YOUR COMMENTS

Great article - the Left needs to be warned - theirs and the Islamists aims are not the same.

I thought it was interesting - that when Lebanon retaliated against - the Palestinian refugee camps - with bombing - no one of the Left protested - as Muslims did not protest - yet hundreds of Palestinians Muslims were killed

But when Hezbollah took it upon themselves to fire rockets at Israel and start a war with a neighbouring country - those on the Left were out in force - as the Muslims were protesting - We Are All Hezbollah - their signs read

It is clear that Islamic agenda is guiding the Left's agenda - what they will or will not protest.

The problem is that the Islamist agenda - has little or no interest in human rights or freedoms of any kind - except to further their ambition to see Islam supreme - via any means - does the Left really wish to help with this?
- Rebecca, London

The sin of capitalism is greed, the sin of socialism is envy. Class warfare serves the latter and only benefits the political class. Our founding fathers left us with the Constitution and rule of law to protect All of us, our property and the fruits of our labors, from government intrusion. American free people can privately FUND what each individual believes in. To force people to collectively fund all manner of causes they abhor is SERFDOM. No public FUNDING, NO problem.
- Mae, Plaistow

Grace & Mary,
Guns, Bibles, and Bush--simply because I live in Texas? Wow, talk about stereotyping and narrow-minded views. Have you ever so much as ventured west of the Mississippi? Ever been to Texas? Or do you sit at home and learn about the world through the eyes of CNN and MoveOn.org, believing everything you hear?
- Susie Nickerson, Horseshoe Bay, TX (NH native)

Close you eyes, think back to the World Trade Center on fire. See the people jumping out of windows tumbling down from the sky. See them crash onto the cement below. Now image it was your love ones. imagine it was your children, your parents that fled one death for another. Who hides these images from us? Who manipulates the truth?
Now continue to talk trash. Let's hear more stupidy, the world hasn't had enough of it yet.
- Bill Dukas, Kerhonkson, New York

Apology tour? Really? Everything I heard out of Obama was an extension of a respectful open hand of friendship (as you do when speaking to other nations,) with a warning that we are still America and still unafraid of any nation. His speech to the Turkish Parliament was brilliant, and we need Turkey on our side.

It is so typical of koolaid addicts to not give diplomacy it's due. They seem to need a dopey sounding Texan offering threats and naming enemies to feel good about themselves. They liked Bush invading the wrong country for the wrong reasons, it made them feel tough.

Sorry folks those days are over, you can just curl up with your gun and bible and imagine how great and tough you are, while the rest of us work to improve the world.
- Mary Jones, Penacook

All of the comments regarding socialism and how great it is, and how the 9/11 attacks were so great, if you think America is going to be defeated, think again.

Bring it on...there are at least 80 million sharpshooters out here waiting for a target. Peaceful, until provoked.
- PF, Keene

Spike & Susie - Obama was elected from, and now owns, the Center. All your Left this Left that talk is rubbish; just you two not seeing reality from your weirdo hard right stance.
- Gary, Townsend

Nickerson is the Queen of Koolaid.

Yes Sue and up is down and George W Bush was the greatest President ever. Wow what do they do to people's heads in Texas!?
- Grace, Nashua

Well-stated, Spike, and nobody demonstrates this disgraceful brand of "independence" better than our ever-fashionable, globe-trotting leader, as he gallivants around the world on his "Apologize for America" tour (great name, by the way!). What a buffoonish display of diplomacy and leadership. All the world must be laughing at us--and at the gullible fool we elected.

Indeed, many liberals fancy themselves as enlightened multiculturalists when, in reality, they haven't got a clue. That's why, when confronted with the facts, they resort to such desperate tactics as name-calling, truth-bending, and fabricating wild conspiracy theories to demonize the Right. Or they'll dredge up issues that are totally unrelated, the only common thread being party affiliation. But as you point out, such distortions come easy when one lacks a conscience, has blinders on, and/or is simply too dim to comprehend what's really going on.
- Susie Nickerson, Horseshoe Bay, TX (NH native)

Spike -

I think the Left has little to do with today's policies, because Obama owns the Center, not the Left. (That's how he got elected.) The Left is rather angry at Obama for pandering to you guys.

