# Rally to Restore Sanity/Keep Fear Alive watch along thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 30, 2010, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rally-to-restore-sanity-keep-fear-alive-watch-along-thread/558871 "2010-10-30T15:15:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rally-to-restore-sanity-keep-fear-alive-watch-along-thread/558871/121 "2010-11-01T13:48:48Z")
Does anyone know where you can find the text of Stephen Colbert’s poem that Sam Waterson read? I missed part of it and would like to read it… ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rally-to-restore-sanity-keep-fear-alive-watch-along-thread/558871/122 "2010-11-01T13:57:52Z")
> [@Skara\_Brae](#): > > Does anyone know where you can find the text of Stephen Colbert’s poem that Sam Waterson read? I missed part of it and would like to read it… [Here you go.](http://alienpet13.com/2010/10/31/the-greatest-poem-ever-written-are-you-sure-by-stephen-colbert-at-the-rally-to-resorte-sanity-andor-fear/) ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rally-to-restore-sanity-keep-fear-alive-watch-along-thread/558871/123 "2010-11-01T14:03:31Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I still would have liked both Yusuf and Ozzy to play full songs. Has Yusuf ever renounced his support of the fatwa against Rushdie? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rally-to-restore-sanity-keep-fear-alive-watch-along-thread/558871/124 "2010-11-01T14:17:39Z")
I love the Roots, but John Legend is pretty generic pop music. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rally-to-restore-sanity-keep-fear-alive-watch-along-thread/558871/125 "2010-11-01T15:45:52Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > Has Yusuf ever renounced his support of the fatwa against Rushdie? He never supported the fatwa against Rushdie. That was misreported. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rally-to-restore-sanity-keep-fear-alive-watch-along-thread/558871/126 "2010-11-01T15:57:31Z")
> [@Lakai](#): > > I think the rally [struck a raw nerve](http://www.politicususa.com/en/restore-sanity-media) with the mainstream media. While he’s not exactly mainstream I was surprised that superliberal Keith Olbermann is among its early [high profile critics](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/01/olbermann-jon-stewart-shark-rally_n_776829.html). ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rally-to-restore-sanity-keep-fear-alive-watch-along-thread/558871/127 "2010-11-01T16:06:16Z")
Yeah, it does sting when you’re told you’re as much part of the problem as the other guys. It shouldn’t have been a surprise to Olbermann, though; he’s been nailed by Jon in the past for overblown outrage. He even owned up to it when called on it. ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rally-to-restore-sanity-keep-fear-alive-watch-along-thread/558871/128 "2010-11-01T16:21:39Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > [Here you go.](http://alienpet13.com/2010/10/31/the-greatest-poem-ever-written-are-you-sure-by-stephen-colbert-at-the-rally-to-resorte-sanity-andor-fear/) Thank you! Man, my google-fu is weak. I looked for it last night, but could not find it… ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rally-to-restore-sanity-keep-fear-alive-watch-along-thread/558871/129 "2010-11-01T19:44:08Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > He never supported the fatwa against Rushdie. That was misreported. I didn’t know that. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rally-to-restore-sanity-keep-fear-alive-watch-along-thread/558871/130 "2010-11-01T20:11:24Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > Had to work. Missed it. ☹ Had to campaign. Missed it. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rally-to-restore-sanity-keep-fear-alive-watch-along-thread/558871/131 "2010-11-01T20:42:33Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > I didn’t know that. Thanks. A quick search provided me no evidence that Yusafs’ comments were misinterpreted. This [column](http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tobyharnden/100061519/yusuf-islam-aka-cat-stephens-accused-of-backing-salman-rusdie-fatwah-appears-at-rally-to-restore-sanity/) reprints a 2007 letter from Salmon Rushdie saying: \*However much Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam may wish to rewrite his past, he was neither misunderstood nor misquoted over his views on the Khomeini fatwa against The Satanic Verses \* Here’s a [Wikipedia article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_Stevens%27_comments_about_Salman_Rushdie) that provides (presumably) accurate quotes from Yusaf. He later called his initial remarks “stupid and offensive jokes.” I’m no expert on this, but I don’t think of Cat Stevens as a guy who casually tosses off stupid and offensive jokes, so I side with Rushdie. And “stupid and offensive” really doesn’t adequately denounce comments that could encourage someone to kill an author. ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rally-to-restore-sanity-keep-fear-alive-watch-along-thread/558871/132 "2010-11-01T20:48:08Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > A quick search provided me no evidence that Yusafs’ comments were misinterpreted. > > This [column](http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tobyharnden/100061519/yusuf-islam-aka-cat-stephens-accused-of-backing-salman-rusdie-fatwah-appears-at-rally-to-restore-sanity/) reprints a 2007 letter from Salmon Rushdie saying: > \*However much Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam may wish to rewrite his past, he was neither misunderstood nor misquoted over his views on the Khomeini fatwa against The Satanic Verses > \* This. