Strollerderby : terrorism

WTF: KKK Selling Kids T-Shirts

JeanneSager — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:03:00 GMT

I'm vacillating between speechless and spitting with venom. How else do you respond to news that the Ku Klux Klan is selling t-shirts for kids?

T-shirts at a Website that actually trumpets itself as a go-to source for "Christian" purchases.

I'm not sure if I should be thanking my husband for pointing this one out to me (he found it while working on a paper about domestic terrorism, FYI), but I guess the news that the KKK is targeting kids is hardly new. Kids don't come out of the womb seething with hate, so it does have to come from adults peddling bigotry to little kids. Remember, kids learn by imitating.

But making the hard Aryan sell face-to-face is disgusting enough. Sharing with the world that "Klan Kids Kare" is absolutely terrifying.

I've got to wonder, honestly, what Klan Kids Kare about. I was thinking Lynching, but according to the t-shirt, they "kare" about loving Jesus, white power and their heritage. Note to the Klan: Jesus lived in the Middle East - it's highly unlikely that his skin was white. And he certainly wasn't Aryan.

My big question, of course, is where are these kids going to wear these shirts? Besides Klan rallies, of course. Is there anywhere in public that they wouldn't be told to leave? I'm all for free speech, but if a kid walks into a school wearing a shirt that says "white power," I'd hope they get sent home to change. It's a gang symbol (yes, similar to the red of the Bloods - albeit on the opposite end).

And perhaps even more shocking here (to some of you anyway), this t-shirt is being sold by a Christian bookstore, a site that proudly proclaims itself as the "exclusive distributor of the Knights Party designs" (yes those Knights - the white ones). This to go with their "wide variety of Christian oriented t-shirts and sweatshirts." And no, I didn't find a "turn the other cheek" tee - the kind you'd sort of expect out of a Christian t-shirt selling site (OK, maybe only I would?).

Honestly, I'm not going to provide you with a link to this site. But if you REALLY need to find it for yourself (for some voyeuristic pleasure, we hope, rather than to make your purchase), enter the words "Christian books and things" into Google. It's the fourth site in the list.

Image: Christian books and things

Morning News: Idol, Terror, and Credit Cards

Amy Kuras — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:01:00 GMT

If you care about this, you already know, but Kris Allen was crowned the winner on “American Idol” last night. If you’re like me and like to look like you’re keeping up with the kids without actually having to subject yourself to American Idol, perhaps this helps.

In much more serious news, terror suspect Ahmen Ghalani will be sent to New York from Guantanamo Bay to face trial in the 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. President Obama is expected to announce the trial during an address today on Guantanamo and other security issues.

New York City Police and federal agents arrested four men who were plotting to bomb synagogues and other landmarks in the city. Police say there was little chance the men could have carried out the attacks, but still.

Also? California is coming apart, pretty much. It’s out of money and now looking at a constitutional convention.

Maybe they could put some cash on a credit card, because there are some new rules passed by Congress today that both keep credit card companies from hiking rates out of nowhere and let them spank you for paying your card off in full every month. And no more going after college kids to sign up for debt they will never be able to repay – those under 21 will have to prove they can pay back the money or that their parents will take on the debt if they can’t.

Kids Taken after Mom Arrested for Airplane Spanking

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 13:32:00 GMT

So let's say you're on a flight and the woman seated in front of you spanks her two kids for spilling a drink and then curses at an attendant before throwing her drink on the ground in a fit of stupidity.

What should the mom's punishment be?

Publicly rebuked? Told to be quiet? Maybe cursed at behind her back?

If you said arrested on a charges of terrorism and jailed for three months while her children are placed in foster care and have an adoption pending, then you're the winner -- the only one in this sad, strange tale .

Welcome to America.

Let's hope it changes quickly.

The story begins with Tamera Jo Freeman and her Bloody Mary. Her two kids were being kids and accidentally spilled their mom's Bloody Mary into her lap -- apparently a big no no that merited three spanks each. (Maybe cut back a few instead, huh mom?) A flight attendant confronted Freeman, who then had a hissy, cursed and threw down her drink.

Not cool, but honestly -- terrorism?

She was arrested and only released from jail when she pleaded guilty to a charge of federal terrorism. Her kids were taken away and placed with foster parents -- who are trying to adopt them while their mother is free on parole but unable to leave her home state to visit them or attend hearings.

Is this really a fitting punishment for a mom who, OK, probably had one too many and did something stupid but not horrific? Of course not.

This is insanity.

The LA Times wrote the in-depth story on these crazy charges stemming from overzealous prosecutions under the Patriot Act and it's worth a look. For instance, one couple was arrested for essentially trying to join the Mile High Club.

