The Paradox of Tolerance

Less well known is the paradox of tolerance: Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them. – In this formulation, I do not imply, for instance, that we should always suppress the utterance of intolerant philosophies; as long as we can counter them by rational argument and keep them in check by public opinion, suppression would certainly be most unwise. But we should claim the right to suppress them if necessary even by force; for it may easily turn out that they are not prepared to meet us on the level of rational argument, but begin by denouncing all argument; they may forbid their followers to listen to rational argument, because it is deceptive, and teach them to answer arguments by the use of their fists or pistols. We should therefore claim, in the name of tolerance, the right not to tolerate the intolerant. We should claim that any movement preaching intolerance places itself outside the law, and we should consider incitement to intolerance and persecution as criminal, in the same way as we should consider incitement to murder, or to kidnapping, or to the revival of the slave trade, as criminal.

- Sir Karl Popper, in relation to his remarks in his The Open Society about Plato’s Republic. Karl R. Popper, The Spell of Plato, Vol. I of The Open Society and its Enemies (New York: Harper Torchbooks/Harper & Row Publishers, 1963), footnote 4 to ch. 7, 265.

This is what Sir Karl was alluding to in his remarks:

"A short bus ride from Paris, a world capital of romance, teen-age girls trapped in soulless, Soviet-style housing complexes are too scared to wear skirts and balk at the idea of dating.
Imprisoned behind yellowed curtains that hang limply at windows, they stay indoors to avoid the jeers, bullying and the ominous risk of rape that lurks in dingy stairwells where gangs of boys of mostly North African origin hang out."

and this:

"Over half of all convicted rapists in Denmark are Muslims even though Muslim immigrants constitute hardly five percent of the Danish population. "

The American Melting pot has been replaced by multiculturalism to disasterous results. Don't believe me, take a look at the marchers in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. Hundreds of thousands of hypeneated Americans took to the streets of these American cities, flying the flag of a foreign government demanding that we reward their illegal behavior with citizenship - putting them ahead of the line of those who have worked hard to come here "the right way". Now I don't fully agree with my Republican counterparts on how to resolve this problem, but I do know that putting everyone who came here illegally 5 years ago, ahead of someone who did come here legally 10 years ago on the citizenship track is wrong! It is not fair to those who followed our laws.

Have we come to a point where we must tolerate all sorts of criminal/abhorrent behavior (rape and murder)? What comes next? Tolerating things like genital mutilation? When are we finally going to have the backbone to say "NO" to illegal behavior? When are we finally going to recognize that sometimes a little intolerance is the preferable alternative?

Where is the media concern?

Did you know that there is an American POW in this war? You wouldn't if you only got your news from the alphabet soup of networks?

Thankfully for the LA Times, who had this story on our only POW.

"On April 9, 2004, while on a security detail protecting a civilian convoy west of Baghdad, Matt's unit was attacked. As bullets flew, the young man was abducted. Within days, the kidnappers released grainy video of the weary-looking 20-year-old, wearing camouflage and surrounded by five masked men. About three months later, another video was released of a man being shot in the back of the head and falling into a shallow grave. The narrator claimed it was Keith Matthew Maupin.But the video never showed the soldier's face. Matt's body was never recovered. There has been no proof of his death — not then, and not now, two years later — so the military considers him to be alive."

So the next time you hear someone caterwauling about the "inhumane treatment" of the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, remember Sgt Maupin and his family and pray...pray for the family that they get an answer on their missing son. And maybe ask the alphabet soup networks why they have not reported on Sgt Maupin.

