Video: Wisconsin company tells U.S. soldier in Iraq to get bent
posted at 11:24 am on January 23, 2007 by Allahpundit
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This is outrageous, but perhaps not so outrageous as to warrant the steady stream of e-mails about it that’s been flowing in for days and days. The company itself has been so deluged with angry messages that they’ve had to take their site offline, and the owner has reportedly been threatened and subjected to some choice words from the “nuke Mecca” crowd. Lovely.
Nice job here by our bud JG and Doug Kennedy (a.k.a. “the good Kennedy”), who sounds like he’s passing a stone during his voiceover.
Update: Jim Treacher e-mails to ask why this is an outrage when this, apparently, isn’t. Update: Never mind!
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So they fired the guy, bravo. Are they going to ship the mats to the soldier? If so then end of story.
bj1126 on January 23, 2007 at 11:31 AM
the local muslim organization agrees with the original emai
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=555527
disgrace.
Vincenzo on January 23, 2007 at 11:33 AM
According to FOX, the good SGT found another company that did ship to APO’s and they hooked them up.
bernzright777 on January 23, 2007 at 11:34 AM
They could turn it all around, loudly and proudly announcing they are shipping their best sleeping mats, free of charge, to every soldier in that unit.
When you have to bow, bow deeply.
bloviator on January 23, 2007 at 11:37 AM
This is their web site today….
I am an offical technical difficulty.
Limerick on January 23, 2007 at 11:39 AM
Can we be done with the infusion of the Kennedy family into every nook and cranny of public life?
journeyscarab on January 23, 2007 at 11:43 AM
Saw this on “snopes” last week and I guess I was also one of the “technical difficulties”. Albeit polite. Just couldn’t believe it.
However, thier website listed alot more clearly on Saturday they only ship in the continental US.
Gonna be hard to salvage that reputation now. I think snopes gets more hits than Fox has viewers. :grin
CBarker on January 23, 2007 at 11:48 AM
“This is a matter of free speech,” said Julie Enslow, an organizer with Peace Action Wisconsin in Milwaukee. “It is totally irresponsible for radio stations and bloggers to attack a person for his personal political views.”
Othman Atta, president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, said he would fault the worker for his lack of tact but defended his right to speak his mind.
The left defending the Muslims and not our troops. What a surprise.
The Muslim company disagrees with the war. If anyone for one fricking minute thinks that only one person did this, they have sand in their bed.
Will someone remind me again why every Muslim peaceful terrorist supporting follower of the Pedophile for Profit doesn’t need to leave the US?
You can e-mail them at: contact @ discount-mats.com
To reach them by phone, please call them between 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. central time: 414-736-8394
Here is their mailing address:
Bargain Suppliers
3259 S.106th Street
West Allis, WI 53227
Timber Wolf on January 23, 2007 at 11:50 AM
I emailed them suggesting that they send a free mat to the troops for every mat purchased.
Seems fair and would do wonders for their business.
csdeven on January 23, 2007 at 11:53 AM
Registrant:
Faisal Khetani
PO Box 270693
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53227
United States
Registered through: Teknon Domains
Domain Name: DISCOUNT-MATS.COM
Created on: 23-Mar-05
Expires on: 23-Mar-08
Last Updated on: 03-Mar-06
Administrative Contact:
Khetani, Faisal
3259 S.106th Street
West Allis, Wisconsin 53227
United States
(414) 543-9634 Fax —
Technical Contact:
Khetani, Faisal
3259 S.106th Street
West Allis, Wisconsin 53227
United States
(414) 543-9634
Timber Wolf on January 23, 2007 at 11:58 AM
Sorry csdeven….I don’t want them to do wonders for their business. I want them gone. No tar. No feathers. No crosses buring on the lawn. Just gone. Standing at the bank, looking down, explaining to the banker why they can’t make their loan payments. I don’t give a rats patudy if it fills up every homeless shelter in Wisconsin. I want that BMW in the #1 parking space on a flatbed headed to auction.
Limerick on January 23, 2007 at 12:03 PM
“This is a matter of free speech,” said Julie Enslow, an organizer with Peace Action Wisconsin in Milwaukee. “It is totally irresponsible for radio stations and bloggers to attack a person for his personal political views.”
