Agree / Diagree : Keith Olbermann and the beginning of the end of America

Anyone who claims the US government is more dangerous that Islamic terrorism, isn’t paying attention. I can respect the feeling that we in the US shouldn’t change anything we’re doing, if we do it shows the terrorists win. But I think it’s misguided and mis-misinformed to believe so. If we don’t confront terrorism, it will destroy us…they are intent on destroying us. I don’t know how many attacks it will take for Olberman to realize this, but it would serve him good to just pay attention to what’s happening in the world, what the terrorists vow to accomplish even through their own death.

I agree to most of it. He makes good points, but it’s an opinion of a journalist who has no legal power other than that to offer an opinion. I’m not knocking him, but rather suggesting if this resonates with anyone, keep it in mind during upcoming election as that is the only effect this piece can ever have. If you don’t, it doesn’t really matter since no one ever gets up in arms about anything to make a change in america other than vocal conservatives. This would have been a lot bolder if it was said a year or so ago. Now it just seems like another anti- bush commentator ( thought there is nothing wrong with that in my mind).

No, Kyle, not the US Government. George W. Bush. And anyone who thinks George W Bush has helped this country more than hurt it isn’t paying attention. Islamic Terrorists WANT a war, Kyle. They want to spark a world war between Christianity and Islam because they believe it is inevitable and they will win. George Bush is giving them just that. He has destroyed our image in the Middle East, he has wrecked our relationship with all moderate Muslim countries, he has spread hatred across the region. You can’t spread democracy at the end of a gun barrel.

America is more than just a place, more than just people– it’s an idea. “Liberty and justice for all”. Remember that? George Bush is dismantling that idea, piece by piece. Don’t drink the kool aid, Kyle.

Why there is islamic terrorism towards US at the first place? Could it be because some actions that US has done?

Thankfully, there are still people who are ready to stand up and speak the truth with hard words towards US leaders. Those who have followed the news, in Russia, things might be a little different.

Freedom of the press seems to be the only freedom you have left, everything else, gone.

It is indeed a shame for your next president with all of this shit he/she has to carry, I hope you will choose better this time. Because you cant get any more wrong than this.

What the guy said, it might sound bs to some of the US citizens… But then again, there is the rest of the world too. In those eyes, I dare to say United States has failed.

The way I see it, it seems to me that the U.S. is trying to put out the fire, that is terrorism, by pouring fuel on it. It is only making the situation worse.

What I’m about to type might sound harsh now. If you reflect on it, you’ll realise that the U.S. isn’t too different from it’s enemies. Where one side is blinded by its devotion of Allah, the other is too blinded but by the Stars and Stripes and the call of freedom. Both are brainwashed to a fundematalist level. Where one moves under democracy, the other is motivated by faith. Both sides are willing to spill some of their blood, in order to have the enemy lose more life. Both sides see the others as animals and a treath to them, just because their ideals clash. The only difference is, that the U.S. is better armed.

Now I have spoken with Americans who can see beyond their federal brainwashing, the same way I have met Muslims who reject the Islamic cry for blood. But the masses are blind.

Any American who says ‘Kill the Muslims’ or ‘We should just drop a nuke on ‘em all’ is an ignorant mindless fool, who knows no better, and isn’t any better then the terrorists that acted on 9/11.

Thank you for a network to take such a clear stand on a complicating issue like this. I’m not American, I haven’t really followed the recent developments all that much, so I won’t give an opinion on this, but I have to say, I dislike how Bush governs the US.

Eric: “You can’t spread democracy at the end of a gun barrel.”
I agree.

ClaMs: “Where one side is blinded by its devotion of Allah, the other is too blinded but by the Stars and Stripes and the call of freedom.”

I disagree with that statement. The other side is not ‘blinded’ by Allah, they are blinded by their extemist leaders. Leaders like Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein are radical Muslims, and they interpret the Islamic religion differently than other Muslims (just like how there are different views on Christianity). Islam was originally a political religion; it united the Arab people. Today, still, it s also a political religion, but but the results of this political religion (and the governments that it controls) are because of the leaders, not because of the actual religion. Nowhere in Allah’s teaching does it specifically say to be a terrorist. Anything that happens in these theocratic governments is dependable on the interpretation from the leader. Osama Bin Laden, and other leaders, were bad leaders who used Islam to unite their people, and henceforth interpreted it their way, and later justifying what they did by calling this a jihad–or religious struugle.

whew. end that rant. now. the one other thing I have to say is that all people of the world are naturally hypocritical. The politicians of America were ‘preaching’ that the genocide happening during the holocaust was immoral and wrong, and that somewhat justified us getting into the war. AT THE SAME TIME, here on the homeland, Americans were discriminating blacks. If it was immoral to discriminate against Jews, isn’t it wrong to discriminate blacks? Or Japanese? Or blacks? or Hispanics? or Arabs? or Whites? Yes. I said whites. Has there been no discrimination against whites from blacks? Yes. there has.

Every race is fighting for the top. In this country, it has been whites on top most of the time (don’t take that racist, it’s just a fact that whites currently dominate the population and the majority of people who actually vote are white). In Middle Eastern countries: Arab. Is this fighting for the top a natural instinct, or is it brought on by the life long wars of our parents?

