By Tania Mastrapa

Posted: Tuesday, May 22, 2012

ARTICLES

Publication Date: May 22, 2012

The lecture below was given as part of an event organized by The Heritage Foundation and the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation on May 18, 2012.  Please click here for a video of the event.  

The latest installment in political warfare by the Communist regime in Cuba features an all out political offensive, including a suave propaganda campaign. Its primary aims are to: 1) disintegrate the Cuban exile community, particularly in the United States; 2) recruit assets for Cuban intelligence; and 3) secure economic assistance for Havana via the émigrés and sympathetic leftists. We should view the latest moves by the Havana Boys chiefly through this lens. Aside from fresh intelligence, which is still classified, and anecdotal evidence, we have also been able to deduce the regime’s intentions through analogies with the modus operandi of its erstwhile “fraternal” regimes in Central and Eastern Europe. In fact, the latest public relations campaign to promote “national reconciliation” and “economic reforms”, while discrediting genuine exiles and dissidents on the island is not unique to the Cuban experience. The availability of Communist-era state security archives in Europe provides us with valuable insight into the machinations of these regimes. If there was anyone who had ever doubted that Communists did not possess any capability for creativity, the archives put that question to rest for good. Their modus operandi has been, is, and always will be the same wherever they are present. Of particular interest in the files is the detailed collaboration of clergy, exiles, journalists and Western university professors who worked diligently to make anti-Communism seem unfashionable and ridiculous.

It was in early Soviet Russia the official policy of discrediting exiles and sowing discord among them was first launched. Not much has changed since. Over the past several decades certain pollsters and publications have desperately attempted to prove that Cuban Americans, particularly the younger generations, are softer on Communism. Unsurprisingly those who make these spurious claims rarely, if ever, address the disappearances, beatings, arrests and other repressive acts of the regime. The mention of dissidents is dismissed and often condemned as politicizing United States relations with Cuba while reconciling and engaging are marketed as sensible approaches. None of this is a coincidence. This is a highly managed operation…..Read More

Did the actors follow the script too closely? In the film Una Noche Javier Nunez Florian and Anailin de la Rua de la Torre play a Cuban brother and sister who set out from Havana on a rickety raft. They bob up in down in dangerous waters. Along with another teen, they have escaped Cuba hoping for a better life in the United States. In real life, the story seemed to play out in a similar fashion. Anailin and Javier disappeared after their plane landed in Miami last week. They were on their way to join the film’s director, Lucy Mulloy, at the film’s New York premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. They appear to have defected. Was life imitating art? Already the strongly anti-Castro Cuban press in Miami has trumpeted the case of Javier and Anailin as the latest example of Cubans willing to risk their lives to escape Communism.

At a recent screening of the film in New York, I asked Mulloy about her reaction to the news that her actors had gone missing. “I was shocked and surprised,” she told me. “I was looking forward to seeing them at the film’s premiere and they were excited about coming here.” Another reporter asked if she had heard from the duo in the last few days. “No I haven’t,” she replied softly. Javier and Anailin were first time actors whom Ms. Mulloy handpicked from many hopefuls to play the parts of Cuban teens Elio and his twin sister, Lila. “We saw hundreds of teenagers but they stood out,” she said. Ms. Mulloy also selected Daniel Arrecheda, 24, who plays the part of Raul. He forces his friend Elio to choose between his own escape and abandoning his sister, Lila. Ultimately Lila learns about their plot and insists on joining them as they flee.

The latest Cuban real-life drama took me back to 1980. As a young Latin-American correspondent, I covered the Mariel Boatlift for CBS News. Between April 15th and October 31, 1980, as many as 125,000 Cubans made the journey on crowded boats from the Cuban harbor of Mariel to Florida. For many years before that, Cubans facing oppressed conditions and a worsening economy fled on inner tubes — just like the protaganists of the movie Una Noche. I remember being in Havana and witnessing angry pro-Castro mobs shouting insults outside the homes of Cubans they suspected were on their way to Mariel. “Escoria,” they shouted. “Que Se Vayan!” (“Scum! Let Them go!”) According to published reports, in the weeks leading up to the Mariel boatlift, as many as 10,000 Cubans sought to gain asylum in the Peruvian Embassy. It was then that the Cuban government announced that anyone who wanted to leave Cuba could do so. The exodus on boats — dispatched from Cuban exiles in Florida — started soon after that.