Othman Atta, president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, said he would fault the worker for his lack of tact but defended his right to speak his mind.
Free speech for the Left means only they get to speak. They see disagreement with lefty views as censorship. On the other hand, attacking people for their personal political views is their main purpose in life. Lefties were all over Rush Limbaugh’s advertisers, harassing them for supporting his personal political views. During the Republican convention in New York, lefties were protesting the headquarters of Fox News.
Tantor on January 23, 2007 at 12:05 PM
Makes you wonder why they call it “common” sense. Also, why is the military procuring these for the troops?
honora on January 23, 2007 at 12:07 PM
Correction to above: why isn’t the military….
honora on January 23, 2007 at 12:07 PM
Why doesn’t everyone ship to APOs addresses? As Americans, enjoying the freedom that is provided by our troops, isn’t it a civic responsibility to ship to those members of the Armed Services deployed overseas?
E L Frederick (Sniper One) on January 23, 2007 at 12:11 PM
I just don’t know the guy and I feel that if he were to make the offer I suggested, it would be an indication that he does support the troops.
You’re probably right and the guys business needs to just go away.
csdeven on January 23, 2007 at 12:15 PM
“This is a matter of free speech,” said Julie Enslow, an organizer with Peace Action Wisconsin in Milwaukee. “It is totally irresponsible for radio stations and bloggers to attack a person for his personal political views.”
And this too is a matter of free speech . . . Screw you Julie!
rplat on January 23, 2007 at 12:16 PM
Of course DOS attacks on HA, Michelle’s site or LGF are perfectly legitimate expressions of free speech.
/Looking in liberal dictionary for entry free speech.
LakeRuins on January 23, 2007 at 12:16 PM
My wife had a customer threaten to cut her head off and murder our kids (assuming we had any), if his order didn’t arrive in 3 days instead of 4. So, the “nuke mecca” crowd isn’t really the worst it can get.
lorien1973 on January 23, 2007 at 12:17 PM
In slight defense of the company though. Shipping to military addresses is a pain in the ass. First off, no one knows their zipcode, so you always have to email back asking for the zip+4 from them, then the order can take months to get there since the military does not handle the mail the whole way. 3rd party international shippers do. And you have to fill out a customs form (why?) for orders shipping there. What a pain in the ass the whole system is.
lorien1973 on January 23, 2007 at 12:19 PM
Huh?
The owner is a Muslim from Pakistan.
So what exactly IS outrageous enough? Just what has to happen to warrant “angry email messages and threats?”
Do we wait until the nuke goes off in Los Angeles?
Just one more example of conservative pacifism.
Well said. THIS is what all Americans should feel.
Gregor on January 23, 2007 at 12:20 PM
Well they are in the Army. They aren’t the Navy of Air Force. I know they are provided with mats, but probably not the top of the line types.
csdeven on January 23, 2007 at 12:21 PM
You can be against the war. But never ever be against the troops.
William Amos on January 23, 2007 at 12:22 PM
Unfortunately, the company response had absolutely nothing to do with this. It was anti-American, anti-soldier hatred by a company owned by a Muslim from Pakistan.
Gregor on January 23, 2007 at 12:23 PM
It would be good to know the names of the companies that the soldiers in the story did hook up with who do ship to military addresses and support our troops. While it’s nice to know that Bargain-Mats is a company to avoid, it’s also nice to know about patriotic and freedom loving companies as well.
rokemronnie on January 23, 2007 at 12:24 PM
I know they sell mats, but do they sell flying carpets?
I think Faisal should consider moving his business to another location. Preferrably in someone elses country.
Dave R. on January 23, 2007 at 12:24 PM
Sorry, Discount-Mats. Any offense to Bargain-Mats,if it exists, was not intended.
rokemronnie on January 23, 2007 at 12:25 PM
Someone wrote to the owner. This Muslim is a real piece of something.
Khetani also threatened Kirkland with unleashing the wrath of “major muslim organizations” on her for her “insults”. He closed by telling Kirkland, “you can be sure that there are million of muslim activists as well that will do something about your foul statements…. your statements against Muslims and your direct insults will not go unheard, I assure you.”
