Did you know that SO from the Middle East

[sereia 0]

yeah wildroze, i'm with you on that.

i don't want to turn this into another debate. it was about national security, airport, and airline safety and thats where i stand.

i'm done.

[doodlebug 3]

ok i apologize. I didn't see any point in what he/she said to Private in that other thread, but then that's just me. I guess he/she loves peace.

and troll or not i take offense to the other post where he/she refers to some as "dumb americans". But that's cool.

Edited February 15, 2007 by doodlebug

[doodlebug 3]

aqoul - how come every post you've ever posted has stirred up trouble.

People don't feed the troll and look at this person's past posts. Please!!!!!!

It stirs up trouble because what Aqoul says is often on point, and that makes people uncomfortable. Aquol is not a troll, and the tone is the same used in their blog. If anyone would take the time to read it instead of just getting all offended, they would see Aqoul is rather passionate and follows MENA issues closely, and probably more so than most (not all) here. I would rather see someone debate the context of what Aqoul says than just take offense or label them a troll or troublemaker, but the latter is much easier.

How are we supposed to know he/she has a blog?

[ya falaha! 0]

Actually I respect the opinions that aqoul expresses here. Some may come off as harsh but they are very valid.

aqoul - how come every post you've ever posted has stirred up trouble.

People don't feed the troll and look at this person's past posts. Please!!!!!!

[Bosco 1]

ok i apologize. I didn't see any point in what he/she said to Private in that other thread, but then that's just me. I guess he/she loves peace.

and troll or not i take offense to the other post where he/she refers to some as "dumb americans". But that's cool.

Aqoul didn't call all Americans dumb, only ones using "habibi" incorrectly. Based on the amount of jokes about non-native English speakers that are posted on VJ, or the amount of times people get laughs posting about their own spouses incorrect usage of English, I don't know why it is such an issue when the tables are turned.

As far as Private, I think the post was a harsh, but an apology was offered, and it would be disingeuous for people (not necessarily you) to proclaim they haven't had similar thoughts when reading her posts. Those thoughts may not have been stated publically before, but they were certainly not new or unique to Aqoul.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Aquol was rude and it obscured his point. I'd like to know why rudeness and harshness from some posters is viewed as a "valid point", but rudeness from others is just plain rudeness and harshness? How is that distinquished? Because you agree with them? Because their point is pc? What? Those guidelines should be shared with all.

Edited February 15, 2007 by Green-eyed girl

[Jenn! 918]

I think people have admitted that aquol is/was rude. I would bet that aquol might admit that him/herself. I believe that he/she has a valid point despite the rudeness. And of course, yes, I think it is valid because I agree with it.

If you don't agree, then of course you'd view it as just rude and not at all valid.

[doodlebug 3]

Aqoul didn't call all Americans dumb, only ones using "habibi" incorrectly. Based on the amount of jokes about non-native English speakers that are posted on VJ, or the amount of times people get laughs posting about their own spouses incorrect usage of English, I don't know why it is such an issue when the tables are turned.

What he/she said was this:

I have to roll my eyes whenever dumb Americans say or write "my habibi". The "i" at the end of the word already denotes possession. Tacking on "my" is just irritatingly redundant.

It was not, those that say "my habibi" are dumb. The dumb came before the statement.

As far as Private, I think the post was a harsh, but an apology was offered, and it would be disingeuous for people (not necessarily you) to proclaim they haven't had similar thoughts when reading her posts. Those thoughts may not have been stated publically before, but they were certainly not new or unique to Aqoul.

"In all your blithering and misfired attempts to be clever or witty, you miss the point entirely. It goes well beyond "grammar", but rather the content of her posts and piss-poor ability to articulate, and the arrogance and audacity contained therein. Clearly the irony of her proclaiming to be above needing to learn anything from her fiance, or any of his family, in light of her being a sub-literate cretin, is completely lost on you.

It's a bloody legitimate question. Reading her posts, I was just curious about what exactly I was dealing with here. If that of a native speaker, then my conclusions that she's an ignorant, sub-literate cretin based on the content of her posts and piss-poor ability to articulate would be well warranted. If not, then maybe something was being lost in translation."

Sorry but apology aside this was uncalled for.

Whatever though. I"ll drop it if everyone agrees with this type of delivery. I'll just ignore him/her from now on because I think that although some points are valid, the way it is conveyed leaves a LOT to be desired.

[peezey 0]

if you're going to get into this racist ####### then why DOES el al do this? who commits almost all terrorist attacks? why do you think that is? you don't think they should be extra careful with certain people? i'd hate to know what would have happened if they didn't have this program...

you may not buy it but is el al not the safest airline to fly? it sure is.

quit sitting there with your rosy colored glasses on. of course it sucks to be profiled. of course life would be better if everyone would be treated equal. but guess what? there are a lot of bad people out there that want to hurt us.

