Radio Hoax Exposes Anti-Muslim Sentiment in U.S.

Reuters on AOL News ^ | December 1, 2006 | Bernd Debusmann

[rightwingintelligentsia]

WASHINGTON (Dec. 1) -- When radio host Jerry Klein suggested that all Muslims in the United States should be identified with a crescent-shape tattoo or a distinctive arm band, the phone lines jammed instantly.

The first caller to the station in Washington said that Klein must be "off his rocker." The second congratulated him and added: "Not only do you tattoo them in the middle of their forehead but you ship them out of this country ... they are here to kill us."

Another said that tattoos, armbands and other identifying markers such as crescent marks on driver's licenses, passports and birth certificates did not go far enough. "What good is identifying them?" he asked. "You have to set up encampments like during World War Two with the Japanese and Germans."

At the end of the one-hour show, rich with arguments on why visual identification of "the threat in our midst" would alleviate the public's fears, Klein revealed that he had staged a hoax. It drew out reactions that are not uncommon in post-9/11 America.

"I can't believe any of you are sick enough to have agreed for one second with anything I said," he told his audience on the AM station 630 WMAL (http://www.wmal.com/), which covers Washington, Northern Virginia and Maryland

[sachem longrifle]

Let another attack happen in this country and you will see the American people demand this stuff

[sachem longrifle]

Let another attack happen in this country and you will see the American people demand this stuff

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Yes, the Italian- and definitely the German-descended population was huge. However, some families of either German and Italian immigrants or even naturalized citizens, were deported to overseas internment camps. What happened to the Japanese-descendees was much more extensive.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

I think my "editorial position" on this article is a little misunderstood.

While I actually agree that labeling Muslims is a ridiculous idea, I think the point the radio host was trying to make about exposing anti-Muslim "prejudice" is equally absurd.

He's overlooking the real danger posed by a group of islamic radicals--which we unfortunately can't distinguish from the "good" muslims--to our society. Yes, "rounding them all up" is a disproportionate response and a definite overreaction. But letting down our guard could be lethal.

[durasell]

Germans and Italians were rounded up and put in camps on a select basis. The largest one was Crystal City, Texas. Some were also held in NYC.

[outdriving]

Actually, there were camps for Germans. In the Southeast U.S.

Somehow, nobody ever raised hell about this.

[olderwiser]

Maybe you have some examples of how ignorant bigots are causing such big problems for Muslims in America, since you evidently they are an actual problem, as opposed to a rigged up propaganda talking point of the left/islam-fascist funders?

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Agree. Which is why there coouuld be a database run by the government listing all the Muslims. But by exposing Muslims out in the open (not all use ethnic attire) could lead to vigilantism (and personally against vigilantism).

Sorry to keep asking these questions, but apparently organizing a webpage is very difficult. If http://www.freerepublic.com/~jedimasterpikachu/ is very disorganized on your screen, can you freepmail?

[durasell]

http://www.foitimes.com/internment/cc_tx.htm

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

True about the red herring and the attempt to somehow justify the Imam stunt with US Air. However, armbands and then tats where a popular means of identification of semetices back in the 1930's.

[BW2221]

"I see there is a poll on AOL for this story and over half believe the Muslims pose no threat. I guess there will have to be another attack in order for people to wake up. (sigh)"

You don't understand. It was really a bunch of Knights of Columbus that hijacked those planes and crashed them into buildings - CAIR's latest conspiracy theory (sarc.).

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

A few got angry. However, the number was much less than the number of interned Japanese-descendees.

Sort of similar to how in the Nazi concentration camps (AND NOT STATING THAT NAZI CONCENTRATION CAMPS AND AMERICAN INTERNMENT CAMPS WERE THE SAME, THEY WEREN'T) other people beside Jews were killed. However, Jews were the largest group, and so they are the most identified with the Nazi concentration camps. Japanese-descendees are the most identified with the World War 2 American internment camps.

[durasell]

Nobody raised hell because up to that point the largest terrorist attack on American soil was accomplished by Germans during WWI.

[muawiyah]

After 911, "IGNORANT bIGOTS" became "EDUCATED BIGOTS". The problem are the vast numbers of people who refuse to believe there exists a danger from Islamofacist and other sorts of terrorists.

[olderwiser]

Your initial comments were misconstrued by some people quick to bash or find fault with Americans, like this dopey radio host.

I'll say this: Americans have the right to preserve the institutions that founded and have led to prosperity and ordered freedom in this country for over 200 years.

Immigrants who refuse to respect, and/or work to subvert those institutions, do not have any special right to do so.

I have not "pre-judged" that our country has historically represented a land of more real opportunity and real justice than any other nation in the history of the world. This is my considered judgement based on the facts.

So. I will defend our American way of life, without apology, to all comers.

[JillValentine]

Allegra, I understand and sympathize with your views, but we have to understand that left-wing extremist hate-baiters like Klein are also part of the problem. He's not interested in stopping discrimination, he's interested in portraying all conservatives, Republicans, and/or servicemembers as bigots. You and I don't want all Muslims to have to wear a crescent, but Klein doesn't care. He still wants to call us Nazis, and no amount of "We're nice ladies" is going to make him change his mind.

[Kakaze]

Stunts like this are designed to appease the liberal cocktail crowd, that are as Isolated as can be from normal Americans and real life.

Don't ever let them play so much on your guilt that you lose sight of whats important.

Defending your family and way of life.

[muawiyah]

One-quarter, not one-half.

[gallaxyglue]

The best idea is, indeed, to prohibit the immigration of Muslims. "Severely restricting" immigration doesn't go far enough. No need to wait to see how Europe pans out...the problems of European countries, all of which feel great regret for literally losing their homelands to Muslim immigratnion, are there big time, and are only getting worse.

Barbarians are not only at the gate; they are inside and infiltrating fast.

[M Kehoe]

#20

That was a pretty good defense of bigoted rednecks, councilor.

5.56mm