Dumbass Quote of the Day

Islam has no fundamental First Amendment claims, for the simple reason that it was not written to protect the religion of Islam. Islam is entitled only to the religious liberty we extend to it out of courtesy. While there certainly ought to be a presumption of religious liberty for non-Christian religious traditions in America, the Founders were not writing a suicide pact when they wrote the First Amendment.

~Bryan Fischer, the "Director of Issues Analysis" for the American Family Association

I was tempted to make a "Dumbass Quote of the Year" category for this one, but it's still early yet.

Dumbass Quote of the Day

“I do agree that there are other groups that pose a terroristic threat to this country... I would say that the threat from radicalized Muslims is a unique and greater threat. It is the greatest threat... [Islam] comes from a hate-filled holy book, the Quran, which is taken very literally by its people.”

~Bill Maher on Real Time while speaking to Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, a Muslim

I was shocked and disappointed, waiting for the punchline, when Bill said this especially after starting the interview bringing the question posed by Glenn Beck when he interviewed Ellison, "Sir, tell me why I should think you're not with the enemy." He goes on to quote an author who disparages the Quran, but doesn't bother to go to the source itself? Or to at least follow up with a Quran scholar? I don't understand how he can criticize Rep. Peter King and Glenn Beck for their views in one breath and in the next, agree with the generalized nonsensical right wing meme that Islam is a radical religion that wants to destroy the United States.

If Maher truly believes that the Quran is taken literally by it's followers, then he must think Beck was on to something.

Shameless

NY Post Amps Up Anti-Park51 Rhetoric With "Human Remains" Map



The Rupert Murdoch owned New York Post ratcheted up the fearmongering and Muslim hate with this story, conveniently covered by the Rupert Murdoch owned Fox show, Fox and Fiends that same morning.

But hell, if we're going to show the proximity of the Not-A-Mosque-Not-At-Ground-Zero Park51 project to the still empty these nine years later World Trade Center site, well two can play at that game.

Here's my version:



Not only was Gournd Zero and it's surroundings littered with human remains, but it is still surrounded by multiple adult entertainment spots. Sacred strip joints, anyone? And the kicker is what they plan on the actual center of the WTC site because God knows we can't go without shopping. (See "E")

That's right. The very hallowed Ground Zero everyone is defending against a Not-Mosque-At-Not-Ground-Zero is the new site for a proposed mall under whatever the Freedom Tower turns out to be. So while you reflect on the horrible loss of life on September 11th, you can also swing by Zabars for some hallowed bread and grab a latte at sacrosanct Starbucks.

And none this begins to broach the subject of the possibility that human remains were used to fill potholes.  In the haste of cleaning up the debris after the attacks, "America's Mayor" Rudy Giuliani didn't want to seem like the weak, pathetic man he is, and demanded that the clean up happen as quickly as possible.  Obviously, that meant that the careful search for remains wasn't so careful and some of the debris that was carted away to the Fresh Kills Landfill in Staten Island eventually became filler for potholes.

Hallowed ground indeed.