Nick Coleman, Doctor Emeritus of Hypocrisy

Ahhhh, Nicky, Nicky, Nicky. Do you have any idea how many RATIONAL ,THINKING people find you such a rich source of ironic humor? In your recent screed, you whine that the Somali community deserves an apology from us cracker members of the KKK . That there was a description of the assailants of Mr. Zebuhr possibly being Somali, or East Africans. You go on your lefty racist rant that "bad guys are bad guys whatever their color or caliber they carry." Not from your point Nicky. I noticed that you and your employer never even gave a partial, let alone full description of the assailants (though it was readily and almost immediately available from the police), other than to say "suspects" or "anyone with information on the robbery...". At least KSTP was trying to eliminate suspects. But not you guys. You excoriate KSTP and others by saying "Other TV stations followed Channel 5's lead. An entire ethnic group was under suspicion, without any description of what the killers looked like. " You guys never gave ANY description so therefore ALL "ethnic" groups were under suspicion. How many people got into cars that evening? How many "young men" were in Uptown that day? And the Stars official policy "At the Star Tribune, newsroom policy allows the race of suspects to be reported when race "can be used as part of larger description of a crime suspect," including "standard categories of identification such as age, build or weight, height and hair style or color, or includes some of those categories plus other very specific identifiers such as scars or clothing."

If police are looking for a 5-foot-10 black suspect about 20 years old weighing 180 pounds in a Vikings jacket with a tattoo on his face, shaved head and an apparent Somali accent, that should make it into the newspaper. But "police are looking for a Norwegian or possibly a Scandinavian"?" No Nick, you moron. But, you hypocritical twit, you didn't do that did you? That was the type of description on the police blotter that YOU refused to run. White, black, Hispanic, Asian. That helps. But, that's not what you said. What you said was "two youths","suspects", "anyone with information..." with no description other than "young males"? That's your version of Norwegian possibly Scandinavian. You're an idiot Nick. No, worse. By deliberately refusing to issue a full and complete description of the assailants , you let these thugs and murderers run lose. You did nothing to bring them to justice.You endangered many others by willfully refusing to help in their apprehension. And now that we know they were and are black, you also endangered other blacks by not giving that full description that would have aided in their apprehension, as most violence by blacks is against other blacks. And you dare preach to us. Shut up, you weasel.Do something useful and helpful Nick, like writing ad copy for mortgage brokers or something. But, don't ever, ever preach to me, you pusillanimous hypocrite.
Anti-Strib nails it really well.

There. I've vented and feel such a sense of closure over this and really feel like we've bridged our differences here...

And Rome burns white hot

In The Lady Logcician's post , she accurately points out that you and I aren't spending enough to help R.T. Rybak out of his problem in Murderapolis. Well, at least according to Mayor Rybak we aren't. Therefore, if you follow the looney left lack of logic, we are responsible for the death of Mr. Reitter. Time after time, when lefties don't get their way with more of your money, they always cut essential services and then plead it's because you or I are greedy in that we need to provide for our families first. R.T. decided to cut police, but not community development. Firemen laid off, but keep the Neighborhood Revitalization Project (which the Murderapolis whiners say is aimed at reducing crime.[insert uproarious laughing here]). DFL Rep. Ellison says "We need a partner in public safety, not a finger-pointer," and the apparent irony this statement of his and his fellow lefties are pointing fingers is lost on him. And this statement would seem to imply "We're idiots and can't even provide the basics of government to our citizens. HELP!!!!!"
This style of government also happens when the locals turn down a school bond issue. The very first thing that gets cut: buses. Put the parents in a bind immediately. Then cut after school activities at the same time so little Taylor and Nathan are in need of being picked up at 3:00 p.m.

Be a man R.T. Whining is usually a prime indicator of testosterone deficit disorder.

Pointing fingers while Rome burns

Governor Pawlenty announced yesterday that he was getting "involved" in trying to resolve the growing crime issue in Minneapolis.

Mayor Ryback (in televised comments) said that the "most responsible" thing that the Governor could do was to restore the Local Government Aid money that was cut by the state in the last budget. Then, he said, we can hire more cops. This from the man who two weeks ago (after the senseless murder of Michael Zebuhr) said that more cops on the street was not the solution - but more on that later. I would like to know WHY the City of Minneapolis is not funding essential solutions (like police) in it's regular budget! With a $1.24 billion budget, why aren't there more cops on the street? Why are things like Neighborhood Revitalization Programs funded out of the General Budget instead of police protection? Why is Community Planning getting twice as many budget dollars as the police department? Community Planning and NRP should be what is funded out of the LGA dollars, not the police department!

The Star Tribune opines today that the problem is that people don't feel safe downtown. Here is a tip for the denizens of the Ivory Tower on Portland Avenue....people don't feel safe downtown because they AREN'T safe downtown! Yes getting rid of the "fear and intimidation" subculture that roams the streets of Minneapolis at night will make things safer in the area, but what is going to take care of that is MORE COPS ON THE STREET! If the cops are around, these kids are not going to be as quick to start fights with their rival gangs!