But, I am of the Left, and I happen to KNOW Muslims and gays. So I don't invent reasons to hate these people, because I would be hating people I have learned to respect. For you, hating people you have little understanding of is easy. I pretty much figure you have neither gay nor Muslim friends. When you do, post something intelligent. Until then you ought to "zip it" on those topics.
- Joan, Bedford

PS to Susie--The Left pursues fashion above all else; and it remains fashionable to be the person in the room with the "independence" to side with the enemy, to trash our history, and to step up and apologize for who we are.

So I don't think the Left understands the nature of Islam. I don't think lefties feel they have to. These are the people who cannot argue gay marriage (elsewhere today) without playing the race card or telling me what I am afraid of. Confront a leftie and demand that he resolve "incongruities"? Are you joking? Alliance with a misogynistic religion is only "unconscionable" for those with a conscience.
- Spike, Brentwood NH

Spike, Brentwood NH

You only offer the "tough guy" talk, same as Bush, that has proven itself pretty much wrong over the long term. This does not matter to you though, as the talk and posture is what you are about, not solutions. So jail every drug user, attack every misbehaving state, worship corporations and the rich, denigrate the little guy.

Reminds me of a JK Galbraith quote:
"The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness."

Btw If American drug users are not responsible for the drug problem then who is? Martians?
- Eve, Madbury

"More than a few, Glazov suggests, looked upon the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, less as an atrocity than as an opportunity to revive a moribund revolutionary movement." - Based on.....? Based on feelings? Suggestions? On the street interviews? Or based on nothing but agenda? Ahh, we have a winner. That is absurd and nothing new from the right in their attempt to demonize people who did not start wire-tapping their islamic neighbors post-9/11, or put them in internment camps, or spit on Egyptian-born stockbrokers on the streets of Manhattan. How does one wage a culture war with you, the right, the ridiculously uncultured?
- Dorothy, Concord

Mike, Auburn Wow where did you get those ideas? You miss on all points by a mile!

1. You say, "Gerald, it is frightening to think that many in our country would even consider socialism." -

Wrong! - It may be upsetting to your IMAGE of 50's America, but it is certainly nothing to be afraid of. Most large industrial democracies have many socialist practices. Your fear mongering creates it's own fire.

2. You say, "I take comfort in the fact that you site the Washington Post as a source. They will create any stat that promotes their agenda. "

Wrong! - You may not like the WP, but it is as good a paper as any other. Making believe it does not matter is just you being an ostrich.

3. You say, "Our parents and grand parents certainly didn't fight in the wars, for socialist ideas. They fought for the American dream, where the individual is responsible for their own actions."

Wrong! - In fact the GI bill was as socialist a concept as we have ever had. And Medicare was invented when draftees for VietNam were showing up in poor health. The "American Dream" was espoused as freedom from hunger, fear, want etc. This is all somewhat socialist, and yes we fought for it.

4. You say, "The financial problems we face now are mainly due to a socialistic style of lending, of course the media( who border on treason) won't report factual news."

Super Wrong! - This is laughable, the current financial mess is all about unregulated hedge funds, impossible to regulate financial instruments like derivatives, and uber capitalist gambles like credit default swaps.

Wrong on all points. What flavor GOP koolaid do you prefer?
- Tom Labrie, Rochester

Scott--the title itself makes apparent the distinction between violent and non-violent Muslims. A jihad is an extremist. You're right, however, in that Mr. May does delve into the fundamental religious beliefs and practices of Islam--but only to point out the glaring incongruities that exist between the doctrine of Islam and the views espoused by the Left.

For example, how do you explain the Left's impassioned support of Islam, when the women are treated as second-rate citizens? This, from a group that supposedly champions women's rights and humanitarianism on a global scale. Equally bizarre is the Left's fervent support of a religion--any religion. This, from a group that ostensibly embraces secularism and rejects religion. These are just a couple of the myriad incongruities that render the Left's ideology somewhat perplexing--and even a bit amusing.

It is troubling that certain Left-leaning publications and organizations openly sympathize with the jihads. Coddling and glorifying them--and their American apologists--despite the atrocities they commit, is unconscionable.
- Susie Nickerson, Horseshoe Bay, TX (NH native)

- Susan Kater, Lexington, KY

Yours is a too-easy dismissal of Gerald's facts. If you read Meyerson's article you will see that current pro-socialism numbers are startlingly higher than we have ever seen historically. There IS a movement toward acceptence of socialist principles. It is not as you say; the same old kids being kids.