In the movie Una Noche , the character of Lila begins to menstruate causing sharks to circle their inner tube. Lila holds on tightly to her brother and friend Raul. Mulloy said her compelling film was inspired by a true story she heard from an 11-year old on Havana’s famed seawall El Malecon. In 1999 and 2000, when I traveled to Cuba as a private citizen, I recalled seeing dozens of teenagers playing in the waves that washed up over the seawall. Their energy and enthusiasm, despite living in a country of worsening shortages and limited opportunities, is captured beautifully in Una Noche. So is their desperation…..Read More

I’m glad the issue of “cookies” has finally been challenged on a big stage. Accusing Facebook of placing cookies on your computer in order to monitor your web surfing habits is an old illegal practice which is better known as “Spyware.”

……………………………….Facebook’s latest Timeline feature could have been in the works for years or could have been purposely introduced as a defense mechanism against any future accusations concerning privacy. But unfortunately, Timeline feature itself was immediately challenged as soon as it was introduced. So this most recent Logout and Frictionless Sharing accusations should be coupled with the Timeline feature. All these features could not function at all if a cookie did not exist. First and foremost, everyone should get it through their minds that the internet, the world wide web is PUBLIC.

There is a tendency (especially in today’s political climate) to frame the Founders in “right” or “left” terms. I am pretty confident that the vast majority colonial Americans did not see the world, or the framing of the Republic in right and left terms. The whole notion of “right” and “left” is a European construct — literally where members sat in chambers while performing their legislative duties. Those that sat on the left side of the chamber were typically communists/socialists, while those that sat on the right were typically fascists. Both of these European right and left models trend toward big government control over individual choices, place less emphasis on individual liberty, and more emphasis on “collective” salvation. Although they represent different models in regard to property ownership, and a few points — in terms of power over people they are more alike than different……Read More

It is possible and I’m sure it has crossed your mind many of times. For a matter of fact, with the present condition of the US economy and coupled with the inability to pay the Chinese debt, it most certainly leans more towards “Realistic.” I have thought about the American dollar and its elasticity. How far can it stretch?…..Learn More

FOX Business: The Power to Prosper

Nervous traders darted out of equities and flocked into safe-haven assets on heightened euro zone sovereign debt and global economic tensions, launching the markets deep into negative territory.

Today’s Markets

The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 420 points, or 3.7%, to 10,991, the S&P 500 slid 53.2 points, or 4.5%, to 1,141 and the Nasdaq Composite tumbled 131 points, or 5.2%, to 2,380. The FOX 50 plunged 32.7 points to 828.

Energy and materials stocks like Halliburton (HAL: 40.85, -4.60, -10.12%) and U.S. Steel (X: 27.28, -2.81, -9.34%) took the strongest beating. However, the selloff was broad, with industrials such as General Electric (GE: 15.34, -0.89, -5.48%) and most other sectors coming under intense selling pressure as well.

In a sign of the uncertainty in the markets, safe-haven assets rallied in early trading. Gold jumped $28.20, or 1.6%, to $1,822 a troy ounce, settling at a record high. The benchmark 10-year treasury rallied, with the price soaring over $100, and the yield slumping to an all-time low below 2%.

Volatility was quite high on the day. Indeed, the VIX, often referred to as a gauge of fear, spiked 36%.

The economy has come squarely back into focus with a heavy stream of economic data released on Thursday. Morgan Stanley also warned the global economy is “dangerously close to a recession” and cut its global economic growth outlook significantly. Goldman Sachs also pared back its forecast of economic growth.

