From deep in the heart of Texas... where the hate in bloom is like perfume. As I said recently in a comment, I can't explain it, I only live here. I was recently forwarded an e-mail that shows the terrifying lack of self-education and the ever-readiness of people to jump to a conclusion of hate.
I don't get these e-mails much anymore. Most people in my family and circle of acquaintances have been made aware of my political leanings, either through my rants on my blog / facebook or, in the case of some wayward whack-job e-mail that happens to make it through the cracks of their sanity, my essays in response and/or links to Snopes that publicly debunk their craziness (i.e., Obama is a granny-killing Muslim, Michelle hates whities and their Cheetos, Sarah Palin is a post-feminist icon, etc.) Therefore, I am generally left off their distribution lists of Crazy. This is, in the words of Queen Martha, a Good Thing. I am not left depressed and mourning the state of our public education system and the e-mail senders are not left fuming in rage at me. Everyone's a winner.
'Til today I receive this e-mail, forwarded by someone who had handily taken on the Crazy for me.
Because they are generally awesome, Snopes.com has already addressed the truthiness of the original e-mail's implication, that the store was closing to celebrate the martyrdom of a 9/11 terrorist.
Imam Ali, raised by Muhammed, served as an early Islamic leader and a successor to Muhammed, was assassinated while praying. Imam Ali's martyrdom is traditionally observed on the 21st day of Ramadan. In recent years, Imam Ali's martyrdom has been observed in and around September and October and this year fell on September 11.
Two Houston tv stations also picked up the story, KTRK and KHOU. The owner of the store has since apologized, posted an explanation and has had to address multiple angry phone calls and faxes a day since the e-mail went viral.
But what snopes doesn't do, in a very fair and balanced kind of way, is show you the true hate and ignorance that lay behind the original e-mail spread. You can see it in the comments on the television stations' websites.
If we would all shop at AMERICAN owned and operated stores, that are selling AMERICAN made goods, we wouldn't have to worry about all this stupid Islam crap. I'm so sick of hearing about this garbage. Leave my country!
I still won't shop the store. He had no regard for the hurt America feels for what happened on 9/11 - let him pay the price - no shoppers - less money- close the doors.
I am so glad that I e-mailed them this story and got the media attention. When you live in America and take the oath, you become an American. Why are Americans now forced to have foreign holidays and customs shoved down our throat?
again, i think its like saying you are closing shop to celibrate hitlers mom. no she did not kill 3 million people, but she gave birth to the man who did!
they are just not happy people. they come to America and kill thousands and thousands when they could stay where they are from and kill their own.
Well, I feel that if is herre, and running a business, HE DID KNOW THE MEANING OF 9/11 to all Americans and Christians. All of our rights are surely being taken away from us, to please someone that came here because they didn't like the ways of their own country. You know, if you don't like it, LEAVE go back to your own country & do what ever it is that you do and leave us alone.
And more and more and more, not to mention the "likes" and "dislikes" galore.
I know what you're saying, "let's be fair to the good Houstonians. Obviously, there are just a few dimwits who take advantage of the internet to post their baloney anonymously."
Well.... I did receive the original forwarded e-mail, and a few people felt comfortable forwarding the e-mail to their friends and family with their true feelings and names attached. (Removed for this diary, 'cause I'm nice like that.) They also urged each other to write down the address of the business so they wouldn't accidentally go in to buy perfume from these entrepreneurial terrorists. (The address was on the picture above. I removed it, just to spite them. But if you want to go patronize the store, please go and spite them as well.)
I guess that to them, tolerance means we accept them but they don't need to accept us. For generations, immigrants to this country, including my parents, worked as quickly as they could to become as American as their neighbors. What you see above is known as Creeping Sharia.
Even though I’m sure this sign does not speak for all the business owners, I’m sure it represents more than we would like to know. I agree with the person who took this picture – it makes me sick inside.
I’m surprised someone didn’t Frag the place.
And that, my fellow Americans, is the Crazy from Texas.