(Mayday, Mayday! There's fornicating in the restroom!)

Another man who stripped naked on a flight, tried to open an emergency exit and had to be restrained, got off with no charges whatsoever. I'm not saying he deserved a terrorism charge -- he was drunk -- but it certainly seems more threatening than a mom getting all pissy and throwing her drink.

Even a lawyer involved in writing the Patriot Act said airlines are going too far -- hi flight attendant Amy Fleming, looking at you!

"A woman spanking her child is not as great a threat to aviation as members of Al Qaeda with box cutters. That much is clear," the lawyer told the Times.

So what do you think? Does the punishment fit the crime? Will you ever open your mouth on an airplane again?

Mumbai Hero Nanny May Get Top Israeli Honor

JeanneSager — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:32:00 GMT

When we leave our kids with a sitter, we always hope they'll take at least as good a care of them as we would. Risking life and limb to save theirs isn't too much to ask.

In the midst of the terrible tragedy of the Mumbai terrorist attacks, nanny Sandra Samuel has stood out for her bravery - and her devotion to her charge. Now Israel is considering conveying one of its highest honors, an award reserved in the past for Holocaust-era heroes.

Samuel had a "special connection" with toddler Moshe Holtzberg, the son of Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka. After hours locked in her room, hiding from the attackers, Samuel says she heard Moshe calling for her. Despite terrorists still on the premises, Samuel unlocked the door and followed his voice, finally finding the boy covered in blood beside his dead parents. She grabbed the child and ran outside. She escorted the boy all the way to Israel, where his grandparents have taken in the toddler and the country is discussing the possible conference of the Righteous Gentile award. It's an award given in the past to non-Jews who helped rescue Jews during the Holocaust, including Schindler's List inspiration Oskar Schindler.

It should help the Indian native stay in Israel if she so desires, and it's one of the brighter stories coming out of the tragedies. In some ways, it's even more amazing than Hannah's story earlier this week about the dad who snuck into the hotel under siege to bring milk to his wife and children. This wasn't Samuel's child. She could have stayed locked up safe in her room. She could have assumed the child's parents would take care of him.

I love my babysitter, but if anything ever happens, I've got to tell you - I wouldn't mind having this woman watch my daughter.

Image: The Age

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Terrorists Gas American Children

Miriam Axel-Lute — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:15:00 GMT

The room contained babies and children who were being cared for while their parents prayed. Someone opened the window and sprayed a "chemical irritant" through it. In the words of someone who was there: "Panicked mothers ran for their babies, crying for their children so they could flee from the gas that was burning their eyes and throats and lungs . . . . [One mother] tells me that her daughters slept with her last night, the little one in her arms and sobbing throughout the night." One ten-year-old girl was sprayed directly in the face by a man outside the basement window.

Just the latest from Iraq? No, this happened last weekend, in Dayton, Ohio.

These children, many of whom were refugees from Iraq, were attacked at the Islamic Society of Greater Dayton while their parents said their Ramandan prayers. Some told their friends that they wanted to go back to Syria where they felt safer. How sick is that? Why is this not a huge national story? Bigger, say, than Janet Jackson going to the hospital? I realize the economy's in the shitter, folks, but come on. This is innocent kids attacked.

Note to Dayton Daily News: "Chemical Irritant Empties Mosque" makes it sound like it just happened to leak out of a water pipe. Way to avoid giving anyone responsibility. You may not know who it was, but no one's arguing that it wasn't human-caused. The girl saw men with spray cans. But of course, the Dayton police say that they don't think it's a hate crime because the men didn't say or write anything anti Muslim. It's possible. All sorts of coincidences are possible, but it's a bit hard for me to believe this was just random. It's not like they hit every building on the block or anything.

DailyKos finds it too much of a coincidence to be ignored that this happened just after a massive distribution throughout Ohio of a fear-mongering anti-Muslim DVD called Obsession by the Clarion Fund, probably as part of covert scare-tactic campaigning for John McCain. They are called on McCain to publicly censure Clarion for distributing the inflammatory, misleading disc. That'd be an obvious right thing to do, but I ain't holding my breath for it from someone who can't even look Obama in the eye. Perhaps it'll at least continue to expose him for the snake he is.

But really, I wouldn't want this attack to become all about the DVD. I think that's a slimy campaign move, but we do have freedom of speech here. No propaganda excuses or should eclipse such a violent act. It should be called for what it is and investigated with as much vigor as if it had happened to a government building in DC (or, say, to a Christian church). And there should be a massive public outpouring of support for the victims to show them this does not represent all Americans. (I haven't found any information about how/where to send such support, but I'll post if I do. Add to the comments if you know of any such effort.)