Manufacturing in the Philadelphia area contracted sharply in August.  The Philadelphia Federal Reserve’s gauge of manufacturing activity came in at -30.7, far short of expectations of 3.7.  Reading above 0 point to expansion, while those below 0 indicate contraction.

A number below the -20 level is “rare outside of a recession” and poses a “very worrying development” for policymakers who are working to keep the economy afloat, according to economists at Barclays Capital.

The markets are being driven lower “not only be the euro zone … but also a relentless release of domestic data that speaks to both an underlying inflationary environment and anemic – if not stagnant growth here in the U.S.,” Peter Kenny, managing director at Knight Capital Group said in a note to clients.

Wall Street has also been paying close attention to the sovereign debt crisis in Europe for several months.  The fears peaked last week when reports suggesting certain large European banking institutions may have issues gaining access to sufficient capital sparked massive selloffs and volatility.

A report on Thursday by The Wall Street Journal saying the Federal Reserve is very concerned about major European banks facing significant funding difficulties rekindled those fears.  The Fed was also worried that the crisis on the other side of the Atlantic could spillover into the U.S. banking system, according to the report…..Read More

I was not so informed of all the terms that were being used as analytical tools during the latest congressional fiasco which was finally sorted it out on the next-to-last day before the government of the United States defaulted. I was following the new developments closely but was not schooled on all the terminology that was floating around. I was basically upset because of the fact that the great country I live in has to be in the futile position it is. So I started to investigate and learn more about the terminology. And since these adjustments that finally broke the stalemate between the House and the Senate will not really make much of a difference, then it would be beneficial for us all to make ourselves more familiar with the state of our financial future….Read More

Taking into consideration the world economy and the manner society is structured at the present moment, a person with considerable power, would need 8 years to convert a nation into a Communist system. Again, one must understand and accept foremost, the impossibility of Communism existing as a “political” type of government. It is simply an ideological Utopian pipe dream, there is never anything mentioned concerning elections after it is established. I say 8 years and only if it is disguised as Socialism because it can be done in a much shorter time, for example; Cuba. Within one year Fidel Castro became a dictator and placed everyone involved, believers and non-believers, into a giant prison. In a democratic form of government but where elections exists, it would take 8 years. Let’s say here, for example, in the United States and where the president can serve only two terms and 4 years each.

But as the title of this post suggests, the system has to be already converted into a Socialist one way or another, in order to transform it into a Communist state. Turning a democratic government to a Socialist one can almost be achieved in the first term and simply putting into place, “programs” the government has total control of. Creating governmental agencies for these programs and encouraging its citizens to join. All these critical changes are done in a stealthy manner, of course and with the help of influential changes by means of appropriate socialistic vocabulary terms are so significant…..Read More

The No-Fly zone is nearing as the United States, France and England are in accord and impatiently waiting as the UN bureaucratic Council tediously research, one proposal at a time. There will be more than just a no-fly zone implemented…Read More

Gadhafi is a murderer, a killer, he has been torturing the Libyan people for so long. Gadhafi must go! This is where all the European so-called leaders stood, condemning Gadhafi when he decided to stay in Libya. The “rebel forces”, they call them, I don’t. I call them “freedom fighters” and they need help. They are not really asking for much but a “No-Fly Zone.” This way they can fight a fair fight and because now they are beginning to lose the battle. Where’s the concern, the humanitarian support? Why is it taking so much time to implement a “No-Fly Zone.”…..Read More

This video is very interesting and brings up the whole reason why the 1st amendment is the most important of them all. Frank Zappa argues that they are just words, another words, he explains that it’s up to the individual who listens to the words of a song to “Interpret” them how ever they want. If they do not like them, then let it be. The artist of a particular song might be implying a specific and exact interpretation in which the listener may completely understand, that’s acceptable also. If you object to the words and feel they are inappropriate, then don’t listen to them, turn the dial and don’t buy the record. Simple as that! When looking at the video, please keep in mind, Zappa’s argument, again, concerns the use of the words themselves, not what they imply. That’s why he keeps mentioning, “We are talking about words, we are talking about the content…..Read More

