The Violence Worker!

The Stage Is Set For Abdulhakim Muhammad

Most of us have probably forgotten about Abdulhakim Muhammad.  He is the walking, talking, steaming pile that opened fire on a Little Rock, Arkansas Army recruiting station two years ago.  He killed one young soldier and wounded another.  This was his own personal declaration of war against the United States.  He is about to go on trial for his heinous and hateful act.

And that is his problem, it seems.  He doesn't like the venue.

He complained he's being treated like a common criminal, with a state trial on a capital murder charge. There will be no grand stage for his political beliefs, and if convicted by the state rather than the federal government, he faces a much greater chance of execution.

The U.S. has put three people to death since the federal death penalty was reinstated in 1988. Arkansas executed 27 people in that time.

Arkansas got permission from the feds to try him in the state's court for capital rather than let him have a federal trial.  It's not exactly the stage he was hoping to give his command performance.

"This case should be in federal or military court..." Muhammad, 26, objected in a letter to Circuit Judge Herbert Wright in May. "In my eyes it's a sham trial set up only to make sure I'm handed down a death sentence."

I don't know that it will be a sham trial.  I'm pretty sure that he will make sure they cross every "t" and dot every "i".  I imagine there will be a slew of defense attorneys making sure he gets a fair trial.

What Arkansas did was take away his stage.  Instead of a show trial about Islam and American foreign policy, the state made it about murder.

"He wants to be perceived as a sort of foot soldier in this revolution against the United States," said John DiPippa, law school dean for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. "Trying him on the base crime of murder, you're depriving him of even that recognition."

It's over Shakespeare.  The curtain is calling.  With any luck, you'll have a needle in your arm in a relatively short while.

In the end, that's all he is.  Just another small time thug committing a murder that's about to face the music and the band is playing a funeral dirge.

It always makes me shake my head when scumbags like these, who hate our way of life and work toward its destruction, demand every right under the very Constitution they denounce.

I'll be following his trial and subsequent appeals. 

VW

Tyler Clementi

By all accounts, Tyler Clementi was destined for greatness.  At age 18, he was already an accomplished musician with a promising career ahead of him.  Now, we'll never know because he decided to end his life.  It's tragic.  It shouldn't have had to end like that. 

But it did .

And because it did, our natural reaction is to demand more than justice; we want retribution!  We want the two people who invaded this young man's privacy to pay dearly for what they did, for pushing him over the edge.

Some want to charge Dharun Ravi and Molly Wei with a hate crime on top of the invasion of privacy and illegal taping charges already considered.  Some are advocating manslaughter charges.

As horrified as I am about this terrible tragedy, I also believe in reason and the rule of law.  I've thought long and hard over these past few days about this, allowing my anger to temper a bit into reason.

From everything I've read about this case, I don't get the sense that this was a hate crime.  I really don't.  It was not a thought crime, it was a thoughtless crime.  I'm disposed to think that Ravi would have taped his roommate even if his partner was a female.  I will admit to the fact that I don't know for sure, but than neither does anyone else. 

Let me propose another scenario;  What if Tyler was a girl (I've known a few female Tylers) and her roommate taped her being intimate with her boyfriend?  And what if Tyler killed herself because of it? Would it still be a hate crime?  Would the eavesdroppers actions be any less  reprensible? We probably couldn't call it a hate crime. 

I don't normally like the "what if" questions.  As an old saying goes:  "If your aunt was plumbed a bit differently, she'd be your uncle."  You can "what if" something to death, but I think it's a useful ploy here to put this into some context.

Ravi and Wei deserve to be punished for their reprehensible actions.  I believe they broke the law concerning privacy and taping and for that, I belive they should get the maximum (I've read) of five years in prison with the hope that it will deter others from doing similar, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or whatever other criteria you can name. 

I don't like witch hunts.  I do like justice, but I also I believe in the rule of law.  While I might think that a child molester deserves a hideous and painful death, we must follow the law.  Civilization demands it.

VW

Helen Thomas - Freedom Of Speech And Consequences

When Helen Thomas suggested that the Jews should be sent back to Poland or Germany or America, it was her opinion.  She said it without any worry that there would be any official sanction from any government entity.  The cops were not going to come to her door and arrest her on hate speech charges. 

That does not mean it came without consequences.  While the government is forbidden to take action, the First Amendment does not forbid private employers from deciding what is appropriate for their employees.  Ms. Thomas was asked to retire because her remarks were not condoned by her employer.  It might be somewhat different for most of us as we are not high profile, public figures like Ms. Thomas, but I'm sure that if something I said became an embarrassment to my employer, I would face some sort of consequences.  Ms. Thomas, now in retirement, can say all that and more if she pleases.  The government did not take away that right. 

