"... which was also the last day of Passover, the festival of our freedom, when I heard a loud bang in the lobby of my synagogue. I thought a table had fallen down or maybe even that, God forbid, my dear friend Lori Gilbert Kaye had tripped and fallen.... I saw Lori bleeding on the ground. And I saw the terrorist who murdered her. This terrorist was a teenager. He was standing there with a big rifle in his hands. And he was now aiming it at me. For one reason: I am a Jew. He started shooting. My right index finger got blown off. Another bullet hit my left index finger, which started gushing blood.... Then an amazing miracle occurred: The terrorist’s gun jammed.... I am a religious man. I believe everything happens for a reason. I do not know why God spared my life.... I don’t know why a part of my body was taken away from me. I don’t know why I had to see my good friend [Lori], a woman who embodied the Jewish value of
hesed (kindness), hunted in her house of worship.... I do not know God’s plan. All I can do is try to find meaning in what has happened. And to use this borrowed time to make my life matter more.... I pray that my missing finger serves as a constant reminder to me. A reminder that every single human being is created in the image of God; a reminder that I am part of a people that has survived the worst destruction and will always endure; a reminder that my ancestors gave their lives so that I can live in freedom in America; and a reminder, most of all, to never, ever, not ever be afraid to be Jewish. From here on in I am going to be more brazen... And I’m going to use my voice until I am hoarse to urge my fellow Jews to do Jewish. To light candles before Shabbat. To put up mezuzas on their doorposts. To do acts of kindness. And to show up in synagogue — especially this coming Shabbat. I am a proud emissary of Chabad-Lubavitch.... we are obviously Jewish, identifiable by our black hats and beards...."
From
"A Terrorist Tried to Kill Me Because I Am a Jew. I Will Never Back Down. I do not know why God spared my life in my Poway synagogue. All I can do is make this borrowed time matter" by Yisroel Goldstein (NYT).
A dramatic, beautiful essay. Incredibly (though not surprisingly) the top-rated comment at the NYT is:
The terrorist's gun jamming was a miracle? No, a REAL miracle would have been Congress passing common-sense laws so that the terrorist couldn't have gotten such weapons in the first place.
Posts
223 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 223 of 223I notice a deranged yammering at 9:22 PM that seems to represents a self-hating, likely spinster woman's fixation on any kind of "hate" except the hate that gets people killed.
I guess she just doesn't value life all that much. Probably even her own.
Sad.
The need for the weapon was determined after data gathered during the 1917-1918 period and statistically analyzed in the 1920s showed the 1911 pistol killed virtually zero enemy soldiers.
@Quaestor, did you run that past Alvin York?
Caring is a waste for hands that prefer to kill.
So you say. Ever read "Blind Eye?" You are in it.
Well seeing as how you're the main character in it, why would I - Michael Swango K.? You're even named after him.
Did you ever wonder if being such an elitist wanker was related to your stupidity? I think more research shows that this is very much the case.
"Funny how racial Islam and Nazis and now modern day leftwing progressives share the same religion."
Which is?
What is "racial Islam?"
"Also funny how Maduro, who was going to head over to Cuba this AM, was talked out of it by ... wait for it.... the Russians. You know- Obama's old buddies. The common denominator- leftiwng communists are birds of a feather."
1. Russia is not communist anymore.
2. Putin was Trump's buddy before Trump became president.
3. Russia has been a partner of the U.S., if not an outright ally, for years. They're only now being made back into our "enemies" again because the military needs a big, bad boogie man to justify their continuing parasitic consumption of our tax dollars. The Islamic terrorists aren't a credible enough menace anymore, and we can all see clearly they're not and never were an existential threat.
4. What's with the constant stringing together of descriptives, mostly redundant: "leftwing progressives," "leftwing communists," etc.? It makes those who do this sound like overexcited but baffled adolescents trying to make "adult" comments even though they're not quite sure what the terms they're using mean.
Michael K Swango is such a denatured douchebag that the cucumber dildo he regularly sticks in his ass immediately becomes a pickle.
Too bad you never got into medical school. Then you could have done some real damage.
"@Cookie, it was a reasonable inference from your quoted comment."
As I thought...you have nothing.
I'm sure you think every medical student and graduate is as much of a silly douchebag as you are.
Funny how Trump's presidency leads to a spike in synagogue shootings and a surge in related incidents.