It seems that with all the global events happening around us and effecting our lives, the one human created and abolishing phenomenon of “Global Warming” has been placed on the back burner. Personally, I have been a little distracted from the Global Warming issue since I have been pretty busy with extra physical activities. Things like, digging my car out of the snow produced by major multiple snowstorms. It is now February and there is plenty still on the ground because the temperature has remained below freezing. I figured maybe we, the ones to blame for it all, have been doing something right for a change and helping reverse the major global warming problem. But not necessarily, here are the updates from all the global related websites out there……..Read More

In the essay “Why We Crave Horror Movies,” Stephen King argues that we are all insane and those of us that have managed to stay out of the asylums are just able to hide our insanity a little better than the rest. King notes that, via a system of punishment and reward, we are conditioned as infants to behave in a way that often suppresses our instincts as rational beings. Congeniality towards others (a little girl giving her aunt a kiss) merits praise; antisocial or downright hostile behavior (cursing out an unnecessarily nitpicking third grade teacher) merits a spanking. This reality manifests itself cyclically — generation in, generation out. Over time, we realize that despite our parents’ best efforts, one’s darker side never really goes away; it just quietly bubbles in our sub-conscience, devoid of any nurturing or observation, taking a shapeless form of its own….Read More

Can this be possible? Is it possible to control rainfall and if so, how? Well, this question has been answered already and not the real intention of this mini-research project here. My approach will not solely concentrate on the possibility of producing more rainfall by way of cloud seeding but to prove the effect it would have on the rest of the planet weather-wise and of course, health-wise. So this here will be more of a scientific analysis and by me, a non-scientist.

Understanding the concept and techniques of Cloud Seeding would be necessary start. Most people are not familiar with this, either because it doesn’t occur where they live or simply because it is not mentioned enough. Nevertheless, it has existed since 1946……Read More

I was listening to a very popular not-so-Conservative radio broadcast host Doug McInthre on super Conservative News Talk Radio 77 WABC here in New York City, where the term “Government Money” came into question. Mr McIntyre brought up the point and which asks the question “What is Government Money?” He correctly answered this question he posed and brought up a great truth about the term itself and how it is carelessly misused. Over and over in all types of conversations, from either a casual discussion to a heated argument. Most of the times it is used when difficult financial times arise. It can range from an individual’s financial misfortune to a disastrous financial meltdown of a country in whole, effecting its citizens. In all these cases the term Government Money is discussed and in great lengths. But is there such thing as Government Money or are we simply misinterpreting this concept? Well, Mr. McIntyre correctly answered the question himself and with much urgency. NO! Our government, here in America and all governments, do not have ANY money. They are using their citizens money and by way of taxes or by whatever scheme they can invent. Here in the United States they use tax payer’s money. So basically, the ones who pay the salary of ALL government, state and local employees, here in America, are the tax payers. Stemming from the President himself to the traffic enforcer who just placed a parking ticket on your windshield are on a salary and which the citizens themselves, the tax payer, provides. So when the President (any President) states on National TV that government subsidized projects will make up for the mismanagement or unpredicted failure of funds (government money), what exactly does he/she mean? How can a government bailout and buyout a company and then take over the company, turn around and then make a portion of it public again, so it’s citizens can own a piece of it by way of purchasing stock shares? This is so illogical, can anyone explain?

This was November 2, 2010:

DETROIT (AP) — The sale of General Motors stock is expected to raise about $10 billion in an initial public offering that will reduce the U.S. government’s stake in the automaker below 50 percent, three people briefed on the sale said Monday.

GM common stock is expected to sell for between $26 and $29 a share when the IPO takes place around Nov. 18, according to the three people, who asked not to be identified because they are not authorized to speak on the matter. That would value the company at more than $46 billion — roughly on par with crosstown rival Ford Motor Co.

U.S. taxpayers, who bailed out GM last year, would see their ownership stake drop from 61 percent to around 43 percent, not including any extra allotment of shares bankers could offer to satisfy strong demand, the people said.