Timber Wolf on January 23, 2007 at 12:25 PM
I don’t agree with physical threats/threatening messages, but as far as the rest of the steady stream of emails expressing outrage, all I can do is quote the founder of this site:
Boo-freakin’-hoo.
thirteen28 on January 23, 2007 at 12:27 PM
Atta (name for some reason rings a bell) said. “In the United States, everyone one is free to speak their opinion.”
You gotta love hearing the worshipers of Sharia Law expound on the constitionality of free speech in the US.
And in conjunction with an above poster re:free speech;
Atta, f you and the camel you rode in on.
there it is on January 23, 2007 at 12:32 PM
Constitutionality
Frig it , you know what I meant.
there it is on January 23, 2007 at 12:33 PM
I’ll never understand why people put their jobs at risk with that sort of behavior.
Slublog on January 23, 2007 at 12:33 PM
Who’s in charge of the military budget? Why am I paying taxes?!?!
Oh, and F*** the Muslims :-)
SouthernGent on January 23, 2007 at 12:35 PM
FYI to any troops reading this, you can substitute ‘New York, NY’ for APO/AE and ‘San Francisco, CA’ for APO/AP, and get anything you need shipped to you, regardless of the cluelessness of the seller. I had to use that trick once in Turkey when I had to buy a new battery for a digital camera.
corbettw on January 23, 2007 at 12:35 PM
Mats are high on the priority for the US army to get. They have to get the best weapons and equiptment first.
Of course have those money grubbers in Congress who want to cut funds to our troops.
Todays its mats they are without. The democrats want to even take away their bullets.
William Amos on January 23, 2007 at 12:51 PM
I don’t condone threats of harm made by one against another, but let us be honest about something; When you do something as outrageous as this, and as stupid as this, then you have to accept the consequences of your stupidity. I don’t mean the result should be harm coming to this individual or company, but the verbal threats and outpouring of anger that comes in response. So I cut people a little slack durng the heat of the moment if they call and express threats of bodily harm….just don’t follow through guys, come back to your senses and calm down. This company has bascially cut it’s own business throat and will receive their just dessert…
ritethinker on January 23, 2007 at 12:51 PM
That should be arent high on the priority list
William Amos on January 23, 2007 at 12:51 PM
A Muslim complaining about threats of bodily harm in response to something they wrote?
How ironic is that?
Gregor on January 23, 2007 at 1:05 PM
I’m with you, Irish.
And you too G.
shooter on January 23, 2007 at 1:09 PM
best yet!!!
shooter on January 23, 2007 at 1:10 PM
‘Fraid I’m going to take a contrarian view on this one.
If I own my own business; one that isn’t regulated by law as to who I must serve, or one that has a professional oath that I will serve anyone, NO ONE is going to tell me who I must serve. And if I was a dirtbag muslim, I wouldn’t sell to American Soldiers either.
And I say that as someone who slept on cold hard ground more often than not while I was in the military.
Oh, Yeah….. we were issued foam sleeping pads/mats, but very few of us were willing to carry the extra weight and especially the bulk when on a mission.
LegendHasIt on January 23, 2007 at 1:17 PM
Some thoughts;
1. How do we know the responsible employee was fired? This sounds like a family operation, and the family would not stand for letting cousin Abdul getting canned.
2. How do we know their business will be harmed? How many people buy their product? Chances are the America-hating middle eastern transplants in MI, WI, and MN will rally to the side of a company they agree with. Libs too.
3. What about the owner’s threats of having mobs of muslim activists respond.
Lastly, I think that the US should exclude some types of people. Not based on religion, not based on color, but based on culture. If there are people that can’t assimilate into our culture, why are they here? Those that oppose stereotyping might want to consider that sometimes stereotyping makes sense. In Britain, they are finding second generation middle eastern immigrants can’t/won’t assimilate. Can’t we learn from someone else’s mistake?
Mustafa Hemmroid on January 23, 2007 at 1:18 PM
LegendHasIt:
If I was a businessman and I refused to serve blacks, or women, or jews, etc., I would have the law on my ass.
