTE: What follows is MY take on Graham’s essay and why I think it is invalid in proving his statement that Islam is a terrorist organization. I used only the most salient points for my argument, though I could have used several more points in his essay to denigrate his position as being unsustainable not only in writing persuasively but in common sense. I think what I have used is enough to prove MY point.

Yes. Each time you just called him stupid, ignorant, idiotic.

Phoenix wrote, “I have done that many times.”

I disagree. You have stated why you think Graham is an idiot, stupid and ignorant. You have failed to explain what worldwide or even local sets of Muslims are doing to weed out the terrorists among them.

As an add on to Graham’s article (more facts), the London Telegraph did a poll that showed that 6% of Muslims “completely agree” with the bombings and 33% of Muslims are “sympathetic” with the bombers on 7/7/05. If 33% of Christians were sympathetic to any terrorist, I’d be alarmed and I’d be writing daily about how such and such terrorist is not acting according to the bible or principles of Christianity and they are nutcases that need to be held accountable.

Mr. Graham did NOT say as you allege that 100% of Muslims are terrorists. He is simply saying that it is NOT acceptable for the Islamic people to have the following facts that he outlines (he outlines clerics inability to FLATLY reject suicide bombings.

My point to you is it would be better if you presented facts that counter Graham instead of name calling. When I point that out there is no need to get personal against me either. I’ve stuck to that same message that the name calling should end and the debate should be engaged with facts.

Were there clerics FLATLY rejecting suicide bombings that we all missed?

Has the Koran been rewritten to be clear that killing the infidel is not the way to do business?

Your argument seems to be that there are many lapsed Islamists. Sure, lots of folks in all walks of life claim a religious background, but don’t practice the religion. I can go along with you, that some Muslims are MINOs (Muslim in Name Only.) But, that doesn’t negate the fact that what Michael Graham said was factually accurate. Islam ,when practiced faithfully, IS a terrorist organization.