To: tolerance, understanding and democracy: please return to sender

[Don Corleone]

interesting , so you don't see that line I quoted as being an incredibly stupid example to use
So you follow with ......
The fact is jewish cemetaries get desecrated over there too . One in particular springs to mind , smashed up headstones and daubed with nazi graffiti 7 times in one year .
Then again if you think that anti semetic violence , vandalism or other general nasty stuff happens about every 4-5 months in Europe then you don't read any the annual reports on anti-semitism that lots of different groups compile about Europe , or the ones about the US .

No, in fact I don't read a lot of reports. I simply know that periodically, CNN or MSNBC or God forbid, FoxNews has a story on about some act of anti-semitism in Europe. They appear to come about every 4 to 5 months, but if you say it's less frequent than that, I'll allow you that. Despite what Neo-cons over here would have you believe, my layman's perspective is that this is approximately the same rate as acts of bigotry against Jews here in the US.

Yes, America has similar attacks. You must have missed where I said just that in the post I addressed to you. Please, allow me:

The fact is, about every 4 or 5 months, there's some act of anti-semitism or the like over in Europe (desecrated Jewish cemetaries are just one example). I don't think you're any worse off than we are. God knows we have plenty of bigots over here. But I don't think you're any better, either, and if I can challenge your pre-conceived notion that you are, I will.

To me, it sounds like I'm saying I view us on roughly compatible terms when it comes to bigotry and acts of violence. Interesting that you overlooked that. Or is that you don't like being lumped in with your trashy cousins across the pond?

[Tribesman]

They appear to come about every 4 to 5 months, but if you say it's less frequent than that, I'll allow you that.

Ah I see , you misunderstand .
Now rewrite that bit I quoted and change the word less to more .

[Don Corleone]

Ah I see , you misunderstand .
Now rewrite that bit I quoted and change the word less to more .

I bet you're a real joy at parties.

Okay, perhaps incidents of bigotry occur more frequently than every four to 5 months. They may happen less. Did you miss the part where I said this is an informal survey and that the barometer I'm using is how many times it gets conveyed to my conciousness over my morning coffee & Cheerios? Translation: I'm not running around keeping statistics on these things. My only point is that based on my informal viewing habits of major American media, incidents of violence/bigotry in Europe appear to be on par with the USA. Not more, not less.

And I would like you to stop and consider something. I will allow that the American news media tends to be incredibly America-centric. So do you really think every act around Europe you hear of is going to be played out on CNN? We hear of a subset of the more eggregious crimes, such as the Holocaust memorial in Germany (or was it Poland, I cannot remember).

In any case, I've clearly touched a nerve here. So to my European friends, I apologize and I politely withdraw my objection. You're right, we are every bit as crude, ignorant and uncivilized as you believe us to be. Now, let's drop this and get on with laughing at how dumb we Americans are, shall we?

[Don Corleone]

Ooops, double-post.