If you are in business, you separate your private views from your business views.
The as*wipe liberals always look for “hate crimes.” How is this much different. I thank you for your service to your country, but I think you may have left some common sense behind because it was too heavy.
Mustafa Hemmroid on January 23, 2007 at 1:21 PM
Discount-Mats.com is Experiencing Technical Difficulties…
If you are inquiring about your order, please contact us via phone or email.
We are currently supporting terror and conspiring to kill Americans.
Thank you for your understanding & patience.
x95b10 on January 23, 2007 at 1:23 PM
Try opening a business in Pakistan, refuse to serve Muslims, and then insult them with a nasty letter.
I’m sure that will work out well and I’m sure all the Muslims will defend your right to serve who you please.
Gregor on January 23, 2007 at 1:24 PM
Meh. whatever,
Just goes to show you that “Don’t Hire Stupid” is important to not having your company destroyed.
Stupid employees make stupid decisions, and that can kill any company.
Jones Zemkophill on January 23, 2007 at 1:25 PM
Is it just me, or does AllahPundit AGAIN sound like he is more outraged at Americans standing up for their country than he is with what originally caused the outrage? He does exactly what Muslim organizations always do; shift blame.
In this case, AP takes the spotlight off of the anti-American Muslim who wrote the email and shifts it to the “nuke Mecca” crowd. As if emails with such things as “Get out of our country if you think this way” equal putting out death threats and murdering Christians in response, such as in the Danish cartoon response.
Michelle Malkin supports the response on her website; AP calls them the “nuke Mecca” crowd and doesn’t even mention what the email was to the soldier. Typical. But he is one that supports the burning of our flag.
It is about time that Americans stand up for our values with the same vehemence that Muslims stand up for theirs.
januarius on January 23, 2007 at 1:28 PM
Folks, I don’t believe for a MINUTE that there was another employee involved in that email. I would almost stake my sight on the fact that it was the owner that responded.
My lie-detector just went off bigtime.
And free speech? Yes… but it don’t fly in business. You piss off your customers, you have no customers.
F-off, you dishonest, dishonorable, intruders.
tickleddragon on January 23, 2007 at 1:29 PM
Oh and just in case Sgt Hess or one of his soldiers are hanging around here are some words of wisdom coming from someone who has “been there, done that, got the t-shirt”
Quit yer bellyaching, Fer chrissakes what did ya expect when ya joined. Dammit you get 2 1/2 hot meals a day, all the ammo and protective gear ya can carry, and somewhere there is a 2LT looking for ya. Sleeping mat my eye. Why in my day we were glad just to get a chance to sleep.
Okay being serious now. Take care guys and there are some folks here who try to look out for ya. There may be some mats headed yer way but in all likelyhood they will arrive about the same time you are leaving so leave them for the next guy. (Along with the TP)
LakeRuins on January 23, 2007 at 1:31 PM
This story has been out for two days already. I wrote the guy several times while his crappy website was still up. The guy’s website was not legit, nor are any of the others he’s affiliated with. So far I’ve found four others. They are sham websites, and all owned by Muslims in the same group, who all live near Milwaukee. Remarkable coincidence, eh?
Redhead Infidel on January 23, 2007 at 1:34 PM
Nobody was fired. As I commented in a a previous thread last week …
“Un-named employee” = fiction
Odds are that the email came directly from the owner.
Exactly. Odds are that American liberals will actually rally in defense of this company and it won’t be long before DailyKos and DU boards are filled with posts asking liberals to place orders through this company to help support them and fight the evil Nazi conservatives.
That’s allowed. Flag burning, insulting Christianity, threatening to kill Bush, vandalizing GOP headquarters, and assulting conservative speakers are all constitutionally protected speech.
Just don’t say the the word Macaca. That’s hate speech.
Yeah, they’re already trying that at Columbia University. No conservatives allowed.
Gregor on January 23, 2007 at 1:35 PM
I don’t disagree with you, that business owners should be able to sell to who they want to sell to, but last I checked, no one is legally stopping them.
This is free speech simply being expressed both ways.
