Uber Wingnut Michelle Malkin published a specious, racist screed that I am reluctantly going to admit I agree with. She says lock up all the Muslims in America, because they might be terrorists. The basis for her argument? We've done it before, with the Japanese during WW Second. Michelle, I have to hand it to you...you're right on the money.
But wait. Let's not stop with Muslims. You see Michelle, conveniently hiding behind the surname of Malkin, is actually of Filipino origin, with a surname of Magalang. In the Philippines, if you did not know there is a terrorist organization, designated as such by none other than Colin Powell, called the New People's Army (not really so New, they've been around since the late 60's, I believe).
Philippines' New People's Army Redesignated as Terrorist Group
Secretary of State Colin Powell has renewed the designation of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
According to a statement released August 9 by the State Department's Office of the Spokesman, the redesignation imposes several restrictions:
-- It makes it illegal for persons in the United States or subject to U.S. jurisdiction knowingly to provide material support to the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army;
-- It requires U.S. financial institutions to block assets of this organization; and,
-- It provides a basis for the United States to deny visas to representatives and members of the group.
What has the NPA done? Well, back before the US removed most, if not all its forces from the Philippines, they had quite a track record of targeting and executing US Forces Personnel.
Now why could Michelle (if that's her real name) be a threat? Well while Filipinos are a very ancient and honorable people, they also have large, extended families and intricate extra- familial relationships, and their society has relied on a concept of honor called Utang na Loob.
A dyadic bond--between two individuals--may be formed based on the concept of utang na loob. Although it is expected that the debtor will attempt repayment, it is widely recognized that the debt (as in one's obligation to a parent) can never be fully repaid and the obligation can last for generations. Saving another's life, providing employment, or making it possible for another to become educated are "gifts" that incur utang na loob. Moreover, such gifts initiate a long-term reciprocal interdependency in which the grantor of the favor can expect help from the debtor whenever the need arises and the debtor can, in turn, ask other favors. Such reciprocal personal alliances have had obvious implications for the society in general and the political system in particular.
Who's to say that the money that helped Michelle's family emigrate to America did not somehow have its origins in some sort of shady financing? With such a shadowy terrorist organiztion in her "home" country, how do we know to certainty that Michelle might not owe a "generational" Utang to someone who hates America? We just can't take that chance.
So, lock her up. Now. It's after all, no less than she demands.
Perhaps in 50 years her child will reread Bob Matsui's statement on the floor of the House, and weep for the fool who is their mother.
posted by Jo Fish on 01.03.05 at 01:01 AM
Comments:
Abu Sayyaf is the smaller of the Islamist groups fighting to establish an Iranian-style Islamic state in Mindanao, an island in the southern Philippines.
The Abu Sayyaf group, whose name means, “Bearer of the Sword,” split from the Moro National Liberation Front in 1991. Although based almost exclusively in the southern islands, Abu Sayyaf has ties to a number of Islamic fundamentalist organizations around the world, including Osama bin Ladin’s al-Qaida and Ramzi Yousef, who was convicted of organizing the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center in New York.
We need to lock up all the Maglalangs. Just to be safe.
