Actually, this is not surprising at all, given the xenophobia and paranoia that have taken hold of the psyche of some Americans. I don't care which idiotic and exploitative political and religious leaders are fanning the flames, this is disgusting.
Update: The offensive video has been withdrawn due to copyright reasons.
Ruchira,
I am so sorry about this. I could not even make it past the one-third mark. This is disgusting. It is more disgusting because the community leaders among the protesters were spewing hate, hate, hate. I am ashamed as an American – as a human being. There are no words.
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It’s disgusting. But given the worldwide attention this is receiving, the GOP officials of OC are already claiming that it was a doctored video and that Deborah Pauly’s words were taken out of context.
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/GOP-Activist-Islamic-Rally-Videotape-Doctored–117465603.html
While Pauly may be a Teapartier who hates health care reform, she isn’t going to dispute the recent Supreme Court ruling on freedom of speech for even universal offenders like the Westboro Baptist church, not even if they show up at a funeral of her near and dear some day (I hope that won’t happen), given her sentiments against the treatment of ‘terrorists’ as defined by her. Or will she?
http://articles.ocregister.com/2010-03-22/cities/24641333_1_facebook-page-strong-words-mugging
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Deborah Pauly actually issued a death threat to the attendees of the fund raiser when she bragged about knowing “quite a few marines who will be happy to help these terrorists to an early meeting in paradise.” Can she be sued for terrorizing a community?
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“…[Q]uite a few marines who will be happy to help these terrorists to an early meeting in paradise.” –Deborah Pauly
I do not think these words would be considered criminal in State or Federal jurisdictions. However, they may be actionable under tort law. Any lawyers out there want to take a position on this? If it can be shown that she is referring specifically to the Muslim organization, or to the Muslim members of the group, or any non-Muslim who was with the Muslims, then I believe there would be a case.
Assuming there is a case, the group and/or individuals who were slandered, would have to assess the pros and cons of initiating such a tort case in civil court. Would it bring more hateful words or deeds upon their heads? Would it put their lives in danger? Would it alienate the group from the larger non-Muslim community? Would it be more effective to ‘suffer in silence’ and not seek retribution? Would they be perceived as more peaceful if they did not retaliate, and extend an olive branch to the community?
My personal view is that they should bring a civil case for slander. It has been shown that hate groups are more likely to be disciplined by retaliation against their bank accounts, than by criminal charges that are difficult to prosecute. This was the undoing of the organized activities of the Ku Klux Klan in the U.S., about 35 years ago.
I would announce, at a press conference, why the suits are being brought, and that any damages collected would be used to fund the charitable programs of the group to benefit all members of the community. Of course, you would have to get very good legal talent to fund and sustain the effort, and be willing to earn a contingency fee.
In short, fuck ’em, and hit ’em in the pocket book.
In any case, this is an opportunity for the Muslim community to make a laughing stock of the idiot and bigoted protesters. I would try to organize a counter protest and march among the other religious, political, and community leaders and organizations. It should be both a counter message, and an emphasis on the group’s charitable work for all members of the community.
Also, county legislatures (and state legislatures as well) take notice, very quickly, when the costs of protecting Muslim groups from their own citizens start to reach astronomical heights. Local politicians start to campaign very hard for ‘peace, understanding, and tolerance’ when they find they do not have the money to fund their own police to protect their own citizens.
There may be some interpretation of federal Civil Rights legislation that would require the Justice Department (perhaps the FBI) to investigate the matter and provide protection. Another strategy would be to identify all those who claimed that there were terrorists within the group, and bring them in for questioning to learn what they know about the terrorism or terrorists as they claim. I would make this a public matter.
“Deborah Pauly has identified this Muslim organization as a terrorist group. We have summoned her to be interviewed by the Department of Homeland Security to learn what information she has on terrorists and terrorist activity. Also, if she has information on terrorists and terrorist activities, we would like to understand why she has not come forward with her information to local, State, or Federal law enforcement for investigation and prosecution.”
The objective of this is to mute the hate mongers by making them put up or shut up. If they have nothing to offer law enforcement, then the authorities can say so. Let the Deborah Paulys of the world explain themselves to the public. This would also have an impact on any civil case for damages, if it can be shown that her slander was intentional, negligent, or malicious.
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I agree, Norman. These people should have to put their money where their dirty mouths are.
The lawmakers are not immune to the hysteria either. I wrote this elsewhere:
Those with a better knowledge of American history than me, please tell me if an entire American community has ever been investigated for suspicions of “Fifth Column” tendencies. I can understand if a particular political entity with majority membership from a certain group becomes suspect for its political and religious philosophy. But a whole community? Congressman Peter King (R-NY) plans to investigate “Muslims” and not just those suspected of terrorist activies or sympathies. What next? Green Crescent arm bands for American Muslims?
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IF the group being targeted here is indeed made up of Wahabbists, as I don’t know for sure but have read, that does not make them terrorists — merely highly conservative. Is it reasonable to suppose all conservative Muslims in this country may be terrorist sympathizers? Could they just be doing their own thing, like Lubavitchers? The disgusting performance of Deborah Pauly & Co. is not less disgusting the more “old country” the ways of her target group are. I know adults who were once children in the early years of public school integration — they had to be escorted to school like the little girl in the famous Norman Rockwell painting. How did they manage this crap as kids? Says one: “My religion obliged me to pity anyone who was so full of hate.”
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Interestingly, Royce has scrubbed his website of the original description of his speech at the event. But it still is accessible today through Google cache. Preparation for countering a lawsuit in progress?
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:diqi296eZ7sJ:www.royce.house.gov/NewsBlog/DocumentSingle.aspx%3FDocumentID%3D225094+deborah+pauly&cd=190&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a&source=www.google.com
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That is very interesting, Sujatha. Yeah, they probably fear a lawsuit.
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Accidental Blogger 
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