GM has wanted to shed government control, contending that it hurts the company’s sales and public image. The government will get the lion’s share of the $10 billion and recoup another chunk of the cost of bailing out the automaker.

GM will not make any money from the sale of the 365 million common shares that make up the IPO. Instead, it will sell roughly $3 billion worth of preferred stock that will convert to common stock in 2013, the people said. Preferred shares pay a set dividend and are considered more like bonds. GM will use the money from the sale of preferred stock to repay loans and make pension payments.

Terms of the sale are not final because GM’s board could still change them, one of the people said.

GM and its bankers will begin a “road show” to woo investors in the IPO later this week. The show, which could begin as early as Wednesday, will be aimed at hedge, pension and mutual funds, but presentations are expected for individual investors. Common shares worth roughly $2 billion would be sold to investors in the Middle East, Europe and Asia, one of the people said.

The expected price range of the IPO is higher than a forecast given by GM Chairman Ed Whitacre last month. He said each share would sell for about $20 to $25.

Bankers leading the sale are recommending that the final share price be revealed Nov. 17 and the sale take place a day later, according to the people.

Companies generally hope that shares offered in an IPO rise to the high end of the range or above it, showing strong investor appetite.

Once the IPO begins, GM shares can start trading on the New York Stock Exchange, where the company symbolized America’s industrial might for more than 92 years. GM was booted off the exchange last year as financial troubles sent it into a government-funded bankruptcy…..Continue Reading

Then on November 18, 2010:

Washington – President Obama on Thursday hailed the return of a re-tooled General Motors to the U.S. Stock market, calling it a “big step towards becoming a success story.”

“We are finally beginning to see some of those tough decisions that we made in the midst of crisis pay off,” Obama told reporters assembled in the White House briefing room after trading had ended on Wall Street.

In its first day back on the Big Board, the new GE stock’s initial public offering triggered more than 400 million shares sold, opening the day at $33 a share, spiking in the early going and then finishing up at $34.19 per share.

The result is the government’s reduced ownership in GM from 61 percent to about 36 percent in one day. “American taxpayers are now positioned to recover more than my administration invested in GM, that’s a very good thing,” said President Obama.

White House officials say the bailout of GM and Chrysler helped save those companies and with them, the entire domestic auto industry. The president points to 75,000 new jobs created since the two companies emerged from bankruptcy and pointed out that GM recently had its best quarter in 11 years.

Obama also took the opportunity to remind people about the “doubters and naysayers who said it couldn’t be done… Had we given up, we would have lost more than one million jobs across all fifty states. It would have also resulted in economic chaos, devastating communities across the country.”

There was no mention of those who held GM stock and were basically wiped out when the company filed for bankruptcy…..Read more

So the tax payer’s money bails out a private company and in turn, become owners of that company (GM) but now has to buy it back? How did the government become the middle man when we (the Tax Payer) pay their salary in the first place? Do you see the separation? But no, it’s Government Money!

I always wondered why people would be satisfied and so comfortable with surfing on the internet with a the tiny screen a phone provides, never mind with watching a video. The screen is too small and editing a website or blog is nearly impossible. But of course, everyone has their reason why they are going online. As for me, being an owner of several blogs, an IPhone doesn’t seem to have any purpose. I always wanted a device with a big screen and that I could work on my Blogs when I am on the fly. A laptop is great and there are many mini’s out there. They are more sleeker now and weigh much less. This was the main problems with laptops. Too heavy and and little too big, just not versatile enough. The mini was the answer. But then came the IPad:

Here are its features if you are interested and only if you are a Mac person. And that’s who benefits. Only Mac users do and everyone else doesn’t “Qualify.” This is selfish to me and only an attempt to create some sort of Culture. Job totally accomplished this goal and when he introduced the IPod along with ITunes. All Mac users feel they have so many liberties but are deprived to using Mac products only. There is no freedom of choice here. Apple has great products but their approach is too domineering. So if you want to use Apple products, you are under their mercy. There’s one problem and it is price. They are over-priced. Not to mention, the Programs/Apps have to be Mac built.