UPDATE AND BUMP: MDE points out to us that while crying poor, the City of Minneapolis managed to find $1.7 million for a "green" garden on the roof of City Hall! Now it may be (as some claim) that the roof would need to be repaired anyway, but it seems to me that roof repair would be a much better use of LGA funds - as opposed to paying police officers salaries. But that's just me.

Giving credit where credit is due

Nick Coleman is every MOB bloggers favorite media whipping boy - and with good reason. While he can write a very moving story, his stories tend to lack a certain factual basis. Not so this story on the murder of Alan Reitter outside of Block E (the entertainment heart of the city) in Downtown Minneapolis (H/T Anti-Strib and Rambix). Nick eloquently pens the reactions of almost all Twin Cities residents to this heinous act of violence. I say almost all because Mayor Nero Ryback is still fiddling while his city burns. The Mayor's reaction to this was to say that this was not due to a lack of cops on the street, but to an overabundance of GUNS! I like this particular paragraph from the article:

"So we are told: Friday's shooting was "an aberration." (Would it be OK if it were routine?) That it was random. (Would we feel better if the killer had shot the guy he was trying to kill, instead of a bystander?) That the killer was "a deeply troubled person." (Mayor R.T. Rybak said that.)

Well, Your Honor: Duh."

Nick almost gets it. He calls for more cops....and less guns. Like I said, he ALMOST gets it. Maybe a few more legal permit holders carrying would make these thugs think twice before firing shots into a crowd of people!

Meanwhile the management of Block E has started playing opera music in an effort to chase away loiterers and panhandlers!

On the other side of the river, St Paul Pioneer Press columnist Joe Soucheray had this to say about the crime wave in Minneapolis:

"Don't worry, Alan, they are on it, flipping open their cell phones to discuss new camera locations, more cops and great new programs of deterrence, like, well, opera music.
Believe me, they want this solved. They want this terrible problem to go away. They would much sooner concentrate on the important things, like bike paths."

And while Nero fiddles and dreams of bike paths and diversity, the citizens are looking for leadership:

"It no longer is a problem for just the city; it's a problem for anyone visiting the city. "Read one letter to the Star Tribune.

"I have a solution to help curb the crime in Minneapolis' Uptown and downtown neighborhoods. It's called the "draft." Read another.

"Time to regain control -The latest tragedies are part of a crime epidemic that has gripped our city for well over a year, yet the most action we've seen from the mayor is to caution us against leading "high-risk lifestyles." The Uptown murder happened just blocks south of my home on Girard Avenue to a person doing what I do nearly every day, walking with friends. The Block E murder was just steps from where I board the bus each morning. Are these two things now considered "high risk?" Read a third.

"So Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak says that, so long as there are too many guns on the street, hiring 1,000 more police officers is not going to make any difference in combatting crime.
Here is how Minneapolis can solve the gun violence:
• Hire at least 500 more police officers.
• Establish a zero-tolerance policy on crime.
• Persuade more law-abiding citizens to obtain handgun carry permits.
• Enforce existing gun laws as written.
• Persuade the court system to aggressively prosecute criminals.
Then, and only then, will you see the crime rate drop dramatically in Minneapolis. " Read this one from one of our fine service men in Iraq!

Speaking of prosecuting criminals...the shooter had been through the system before. Big surprise there. It is only NOW that the Hennepin County Prosecutor's office (Amy Klobuchar candidate for US Senate) has decided to do something about it and actually charge him with a crime! What took you so long Ms. Klobuchar?????

Lastly, this bit of irony....

"The April 4 Star Tribune headline should have read "Block E is safe, at least from secondhand smoke." That would have been more accurate."

Yes - Nero would have you believe that a burning Rome is safe, but only if your concern is second hand smoke. However, if you are concerned about mugging, murder and mayhem then you are best to stay out of Murderapolis!

I'll leave the last word to Nick, who comes up with a surprisingly Republican comment:

Solving murders is good. Preventing them is better.

You are NOT to be trusted!