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rally-to-restore-sanity-keep-fear-alive-watch-along-thread/558871/133 "2010-11-01T21:50:12Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > While he’s not exactly mainstream I was surprised that superliberal Keith Olbermann is among its early [high profile critics](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/01/olbermann-jon-stewart-shark-rally_n_776829.html). While Maddow and ODonnell praised his speech. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rally-to-restore-sanity-keep-fear-alive-watch-along-thread/558871/134 "2010-11-01T21:58:26Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > I love the Roots, but John Legend is pretty generic pop music. But he sounded awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rally-to-restore-sanity-keep-fear-alive-watch-along-thread/558871/135 "2010-11-01T22:04:04Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > A quick search provided me no evidence that Yusafs’ comments were misinterpreted. > > This [column](http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tobyharnden/100061519/yusuf-islam-aka-cat-stephens-accused-of-backing-salman-rusdie-fatwah-appears-at-rally-to-restore-sanity/) reprints a 2007 letter from Salmon Rushdie saying: > \*However much Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam may wish to rewrite his past, he was neither misunderstood nor misquoted over his views on the Khomeini fatwa against The Satanic Verses > \* > > Here’s a [Wikipedia article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_Stevens%27_comments_about_Salman_Rushdie) that provides (presumably) accurate quotes from Yusaf. He later called his initial remarks “stupid and offensive jokes.” > > I’m no expert on this, but I don’t think of Cat Stevens as a guy who casually tosses off stupid and offensive jokes, so I side with Rushdie. And “stupid and offensive” really doesn’t adequately denounce comments that could encourage someone to kill an author. None of this contradicts me. He did not support the fatwa. That is a fact. He made some stupid remarks about Rushdie deserving to be executed, but that’s not the same as supporting the fatwa (the order to seek him out and excute him extra-legally). ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rally-to-restore-sanity-keep-fear-alive-watch-along-thread/558871/136 "2010-11-01T22:38:52Z")
I’m a Stewart fan, an anti-Tea Partier, and a fan of Cat Stevens’ music (Yusuf not so much except when he’s singing Cat Stevens songs, or [Yusuf songs based on Cat songs](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrBl1bm5OQc)), but in the spirit of reason I will say Yusuf Islam’s comments during the Rushdie controversy were unreasonable, intolerant, and indefensible to anybody who believes in intellectual freedom or peaceful expression. It was a WTF? moment for me when he appeared. I am guessing that Stewart, whose worst enemies couldn’t call him a fool or even a flaming liberal with a straight face and who in addition to that is Jewish- had a definite point in specifically choosing Yusuf Islam as a guest. Yusuf couldn’t have been cheap to bring over (even if he donated his time I’m guessing he doesn’t travel light and that security’s an issue) and certainly Stewart could have chosen from any number of music legends, and there’s not the remotest chance Stewart (one of the few interviewers to not only bring on authors but also read their books first) didn’t know of the Rushdie controversy. I am guessing Stewart will specifically speak to the issue of Yusuf’s inclusion very soon. It may have to do with the fact that Yusuf Islam has moderated his views a bit since 9-11. As I mentioned earlier in this or one of the other threads that he was one of the few high profile Muslims to categorically condemn 9-11. > [@](#): > > I wish to express my heartfelt horror at the indiscriminate terrorist attacks committed against innocent people of the United States yesterday. While it is still not clear who carried out the attack, it must be stated that no right-thinking follower of Islam could possibly condone such an action. The Qur’an equates the murder of one innocent person with the murder of the whole of humanity. We pray for the families of all those who lost their lives in this unthinkable act of violence as well as all those injured; I hope to reflect the feelings of all Muslims and people around the world whose sympathies go out to the victims of this sorrowful moment. While he’s still a devout Muslim he does denounce terrorism. In recent years he has spent a lot of his time and money (he’s bloody rich from his Cat-alogue- the Apple use of “If You Wanna Sing Out” probably brought him more than most of us see in several years) in bringing peace between Muslim and non-Muslim youth, including several recordings for children of all faiths. Perhaps he’s going to be a guest on the show soon. Here’s a 2008 recording called [Boots and Sand](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPQmZfD0mB4&feature=fvst)written and sung by Yusuf along with Dolly Parton (they apparently became friends when she recorded _Peace Train_- he was actually enroute to see her when he was denied entry to the U.S.), Allison Krauss and Paul McCartney. ---
