The Amboy Times

Blog Burst: Nobama08

An informed voter is not only a wise voter, he or she is probably also a good American. In this regard, the press has always been the cornerstone in the foundation of American democracy … that is, until the press became such an advocate of socialism and liberal politics that it can no longer be relied upon to convey “fair and balanced” information.

For this reason, geeeeeZ! joins with several others in a Nobama08 blog burst each Tuesday of the week until Election Day. If we cannot obtain the truth about our politicians from an unencumbered press, then we’ll form a cooperative to distribute information independently.

Stanley Kurtz is a journalist and senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Mr. Kurtz’ article in the Wall Street Journal explains why Barack Obama is untrustworthy for the office of the President of the United States. He lacks integrity … and if it is one thing we do not need in the White House, it is yet another dishonest politician.

Read it all.

Ringtone Offends Muslims

Hat tip to reader kryflam.

Here we go again. Of course the ASA can't allow anyone to make fun of terrorists.

Cape Town - A television commercial for an "Ahmed the dead terrorist" ringtone mocks Islam and must be withdrawn, the Advertising Standards Authority has ruled.

Its ruling followed a complaint by a Moegamat Khan against the GloMobile commercial, flighted on SABC and DSTV.

The commercial shows American stand-up comedian Jeff Durham holding a skeleton puppet with a white cloth around its head, which demands that the audience keeps quiet and says: "Silence! I kill you!"

The ASA said Khan had complained that this was offensive to the Islamic religion, and created the impression that all Muslims were terrorists who would kill to get people to be quiet.

I've seen Dunham's act a few times, and at no time does he even approach the idea that all Muslims are terrorists. In fact, in one part of the act Achmed says he isn't a Muslim. See for yourself.

The ASA said it appeared to be common cause that the puppet was meant to represent a terrorist who was a suicide bomber.

So the ASA is concerned about the feelings of suicide bombers? Or is the ASA just afraid to offend those who support suicide bombers?

While it was debatable whether the puppet was wearing any particular head gear, or a bandage as GloMobile claimed, the name Ahmed appeared to be of Arab origin and was one of the names of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

"To associate this divine inspiration to a terrorist is offensive to the people who believe in him [Muhammad]," the ASA said.

What if the Muslim world were also making fun of suicide bombers and terrorists instead of naming streets after them? Wouldn't that decrease the terrorism that they say offends their religion?

It ordered GloMobile to withdraw the commercial in its current format.

CAIR: “Dangerous Islamic Organization”?

Another Anti-CAIR Blogburst.

On 23 September, the executive director, Hussam Ayloush and the staff attorney, Ameena Qazi, of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Greater Los Angeles Area Chapter (CAIR-LA), wrote an unsigned letter to Dr. Stephen Choi of the Irvine, California City Council.  (Edited copy of letter below)

 

     In the letter, Dr. Choi, an incumbent for office, was accused of referring to CAIR as a “dangerous Islamic organization”.

 

    From the letter:

“It has come to our attention that on Friday, September 18, 2008 at the Irvine City Chamber
of Commerce Meet the Candidates forum, you made an on-the-record statement describing
the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a “dangerous Islamic organization.” 
Please be aware that such an epithet is not only insulting and false, but is also tantamount
to public defamation.”

 

     “Public defamation” is a strong accusation; under civil laws it is actionable. 
 
     However, the law provides for a defense against an accusation of “public defamation”; the truth. 

     The truth is an absolute defense against an accusation of “public defamation” and CAIR knows this to be fact as demonstrated when CAIR chose not to defend their “honor” in the lawsuit they filed against Anti-CAIR founder Andrew Whitehead for essentially the same accusation.

 

     Is CAIR a “dangerous Islamic organization”?

     Consider the following facts regarding CAIR:
 

     -         

• CAIR was founded by Islamic terrorists.

• CAIR has proven links to terrorists and terrorist-supporting groups and nations.
  

• CAIR seeks to overthrow Constitutional government and replace it with an Islamist theocracy.

 
     These facts are irrefutable; when CAIR sued Andrew Whitehead for making these accusations (and others), CAIR eventually asked the court to dismiss the accusations rather than submit the case to a jury.

 

     Adding further insult in their letter to Dr. Choi, CAIR closed with:

 

“We therefore request that you take the following measures in a timely and effective manner:
 
1)  Issue a written statement apologizing for the defamatory remark;

2)  Meet with CAIR representatives to discuss our work and how we can
work together to dispel myths associated with the Muslim community.
 
We sincerely hope that you oblige our above requests and in the future refrain from language
that is unfounded and offensive.”

 
     CAIR’s call for a public apology, considering CAIR’s proven history, is an insult to every American who knows the truth about CAIR and CAIR’s associations with Islamic terrorism. 

 

     CAIR’s call for a meeting with Dr. Choi is curious; given CAIR’s close association with Islamic terrorists, why would Dr. Choi want to sully his reputation by meeting with an organization that defends terrorists?