That man wanted to make a political statement, so others made their own statements in kind (and worse, which is obviously never a good idea, threatening bodily harm is disgusting).
I don’t think government should be able to force a Muslim who hates the troops to sell anything to the troops. But on the other hand, I don’t think he should be shielded from the free speech of the public either.
Esthier on January 23, 2007 at 1:39 PM
The magic immigration arch works yet again!
Alex K on January 23, 2007 at 1:40 PM
Legend….
I would support your opinion IF the company had advertised their product as being sold to ‘only people with one blue and one brown eye’. No problem. Good Luck. See you in the soup line. But to sell to the public means ALL THE PUBLIC.
I can’t refuse to fix someones window because they are Eskimo without the weight of the State landing on me. Why should they?
Limerick on January 23, 2007 at 1:40 PM
Yeah, this has been outrageous for a couple of days now.
MsUnderestimated on January 23, 2007 at 1:40 PM
CAIR outrage and cries of islamophobia in 5…4…3….
P. James Moriarty on January 23, 2007 at 1:47 PM
Look, what this man did does not deserve the response that we nuke all Muslims or threaten to kill him. It seems to me that those are the responses Allah was talking about.
And no, any American worth their citizenship should do what they can to look nothing like the Muslims we see threatening to behead us.
We should resemble ourselves instead of following that mold.
There is nothing wrong with voicing your opinion, but we don’t need to become that which we fight against.
Besides, if you don’t have a problem with what they’re doing, then why do you feel the need to fight against it?
Esthier on January 23, 2007 at 1:47 PM
I’ve owned my own businesses for 40 years. I have NEVER let the business overcome my personal beliefs, even if it cost me lots of money.
You may call that stupid, but I call it not being a hypocrite.
I’m not operating a business in Pakistan, nor would I want to. This is America. There is supposed to be some degree of freedom here.
————————————————
Look, I don’t support the guy, I despise the whole idea of Islam. The last commercial business I owned donated a few thousand dollars of high-tech tactical flashlights to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as a few other less publicized hot zones.
But I do support the American ideas of freedom of association, and that includes, barring specific laws to the contrary, the freedom to sell or not sell to whom you please.
If y’all think that standing up for Freedom of Association as guaranteed by the First Ammendment is stupid or anti-American…… I recommend you ‘check your premises’.
LegendHasIt on January 23, 2007 at 1:55 PM
It should be noted that IF Americans had made a habit of simply “voicing their opinions” throughout history, we’d most likely still have slavery.
I’m not advocating that we should go out and behead anyone, but I’m still wondering how far this country needs to sink before we decide we’ve had enough.
“Voicing our opinions” doesn’t seem to be working out too well as we watch our leaders ignore pretty much every law on the books regarding immigration. It doesn’t seem to be working out too well regarding homosexual marriage. It doesn’t seem to be working out too well for anything these days.
Meanwhile, liberals, animal rights groups, and illegal aliens use acts of violence on a daily basis and are rewarded by being given exactly what they ask for.
Since when did the roles reverse? When did the liberals become the aggressors and the conservatives become the pacifists?
Gregor on January 23, 2007 at 1:59 PM
Discount-Mats.com files for bankruptcy in 3..2..1..
Hollywood freaks bail out Discount-Mats.com in 3..2..1
fogw on January 23, 2007 at 2:07 PM
The total freedom to do as you please without concern for consequences is called LIBERALISM. It is NOT conservatism. The ability to burn flags is supported by LIBERALS. Not conservatives.
Total and unconditional freedom is called anarchy.
My guess is that you would be on complete opposite sides of that argument if a business owner were to refuse service to a person because he/she was black.
Gregor on January 23, 2007 at 2:07 PM
I used to run a mail-order business and had no problem shipping rather large packages to APOs (Priority Mail, even).
Gyro on January 23, 2007 at 2:09 PM
It seems to me that a revolution would be kind of difficult. I read this article in (heaven help me) Esquire last week and while it’s full of snark, the guy makes a pretty good point - the idea of revolution is popular, but the logistics would be tough.
For the record, I do not read this magazine on a regular basis. I was in the barbershop and bored to tears.