Several years ago, I was working somewhere else.  A co-worker and I were on our lunch break, at the break table, discussing  some things about WWII.  We were both into history and we were talking about Hitler.  It was just history and no one could possibly construe our remarks to be in the least bit favorable to Hitler or Nazism, however, someone heard the words "Hitler" and "Nazi" and reported to the manager that he or she was offended.  Our manager pulled us aside after break and told us to never talk about Hitler or Nazis again while at work.  If so, we would face disciplinary action.  End.of.conversation.  We weren't real happy about it, but we also knew that the employer, on his property, could mandate what was inappropriate conversation, regardless of how innocuous it might seem.

Congress shall make no law, but your employer generally wasn't elected.  Long ago it was established that you have the right to yell "fire" in a crowded theater - so long as you realize that you will probably be arrested for causing a panic.

There is a trend to try and codify what some call "hate speech".  It's one thing if your employer fires you over impolitical remarks, but it's another if the government decides it has the right to jail you for them.  Obviously, openly advocating violence has always been, and should remain, illegal.  If someone wants to stand up and say they want to send all the Jews out of Israel or all the Blacks back to Africa, they have that right.  There is no law against it, nor should there be.  If that person than turns and says, if they don't go voluntarily, maybe it should be done at the point of a gun, they still haven't crossed the line.  But if they actually act upon it or say it in such away that it is clear that they are encouraging others, than we need to do something.  It's a fine line, but it's freedom's line.*

That doesn't mean you have to give them a job or keep them employed, it just means as long as it's just talk, they can't be arrested for it.  Freedom comes with responsibilities and if you are irresponsible, you may have to pay a price.  

*And for the record, I do not advocate sending anyone back to wherever they come from with the exception of those who choose to come here illegally.  Just so you don't infer some example I used as something I support.

VW

Abdulhakim Muhammad Deserves Death

Two of America's finest were gunned down in cold blood by a man not fit to lick dog excrement off of their boots.  Abdulhakim Muhammad killed William Long and wounded Quinton Ezeagwula because he was "mad at the US Military because of what they had done to Muslims in the past."

I'm not trying to excuse this slimebag's action one iota, but I can't help but think he was played.  I'm certain that his head was filled with all kinds of hate and crap by some nut job Jihadis and when he returned, he acted out of conditioning..  Who knows?

I hope this guy gets the needle and becomes an example to any other would be instant Jihadis out there contemplating some sort of stupidity.

My prayers and condolences to the Long family and my prayers for a speedy recovery for Private Ezeagwula and comfort for his family.  

VW

Hate Crime?

All over the blogosphere today is the story of Liberal screecher Randi Rhodes.  I'm not going to spend a lot of time on this except to say that the left was absolutely despicable in their accusations that it was some right wing maniac, hell-bent on shutting up Ms. Rhodes.  The biggest question is why anyone would bother with her.  It isn't like she is even that well known!  The fact is that it wasn't a mugging, she fell.  There is even one semi credible report that she had been drinking.  Who knows, but that isn't my main point. 

No dear readers that was no hate crime.  At best she's a klutz, at worst, she is a drunken klutz. 

The hate crime I want to talk about is the hate crime you are committing when you publically display a derogatory depiction of a witch during Halloween. 

What's supposed to be a simple Halloween decoration is now brewing up some controversy in Chicopee. One group is calling the decoration a hate crime.

Driving down East Street in Chicopee it's hard not to notice a witch hanging from a noose. To many, it's an innocent Halloween decoration, but for Kelly Lynch it's offensive.

That's why when she saw the life-like witch hanging in someones front yard she went straight to the home owner's door.

"He told me to lighten up, it was a Halloween decoration, I know it's his constitutional right, but I want it down. To make that your only decoration...it's kind of odd, " stresses Lynch.

In other words, screw his rights, my feelings are what are important.

Sorry lady, but you have no right to not be offended. 

"It's depicting death. I wouldn't destroy a cross or bash a religion or race, so I don't expect that to happen to me, " adds Lynch.

People bash Christianity all the time.  Big Deal. 

Halloween is a part of our culture.  At what point do we stop the nonsense?  No Christmas, no Halloween, no Easter, No Columbus Day, when does it stop?  Simply because some aspect of a holiday that has been part and parcel to our culture suddenly offends someone, we have to curtail it. 

When do we get to be offended by those that are offended?

VW

Welcome To The USA! Brought To You By Liberalism And Moral Relevance.

