A public apology

[Monti]

We all say things in the heat of the moment that we probably shouldn't have. Ditto what Anthony said.

But would everyone have been so forgiving if he had used the "n" word to describe a black person? I doubt it. I think since 9/11, or maybe even before that, its been somehow more acceptable to be prejudiced against middle easterners. I think its horrible.

You sound familiar.

so do you

[Lindaloo]

Buh Bye!

[wx247]

Buh Bye!

Oh my gosh!! That avatar is priceless. Can I borrow it (a couple of memb...I mean times.)

[azskyman]

It's obvious by this post that there is great power in words. We have a hard time, of course, trying to distinguish between prejudice and hate. We have a hard time distinguishing between remarks made in general but intended to describe "the few."

If those here on these boards have such struggles with "intent" and "purpose" about such remarks, it is easy to see why in the bigger picture where hate and prejudice really exist and are perpetuated from the earliest days of childhood, people actually choose to fight and die. Generations upon generations are taught that such hate is righteous. And so goes the world.

Dennis' remarks, like most here on Storm2k are passionate strokes against those who would do harm against any one of us for the sake of a cause...and no other purpose.

These people do not distinguish between military or civilian targets...they simply are taught to lash out against what they believe is the enemy.

It takes many years to build hatred to such a level. It takes many many more to purge it.

Dennis...your words were those of frustration and anger...a natural response to all the pain we continue to feel here in this country. Your many years experiencing the pain and plight of Native Americans is no doubt a contributing factor to your deep-seeded feelings.

But I know that like all of us, you yearn for a level of peace and understanding that seems so very far out of reach these days.

[WEATHER53]

If he wants to call hostage takers and terrorists(really cowards as they do not inspire terror as much as revulsion) bad names then I have a hard time seeing or believing why anyone would then attempt to transfer that label to a race as a whole.

[Arizwx]

Enough of this Politically Correct B.S.
Dennis described TERRORISTS aka 09-11-01.
Why apologize?
To an entire race...maybe.To OUR Nation?NEVER!!!!!!!!!!

[azsnowman]

Like I said, since my tour of duty in the Middle East, Mediterranean in 1977-78, I came to judge people of Middle Eastern Decent due to this experience in Alexandria, Egypt and it also happened in Cairo. We had pulled into port in Alexandria, went ashore and as MOST sailors do, you hit the first bar for a coupla beers, well, my friends and I proceed to this one particular bar, before entering, we came across this *gang, not really* of young boys, I'd guess between the ages of 6-8 yrs old. Without ANY warning, these *edit* starting spitting at us, calling us names that a drunken sailor wouldn't use, then they starting throwing stones at us (your typical Barbarians)...we *rushed* them just the scare the living daylights outta them. This happened NUMEROUS times, too many times to even remember, there were areas of the cities that were strictly off limits to us. You would hear adults, along with the children swearing at us, tossing stones (like I said, their MAIN choice of weapons)....

FYI..this ALSO happened in Spain, Madrid, Barcelona to be exact, except they didn't throw stones at us, most the buildings in the Mediterranean are 3/4 stories high with narrow streets. We'd be walking down the streets and hear flower pots hitting the ground behind us along with shouts of anger towards the "F'N American sailors!"

Dennis