Not when you think about how much of a friend to Israel Trump has been. His support for Israel and Jews drives chimp-brained antisemitic h8ters such as yourself to say and do really stupid things. Go play in traffic, bigot.
As I thought...you have nothing.
If I am quoting you, Cookie, then that's about right.
Has it ever crossed that silly little thing you jokingly call a brain that Americans are way past accepting the insane notion that whatever goes wrong in the world must -- somehow or another -- be America's fault? Muslims killing cartoonists? In the foolish, idiotic world you have crafted inside your mind -- if we can stretch the meaning of "mind" to incorporate what you do -- it must be all America's fault. Surely it must be. Can't be Muslims' fault. They're just reacting to Americans.
If the mythical moderate Muslim is worried about American reaction to extremists' atrocities, (real Americans, not worthless turds like you, Cookie) they can damned well police their own. If they won't, then they deserve whatever happens to them.
Until then, just eat shit and die, Cookie.
"Muslims are taught to kill infidels. Not all do but lots are silent cheerleaders for doing so."
Really? All of them are taught this? If not all, then is it 80% of them? 50%? 5%?
What kind of training do they receive, and from whom? Where is this training conducted? Is this training given here in America to American muslim children? Are there certificates issued to students who pass training? Are the training centers licensed by the state? Can they take these courses online somewhere? Do students who flunk out have to retake the training?
If not "all" Muslims kill infidels--I guess since the vast majority aren't killing infidels, this "all" really means "a few do"--how many are included in the "lots" who cheerlead for it?
Frankly, Doc, I question your degree of expertise on this.
"Until then, just eat shit and die, Cookie."
Well, you just confirmed you have nothing. But thank you for taking an interest.
What kind of training do they receive, and from whom?
The Quran says:Quran (3:56) - "As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help." (See also: Response to Apologists)
Quran (3:151) - "Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they joined companions with Allah, for which He had sent no authority". This speaks directly of polytheists, yet it also includes Christians, since they believe in the Trinity (ie. what Muhammad incorrectly believed to be 'joining companions to Allah'). (See also: Response to Apologists)
Quran (4:74) - "Let those fight in the way of Allah who sell the life of this world for the other. Whoso fighteth in the way of Allah, be he slain or be he victorious, on him We shall bestow a vast reward." The martyrs of Islam are unlike the early Christians, who were led meekly to the slaughter. These Muslims are killed in battle as they attempt to inflict death and destruction for the cause of Allah. This is the theological basis for today's suicide bombers. (See also: Response to Apologists)
Lots more, Cookie.
Cookie, on the numbers question ?
ICM Poll: 20% of British Muslims sympathize with 7/7 bombers
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1510866/Poll-reveals-40pc-of-Muslims-want-sharia-law-in-UK.html
NOP Research: 1 in 4 British Muslims say 7/7 bombings were justified
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/08/14/opinion/main1893879.shtml&date=2011-04-06
http://www.webcitation.org/5xkMGAEvY
Channel Four (2006): 31% of younger British Muslims say 7/7 bombings were justified compared to 14% of those over 45.
http://www.policyexchange.org.uk/images/publications/living%20apart%20together%20-%20jan%2007.pdf
People-Press: 31% of Turks support suicide attacks against Westerners in Iraq.
http://people-press.org/report/206/a-year-after-iraq-war
YNet: One third of Palestinians (32%) supported the slaughter of a Jewish family, including the children:
http://pajamasmedia.com/tatler/2011/04/06/32-of-palestinians-support-infanticide/
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4053251,00.html
World Public Opinion: 83% of Egyptians approve of attacks on American troops.
26% of Indonesians approve of attacks on American troops.
26% of Pakistanis approve of attacks on American troops.
68% of Moroccans approve of attacks on American troops.
90% of Palestinians approve of attacks on American troops.
72% of Jordanians approve of attacks on American troops.
52% of Turks approve of some or most groups that attack Americans (39% oppose)
A minority of Muslims disagreed entirely with terror attacks on American troops.
About half of those opposed to attacking Americans were sympathetic with al-Qaeda’s attitude toward the U.S.
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/pdf/feb09/STARTII_Feb09_rpt.pdf
You're welcome, Cookie.
