« Regarding Eric | Main | Isn't the fight against "Islamic Fascists" police work? »

August 11, 2006

Races and Places

R
ESOLVED: Calling Dearborn, Michigan "Dearbornistan" is morally no better than calling New York ''Hymietown'' or New Orleans "the chocolate city."

Discuss.

Posted by Eric at August 11, 2006 6:21 AM

Comments

If "better" is a function of "being able to get away with said remarks," then indeed, this name will prove far superior.

I'd also disagree that Nagin's remarks on the plane of Jackson or Malkin's. For a major american city to majority african to me is entirely unproblematic. Baiting race to shore up political support in a hostile and confrontational way, playing on fears...

Which one of these statements is not like the others?

ELM: My point in mentioning Nagin was that Malkin herself ranted about that one.

Posted by: sly civilian at August 11, 2006 9:04 AM

"Dearbornistan" is also a misnomer. The Muslim population of Dearborn is not or primarily Central Asian descent (where the "Stans" are).

So compounded by her bigotry is her idiocy.

Posted by: Ryan at August 11, 2006 9:08 AM

It implies that Arab Americans are a foreign element, dangerous and, may be, should be dealt with as such.

Historically, this is quite a common approach in the US and many other places.

It's disgusting.

Posted by: shmuel at August 11, 2006 10:36 AM