Nevertheless, Steve Jobs has started a trend. Either if the Mac or its non-Mac competitors had this technology in their grasp at the same time, it doesn’t matter, because the IPad surfaced first and is credited with the a bigger monitor and a sleek, light frame. So they are credited with raising the bar. But then again, the selfishness of only providing it for Mac users could be its downfall.

Google has entered the picture with the Android based phones. They figured by creating an operating system with open-source Apps available to everyone, they could encourage phone companies and device makers to create their own Tablets and of course, use the Android operating system. Google has their phone named ” HTC Nexus One .”

Now you also have other phone operating systems like WebOs, Windows Mobile and Blackberry.

Blackberry announced their version of the IPad and their Blackberry user Tablet, “The Playbook “. These are major players but there are many Tablets available in the market and many you never heard of also solely because they haven’t the media power. And since the direction of PC’s is heading towards tablets I feel everyone should investigate further and explore the options. But they should always keep in mind that they really don’t need to go this direction and just buy themselves a smaller laptop. But then again like I mentioned in the beginning, it all depends on the reason why you need it for, if you really need it at all.

Remember, for Tablets there are many sizes available, from 7 inch to 10 inch viewing space. Here are some articles which concentrate on evaluating all different PC Tablets:

Netvertible is a term that defines a convertible tablet PC with netbook hardware inside. It’s not an official term, but this also happens with touch tablets, which don’t have really an official naming yet. A netvertible is the best choice when it comes to buying a tablet PC shaped computer with the advantages that derive from the netbook specifications: size, battery life and price. To be frank with you there are also downsides to a netbook tablet PC and the biggest is performance, or the lack of it.

If you think netbooks are slow wait till you get your hands on a netvertible, which is even slower because of all the software that needs to run in background consuming precious CPU time just to detect and translate user touch in cursor coordinates (and sometimes levels of pressure). This doesn’t mean that it’s not usable, but it’s not what you would call a seamless user experience. In this article I’m going to make a list of the best convertible netbook tablet PCs on market today and list their pros and cons. At the end of the article you’ll also find a list of the upcoming netvertibles. So without further due, let’s jump directly into the fire with the first contender……Learn More

Get an Idea here (September 14, 2010):

Months ago, TechNewsDaily published a rundown on all the tablet projects various manufacturers were working on at the time. Since then, the Apple iPad has been released and become a major hit. Since then, several manufacturers have announced tablets of their own, hoping to replicate Apple’s success.

This is an updated list of all the tablets being talked about right now, broken down by their likelihood of actually making it to consumers’ hands. The four categories are “It’s Here” for tablets that have hit the market or have an impending release date; “It’s Coming” for tablets that have some kind of projected release date; “It’s Likely” for tablets that manufacturers have talked about releasing but aren’t completely official yet; and “It’s Cancelled” for tablets that were previously expected but are no longer in development…...Learn More

You must get as many updates as you can and remember, wait and review before you buy. And no matter how recent and top-of-the-line your product is, there will be a newer and better one out the next week. As for Tablets, I would wait because the major PC companies are hesitating and even skipping the Tablets. It looks more to me that Hybrid Laptops is the future:

The Duo Inspiron from Dell:

Boy, did Dell show just off the craziest device on stage at Intel’s IDF 2010 day two keynote. What started as a tablet device converted to a netbook just by opening to the keyboard and literally swiveling the screen from within the frame. This hybrid’s got a 10-inch screen, houses a dual-core Atom N550 and runs Windows 7 Premium. And if it looks at all familiar, that’s because we saw something eerily similar in a leak from April (hello, Sparta). No price given and Dell isn’t providing us any more details, but it should be released by the end of this year.

Update: It ain’t pretty, but we managed to bum rush the stage and get some footage of the Inspiron Duo during as it made its transformations to and from a keyboard-equipped existence. It’s after the break… along with a press photo!

Update 2: And now we’ve got a much clearer video for your enjoyment. Check it out!