Robert Cook said
1. Russia is not communist anymore.
Anymore? Well Russia is certainly a remnant of communism - that refuses to die completely. a system of governmetn you leftists admire and wish to emulate. Now Russia is an odd amalgamation of China's Corney capitalist dictatorship capitalism, and Castro's dictator for life. You know how Russian's vote? "The popular vote"
2. Putin was Trump's buddy before Trump became president.
And? Putin and Obama were structural pals *wink wink*. & during Hillary's stint as Obama's head of the State dept - she managed to pocket millions with secret Russian Uranium sales
3. Russia has been a partner of the U.S., if not an outright ally, for years. They're only now being made back into our "enemies" again because the military needs a big, bad boogie man to justify their continuing parasitic consumption of our tax dollars. The Islamic terrorists aren't a credible enough menace anymore, and we can all see clearly they're not and never were an existential threat.
The 1980's are calling
4. What's with the constant stringing together of descriptives, mostly redundant: "leftwing progressives," "leftwing communists," etc.? It makes those who do this sound like overexcited but baffled adolescents trying to make "adult" comments even though they're not quite sure what the terms they're using mean.
The real war is with the leftwing liars who are leftwing fascists and leftwing communists, and government whores of various stripes like both Bernie and HIllary - and leftwing propaganda whores like Maddow and Colbert etc... the real war.
***correction - racial Islamists = "radical" islamists. I blame by horrid keyboard that is too big for my small hands.
tip toe thru the typ[os.
Crony
A week ago, Richard Fernandez (a.k.a. “Wretchard the Cat”) posted the following as a comment to one of his postings (quoting…):
Years ago I met a lady from Panay Island who told me this story. On her way home to a dorm at a southern American university, where she was studying, she was jumped by two men. She said “Jesus help me” and one of the 2 men said to the other “let's not do this” and they left.
Something they learned in childhood had stood in the way of great evil even if they did not fully understand it. Sometimes magic does protect us though we can't explain it.
(/unQuote)
____
A miracle — “magic” — to some, yet totally not to others.
Always check abebooks.com (the Advanced Book Exchange — a consortium of 10,000 used book stores) for decently priced, good quality books. Black Rifle II (i.e., the second edition) is available there for $59.98 — with free shipping. Oftentimes the price discrepancy between ABE and Amazon is even greater.
Putin was Trump's buddy before Trump became president.
Ah, good — since you know this — that Trump was supposedly Putin's “buddy” — you should then be able to identify precisely (or even just approximately) when Trump ever met with Putin — prior, that is, to a July 2017 international conference.
"Lots more, Cookie."
Lot's more? That's nothing. Quoting the Koran does not show that "all Muslims are trained to kill infidels."
"Cookie, on the numbers question?"
So, most of the figures you provide show a distinct majority of Muslims do not agree with the actions of Islamic extremists. You have disproved your own claims.
As for this section, which shows some exception to the above:
"World Public Opinion: 83% of Egyptians approve of attacks on American troops.
26% of Indonesians approve of attacks on American troops.
26% of Pakistanis approve of attacks on American troops.
68% of Moroccans approve of attacks on American troops.
90% of Palestinians approve of attacks on American troops.
72% of Jordanians approve of attacks on American troops.
52% of Turks approve of some or most groups that attack Americans (39% oppose)
A minority of Muslims disagreed entirely with terror attacks on American troops.
About half of those opposed to attacking Americans were sympathetic with al-Qaeda’s attitude toward the U.S.
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/pdf/feb09/STARTII_Feb09_rpt.pdf"
This just shows that people in those areas think invading armies should be fought back against. Do you think a majority of Americans would not approve of attacks on any foreign military forces invading our country, bombing our citizens? You're being dishonest not to acknowledge that we are an unwelcome, invading force in these countries.
Not when you think about how much of a friend to Israel Trump has been.
I don't think about that. Not when he's the president of a place called "America" and the concept of a "national friend" is a little too kooky for comfort. If you weren't so anti-semitic or un-American, you'd care about the results of his actions on the Jews of America, istead.
His support for Israel and Jews drives chimp-brained antisemitic h8ters such as yourself to say and do really stupid things. Go play in traffic, bigot.
You sound about as Jewish as Martin Luther but sure, why not speak for them? Especially when you stand up for getting more of them killed in America so long as Trump makes you feel proud about the buildings he's put his name on in foreign countries, and makes you identify more with Israelis than Americans - at least if they're Jewish.
Now that's not only bigotry. It's nationalistic bigotry.
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