After all, a war is never won.

I have to go with Jon here, I haven’t followed the recent developments. But I am still fairly informed on US politics and alike. I will not place any judgement on this other than I believe it is necessary for big broadcasters to allow such thing. Education is the true and only key to enlightenment and proper judgement. When Protagoras said “[the] Man is the measure of all things” (I’m unsure if that’s properly translated) it was implicit that he meant “educated Men” and the collectivity. (see: ) And for such a measure to be logical and as close as to the “truth” as possible we cannot let one man stand in front of us and tell us who are the bad people. Did the muslim really do anything to me? If you can think of the person you hate the most, I’m sure most of you will name some high school bully, not Bin Laden, not some guy you’ve never seen or heard. It’s time for people to realize they too can make their own judgement, they too can hold the “truth”. And not only can they do it. but they have the duty to do it. Otherwise we might as well put a bunch of monkeys in a room and they’ll elect the guy who gives them the most bananas and that my friend is not democracy but legalize dictatorship.

Dangit, I forgot the link for Protagoras. Well I guess anyone would do just what they need to if they wanna know a bit more and go on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protagoras …

Pierre Lourens: Just to clarify. Saddam Hussein was pretty secular in his rule. Only recently has he stepped up the religious rhetoric because he thinks it will fuel the conflict. You’re right that he’s pretty radical, though :)

I think the most interesting point Olbermann makes is that of the lack of hindsight. Historically, when civil liberties has been sacrificed to neutralize a threat, the privileges granted the government has been grossly abused, often with no noticable effect on the issue it was supposed to handle.

what is this big blabla about money and power? :D

Before I say anything, I just wanted to say that from now on I’ll be commenting with my full name. This is just so that if I ever get “caught” saying something I’m not supposed to the government can come and declare me an illegal enemy combatant.

The idea that you can declare your own citizens “illegal enemy combatants” is a disgrace. If you have been following this issue for a while you would know that there was no law detailing the treatment of detainees in U.S. custody due to the Supreme Court finding the way they were being treated before unconstitutional. To fill this void they decided to pass this law. What they don’t see is the fact that it doesn’t exactly fill all the gaps. Sure, now they get a “trial” of sort, but it’s just a MILITARY tribunal decided upon by the President/Secretary of Defense. If they decide that the decision or the people in the tribunal, are unsatisfactory, they use pick new people. That’s of course, if they ever decide to give you one, considering that they can just “disappear” you. You don’t get a trial, no “phone call,” your family doesn’t know where you are and you pretty much disappear from existence.

You say the “terrorists” are the ones we need to worry about? Who is to say who these terrorists are?

If I was gay, I would totally fall in love with this man. Seriously, I Love that the pendulum is FINALLY swinging the otherway. You can just see this administration scattering. It feels good knowing that Kharma/luck/justice is finally coming around to bite them in their ass. It feels so good to see people in the media finally coming forward and saying these things. It’s about god-damned-mother-fucking time to put these criminals in prison and throw away the key. There wasn’t a single thing he said that I disagree with.
and @ClaMs, I completely agree. i’ve been drawing parrallels for years about this american bullshit.
Don’t get me wrong. I love my country. I love the freedoms we [used] to have. I love our constitution. I HATE our administration. I HATE the american belief that we are somehow better than everyone else. I HATE the redneck ignorant son-of-a-bitch that is spouting off racist, ignorant bullshit about how we should just “nuke the rest of the world”.
I swear, if there isn’t a democrat in 2008, I’m moving to Canada. I don’t believe I could be that disconnected with my fellow americans. I just refuse to believe it.

Olby needs to up his meds. I noticed flecks of foam gushing forth during that rabid rant.

I swear, if there isn’t a democrat in 2008, I’m moving to Canada…

They got some fine press censorship going on up there I’m told. I’d also be vary wary of a place that has the following phrase in its constitution: “Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God…”

That should be like Kryptonite to a moonbat I would think…

No right to trial by peers in Canada either:

“Any person charged with an offence has the right…in a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal;”

Good luck.

Olbermann is going the job that more Americans should. Sometimes when BBC reporters video tape FEMA camps they get arrested though. The Bush Administration has been caught giving 1.6 Billion in kickbacks to Main Stream Media (MSM). Each contribution was an impeachable offense.

Sadly, this is only the begining. People just aren’t watching news that isn’t critical of the administration, as demonstrated by recent surveys.

We’re in Iraq for no reason. Both our troops and our rights are under attack. One way Hitler kept support for his dictatorship was with such rhetoric about “Supporting the Troops”. Let’s look at a realistic slogan, “Support out Imperialism”. Maybe if you believe in the trickle down theory our country will benefit heaps; heh, doubt it.

The Espianage Act, the Military Commisions Act of 2006, the Patriot Act and the Liberty act. These will be used to protect us against terrorists, yes? Under this logic we are in fact the terrorists, as the laws have been used against toy store owners, people who have marijuana in their possesion and 14 year old girls.

Don’t know them, Google it. The Military Commision Act is said to only apply to aliens. Reading the actual bill renders this a falsehood.

The wolf is at the door.

We’ll all have a much more keen understanding of this in the future. Where do you stand?