Stirring the pot

ALBUQUERQUE The chairwoman of an Otero County Republican women's group on Tuesday defended a letter to the editor in which she wrote, ''I believe Muslims are our enemies.'' Marcia Stirman, a 56-year-old ...

[JSwift]

In the words of M.K. Gandhi: "an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind" the comments posted so far seem to me to be the direct result of many years of practicing the politics of fear- we might do better to ask ourselves why we are hated and feared, attempt to listen to, and understand, those who differ from us, and move forward in a more positive direction - "men must not turn into bees who sting one another to death" - may all of you walk in sunlight today !

[Phillip Gonzales]

An embarrassment to New Mexicans in general and the Republicans specifically. Marcia Stirman is both uninformed and apparently xenophobic. Surely, she doesn't represent the sentiment and education or the lack thereof of others in the Alamogordo area.

[AZ JOE]

What an embarrassment to Alamogordo. I am from NM and know a lot of people for Alamo and Marcia doesn't speak for the educated people I know. Sounds like Marcia needs to go back to college and learn a few things about culture and political views. Looks like the republicans can only beat Obama by spreading rumors/lies. Having a leader like this in the republican party would make me change to independent.

[J O H N - Q]

Phillip Gonzales wrote:

An embarrassment to New Mexicans in general and the Republicans specifically. Marcia Stirman is both uninformed and apparently xenophobic. Surely, she doesn't represent the sentiment and education or the lack thereof of others in the Alamogordo area.

Au Contraire, I think she does. Have you ever witnessed the way people in Alamogordo react to seeing a woman that goes into the store with her hijab on?

[Revvo]

Sadly, she represents more of the people here than most would like to admit. This town has a severe right wing slant, thanks to the large retired military component. They thrive on fear of others, so this religious war crap goes very far here. Its sad, really, and I sometimes feel sorry for them--until they open their hateful mouths.
I live for the day that the right wing extremist attitude is outlawed for its hatefulness.
They know no shame.

[Robert Swain]

"Mike" chimes in on cue to support Revo's statement that this place is full of bigots. We have plenty of those here, but also plenty (more, I believe) who are willing to stand up to them.

Mike says: "If anyone is curious about what muslims are actually saying in their mosques, I suggest that you google, Under Cover Mosque and watch the videos."

I say: If anyone is curious about what fearful bigots are saying in their local papers, read this thread and the story it refers to.

[MadHat77]

This woman makes me weep for the future of our country and only illustrates how the Republican party has sold its soul to the religious right and given over to its desire to convert the country from a republic into a theocratic, orwellian socialist dictatorship.

[PinkFloyd]

Everyone thought Marcia was great when she put petitions out to have new businesses relocate to Alamogordo even though most franchises require a certain income or population base to open a new store. Now she's just a ignorant bigot.

[Sad State of Affairs]

AZ JOE wrote:

What an embarrassment to Alamogordo. I am from NM and know a lot of people for Alamo and Marcia doesn't speak for the educated people I know. Sounds like Marcia needs to go back to college and learn a few things about culture and political views. Looks like the republicans can only beat Obama by spreading rumors/lies. Having a leader like this in the republican party would make me change to independent.

And this woman ran for a Magistrate Judge position in 2006? I for one am relieved she didn't win. She probably would have instituted burning at the stake as a sentence. How unfortunate that Alamogordo will be linked to this person's comments.

[loss for words]

I read the "why Im a republican" and the 109 comments yesterday and was so furiou at this womans ignorant mentality. Today I read she refuses to apologize for her hurtful and incorrect article and I just cant help but say something. Knowing of her and her positions in this community it is an embarrassment to have this kind of publicity for our city! Here is a scenario, if my father was a drug dealer who I only knew as a amall child and spent a summer with when I was 14 and he lived in another country and eventually died does this make me a drug dealer too??? Guilty by association? These are the scare tactics that got GW 4 more years... I can only walk away from this computer and pray for the "harmful" mouths of so many "fair and balanced" Americans. 12 days...

[Lynnb]

Marcia, hang in there. I couldn't have said it better myself.

You've written what a great mamy people are thinking.

[Michael Morris]

PinkFloyd wrote:

Everyone thought Marcia was great when she put petitions out to have new businesses relocate to Alamogordo even though most franchises require a certain income or population base to open a new store. Now she's just a ignorant bigot.

Actually that statement about income or population is not the way site selection is done, but myths and rumors are the way this town operates, so I am not surprised that is the way it is seen. The radius of commerce and traffic counts are actually more important. For instance the National Restaurant Association, in its site selection guides, relates that income is not a determining factor in frequency of dining out, but rather only on the price of the dining. Age and marital status have more to do with frequency with older people dining out much less than the young. Market studies for site location are much more complicated than some simple counting population and income. If that were the case then there would be no demand for high dollar site consultants. Actually the concentration of older folks in this community is difficult to overcome since all studies show they spend less locally than than younger people.