   

   Keep mind that CAIR has fewer than 2000 dues-paying members and that CAIR represents less than one-tenth of one-per cent of American Muslims and one readily concludes that CAIR not only does not represent Islam in America, but that the great majority of Muslims in America have turned their backs on CAIR. 

     What does it say about CAIR when the great majority of American Muslims do not support them?

    

  There is no evidence that Dr. Choi has ever made any reference to any religion or ethnic community; including the Muslim faith/community.  

     Dr. Choi’s only “offense” was to mention that a candidate for public office is an associate of CAIR and that CAIR is known to be dangerous.  Dr. Choi was castigated for telling the truth; nothing more, nothing less.

     During the forum previously mentioned, Dr. Choi was verbally attacked by six people as being “anti-Muslim” or “anti-certain religion”; however; the facts show that Dr. Choi has previously appointed persons from the Middle East to city commissions. When queried if the persons he appointed from the Middle East were Muslim or not, his answer was that he didn’t know as he didn’t ask them. There is no evidence that Dr. Choi is anti-Muslim.

     CAIR has asked Dr. Choi for an apology and a meeting. Why would Dr. Choi apologize for telling the truth about CAIR, and why would he, as a public official, want to meet with a group that was not only founded by terrorists, but that represents radical Islam in North America? 

     

If there is any apologizing to do, it is CAIR who should be apologizing to Dr. Choi ...

Tancredo's Jihad prevention Act

Brenda Walker of VDare has written an excellent piece about Tancredo's new bill. the Jihad Prevention Act.

We Americans like to think we’re tougher opponents of jihadist Islam than the cheese-eating surrender monkeys of Europe.

That may be so in our heartland, but not so much in the our appeasement-inclined capital.

One indicator of wobbly Washington: the behavior ofAmerica's defender-in-chief President Bush, who recently attended an iftaar dinner and called it "an annual tradition here at the White House."

Iftaar is the traditional Muslim meal that breaks the monthly Ramadan fast.

By comparison, in a less politically correct era, President Roosevelt did not embrace German Oktoberfest during World War II. Instead he remained loyal to the noble martini—an American creation.

What a great source of amusement it must be for Osama that his murder of nearly 3,000 Americans has nevertheless driven Bush into a greater appreciation of Muslim diversity.

However, away from the White House—from which Karl Rove banished him anyway—Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo has different idea about hostile Islam. And he has put it into legislation: HR 6975—the Jihad Prevention Act. The press release announcing the bill emphasized the warning signs from Europe:

“Amid disturbing revelations that the verdicts of Islamic Sharia courts are now legally binding in civil cases in the United Kingdom, U.S. Representative Tom Tancredo (R-Littleton) moved quickly today to introduce legislation designed to protect the United States from a similar fate.  

“According to recent news reports, a new network of Sharia courts in a half-dozen major cities in the U.K. have been empowered under British law to adjudicate a wide variety of legal cases ranging from divorces and financial disputes to those involving domestic violence.  

“ ‘This is a case where truth is truly stranger than fiction,’” said Tancredo. ‘Today the British people are learning a hard lesson about the consequences of massive, unrestricted immigration.’

“Sharia law, favored by Muslim extremists around the world, often calls for brutal punishment – such as the stoning of women who are accused of adultery or have children out of wedlock, cutting off the hands of petty thieves and lashings for the casual consumption of alcohol. Under Sharia law, a woman is often required to provide numerous witnesses to prove rape allegations against an assailant—a near impossible task.”

Tancredo, in his announcement, concludes with this important point:

“’When you have an immigration policy that allows for the importation of millions of radical Muslims, you are also importing their radical ideology—an ideology that is fundamentally hostile to the foundations of western democracy—such as gender equality, pluralism, and individual liberty,’” said Tancredo. “’The best way to safeguard America against the importation of the destructive effects of this poisonous ideology is to prevent its purveyors from coming here in the first place.’”  

The bill simply says that advocates of sharia would be ineligible for U.S. visas. And it would expel Sharia exponents already residing here.

Who can object? Read it all.

I'm honored to say that The List is linked to Walker's article as an example sharia's strict authoritarianism.

Rum Flavored ice cream offends Muslims

Hat tip to AOW.

HATE preacher Abu Hamza claimed his human rights were breached because he was served RUM ice cream in prison. The hook-handed cleric, 50, said the sweet broke halal rules because it contained alcohol. A source at top-security Belmarsh jail in Woolwich, South East London, said: “It’s utterly barmy and a massive over-reaction — most prisoners would see it as a treat.

Abu Hamza is a convicted terrorist, and is on record as saying this about alcohol vendors.

"Make sure that the person who gave him the license for that wine shop doesn't exist any more on the Earth. Finish him up. Give him dawa (inviting non-Muslims to accept the truth of Islam). If he doesn't respect dawa, kill him."

Video of Hamza's speaches. But to offer Hamza a non-halal ice cream is a violation of human rights.

“All he has to do is say he doesn’t fancy his pudding.”

