tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5811749743523633503.post3970130381524335628..comments2024-03-20T11:36:53.907+00:00Comments on Restoring Mayberry: Welcoming nightBrian Kallerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11082602126850605083noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5811749743523633503.post-18771105321694803672016-02-07T09:09:14.277+00:002016-02-07T09:09:14.277+00:00Andy,
It's a shame; tallying up the number o...Andy, <br /><br />It's a shame; tallying up the number of Americans who have died from Islamic terrorist attacks in the last 20 years, I'm pretty sure the number would be the victims of 9-11 and few others, putting it at one ten-millionth the risk of death by obesity. Brian Kallerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11082602126850605083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5811749743523633503.post-42928295593834349582016-02-07T02:24:28.960+00:002016-02-07T02:24:28.960+00:00I wish I could claim that anti-Muslim attitudes we...I wish I could claim that anti-Muslim attitudes were a figment of media exaggeration, but I think it's become pretty widespread. On the one hand, I agree that Americans would be welcoming when it came down to families in their communities. On the other hand, they're not going to get that chance or that enlightening lesson -- we're not going to have those families because politics has choked off their routes here. Which, not coincidentally, is what the terrorists want. Anubis Bardhttp://anubisbard.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5811749743523633503.post-61386711928963615162016-02-01T22:04:06.477+00:002016-02-01T22:04:06.477+00:00Andy,
Thank you. As an American originally mysel...Andy, <br /><br />Thank you. As an American originally myself -- and from a Republican, red-state, Christian conservative background -- I've heard much of the media you talk abut. Let me ask, though: how much of their messages are reflected in the attitudes of people on the ground? I've usually found that people are often quite decent, even when surrounded by mass media that urge them to be otherwise. <br /><br />Sarah, <br /><br />Thanks. How many refugees have come to Australia? I'm wondering if people are afraid of something they've never encountered, or contempt of the familiar. Brian Kallerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11082602126850605083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5811749743523633503.post-88489596061581001352016-02-01T09:58:17.899+00:002016-02-01T09:58:17.899+00:00Well said. I similarly stopped a conversation in ...Well said. I similarly stopped a conversation in its tracks by responding to the rhetorical question 'would you have a Muslim refugee in your house?' by saying 'yes'.<br /><br />Here in Australia refugees have been exploited for political gain for the last fifteen years and it is to our great discredit. There's nothing scary about people who come with nothing, and the best way to avoid future radicalisation is to treat people in need with kindness. It really isn't hard, and the rewards are wonderful. Most refugees would probably prefer to go home if it was safe to do so, but if it isn't, they will be our future neighbours and fellow citizens - starting as we mean to go on is going to give us all the best community.<br />SarahRnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5811749743523633503.post-20671079767426245892016-01-31T23:57:27.804+00:002016-01-31T23:57:27.804+00:00Very inspiring. I wish more of that was happening...Very inspiring. I wish more of that was happening here. If nothing else, it might help cure more Americans of their xenophobia. The reaction to the exodus of refugees has been disheartening here. We have large corners of our mediascape and one of our two political parties devoted to stoking fear and ignorance and bringing out the most uncharitable aspects of our populace. I firmly believe that the majority of Americans would be welcoming, but hysteria seems to set policy these days.Anubis Bardhttp://anubisbard.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com