As well, X, this style of Bush's inflames the impotent ire ...
-- of the ignorant U.S. rednecks he cultivated to 'vote' his stupid ass into office --
(if I may use that term -g-) to attack innocent people here in their homes, businesses, etc.
I'm appalled to learn that here in Austin, three instances of anti-Muslim violence have already occurred.
This, I'm sure I don't need to remind the readers here, is the capital of Texas, from the loins <sorry -g-) of which sprang this ignorant redneck as governor who is now president representing of all of you in the United States.
See this link from the Austin American-Statesman re local attacks on Muslims:
austin360.com
Carpet store torched in
arson attack
By Jonathan Osborne
American-Statesman Staff
Tuesday, September 25, 2001
When Marwan "Eddie" Janlani opened the door to his
Capital Carpet store in far Northwest Austin on Sunday
morning, hot smoke dusted his face as water spilled out
around his feet.
"I basically just panicked and called the police and the Fire
Department," said Janlani, who was born and raised in
Jerusalem before moving to the United States.
His 6-month-old business had been torched -- intentionally,
investigators said -- and it had the smell of charred fabrics
and burned plastic.
Investigators think a flammable liquid was used to start the
blaze. It caused about $150,000 in smoke and water
damage to Janlani's store, which is in a strip mall along the
east frontage of U.S. 183, just north of RM 620.
Sprinklers flooded the shop with about 5 inches of water,
likely saving the building from burning to the ground. But
water also damaged neighboring businesses, including a
Chinese restaurant, a smoothie shop and a furniture store.
On Sunday, investigators questioned one man about the fire,
but they had made no arrests as of Monday night.
If investigators determine that it was an attack motivated by
hate, it would be the third assault against the city's Middle
Eastern or Muslim community since the Sept. 11 terrorist
hijackings and plane crashes in New York, near Washington
and in Pennsylvania.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, which
is assisting the department in its investigation, also is
looking into last week's attempted firebombings of a Nation
of Islam mosque in East Austin and a Muslim-owned
convenience store and gas station in North Austin. No one
was injured in either incident, and no arrests have been
made.
FBI Director Robert Mueller said the government has
opened at least 40 hate crime investigations involving
attacks on Muslims and Arabs since Sept. 11, including the
shooting death of a Pakistani grocer in Dallas.
Mark Curtin, the ATF resident agent in charge of the Austin
area, said no motive has been ruled out.
"I'm sure a lot of people are speculating," he said. "Nothing's
off the table."
On Monday, a "Grand Opening" banner still hung above the
entrance to Capital Carpet, which remained closed.
Neighboring business owners and employees stood
outside their doors to watch ATF agents walk in and out of
the shop.
"It's just a terrible thing that happened to this guy," said Don
Boyd, a salesman at Texas Discount Furniture, which is two
doors down from Janlani's store. "This guy's trying to make a
go of it -- the American dream. He definitely didn't deserve to
have this happen to him."
Though saddened, Janlani said he has resolved to reopen
his store in several weeks.
"Things are going to happen sometimes," he said. "My loss
is nothing compared to the nation's loss. This will not stop
me. I will stay in business."
You may contact Jonathan Osborne at
josborne@statesman.com or 445-3605. |