Photo by Leonardo Cassarani.

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Another 8 year old on the terrorist watch list

Brett Singer — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:00:00 GMT

So remember the 7 year old kid who had the same name as someone on the terrorist watch list?

Here's an 8 year old kid who has the same name as someone on the terrorist watch list.

This time, we have video of the boy and his mother testifying before Congress.

"Since 2005, when James was 5 years old, the Robinson family has had to deal with the delays and hassles of having a son who has been consistently misidentified when traveling."

Despite her experiences, Denise Robinson is "a strong proponent of the watch list" and feels that we all have to "accept some inconveniences" in order to keep our country safe from terrorists. However, she thinks the list has been "mismanaged." Considering the fact that, without looking, I found two examples of children who had been detained multiple times because their names appeared on the list, that could be the understatement of the year.

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7 year old on terrorist list

Brett Singer — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:30:00 GMT

A 7-year-old boy was detained at JFK airport in New York because his name was on a terrorist watch list. More accurately, his name is the same as someone else who is on a terrorist watch list. The fact that he was, you know, 7, didn't factor into the decision to keep the entire family in a locked room for an extended period of time.

Twice.

On two occasions, Alex and his family were kept in a holding room upon arrival at Kennedy International Airport from London because his name apparently matched a name on the list.

Alex was born in 2000.

“They hauled us out of the line and into a holding room,” said Ms. Harris. “It’s 8 o’clock on a Saturday night and they said, ‘We have to call Washington to have him cleared.’ And I’m like, ‘Just who do you suppose is available in Washington at 8 o’clock on a Saturday night?’ ”

It took more than two hours before Alex, a United States citizen like his parents and twin brother, was free to go. That was in late 2006. Six months later, the family arrived again from London, around 11 p.m.

Again, Alex was detained, his mother said, even though she carried his birth certificate and Social Security card.

“I said, ‘Look at him. He’s clearly not a terrorist. He’s 7!’ ” she said.

I'm all for fighting terrorism, but if this doesn't prove that a lot of the effort being expended is misplaced, I don't know what does.

Source: NYTimes, Image: ACLU

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Rachael Ray, Terrorist?

Amy S.F. Lutz — Wed, 28 May 2008 18:32:00 GMT

I know there are a lot of people out there who don't like Rachael Ray - some complain she's too chipper, others think she takes too many shortcuts in the kitchen. I've even seen her called out for her fashion choices. But I couldn't believe the reason Dunkin' Donuts pulled its new commercial featuring Ray: because one conservative commentator thought Ray's scarf looked too much like a keffiyeh, traditionally worn by Arab men.

Come on. Does anyone, even Ray's most virulent attackers, really think Ray is a secret terrorist?

I guess Michelle Malkin of Fox News does. She wrote in her column, "The keffiyeh, for the clueless . . . has come to symbolize murderous Palestinian jihad . . . Popularized by Yasser Arafat and a regular adornment of Muslim terrorists appearing in beheading and hostage-taking videos, the apparel has been mainstreamed by both ignorant and not-so-ignorant fashion designers, celebrities, and left-wing icons."

And so, because of one critical response, Dunkin' Donuts yanked the ad. Which I think is a ridiculous capitulation to a really bullshit objection. Objects derive meaning from their context, and I can't see how this ad can in any way be read as an endorsement of terrorism. Don't these commentators have legitimately important issues to comment on?

Strollerderby Playdate: THEBLOG WEEMADE

Brett Singer — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Today, I'm taking the Tim Hasselbeck role on the Playdate team - stepping in when the first stringer needs a break.

This week we're playing with THEBLOG WEEMADE. The concept is a little different from the mommy/daddy blogging that you usually see. The site's founder, Brian, stumbled onto "a box full of his old schoolwork and drawings that his parents had kept over the years," and decided to make a website where kids could contribute their creations.

Here's the rub: although some posts appear to be created by the currently young, others are from taller folks -- such as this terrorism poem from 1984, penned by Brian himself.

All posts are screened before they appear on the site, which makes this a bit of a playdate with a Type A parent -- more "OK, everybody ready for the next activity???" as opposed to "Sure kids, you can play video games until daddy finishes his six-pack of Meisterbrau." To encourage potential posters, they've just added Weemade Activities -- coloring pages with suggestions of what to draw.

The blog is fairly new and posts are few, so we'll see how it all develops. Me, I'm going to check my closet and see if I still have any of my old prank call tapes.