Other notorious terrorists in the jail — including dirty bomber Dhiren Barot, 35 — have joined the protest.

It is backed by a website linked to controversial lawyer Mudassar Arani.

The site said: “Muslims were provided with rum ice cream. This obviously contains alcohol and therefore could not possibly be deemed compatible with the Islamic faith.”

It also claimed that Muslims were given yoghurt containing traces of unsuitable products.

The site urged inmates to write to their MPs to complain their rights are being breached.

Hamza is no longer in a position to make his captures not "exist any more on the Earth", so he's just going to have to sue, and the prison authorties promptly caved, apologizing all over themselves.

“Regrettably, non-halal food was offered in error. It was quickly substituted with appropriate halal alternatives.”

That's a good dhimmi.

Other voices: Weasel Zippers, AOW, and IBA.

Rick Wright of Pink Floyd: RIP

Another member of the original Floyd has gone to the great gig in the sky.

Richard Wright, a founding member of U.K. rock band Pink Floyd whose keyboard lines were an integral part of its psychedelic sound, has died. He was 65.

Wright died today after a short battle with cancer, said his spokesman, Doug Wright, who isn't related.

While Richard Wright gets credit mostly for his work on the keyboard -- which he taught himself -- he also wrote songs and sang on Floyd classics such as ``Time'' and ``Echoes.''

1996 interview of Wright.

This video set to Love Scene Version 4 from the Zabriskie Point Soundtrack.

Arrrg!

'Tis international talk like a pirate day ye land lubbers! So hoist the black flag and a mug 'o rum!

Shiver me timbers, Pirate Day be in the news!

STACLU has mutinied and sails under the jolly roger.

Pirates Cove be full of buccaneers.




Other vids: Ask Cap'n Slappy, Ask Cap'n Slappy vol 2

A fine Sea shanty for old salty dogs!

Yo Ho! Yo Ho! A pirate's life for me!

To Catch a Donkey Thief

Who needs the Onion when you have real stories like this one?

An Egyptian donkey has been jailed for stealing corn on the cob from a field belonging to an agricultural research institute in the Nile Delta, local media reported.

The ass and its owner were apprehended at a police checkpoint that had been set up after the institute's director complained that someone was stealing his crops, the state-owned Al-Ahram daily said.

The unnamed ungulate was found in possession of the institute's corn and a local judge sentenced him to 24 hours in prison. The man who had his ass thrown in jail got off with a fine of 50 Egyptian pounds ($11.40).

Related: Man marries Goat

Obsession Movie Offends Muslims

See the Obsession Movie here. Check out the Obsession official website a to purchase a dvd, and view several news interviews.

A controversial DVD distributed to millions of Americans during the past week through direct mail and newspapers, including The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald, has angered many Muslims in South Florida.

Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West is being packaged as an advertising insert in 70 newspapers, including The Sun Sentinel and The Palm Beach Post. The Clarion Fund, a nonprofit organization that promotes ''national security through education,'' is sending the hour long preview of the documentary to 28 million households, many in election swing states such as Florida, Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania, through next week. Readers of The St. Petersburg Times, The Florida Times-Union of Jacksonville and The News-Press of Fort Myers have already received the DVDs.

The DVD includes montages of terrorist training camps and suicide bombers paired with narration by commentators such as Daniel Pipes, founder of the conservative Middle East Forum think tank. Many of the film's pundits are known for controversial views on Islam. In one part of the DVD, clips of Muslim children being recruited as suicide bombers are interspersed with images of Nazis.

''My cellphone has been ringing off the hook . . . We feel that it's going to incite more hate and bigotry against our community,'' said Altaf Ali, Florida chapter director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The DVD does not do enough to differentiate between terrorists and mainstream Muslims, he said.

A Clarion Fund representative disagreed.

A DISCLAIMER

'In the beginning of our film, we say `most Muslims are peaceful.' We are only speaking about a minority that is estimated to be 10 to 15 percent of Muslims,'' said spokesman Gregory Ross. ``We feel there is no greater threat to America right now than radical Islam.''

The DVD included in the newspapers is billed as a one-hour preview. The website of the film, originally released in 2005, states the full-length version, at 77 minutes, can be purchased for $14.95.

In December 2006, the Daniel Cantor Wultz Foundation sponsored a screening of the film on Capitol Hill. Wultz, of Weston, died after a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv in April 2006 at the age of 16. In response to the screening, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, said, ``We must not let the terrorists continue to teach their children hate. And we must continue to teach our children to love life.''

Syed Rahman, a Muslim pharmaceutical consultant from Weston, said he was shocked to see the film bundled with his Sunday Miami Herald. ''I could not believe my eyes,'' he said. Nidal Hussain, a Kendall computer consultant, was also taken aback. ''I watched it with my wife . . . it is vulgar material,'' he said. ``I'm sure good, wholesome Americans are going to see it and be able to decipher the truth.''

Let's hope so.

Born Alive Truth Ad

Read the details over at Hot Air.