**Author:** ![threeorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@threeorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threeorange)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rally-to-restore-sanity-keep-fear-alive-watch-along-thread/558871/137 "2010-11-01T23:09:17Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I’m a Stewart fan, an anti-Tea Partier, and a fan of Cat Stevens’ music (Yusuf not so much except when he’s singing Cat Stevens songs, or [Yusuf songs based on Cat songs](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrBl1bm5OQc)), but in the spirit of reason I will say Yusuf Islam’s comments during the Rushdie controversy were unreasonable, intolerant, and indefensible to anybody who believes in intellectual freedom or peaceful expression. It was a WTF? moment for me when he appeared. > > I am guessing that Stewart, whose worst enemies couldn’t call him a fool or even a flaming liberal with a straight face and who in addition to that is Jewish- had a definite point in specifically choosing Yusuf Islam as a guest. Yusuf couldn’t have been cheap to bring over (even if he donated his time I’m guessing he doesn’t travel light and that security’s an issue) and certainly Stewart could have chosen from any number of music legends, and there’s not the remotest chance Stewart (one of the few interviewers to not only bring on authors but also read their books first) didn’t know of the Rushdie controversy. I am guessing Stewart will specifically speak to the issue of Yusuf’s inclusion very soon. > > It may have to do with the fact that Yusuf Islam has moderated his views a bit since 9-11. As I mentioned earlier in this or one of the other threads that he was one of the few high profile Muslims to categorically condemn 9-11. > > While he’s still a devout Muslim he does denounce terrorism. In recent years he has spent a lot of his time and money (he’s bloody rich from his Cat-alogue- the Apple use of “If You Wanna Sing Out” probably brought him more than most of us see in several years) in bringing peace between Muslim and non-Muslim youth, including several recordings for children of all faiths. Perhaps he’s going to be a guest on the show soon. > > Here’s a 2008 recording called [Boots and Sand](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPQmZfD0mB4&feature=fvst)written and sung by Yusuf along with Dolly Parton (they apparently became friends when she recorded _Peace Train_- he was actually enroute to see her when he was denied entry to the U.S.), Allison Krauss and Paul McCartney. So it would be accurate to say that while Yusuf Islam may have been on the Crazy Train for a short time, he’s now comfortably seated on the Peace Train. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rally-to-restore-sanity-keep-fear-alive-watch-along-thread/558871/138 "2010-11-02T00:42:53Z")
He was a guest on Colbert’s show a year or so ago. > [@Sampiro](#): > > I’m a Stewart fan, an anti-Tea Partier, and a fan of Cat Stevens’ music (Yusuf not so much except when he’s singing Cat Stevens songs, or Yusuf songs based on Cat songs), but in the spirit of reason I will say Yusuf Islam’s comments during the Rushdie controversy were unreasonable, intolerant, and indefensible to anybody who believes in intellectual freedom or peaceful expression. No disagreement, but he did not support the fatwa. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rally-to-restore-sanity-keep-fear-alive-watch-along-thread/558871/139 "2010-11-02T00:51:40Z")
Now here’s some shocking news NOBODY could have seen coming: [Glenn Beck didn’t like the rally](http://watching-tv.ew.com/2010/11/01/glenn-beck-jon-stewart-rally-sanity/), though he says it was basically the same message he gave at his rally (no, really, he said that). [Neither did Sean Hannity](http://www.mediaite.com/tv/sean-hannity-and-panel-rail-on-the-rally-to-restore-cat-stevensyusuf-islam/) (who, another shocker, specifically has a field day with Stevens/Islam) Not sure if O’Reilly has chimed in yet, but I thought for sure Beck and Hannity would embrace the notion of restoring peace and sanity (even though it means they’d be janitors instead of megamillion earning polemicists). Well, I hope that at least Ann Coulter will give it a positive review. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rally-to-restore-sanity-keep-fear-alive-watch-along-thread/558871/140 "2010-11-02T01:03:21Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > While he’s not exactly mainstream I was surprised that superliberal Keith Olbermann is among its early [high profile critics](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/01/olbermann-jon-stewart-shark-rally_n_776829.html). Olbermann’s response was to drop the “Worst Person in the World” segment. He and Jonathan Alter (a frequent guest) also discussed the “false equivalency” that they felt Jon Stewart was making between what they do on MSNBC and what Fox News does. They claimed to be fact-based, as compared to Fox News. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rally-to-restore-sanity-keep-fear-alive-watch-along-thread/558871.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rally-to-restore-sanity-keep-fear-alive-watch-along-thread/558871.md?page=8)