Our first story is from the other side of the country.  In Rockland, MA, just a little south of Boston comes this story:

ROCKLAND - In what one cop called a “disgraceful” show of disrespect, two 13-year-old boys were arrested yesterday after allegedly pelting eggs at the town’s Memorial Day ceremonies.      They hit war veterans and members of the color guard who were marching in a parade, police said.    

Officers chased the two suspects to a house, where they were arrested. One officer said the disturbing attack was planned in advance.    

Because the alleged punks are juveniles, police did not release their names.

Even the newspaper called them punks, but what about the parents? Who taught these kids that this was acceptable or that veterans were worthy of some kind derision, be it verbal or physical?  What if this were a gay rights parade, wouldn't this be a hate crime?

Hat Tip:  Wizbang

And our second story is just as sick, but closer to home up in Orcas Island.  The island is out in north Puget Sound, northwest of Seattle.

ORCAS ISLAND, Wash. (AP) - Vandals burned dozens of small American flags that decorated veterans' graves for Memorial Day and replaced many of them with hand-drawn swastikas, authorities said Monday.

Charred flag tatters were found still attached to 33 small flag standards at Woodlawn Cemetery, while 46 of the standards were found empty Sunday, authorities said.

Sheets of paper bearing swastikas drawn with what appeared to be red and black felt-tipped pens had been taped to 14 of the vandalized flag standards, Sheriff Bill Cumming said.

Members of the American Legion on this island off Washington's northwest coast replaced the burned flags with new ones Sunday afternoon.

The vandals repeated the stunt on Memorial Day after a guard left at dawn, replacing 33 of the small flags with more hand-drawn swastikas, the sheriff's office said.

Investigators believe there's more than one culprit, based on the number of flags that were vandalized, but they have no leads on any possible suspects, Cumming said in a telephone interview.

The sheriff said deputies were trying to lift fingerprints off what little physical evidence they were able to recover and were asking people on this bucolic island to contact the sheriff's office.

"We don't view this as free speech," Cumming said. "We view this as a hate crime, and it's being investigated as such."

Not once, but TWICE!!!!!!!!!

Again, who taught these kids to do this? 

In both cases, I can hear the parents now, calling the police "Fascists and Bullies" for arresting their little angel over a harmless little prank.  I can also see the judge letting them off with a couple of hours of community service (if that) for their pranks. 

The left lies and says there is no evidence that soldiers and veterans were ever spat upon.  Does egging and grave desecration count?

It's a sad day in this country when we are not surprised or shocked by this type of behavior.

VW

Shouldn't This Be A Hate Crime?

Read this story through the lens of political correctness.  What would happen if this nut job went after these guys because they were gay or Black, Hispanic, or Arabic?  This guy saw the name and address and went after these guys based on a differing political belief.

A Fredericksburg man was arrested Saturday on charges he assaulted three strangers at their home during a dispute over politics, police said.

According to a Fredericksburg police report, the suspect went to a home in the 900 block of Marye Street about 5:30 p.m. after finding one of the resident's name on a Republican Web site.

The resident and his two roommates engaged in a discussion with the suspect, though none of them had ever met or had contact with him before.

The argument got heated and the suspect learned that the young residents had not enlisted in the military and "put their all" behind the Republican-led war effort in Iraq, police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe said.

The suspect refused to leave the home after repeatedly being asked to do so, police said. The three roommates were hit multiple times each as they attempted to get the suspect out of the door, authorities said.

The suspect continued to be aggressive and disorderly even after a city police officer arrived, the report states.

Andrew Stone, 23, was charged with three counts of assault and battery. A magistrate released Stone on his own recognizance and he was ordered to have no further contact with the victims.

It was not clear in the report what political agenda Stone was supporting.

First of all, to even the most casual reader, Mr. Stone's political agenda isn't shrouded in some mysterious fog.  He is an intolerant left-wing nut job!  Second, why did this brilliant star reporter feel the need to include that last statement if, eben the head line to the story makes it abundantly clear:

Police say political dispute with stranger got physical

Even the headline writer figured it out! How hard was that?

Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin

VW

Shooting In Seattle

There was a tragic shooting in Seattle this evening.  A Pakistani man forced his way into the Seattle Jewish Federation building and shot six people, one fatally.  The shooter was "angry" at the Jews.

From KOMO-TV NEWS:

The gunman forced his way through the security door at the federation after an employee had punched in her security code, Marla Meislin-Dietrich, a database coordinator for the center, told The Associated Press.

"He said `I am a Muslim American, angry at Israel,' before opening fire on everyone," Meislin-Dietrich said. "He was randomly shooting at everyone."

Angry enough to kill.

No one knows yet whether this son of a pig acted alone. The evidence at the moment suggests he did. 