[Greg]

It's this kind of prejudice that continues to put American lives in danger. And this type of person that gets innocent Americans killed!
Stirman, has just proven to alot people just what kind of an Amarican she truely is. I can only hope the customers she serves have read between he lines.

[Michael Morris]

Marcia wrote:

<quoted text>
Not ignorant, enlightened. The thought of a religion that endorses sex with children should outrage everyone. That is just the tip of the iceberg.

You mean like that church with so many of its leaders in prison for raping the children of the church with several of its management units in bankruptcy as a result of suits for condoning the molesting with its worldwide leader apologizing for the institutionalized practice?

[Kathie M]

loss for words wrote:

I read the "why Im a republican" and the 109 comments yesterday and was so furiou at this womans ignorant mentality. Today I read she refuses to apologize for her hurtful and incorrect article and I just cant help but say something. Knowing of her and her positions in this community it is an embarrassment to have this kind of publicity for our city! Here is a scenario, if my father was a drug dealer who I only knew as a amall child and spent a summer with when I was 14 and he lived in another country and eventually died does this make me a drug dealer too??? Guilty by association? These are the scare tactics that got GW 4 more years... I can only walk away from this computer and pray for the "harmful" mouths of so many "fair and balanced" Americans. 12 days...

Well said, but your point will be lost on those who keep insisting that he is a Muslim, etc., and continue to point to his middle name as a sure sign of his terrorist links (sure, he named himself at birth?).

Those who keep pointing out their interpretations of how horrible the Muslim religion is, based on the actions of extremists, seem to forget the "Holy Wars" and the atrocities committed by Christians and certain religions that teach that their way is the only way and the rest of us are damned.

As a child I cried myself to sleep for weeks because according to my first grade nun, my father was doomed to hell because he wasn't a Catholic. I once knew an adult Jewish woman who was taught - and believed - that Catholics had hidden horns!

Ignorance wins.

[PinkFloyd]

Michael Morris wrote:

<quoted text>
Actually that statement about income or population is not the way site selection is done, but myths and rumors are the way this town operates, so I am not surprised that is the way it is seen. The radius of commerce and traffic counts are actually more important. For instance the National Restaurant Association, in its site selection guides, relates that income is not a determining factor in frequency of dining out, but rather only on the price of the dining. Age and marital status have more to do with frequency with older people dining out much less than the young. Market studies for site location are much more complicated than some simple counting population and income. If that were the case then there would be no demand for high dollar site consultants. Actually the concentration of older folks in this community is difficult to overcome since all studies show they spend less locally than than younger people.

Actually my husband and I researched several franchises because we wanted to open a new busines here in town. Research it. Several require a certain population and income base before relocating in a new location.

[Hebah]

I am a Muslim and I invite anyone who is curious to come visit out mosque, go up and speak to a Muslim, and just plain get to know us. We are all Humans and so much of what is being said about Islam are out right lies. Learn from the source and then make your decision. It deeply saddens me that this type of bigotry and hatred is such a part of the Republican ticket....

[excuses]

JSwift wrote:

In the words of M.K. Gandhi: "an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind" the comments posted so far seem to me to be the direct result of many years of practicing the politics of fear- we might do better to ask ourselves why we are hated and feared, attempt to listen to, and understand, those who differ from us, and move forward in a more positive direction - "men must not turn into bees who sting one another to death" - may all of you walk in sunlight today !

Rabid dogs are exterminted not cuddled.

[NJBRED]

JSwift wrote:

In the words of M.K. Gandhi: "an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind" the comments posted so far seem to me to be the direct result of many years of practicing the politics of fear- we might do better to ask ourselves why we are hated and feared, attempt to listen to, and understand, those who differ from us, and move forward in a more positive direction - "men must not turn into bees who sting one another to death" - may all of you walk in sunlight today !

When those who practice radical Islam ask themselves why they are feared and hated and start to listen and understand those who differ from themselves and move forward in a more positive direction, then I can start believing they do not wish to do us harm.

[NJBRED]

Hebah wrote:

I am a Muslim and I invite anyone who is curious to come visit out mosque, go up and speak to a Muslim, and just plain get to know us. We are all Humans and so much of what is being said about Islam are out right lies. Learn from the source and then make your decision. It deeply saddens me that this type of bigotry and hatred is such a part of the Republican ticket....

I have nothing against Muslims, it's the religion of Islam I am skeptical of.