Since I did a quick compilation of a
rogue's gallery of white, native-U.S.-born Christian terrorists and other mass murderers to help counter the "Tsarnaev Means All Muslim Immigrants Are Evil" meme a few days ago, I've received nearly 70 new "friend requests" on Facebook, almost all of which are from people with Arabic-sounding names.
To be honest, I'm not quite sure how to handle them--on the one hand, I'm flattered, and I'm sure many of these people are well worth knowing. On the other hand, I don't know any of them, and a single image post hardly seems worth giving them access to my FB info. Then again, a couple hundred people are now suddenly "Following" me as well, so I guess that'll suffice.
Of all the requests, however, there was one that actually included a note accompanying it, which I'm very proud and honored to receive. It's from a Chaldaen high school girl who wrote:
"I just wanted to thank you for posting that photo of terrorists. I'm so happy it went viral. I'm not Muslim, I'm actually Chaldean (and Armenian, AND Peruvian, born here in the USA), but I feel especially attacked because my parents are immigrants and so many people are saying the most awful things about people that have come to the United States for a fresh start and great opportunities. The things I've seen and heard are just so hurtful and wrong. Your photo that went viral showed me that people aren't as ignorant as they've appeared to be the past week. Thank you for the reassurance."
Given that we already have a NY State Senator calling for
Tsarnaev to be tortured, her comment has an extra impact. Bottom line: Assuming he's guilty (and it's sure as hell looking like he is), I have no problem with him either being imprisoned for life or, if it comes to it, executed; but the fact that we now have elected officials openly
calling for torturing people (as opposed to claiming that waterboarding "doesn't count" as torture just a few years ago) is highly disturbing.
Anyway, I just wanted to thank everyone here who helped get this out there. It's my understanding that Stephanie Miller actually used this compilation graphic on her show today, so that's cool. I also want to thank Eclectablog for letting me post it on his site this morning.