Update 3: Dell sent over a pretty hefty press photo, so we decided to break it down piece-by-piece. To the gallery!…Learn More

And there are similar ones from other companies like:

The HP Pavilion TX2500Z

Daewoo SOLO C920-mini Netbook/Tablet PC

The Fujitsu TH700

Toshiba Portege M780 Tablet PC

For me and for most Bloggers who are on the go, this is the ideal and the most loaded of them all, the IdeaPad U1 Hybrid Notebook is my favorite, read the specs:

I was wowed when I played with a prototype of this device.  It is about the slickest piece of hardware I have seen in a very long time.  It is one of those truly innovative products that I want to show off to everyone and makes me proud to be associated with Lenovo.  Don’t underestimate the WOW factor. This is a game changer implementation that I expect to be copied sooner rather than later by many in the industry.

Open up the IdeaPad U1 and you will find an attractive but otherwise unremarkable ultraportable notebook.  Using Lenovo’s Enhanced Experience technology, it boots up Windows 7 quickly, and its Core 2 processor opens and runs applications smartly.  Your favorite YouTube video runs as you expect it would. It IS a PC after all.

A few astute people might judge from the fingerprints that it features a two finger multi-touch display. We chose resistive touch instead of capacitive touch to keep it thinner.  However, as many reviewers have said so far, it does not act like clunky resistive touch.  It acts like a capacitive touch system.

But even with that, it would not be more remarkable than any other multi-touch notebook on the market, and not that much different than our new IdeaPad S10-3t.  What makes this machine special is the extra latch located along the top of the display.  Once you slide that switch, the display separates from the base and that is when the magic happens.

Now you’ve got a highly portable multi-touch slate tablet PC in your hand….Learn More

So you see, it all depends on your needs.

OP/ED By Jose Reyes

Most everyone around the world remembers the event which occurred on the date of September 11, 2001. It was considered a direct attack on the World Trade center and orchestrated by terrorists. Not only an attack on two tall buildings in lower Manhattan but on America itself and for the purpose of crippling the country’s economy. It worked quite a bit, as all major industries were either slightly damaged or severely hurt. Of course for America haters this was something to applaud and appreciate. As for the rest of the sane world, it was a disaster and an acknowledgment of things to come. Life in America had changed as the naive characteristics of its citizens was effected and placed under a serious scope. Our national security was in question and our trust towards the Muslim religion had become very evident. After all, the terrorists were using religion as their reason and goal, as they converted three commercial airliners into inhumane destructive projectiles. They proclaimed “Jihad”! We all know it wasn’t religion why for the attacks on America, since the victims formed the melting pot of America, they were from different creeds. It was plainly an attack from a very powerful radical group of murderers who used their unsupported interpretation of the Islam religion as their reason to murder innocent Americans, absolutely nothing else. But an AMERICAN issue not a New York City one. This is where the focus should be on, not on the “World Trade Center bombing site” as it has become now thanks to the MSM (Mainstream Media). Our Obama administration along with this MSM has steered the public into believing this attack on America was not National but local and a New York City thing. This is exactly what the Michael Ramirez cartoon explains. Location!

Click to ENLARGE

Location is the answer to the question I propose with the title of this article but there’s more to consider here. I am a strong critic of myself and everyone should be the same. We have all grown up and have experienced opinion changing events that have shaped up our way of thinking. For example, ask most of the victims family members of the World Trade Center for their opinion concerning this $100 million Islamic Center and you know what the reply will be. Absolutely “no way” will be their answer, what would your reply be if you were in their shoes? Logic is the answer here and logic is where I judge my opinion also. For those who’s family member were effected, it is logical, it’s a no brainer. But for those who were not immediately effected, there’s have a little more space left in their judgment to analyze this proposal of an Islamic Center and to judge it in a more logical manner.