One wonders if our angry Islamo-pig will be charged with a hate crime. 

We are praying for the survivors. 

VW

AF Lt. Col. Pleads Guilty to BDS

I couldn’t figure out why there was an upsurge in searches for Lt. Col. Alexis Fecteau.  You may recall, he was the unhinged fool that spray painted expletives over Bush bumper stickers with a can of black spray paint – while the sticker was still on the car.  He also keyed several vehicles with Bush stickers.  This moron was caught on a security camera in the Denver Airport parking garage.

Yesterday, I even got a comment on a blog entry I made when all this came out last August, almost a year ago.  Some loony Moonbat spewed a nonsensical rant about the President and how he is so much worse than Fecteau, ad nauseum.  Essentially I told him he was a fool and gave him solid reasons why.

So today, I searched the news and lo and behold, it seems the moron pleaded guilty to felony mischief.  It’s one of them deferred sentence things where if he remains a good boy for two years, it’s off his record.  That’s a shame.  I don’t care if he gets little or no jail time; Fectoad isn’t a violent offender.  Fectoad should have to live with this on his record. It’s also a shame the USAF isn’t going to court martial is slimy ass.   He is “negotiating” his retirement. what a bunch of crap!

He should be forced to resign and not retire.  The man is a disgrace to his uniform and to the oath he swore when he first put it on.

VW

The Boulder, Colorado Thought Police

Quotes Taken From The Denver Post and the Colorado Daily News

The left is all about freedom, or so they say.  Gauging by their outrage of the NSA collecting legal phone data, one assumes that they value privacy (not that any real privacy was lost here) and freedom of speech.  Aster all, they “speak truth to power” to use one of their more inane phrases. 

But they really aren’t about privacy or freedom of speech.  In Boulder, (About as far left as Berserkely) they want to establish an

“Anti-Bias Hotline - a bilingual phone service for people who believe they have been victimized because of their race, sexual orientation or other classifications.” CDN

And, of course,

Hotline users would be able to talk anonymously, while hotline volunteers would in part be trained to offer referrals. For example, a victim of a violent crime might be advised to go directly to the police while a victim of workplace discrimination might be directed to the city Office of Human Rights (OHR). (CDN)

In other words, you, as an employer, would be subject to anonymous complaints from disgruntled employees, or your neighbor might finally see a way to get back at you for breaking his rake you borrowed last autumn.  Maybe you’re a cop and the guy you gave a ticket to today is falsely accusing you of a racial slur when you wrote the ticket. 

The ACLU says they have some problems with it, but one of their main concerns is this:

"Our concern - and there are many - is that there is no confidentiality, no legal confidentiality," explains Judd Golden, chairman of the Boulder American Civil Liberties Union, which has not yet taken an official position on the hate-line. "So it's potentially chilling if people think they are providing this information in confidence and then that information were provided to the government or the government sought access to it. That would chill free speech." (DP)

Read carefully what he says here.  Just because they say it’s anonymous doesn’t mean there is a guarantee.  He thinks that would “chill” free speech. 

What’s chilling is that a governmental agency is even contemplating such an anti-American idea.

This is America. If you don’t like Blacks, Mexicans, Jews, White Christians, gays, or guys in pink shirts, that’s your right.  As long as you don’t break the law, you can think your idiotic thoughts all you want.  You even have the right to stand on the street corner and say you hate various people.  As ugly as it might appear, you have the right.  You do not have the right to threaten people.  You do not have the right to assault people and you do not have the right to preach the violent overthrow of the government. But other than that, if you want to disparage people, have at it.

The most serious question, however, is will the hate-line folks forward their files to the Boulder police or City Council?

"The devil's in the details," says Golden. "That's the question. There is no present indication that they intend to do anything like that in the future." Intention?

Sorry, that's not good enough. But that's not even the worst part of it. You could - possibly - rationalize this if it weren't utterly useless.(DP)

There’s an old adage:  The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.  If they are setting up the hotline, it has to go someplace.  One of those potentially paved avenues to Hell is this:  The complaints could go to the city’s Office of Human Rights

[City Director of Community Services Richard] Johnson said the [Human Rights Commission] HRC does have the authority to hold quasi-judicial hearings and to impose fines, but it rarely happens.

He said the Office of Human Rights must attempt to fully mediate any complaint before it gores (sic) to the HRC, so an anonymous tip wont' go directly to the commission.(DP)

Right.  Anyone believe that is off the table?

This is anti-American ideas.  You people who worry about privacy and speech, and it should really scare the hell out of you.  I fear this a Hell of a lot more than the NSA collecting some calling records.

Stalin would be proud.

VW