My blood is boiling right now. How dare you indict a group of people like this? You are talking about all of our husbands and fiances, your own fiance for #######'s sake. Your arrogance is apalling. NO ONE is out there wanting to hurt you. If you think they do, well, you might as well walk into the airport naked, then get dressed once they're done with you, for your own safety and the safety of the rest of the non-muslim non-arab people in the world.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

I think people have admitted that aquol is/was rude. I would bet that aquol might admit that him/herself. I believe that he/she has a valid point despite the rudeness. And of course, yes, I think it is valid because I agree with it.

If you don't agree, then of course you'd view it as just rude and not at all valid.

I haven't characterized it as valid nor invalid. I'm just trying to determine the nuances of group dynamics about when rudeness invalidates a point and when it doesn't, just for my own future reference and so I can use it when the tables turn.

I'm also curious about how many here have flown Israel's airline, gone to Israel or "looked Arab" while doing so. Just trying to determine who has first hand experience to buttress their agreement.

[peezey 0]

Terrorism, according to Webster's is "the use of force or threats to intimidate."

Are you implying that those who commit "terrorism" look, dress, and are Muslim?

Complain about what people? As far as I'm concerned, ANYONE who uses force or threats to intimidate others is a terrorist......it doesn't matter what religion they come from.....it doesn't matter what color their skin is......it doesn't matter what language they speak.....it doesn't matter whether they live in a 3rd world or a 1st world nation.

"These people who commit terrorism" come in all sorts......and yes, absolutely, I am "outraged with their behavior"......but unfortunately, when the use of force or threats to intimidate others is executed by anyone who does not look, dress, or appear to be Muslim it is not considered to be terrorism.......rather, it is considered an act of liberation.

I heartily agree. Israel is not some innocent poor victim in this world.

[Bosco 1]

Aqoul didn't call all Americans dumb, only ones using "habibi" incorrectly. Based on the amount of jokes about non-native English speakers that are posted on VJ, or the amount of times people get laughs posting about their own spouses incorrect usage of English, I don't know why it is such an issue when the tables are turned.

What he/she said was this:

I have to roll my eyes whenever dumb Americans say or write "my habibi". The "i" at the end of the word already denotes possession. Tacking on "my" is just irritatingly redundant.

It was not, those that say "my habibi" are dumb. The dumb came before the statement.

As far as Private, I think the post was a harsh, but an apology was offered, and it would be disingeuous for people (not necessarily you) to proclaim they haven't had similar thoughts when reading her posts. Those thoughts may not have been stated publically before, but they were certainly not new or unique to Aqoul.

"In all your blithering and misfired attempts to be clever or witty, you miss the point entirely. It goes well beyond "grammar", but rather the content of her posts and piss-poor ability to articulate, and the arrogance and audacity contained therein. Clearly the irony of her proclaiming to be above needing to learn anything from her fiance, or any of his family, in light of her being a sub-literate cretin, is completely lost on you.

It's a bloody legitimate question. Reading her posts, I was just curious about what exactly I was dealing with here. If that of a native speaker, then my conclusions that she's an ignorant, sub-literate cretin based on the content of her posts and piss-poor ability to articulate would be well warranted. If not, then maybe something was being lost in translation."

Sorry but apology aside this was uncalled for.

Whatever though. I"ll drop it if everyone agrees with this type of delivery. I'll just ignore him/her from now on because I think that although some points are valid, the way it is conveyed leaves a LOT to be desired.

The adjective coming before the action indicates that the ones performing the action are the ones the adjective describes, IMO.

i.e. - I hate it when rude people cut me off on the road.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

I'm not real comfortable with the idea that all Arabs and Muslims are victims either, being "Arab looking" and Muslim myself. It's not the way I want to gain sympathy.

[m&n 0]

nobody said they were

I'm not real comfortable with the idea that all Arabs and Muslims are victims either, being "Arab looking" and Muslim myself. It's not the way I want to gain sympathy.

[wildroze22 0]

israel is not an innocent poor victim. it is a country. and it has rights to make decisions based n security like any other country.

this is not some new war, and racism is in NO WAY limted to this area of the world. and it sucks that it happens. but it happens to a wide variety of races.

and in respone to green-eyed girl... ive flown el al. no i dont look arabic, im quite greek, but my fiance does. and yes hes israeli, but he often gets pulled aside anyways. doesnt bother him at all. he was in the army, he knows what they are looking for.

when your country is despised by a majority of people around it... of course youre going to look harder at them. esp with the history youve had with airline safety