Slublog on January 23, 2007 at 2:10 PM
I agree. Almost impossible in today’s world. I think more along the lines of mass protests. The sort of thing that works out really well for liberals. A million conservatives marching the streets in protest of illegal immigration would do the trick. But it’s tough to get 20 people to stand on the corner.
Gregor on January 23, 2007 at 2:24 PM
Okay… the thing about APO and FPO addresses:
The packages and letters usually go to a military Post or Base. Usually here in the states. From that Post or Base, the military generally collects and transports the packages and letters themselves to the soldiers in the field.
Point is that local shipping to APO/FPO is usually NOT overseas shipping for the sender. It is just regular in-country shipping and local shipping rates.
Whoever the knot-head was that said the wouldn’t ship to APO because it was overseas shipping didn’t know what he was talking about.
While the company may not ship overseas, which is normal policy for many companies, they should still be willing to ship to APO addresses through normal Postal shipping channels.
Lawrence on January 23, 2007 at 2:25 PM
As long as we don’t include morons on stilts or paper mache heads, I think you could get people to sign up.
Slublog on January 23, 2007 at 2:28 PM
Amazing, the media has turned the story around into making the poor website and people employed by the website as the victims.
You almost get the feeling that the soldier brought upon himself. How dare he e-mail and ask for mats to sleep on. He put that poor webmaster in harm’s way by forcing him to respond.
And who wants to bet that these “vulgar” emails are exaggerated and the threat to the family is unfounded, dare I say invented.
James on January 23, 2007 at 2:30 PM
I ship packages out to soldiers via Anysolder.com and (except for the first time when I had no clue what I was doing and was really unsure of the procedure), it has always been quite simple.
Technically, even explicity stating that they only ship within the US does not exclude APO/FPO shipments as those addresses (for regular mail purposes) all ship to either NY or San Fran. That’s why I can send a soldier a letter and just give it a regular stamp (as opposed to having to pay airmail rates to Iraq).
As for this guy, he has the right to restrict his business to whomever he pleases. Perhaps I am among the minority here, but, I even think it is a mistake for the US goverment to tell people that they can’t discriminate based on race/religion/etc. I’d prefer to see a business that says “Women and Dogs must stay outside” (or any other insulting combination) because then I know which businesses to avoid (both my freedom and the business owner’s freedom have remained intact).
In this instance, he can refuse to ship to the military and write an insulting letter as he pleases. I can refuse to shop at his store (which, isn’t too big of a threat as I was not in the market for a mat) and I can spread the word to avoid his shop as well. Freedom’s a beautiful thing!
JadeNYU on January 23, 2007 at 2:32 PM
No thanks, I don’t have enough free time as is. If I took to the streets once a week to chant and burn pictures Bush I’d never get anything done.
You make a pretty good point: both sides are rather hypocritical on the free speech issue. They talk a good game, but when it gets ugly and personal they both have their limits. Conservatives can’t seem to stomach flag burning and liberals get all worked up over Muslim hate speech.
That’s one big gripe I have about liberals in general. I support free speech unconditionally. I’m not even opposed to yelling Fire! in a theatre. If it’s a good movie I’m not leaving until I smell smoke.
JaHerer22 on January 23, 2007 at 2:33 PM
I agree 100%. Talk & a refusal to stand up for whats right (”stand up” doesnt = a smartass email making empty threats about boycotts)has brought us nothing. Get a spine people, your forefathers are rolling over in their graves.
DwnSouthJukin on January 23, 2007 at 2:34 PM
You guys must not check your tips email much. I posted this story on my blog Friday (Google’s blog search shows me to be the first to blog about it, if I may brag) and I emailed you about it shortly after.
JinxMcHue on January 23, 2007 at 2:44 PM
To be clear, I agree that sometimes war and violence are both necessary.
However, calling for someone’s blood over an insult is the over-reaction we’ve come to expect from jihadists and is not something I would ever want to emulate.
Esthier on January 23, 2007 at 2:45 PM
As long as the consequences are only to myself, that is a fundamental right, and neither liberal or conservative.