And it only makes sense, there is no Soviet scare constantly put in our faces, the young generation has gained nothing economically from years of GOP mismanagement and war, and all over the world friendly democracies have socialist characteristics.

And oh I almost forgot, we just got completely screwed by the premier capitalists we have in this nation, the bankers, fund managers, and financial geniuses on Wall Street.

In a word, the movement to accepting some aspects of socialism can be summed up in one word; progress.
- Avery, Manchester

Gerald, it is frightening to think that many in our country would even consider socialism. I take comfort in the fact that you site the Washington Post as a source. They will create any stat that promotes their agenda. Our parents and grand parents certainly didn't fight in the wars, for socialist ideas. They fought for the American dream, where the individual is responsible for their own actions. The financial problems we face now are mainly due to a socialistic style of lending, of course the media( who border on treason) won't report factual news. I've gone on too long.
- Mike, Auburn

Gerald in Antrim

I would say it also has to do with the fact they are taught a false view of socialism in the public scholl system and how evil our nations founding was from slavery to the indian wars.

But what they are not taught is that the concept of slavery was brought here by Europeans and in less than one lifetime as being America we freed the slaves. As for the indian wars the British, French, and later Americans all had allies with the local indian tribes they lived with. Tribes who were already at war with other indian tribes. The result was the settler having to choose sides. As for our expansion though thoser wars right or wrong are no differant than any war we see taking place today as some try to expand their views to other nations. Radical Islam is creating the same kinds of wars today in rgions of Africa and other parts of the world. But do we hear the America bashers vociing out about how evil they are?

No the hate America crowd stays silent to all other wrongs taking place in this world and none are more silent than our left towards communist and socialist regimes grabing power in our southern hemousphere and the elimination of any opposition to their ideas. That does not sound like freedom being protected to me when you can't speak out against Hugo Chavez. ALso none have killed more in the last century than the worlds leftists and again that is being re-written in the history books to our young.
- Deb, Derry

The left--on every issue from childrearing to the criminal code to the foreign invasion to belligerent foreign nations--deals with all misconduct by trying harder to befriend it. From Obama's Apologize-for-America tour to Obama and Hillary going to Mexico last week to blame American drug users for the invasion of Mexican traffickers and troops, and to support more actions against US weapons and ammunition, they would much rather use a problem as an excuse for increased domestic social engineering than to solve it. Calderon delivers a more ringing defense of the US Constitution than Obama! How about we trade Presidents? "Never let a crisis go to waste."
- Spike, Brentwood NH

Gerald, Antrim

Please note: Young people have always been in favor of socialism until they receive their first real paycheck. Additionally, with academia largely immersed in socialist policies and teaching, young people are surrounded by this incorrect thinking with little opportunity to learn the benefits of other financial systems.
- Susan Kater, Lexington, KY

I sympathize with peaceful mainstream Islamists who are grouped with with violent Islamists Extremists by people like you. You need to make it clear that there is a huge difference between the two. Your readers need to know that there are millions of American Islamists who pose no threat at all to them.
- Scott Mullen, Dorchester

The left as a whole does not condone terrorist. It seems that you only think a small part of the left are principled people. You are also painting Islam with a broad brush. The threat does not come from Islamic people. There are millions of Islamic people in our country, many of who serve in our military protecting our country. Please refer to threat as coming from Islamic Extremists and not from the Islamic people. It's like saying the threat to Minorities is from the Christians and not the KKK. Islamic Extremists is to Islam like the KKK is to Christianity. Please use the word extremist. You come off as simple minded when you stereotype all Islams as violent American hating terrorists. We on the left understand there is a threat from Islamic Extremists. More importantly though President Obama understands this.
- Scott Mullen, Dorchester

Clifford May must be working on a fantasy novel.

"According to a Rasmussen poll released last week, 37 percent of Americans under age 30 prefer capitalism, 33 percent prefer socialism and 30 percent are undecided. Among all Americans, 53 percent prefer capitalism, 20 percent prefer socialism and 27 percent are undecided." This is from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/14/AR2009041402556.html

These startling numbers (in favor of socialism) are a direct result of the policies of the GOP. The GOP's pandering to the wealthy has come around to bite it back. Young people no longer believe in capitalim.
- Gerald, Antrim