I personally look at it this way, you can say this is my logic and how I judge this particular Islamic Center. I will make it as simple as I possibly can. In a situation like this and in any other, there are factors we must understand and acknowledge first before anything. First of all, this was a direct attack on Americans and on American soil. Secondly, it was a direct attack on America’s economy. Thirdly, it was a direct attack on America’s principles. The principles of the American people and the freedom they enjoy. This freedom we enjoy comes from defending ourselves and from the exact people who attacked us on 9/11/2001. We never thought this would happen to us and devastatingly did. Protecting our borders is top priority and America sure has been very naive in that department, look at Mexico and all that is going on now. Lastly, I ask the question why? Why of all places do we need this Islamic Center right there and why the urgency? These are the most obvious factors but there is more. We have a challenge to the very first amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

As for Obama giving his opinion on the situation, it arguable. First of all it is his opinion and everyone is allowed to have their opinion. The first amendment is in question here. Obama gave his opinion and of course, the socialist-leaning Mainstream Media took advantage of it. Obama’s opinion, it only was and when the polls taken afterwords suggested the negativity of the location but there’s really more to that and I will explain afterwords. Obama reinforced his opinion stating the Freedom of Religion in our U.S. Constitution (All Here on CNN ). It is very clearly stated on the U.S. Constitution, the first amendment and the freedom of religion. If we are true Americans we must abide by our constitution.

This is Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf explaining and remember, it is not a Mosque but an Islamic Center:

The location, 2 blocks from where the twin towers stood is still considered “Ground Zero” and would not be appropriate with the past history and ties of these Mosques and terrorist organizations but if Mr. Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf true intentions are genuine then we must all consider the project. He is now traveling three countries to promote it further. This is a State Department sponsored trip, so the Obama administration is paying for the trip. This trip will be very interesting and I am very anxious to see the reaction abroad. But then again there is quite a bit of evidence which makes Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf another self-proclaimed “Prophet” and it will be better to investigate for yourself here.

Here’s a very popular video which reasonably disagrees with the building of a “Mosque” on Ground Zero. It is anti-Islamic but does have many strong points:

You read my analysis and now my opinion, which again brings me back to the image above. It seems to me that this man is too religiously powerful and too over fundamental with the Islamic religion. Delicate or Un-American as anyone may judge this in respect to the U.S. Constitution, the location is just too inappropriate and the size of this Mosque Islamic Center is ridiculous, 13 stories tall! Nobody could possibly convince me that in this 13 story building there will not be a place of worship, a Mosque that is. I personally do not like any Icon-type leader and of any organization and Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is definitely one, that’s a fact. Especially with the way the terrorists seem to infiltrate these types of religious organizations. I am not in accord with the way these private Islamic Mosques operate here in America. Fundamentally, they are not so American at all. First of all, they are too strict with the youth and the give very limited freedom to the women. They are unfairly treated. For a matter of fact, this overpowering religion actually steers their followers away from the U.S. Constitution and in turn, prevent their non-opinionated followers from exercising the first amendment’s other two freedoms, “Freedom of Expression” and even “Freedom of Choice.” This religion and many more, Islamic or non-Islamic, for example, the Mormon religion, Jehovah Witnesses, Hasidic Jews to name a few, are too strict for me and are too forceful with its followers. If you analyze them closer, you will realize that they are more like “Cults” (Definition from Dictionary.com):

1. a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies.

2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.

3. the object of such devotion.

4. a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.

5. Sociology . a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.

6. a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.

7. the members of such a religion or sect.

8. any system for treating human sickness that originated by a person usually claiming to have sole insight into the nature of disease, and that employs methods regarded as unorthodox or unscientific.

Religion is very good and necessary. It encourages family values and is very traditional, we need it. But religion can be very persuasive as we seen in the past and in the hands of some so-called leaders, could be very destructive. All religions teach peace and respect towards your fellow man but in history, as we all know by the “Holy Wars” it can be used as a tool to induce harm to your fellow man. This here case is not an issue concerning the freedom of religion, followers of Islam practice freely here in America. I don’t understand those “Freedom of Religion” signs. Whatever anyone perceives it to be, a Mosque or Islamic Center, it’s the same thing to me. No matter how it is pitched to me, the location is too “Strategic” and uncalled for. It’s the same difference to me, just another attack on our American values.