# Stupid liberal idea of the day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 20, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086 "2011-04-20T15:35:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 107
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2121 "2014-07-29T15:22:05Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > First off, the idea that Muslims helped build this country is ludicrous. There is a \*fine \*entry for the “Stupid Republicans” thread. > [@](#): > > But come on, Obama - you’re supposed to be a Constitutional law professor and all that, and you don’t know that we do NOT live in a democracy? And there is another one. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2122 "2014-07-29T15:44:58Z")
:sigh: Ok, on the one hand, **Clothahump** has a shred of a point. The number of Muslims in North America before, during, and immediately after the American Revolution was vanishingly small. There were no Muslims involved in creating or implementing the DoI or Constitution. If he believes that the “fabric of our nation” was created once and has not changed since then, as he may well do, then I guess I can kinda understand where he’s coming from. But it’s obvious that’s _not in any sense what POTUS said_ or even suggested. Not even a little. And the nitpickery about “democracy?” Fucking really, dude? That’s all you’ve got? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2123 "2014-07-29T15:48:00Z")
Who was that mosqued man? I wanted to thank him… ---
**Author:** ![Oldeb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ea666f/32.png) [@Oldeb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oldeb)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2124 "2014-07-29T15:53:17Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Wow. According to Obama, Muslims are responsible for building the very fabric of our nation. > First off, the idea that Muslims helped build this country is ludicrous. You know, most people at least attempt some sort of subtlety with their racism. Muslims at [Arlington](http://www.patheos.com/blogs/altmuslim/2005/05/crescents_among_the_crosses_at_arlington_cemetery/)[Cemetery.](http://theislamicworkplace.com/2011/01/11/u-s-muslim-servicemen-who-have-died-in-the-service-of-our-country/) A Yusef ben Ali served under General Sumter during the Revolutionary War. The first country to recognize the USA? The very Muslim Sultanate of Morocco. During the War of 1812 an American named Ben Ali Muhammad fought against the British. He went on to later write the [Bilali Document](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilali_Document), the first American document on Islamic Law and it’s integration into daily life. Ben Franklin, George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson all praised either Islam or Muslims at various points in their lives. The first Muslim charitable organization was founded in Chicago in 1906. A New York group was founded in 1907. Partly thanks to Pakistani immigrants over the last few decades, Muslim Americans tend to be over represented in medical fields. There’s even a Muslim owner in the NFL. Shahid Khan and his famous mustache first moved to the US at the age of 16 after growing up in Pakistan. Forbes Magazine has actually listed him as one of the great success stories of the “American Dream”. > [@](#): > > But come on, Obama - you’re supposed to be a Constitutional law professor and all that, and you don’t know that we do NOT live in a democracy? > [@wikipedia](#): > > [In contemporary usage, the term democracy refers to a government chosen by the people, whether it is direct or representative.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy) ---
**Author:** ![Sinaptics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Sinaptics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaptics)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2125 "2014-07-29T16:15:23Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Who was that mosqued man? I wanted to thank him… That’s a rough pun, but Allah-low it. Seriously though, I think Clotha should sharia what he’s smoking. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2126 "2014-07-29T16:16:53Z")
> [@Sinaptics](#): > > That’s a rough pun, but Allah-low it. > > Seriously though, I think Clotha should sharia what he’s smoking. He should really mecca-mends for spouting such shiite. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2127 "2014-07-29T16:17:35Z")
It’s amazing how all those kicks to the head have left him with such a sunni disposition. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2128 "2014-07-29T16:19:11Z")
He really should read a burqa-bout American history sometime. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2129 "2014-07-29T16:25:58Z")
This is less stupid liberal idea(unless Obama really believes it) and more political gobbledygook. Given that it’s Obama, almost certainly the latter. He’s the master at just saying stuff without it meaning anything. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2130 "2014-07-29T16:27:49Z")
You certainly know about _that_. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2131 "2014-07-29T16:30:54Z")
I don’t think this gaffe is Sufi-ciently serious. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2132 "2014-07-29T16:32:57Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > This is less stupid liberal idea(unless Obama really believes it) and more political gobbledygook. Given that it’s Obama, almost certainly the latter. He’s the master at just saying stuff without it meaning anything. Nonsense. There actually were Muslims in America since its founding, including [Muslim slaves](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilali_Document). And more recently, Muslims have played a role in government as well. So it’s a totally reasonable thing to say, whether you believe “building the very fabric of our nation” happened all at once at the beginning, or wheter you believe (as I do, and probably as Obama does) that it’s an ongoing, and probably never-ending, process. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2133 "2014-07-29T16:35:56Z")
This is up there with the “everyone is special” nonsense. If everyone’s special, then no one is. Everyone helped build the fabric of this nation then. Which means no one’s role was particularly noteworthy. But then, we’re assuming he meant anything by his statement and he wasn’t just brownnosing. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2134 "2014-07-29T16:39:02Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > This is up there with the “everyone is special” nonsense. If everyone’s special, then no one is. Everyone helped build the fabric of this nation then. Which means no one’s role was particularly noteworthy. I don’t know if everyone did, but the slaves certainly did – in terms of labor involved, probably more so per capita than any other group. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2135 "2014-07-29T16:39:15Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Everyone helped build the fabric of this nation then. Yes. Even you. > [@](#): > > Which means no one’s role was particularly noteworthy. It means nothing of the sort. You and I help build the fabric of the SDMB. Neither of our contributions are particularly noteworthy. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2136 "2014-07-29T16:41:40Z")
But again, you can say it about any group, so it’s just a platitude. It would be like saying Gen-Xers have made great contributions to this country. Sure, but others have done more and others have done less. We’re not particularly noteworthy as a generation. ---
**Author:** ![DingoelGringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@DingoelGringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DingoelGringo)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2137 "2014-07-29T16:43:07Z")
> [@lazybratsche](#): > > Fair enough. There aren’t enough :rolleyes: in the world for that one. And $73k could actually be spent on something useful, like computers that unemployed people can use to find jobs, along with a part-time tech support guy to maintain 'em. What are these unemployeds doing at a kids’ summer camp? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2138 "2014-07-29T16:46:09Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > But again, you can say it about any group, so it’s just a platitude. Given that Muslims are the target of much nonsense from the ignorant about hating America and its freedoms and such, for instance as our friend **Clothy** demonstrates just above, no, it’s not just a platitude but something that too many need to be reminded of. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2139 "2014-07-29T16:47:03Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I don’t know if everyone did, but the slaves certainly did – in terms of labor involved, probably more so per capita than any other group. True. And what percentage were Muslim? When I think of Muslim contributions to our country, I think of how the Barbary States gave us our first opportunity to show some spine after the Revolution. That was a pretty awesome contribution when you think about it, but I doubt that’s what the President meant. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2014, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2140 "2014-07-29T16:48:14Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Given that Muslims are the target of much nonsense from the ignorant about hating America and its freedoms and such, for instance as our friend **Clothy** demonstrates just above, no, it’s not just a platitude but something that too many need to be reminded of. “We are all Americans” is the better platitude. Reflecting on the awesome accomplishments of Buddhists, without which we would not be the country we are today, isn’t exactly the best way to stop attacks on Korean business owners in LA. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086.md?page=106) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086.md?page=108)