Leonard Pitts Jr.: America losing its mind

[Douglas Carpenter]

Sharia is not known to be a problem in Oklahoma, or, for that matter, anywhere else in the United States, something even the bill’s backers concede. But, said the initiative’s sponsor, then-Republican state Rep. Rex Duncan, why wait?

Of course, by that reasoning, one can also justify laws regulating time travel, flying cars and pink unicorns pooping in public parks. Should we assume Oklahoma legislators are hard at work on laws to restrict these and other non-existent troubles?

Probably not. After all, unlike other purely fictional problems, the Sharia “issue” allows a demagogue to exploit a tender spot in the American psyche: our growing fear of all things Muslim

snip:

Meaning, the loss of America’s mind. That loss has occurred with distressing frequency over the years, often coming in times of hysteria and fear, often involving the demonization of some American subset for the actions of those with whom they share some cultural, racial or religious trait.

Oklahoma’s nonsensical law suggests our enemies have been successful in that. One recalls how Bush stood beneath a banner that crowed of a victory against terrorism. But to the degree Oklahoma accurately reflects our national mindset, it is the terrorists who deserve to hoist that banner. America is scared stupid.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/50778816-82/oklahoma-fear-law-america.html.csp

[azurnoir]

1. K&R * 1000

however is it really fear or just convenient scapegoating quite frankly I am not sure

[Dr.Phool]

2. Correction: America has lost it's frickin' mind.

[awoke_in_2003]

3. "our growing fear of all things Muslim"...

if we allow any spirituality, whether it be christian or muslim, to gain traction and affect law making decisions (like Prop 8) then we are doomed. The other spiritualists will cry foul and want "equal say".

[pansypoo53219]

4. taint oklahoma where the talibornagains live?

you'd think they'd embrace sharia.

[Independem]

5. Sad, Sad World of those who preach fear .

Very Intelligent people started hording things at the thought of the New Millennium.

It tested the gullibility of modern America, after that I think Fox News could convince most watchers the world is flat and showed how propaganda and power can thrive.

Then we got another dose of repeat until lies become facts and behold we attacked Iraq.

Now we have hundreds of stories abound, mixing fact and fiction with lies and entertainment and Poof, you have hicks in Oklahoma worried about Muslims and idiots hanging on every word from Beck to Palin and Rush to show them who to hate that week

Sad, Sad World of those who preach fear and those who use fear to control the masses.

[struggle4progress]

6. Why would anyone support pink unicorns pooping in public parks? I'm certainly against it

[saras]

10. Pink unicorn poop is a good thing

Haven't you seen the amazing technicolor flowers that bloom from pink unicorn poop? And the cute little bugs that come, roll it up into insect cheese wheels, and pack it off to their little insect markets?

It wouldn't surprise me if they try to outlaw it.

[Uncle Joe]

7. Well at least we've advanced a long way in regards to food demonization since the War to end all War

For instance, Americans of German descent were bullied and beset during the First World War in a nation that found it necessary to rename sauerkraut “Liberty Cabbage.” Americans of Japanese descent were imprisoned during the Second World War, many of them losing their homes and livelihoods.

I believe Freedom Fries; has a much nicer ring to it than Liberty Cabbage.

Thanks for the thread, Douglas Carpenter.

[provis99]

8. this stupidity isn't new.

Remember Patrick Henry blathering "Give me freedom or give me death" at the same time he was one of the biggest slaveowners in the South?

[Jefferson23]

9. It is sad and disturbing how much has changed since 9/11. The propaganda

lives on and I do believe there are enough Americans who would also support racial profiling, among other crazy
things too.

Pitiful conduct in Oaklahoma.

[calimary]

11. "...scared stupid." So spot-on! The fact that many Americans are exactly that means

the terrorists have indeed won.

They've owned us since the afternoon of 9/11 when people first started indulging in an orgy of fear - that turned to hatred and to brains going straight into the ground. Osama and friends wanted to fundamentally change America - to render us fearful and turning on each other in a huge terrified national circle-jerk. They wanted to see everything we believed in undermind and torn apart, preferably by us. And we responded as a Pavlov dog to a ringing bell.