I’m not calling for “Total and unconditional freedom”. I’m talking about the right to NOT do business with any particular entity if you so choose; I’m not talking about rioting in the street and destroying property or causing a threat to public safety.
When you are the guy who signs my paycheck, you can tell me how to conduct business. Until then, or until you are an agent for a Constitutionally permitted law enforcement agency, or unless my operations are causing a direct threat to your health and safety, you have no right to tell me how I must conduct my business.
If you don’t like the way I do business, you are welcome to boycott it, tell others to boycott it. You can call me nasty names; tell me to go back where I came from… The right that gives me freedom of association also gives you those rights. That’s the risk I must take when I take an unpopular stance. And, personally, I’m willing to accept those business consequences.
True conservatives support the Constitution and Bill of Rights, even when people we don’t like benefit from it. LIBERALS (as defined these days) are the ones that believe that Constitutional rights are only for themselves and not for those with whom they disagree.
LegendHasIt on January 23, 2007 at 2:53 PM
Just to build on previous posters doubts, I don’t buy the owner’s story. I just doubt that an online store that sells mats is doing so much business that the owner would need to hire somebody to sit at a PC and process those orders. I’m guessing a few orders at most come in online per day. I also doubt that some min wage kid would speak with such an authoritative voice to a customer. The email sounds like an owner’s voice, perhaps an owner’s kid voice. Since a small business owner is not likely to slap a customer with cash in hand, I’m leaning toward the kid.
While everyone else has noted the contemptuous attitude toward the troops expressed in the reply, let me leapfrog that issue to note the stupidity of it. This business is telling the soldier that he should withdraw from Iraq? How exactly would he accomplish that? Would he tell his commander, “Hey, I just heard from this Pakistani mat guy that I should pull out of Iraq, so my gear is packed and I’m redeploying to Schofield Barracks. OK?”
Another point worth chewing on: Why is it so easy to find American Muslims critical of America but so hard to find Muslims supporting America?
Tantor on January 23, 2007 at 3:01 PM
So what exactly is your point? You’re arguing that everyone is wrong to be reacting because he has the right to serve who he wants, but then you contradict that statement by saying that we are … “welcome to boycott it, tell others to boycott it. You can call me nasty names; tell me to go back where I came from …”
Of course he has the right to refuse service. The point that’s been made here all along is that we also have the right to react to that choice, and we SHOULD react to that choice.
Gregor on January 23, 2007 at 3:02 PM
“Free speech! Free speech! SQUAAK!! You’re mean and insensitive, and violating my right to free speech by criticizing what I say!”
Folks, get with the program. PAW and ONLY PAW can define who has the right of free speech.
CliffHanger on January 23, 2007 at 3:02 PM
I agree. Almost impossible in today’s world. I think more along the lines of mass protests. The sort of thing that works out really well for liberals. A million conservatives marching the streets in protest of illegal immigration would do the trick. But it’s tough to get 20 people to stand on the corner.
Gregor on January 23, 2007 at 2:24 PM
The MS(L)M would just not report the protest. Look what happened yesterday. DC gets nearly shut down by Pro-lifers and now one hears, sees or reads it.
opusrex on January 23, 2007 at 3:05 PM
So did we fiinally find a moderate Muslim?
bbz123 on January 23, 2007 at 3:06 PM
Right, because we all have jobs and responsibilities.
CliffHanger on January 23, 2007 at 3:10 PM
A revolution need not be bloody, nor fast.
Suppose some leading conservative group called for a shutdown of business for a day to protest, say, inaction on illegal immigration. If enough other groups joined on and there was significant participation (people stayed home and spent nothing, it would get attention. Nothing more.
But if it happened again the next week, and increased in intensity, it would do a lot more than cause conversations. Too many businesses, etc. would be hurt. Too much disruption would be caused in workplaces across America. Too many legal and employment issues would be raised. That would cause politicos to finally act.
Will it ever happen? Not until enough people get pissed off enough to make the personal sacrifices needed to join the effort. Tjhere would be a big personal cost for all participants, but that’s what it takes to get action.