In a political process precisely reminiscent of the fight over the Minnesota Personal Protection Act, the Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee rejected the Same Sex Marriage Amendment. This is EXACTLY the same procedure whereby the Senate denied the Senate at large to vote on the Personal Protection Act. For years. Because the Metrocrats (see below) knew it would pass if it ever hit the Senate floor for an up or down vote.
Now, there are differences. If I have to go to the government and ask for permission to protect myself and have to be granted that permission, I don't have a right. I have a government granted privilege.
But, again, this is an example of the Metrocrats (the long in the tooth Minneapolis/St.Paul Senators) who ALWAYS get elected by the radicals in the inner city and therefore chair the committees and block legislation again and again.
Proving once again, you are not to be trusted. That's why we have the Metrocrats and lefties.

Block E is safe, say city leaders

From Prairie Pravda (article )

Block E is safe, City Hall leaders insist

OK. And I'll believe it when R.T. Rybak, Mayor, walks the streets of Block E without any of his police escorts, bodyguards, radio,cell phone or a firearm.Be a citizen R.T.
Lead from the front Mr. Mayor.

Senator "Neville" Specter

Our good buddy, Sen. Neville Chamberlain Specter (R-PA) is building consensus. His quote on looking for a compromise on the immigration issue" 'What we're looking for is a middle ground, something that will appeal to a broader base" in the Republican Party" perhaps needs some translation: "Screw you conservatives, screw principles,screw security, screw integrity, as I ever had any, screw what Americans think. I got re-elected. So, SCREW YOU!!!" I think might be a fairly accurate portrayl of what the august Senator from Pennsylvania is attempting to say to the American citizen (REAL American citizen BTW).
And we had an opportunity to get rid of this guy two years ago.Remember Rep. Pat Twoomey? The real Republican, the real conservative that challenged Specter. And that GWB supported Specter over Twoomey and actively campaigned for Specter?
Specter. If ever there was an appropriate name.
Lady Thatcher on consensus:"To me, consensus seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects." "I am not a consensus politician. I am a conviction politician."
A great site for great quotes from Lady Thatcher.

Roads paved with gold

Ya wanna know why we have traffic jams and don't have adequate roads and freeways?
Check this out . $18,644 for RELOCATION fees from a small rented house? And Miss Davis says she wants to buy a house some day? Isn't $18,000 a down payment someplace? Oh, and by the way, you and I are paying that $18,000. One renters relocation fees.
With $18,000 relocation fees no wonder there's no money for roads.

Meet Kelly

I run the games for Sunday School where I go to church. The games are message specific to go with the Scripture message being taught. Well, today, the teachers for the 1st graders were gone, so we took a combined class into the Outreach project. And there was Kelly. Worn clothes, obviously a worker. I'd seen him a few times in church, but hadn't met, nor did I know who he was. Today,though, I was going to meet him. And learn. Kelly runs a real outreach program. Not one of those some of the time "Golly, ain't I a Christian and doing Jesus work 'cuz I volunteered to serve mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving" types. But, in the streets, rain (like today) or shine, cold or hot, holiday or not. So, here were these really neat kids (kindergarten and 1st graders) listening to Kelly talk about the homeless, who and what they were, what they need. And the outreach project was to make sandwiches (whole wheat, turkey, and Swiss cheese). And then he explained that the children were also going to make small cards with a greeting on them that would be included with the sandwiches.
Kelly also had a print out from his website (the article "Dreaming of The World"). And I read the whole article. And the last three paragraphs really caught my attention. Here is a guy who is there. Right there. Right now as we speak. He's out there doing real Christian work. Not that crap called "Social Justice" (which I interpret as "Socialism Injustice"). Not talking about raising taxes for another feel good program. Not dishing hash on a holiday.But a real live worker.
I told him I wholeheartedly agreed with him. He said "Jesus didn't say have the government feed the homeless. He said YOU feed the hungry and homeless." I said that when Jesus told Peter "Feed my sheep" He didn't continue on to say "And to do that , go to the Sanhedrin to institute the "Feed My Sheep Program" and have the Romans raise taxes to pay for it." And Kelly laughingly agreed.
Go read what a man who really works the Word has to say.

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Friday, April 07, 2006