tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17149992.post4750365849474179097..comments2023-11-05T12:34:12.796+01:00Comments on Conflict and Compromise: Obama: the unpresidential presidentWim Roffelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950733237377413606noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17149992.post-58850011399268625242010-08-23T21:25:38.772+02:002010-08-23T21:25:38.772+02:00Enough discussion for this time but maybe I will b...Enough discussion for this time but maybe I will be back in the next months.<br />Good luck with the writings and I hope you take into account my commentsStoriesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17149992.post-42504619581813031892010-08-23T21:03:21.595+02:002010-08-23T21:03:21.595+02:00I don't know where you read I was offended?! I...I don't know where you read I was offended?! I just pointed out that universal rights, at least in the Western world, that were considered holy until for a few years, know are being questioned. Beginning to take into account bad taste and good taste is according to me completely nonsense since we are talking about universal, fundamental rights. Many in the West find homosexuality very unnatural but they respect the choice made by those practicing it.<br /><br />I see little consistency in your writings. Until now you have cried out weekly that Serbs are being given collective guilt for what some individuals did during the Yugoslav wars. Now you are giving 1 .3 billion Muslims(from Bosnia to Indonesia coming in every color) collective guilt for what some unelected people, cowards did in 01. <br /><br />Obama did not bring the debate up to national level. It was the media and the islamophobe groups. When Obama spoke out, the issue was a major theme in all national newspapers and national politicians had already spoken out.<br /><br />As far as News Corp concerned, they are known for using their newspapers for political campaigns. For me it is hard to accept that the owner after negotiating business conditions just can call to Times, The Sun, WSJ, Sky and order them to support Cameron, Bush, Palin etc. This is so undemocratic and actually political corruption.Storiesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17149992.post-25238391413371176902010-08-23T19:58:21.030+02:002010-08-23T19:58:21.030+02:00Sorry to see you so offended by the "mosque&q...Sorry to see you so offended by the "mosque". I think there are three perspectives:<br /> - From the legal/general perspective: You claim it is a matter of freedom of religion. That would apply if it was just a random mosque that accidentally was planned near the WTC area. But this center is deliberately planned near the WTC area because it hopes to draw visitors who come for the WTC area. Thereby it uses the fact that both it and the terrorists are Muslims as a means to draw visitors. This comes very close to profiting from a crime.<br /> - for Obama: as I indicate above this is not just about freedom of religion. By pretending that it is Obama is listening badly to the Americans. This is not Obama's business and as a president he should have done wisely to ignore the issue. By involving himself in every neighborhood quarrel a president devalues himself.<br /> - for me personally. I have asked myself: if I was a Muslim and had the money, would I build an Islamic center close to the location of the destroyed WTC? My conclusion was that I wouldn't do it because it is bad taste.<br /><br />When I heard for the first time about the plan I found it crazy. For my taste you just don't do such a thing. It looks like many Americans feel the same. Many politicians and journalists ignored this and it took Newscorp to make it an issue. But the issue was already there.Wim Roffelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05950733237377413606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17149992.post-61124201502779768012010-08-23T17:33:03.298+02:002010-08-23T17:33:03.298+02:00Although I agree with you partly on the two first ...Although I agree with you partly on the two first points, I think you completely fail when it comes to the "mosque". I write mosque in brackets since calling the center a mosque seems to be a mistake and the place is being called a mosque only by those opposing it, and many of those being hardcore islamophobists.<br /><br />Although I am irreligious, I find the arguments being applied against the construction of the center to be tasteless and in direct breach of the US Constitution but also generally accepted international rights on humans and freedom of expression/religion.<br /><br />The whole passage on this issue is very confusing and I don't understand how something can loose credibility because it is subject to a coordinated News Corp-sponsored media campaign that has as its main goal to discredit Obama and the left-wing in US.<br /><br />I believe it was completely right by Obama in a suitable situation like a iftar is, to underline that the constitution of USA guarantees freedom of religion. This is the job of every country's statesmen.<br /><br />Beginning to take opinion polls in to consideration when freedom of expression/religion is concerned, is completely against these fundamental rights that characterize the Western civilization. We here have to do with a minority, and the principle of majority overrunning the minority is inapplicable principle in such a fundamental freedom. I am quit surprised how you can support this when you only some months ago said that Serbs in Kosovo were entitled to free mobile plans, free electricity, water etc in capacity of being a minority. <br /><br />Giving rights to minorities is not very popular but that is the founding principle of a modern, civilized country and you can not put it to question, or you can do that but then you move towards the Chinese system.<br /><br />This debate is also sending wrong signals to the Muslim world since it is giving support to the extremists who says the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are in reality wars against their religion.<br /><br />By the way interesting to read that almost quarter of Americans believe Obama is a Muslim.Storiesnoreply@blogger.com