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Date:         Sat, 20 Apr 2002 14:14:35 -0600
Reply-To:     Simon Reinhardt <simon@FARRSIDE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Simon Reinhardt <simon@FARRSIDE.NET>
Subject:      Re: Now, Hold on there just a second..!
In-Reply-To:  <107101c1e89d$6a51a690$5d086d18@videon70882>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

Am I the one missing something here? It would seem to me that the message of the sign, given that it's on a funeral home, is that the proprietors would rather prepare and bury "1000 ARAB TERRORISTS", than one Jew... meaning, obviously, that they hope no Jew dies, and that these putative terrorists DO. Now aside from the problem of them being "ARAB" terrorists, that's actually a fairly funny play on words. The only problem is that not all terrorists are Arab, and not all Arabs are terrorists. I'm just not seeing any anti-Jew message here. I am seeing a minority voice over-reacting, without even fully understanding what they are reacting to. But that's just what I see... maybe I missed something. In any event, it WAS just a sign. And frankly, it WAS pretty funny, and a little clever. I'm not arabic, so maybe I should be offended, too, but I have to assume that I would be educated and have a decent sense of humor if I WAS arabic, or else I'd be thinking like a racist.

Chill out.

Vanagon content: I'm about a week away from getting a Syncro Westy for a song. Is it normal to not be able to sleep because of anticipation? Is it normal, yet perverted, to be unable to sleep in happy anticipation of the known (fairly major) mechanical problems that will need- joy!- to be fixed before I can even drive it? In any event, I've enjoyed lurking for this past week or so. This is probably the single best 1-topic (nominally) forum I've seen yet. I don't even have the van yet, and I still feel like part of the community

On Saturday, April 20, 2002, at 12:58 PM, Marshall wrote:

> Question: What is the meaning of "Freedom"? (Answer at the end.) > > Regarding your post: > > The message of your post is that Jews hold their own in low esteem. > > Therefore, one can conclude that since they hold their own brethren in > low > esteem, it justifies non-Jews to safely express anti-Jewish remarks > without > fear of criticism > > After all, if even Jews hate Jews so much, it must be OK to treat them > badly. > > Your message just more hate, and it doesn't have anything to do with > Vanagons. > > Now, why don't you attach a version of this message on your van, or on > your > residential door, or on your business card, if you believe what you say? > > I don't think you will, because it would have a personal consequence for > you. > > You would be confronted by people who will directly challenge you, and > you > would be frightened by that, ...isn't that right? > > But you, and other people like you, always try to find a way to express > hatred behind a shield of some kind, to avoid the personal > consequences, and > the fear. And the flip-side of freedom. > > Sometimes your shield from the fear is a white sheet and mask, sometimes > it's the cover of darkness, other times it's a dark basement or > beerhall.. > > Thing is, posting your message of hate here, does have a personal > consequence for you. > > I now hold you in low esteem, and I know others do too. > > Depending on how upset people are, you could: > > 1. lose your rights to post to the list; > 2. face a concerted group of people who shun you. > > ***Answer to "What is the meaning of "Freedom"? > > Freedom is a coin with two sides. > > One side says, "freedom TO". > > Everybody knows that side, you included - it's a simple mantra to > understand, and many have willingly died for it. > > The flip-side says, "freedom FROM". > > It's not so simple to understand, and it's meaning is totally lost on > you. > > This list supports freedom with both of it's sides. > > Do you? > > It's time to choose. > > Marshall Ruskin > 84 Westy > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "John Rodgers" <jhrodgers@MINDSPRING.COM> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> > Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 04:24 PM > Subject: Now, Hold on there just a second..! > > >> At the risk of getting my flame suit burned to a crisp, and setting off >> a nuclear explosion among the politcally correct amongst this Vanagon >> crowd, to all the Spics, Chicanos, Pollacks, Black Irish, Frogs, Jews, >> Niggers, Whiteys, Arabs, Krauts, Gooks, Nordski's, Chinks, Redskins, >> Rooskys and whoever (who did I miss) and whatever else we are >> comprised >> of to make up the membership of this great list and this great country, >> I dedicate this next one. >> >> It is, after all, FryDaye!! >> >> John Rodgers >> 88 GL Drive >> >> ******* >> Store window sign in Philly!! >> >> "WE WOULD RATHER DO BUSINESS WITH 1000 ARAB TERRORISTS THAN WITH A >> SINGLE JEW" >> >> This sign was prominently displayed in the window of a business >> in >> Philadelphia. Most would be outraged at the thought of such an >> inflammatory statement... >> >> One would think that anti-hate groups from all across the country >> would be marching on this business... >> >> And that the National Guard might have to be called to keep the >> angry >> crowds back... >> >> But, perhaps in these stressful times one might be tempted to let >> the >> proprietors simply make their statement... >> >> We are a society who holds Freedom of Speech as perhaps our >> greatest >> liberty... And after all it is just a sign.... >> >> So what business would dare post such a >> sign?...................... >> >> GOLDBERG'S FUNERAL HOME >


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