I doubt if it will ever happen, because there are too many sheep in this population, too many unwilling to inconvenience themselves. Too many hocked up to their eyebrows and unable to make a financial sacrifice. And then there is the mainstream media, who are too busy telling free thinkers how racist, bigoted, evil we are. So others wouldn’t join for fear of being called names. There are more unhappy people out there than anyone can imagine, because the MSM tells everyone we only exist in white supremacy cults and radical christian denominations. Tell me when the boycott is scheduled. I still have my balls.
Mustafa Hemmroid on January 23, 2007 at 3:15 PM
If conservatives were to get off their a$$ and hit the streets with the amount of passion the illegals did back in May, believe me … people would notice. But you’re right that 1000, 5000, or even 10,000 marchers is not nearly enough. It would take a mass response such as the million man march. It would take conservatives to set aside one day, or two days to actually pass on the golf outing, or the day at the movies. It would take conservatives to actually DO SOMETHING.
There are a few people with the power to organize such a plan. Michelle Malkin would be one. I would love to see Michelle take the lead and make that attempt. It’s going to take someone with that conservative star power and ultimate respect to have a chance at succeeding.
So far, I’ve yet to see any indication that we’re up to the task. Illegal immigrants from Mexico seem to want this country more than we do.
Gregor on January 23, 2007 at 3:16 PM
opusrex: “I agree. Almost impossible in today’s world. I think more along the lines of mass protests. The sort of thing that works out really well for liberals.”
Since when? I have seen many protest here in DC the last few years with banners urging a Marxist revolution, calling for the overturn of the fascist Amerikkkan government, proposing the prosecution of the Illuminati for perpetrating 9/11, and demanding Bush’s head on a stick. None of it happenned. The only thing that happenned was the one thing the protestors avoided mentioning at all costs: Saddam overthrown and hung.
Tantor on January 23, 2007 at 3:17 PM
That WAS my point.
I’m the one that was (essentially) called stupid, unpatriotic and LIBERAL because I stated that as a private business owner, he has the right to NOT sell to people with whom he has a major philosophical disagreement.
If anyone thought I said that he should not suffer the business consequences of his actions, either they badly misread my statements, or I am a much poorer writer than I imagined.
LegendHasIt on January 23, 2007 at 3:18 PM
Bulls&*t!
That’s the most used excuse I’ve seen and it’s totally bogus. It’s nothing more than laziness.
There are weekends. There are Holidays. There are many days each year which millions of conservatives would be available.
How about Thanksgiving? How about the 4th of July? How about Memorial Day?
I’d gladly give up my Thanksgiving to spend attempting to same my country.
Would you?
Gregor on January 23, 2007 at 3:20 PM
Wake me up when I care.
Labamigo on January 23, 2007 at 3:21 PM
My, my…such nice people on this blog.
Slublog on January 23, 2007 at 3:24 PM
Which part did we misread?
Gregor on January 23, 2007 at 3:24 PM
Before the meal? Sure.
After? Not so much, no.
Slublog on January 23, 2007 at 3:26 PM
LOL! Exactly. And there is the challenge we face.
Gregor on January 23, 2007 at 3:30 PM
Tryptophan - enemy of freedom.
Slublog on January 23, 2007 at 3:31 PM
If Euphoric Reality has it right, the guy is a 24 year old muslim activist running his business out of his bedroom in his parent’s home.
Bravo for his entrepreneurship. It is what America is all about; it why my father, grandfather, uncle, and granduncle came here from Europe.
BOO on him for his boorish response and behavior.
Double BOO on him for lying about firing his “empolyee.” He doesn’t have any, apparently.
Triple BOO on him for being an anti-American, unpatriotic, ass.
He has made his choice — and communicated it rather bluntly — and the consequences will flow where go.
Free speech goes BOTH WAYS. And a person’s behavior has consequences. HE stirred up the hornet’s nest. Upon his head be it.
Personally, I have *ZERO* sympathy for him.
georgej on January 23, 2007 at 3:36 PM
I don’t see any contradiction. Maybe it was MY brain that was damaged by a severe kneejerk reaction.
Gregor, normally I applaud your posts here and agree with you 95% of the time. So, I’m just going to shut up on this and let us both get on to more important things.
LegendHasIt on January 23, 2007 at 3:37 PM
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