Dumbest NYT Opinion Piece I've Ever Read

[Monte Smith]

This is fascinating. I can understand why the woman would write it, she's a student at the Kennedy school and star-struck. What I can't understand is why the Times would print it. Was there no one even slightly hardboiled and cynical in the layout office that day?

Al Gore, you're my hero. Giggle.



Veiled Praise
Op-Ed Contributor
By FATINA ABDRABBOH
Published: June 23, 2005
Cambridge, Mass.

I CONSIDER my appearance quite unremarkable. I'm 5 feet 8 inches, 150 pounds, fresh-faced and comfortably trendy - hardly, in my view, a look that should draw stares. Still, the Muslim headscarf, or hijab, that I wear makes me feel as if I am under a microscope.

I try to go to the gym just about every morning. Because I work out with my scarf on, people stare - just as they do on the streets of Cambridge.

The other day, though, I felt more self-conscious than usual. Every television in the gym highlighted some aspect of America's conflict with the Muslim world: the war in Iraq, allegations that American soldiers had desecrated the Koran, prisoner abuse at Guantánamo Bay, President Bush urging support of the Patriot Act. The stares just intensified my alienation as an Arab Muslim in what is supposed to be my country. I was not sure if the blood rushing to my head was caused by the elliptical trainer or by the news coverage.

Frustrated and angry, I moved to another part of the gym. I got on a treadmill and started running as hard as I could. As sweat dripped down my face, I reached for my towel, accidentally dropping my keys in the process. It was a small thing, I know, but as they slid down the rolling belt and fell to the carpet, my faith in the United States seemed to fall with them. I did not care to pick them up. I wanted to keep running.

Suddenly a man, out of breath, but still smiling and friendly, tapped me on my shoulder and said, "Ma'am, here are your keys." It was Al Gore, former vice president of the United States. Mr. Gore had gotten off his machine behind me, picked up my keys, handed them to me and then resumed his workout.

It was nothing more than a kind gesture, but at that moment Mr. Gore's act represented all that I yearned for - acceptance and acknowledgment.

There in front of me, he stood for a part of America that has not made itself well known to 10 million Arab and Muslim-Americans, many of whom are becoming increasingly withdrawn and reclusive because of the everyday hostility they feel.

It is up to us as Americans to change how the rest of the world views us by changing how we view some of our own citizens. Mr. Gore's act reminded me that rather than running away on my treadmill, I needed to keep my feet on the soil in this country. I left the gym with a renewed sense of spirit, reassured that I belong to America and that America belongs to me.

Fatina Abdrabboh is a student at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.

[moneyp]

"As sweat dripped down my face, I reached for my towel, accidentally dropping my keys in the process. It was a small thing, I know, but as they slid down the rolling belt and fell to the carpet, my faith in the United States seemed to fall with them."

Bwahahahahahaha!

[Coda]

Al Gore was in Cambridge MA? Thankly I live in the right side of the river.

Al Gore was at a gym?

I hope he realizes that we have a gym thief in our midst at this moment. The guy goes into gyms when folks are working out, steals their credit cards and goes on a shopping spree.

Hi, I'm Al Gore. I'd like that plasma TV to go please. Don't bother carrying it to my car, I'm a he-man and will carry it myself.

[Cem]

Originally Posted by Monte Smith

This is fascinating. I can understand why the woman would write it, she's a student at the Kennedy school and star-struck. What I can't understand is why the Times would print it. Was there no one even slightly hardboiled and cynical in the layout office that day?

Al Gore, you're my hero. Giggle.

As pathetic as it may be, it's nowhere near as dumb as the xenophobic, self-righteous & self-centered Middle-America.

[Jazzzoline]

weren't keys to heaven?


Cem? you wearing a scarf?

[Cem]

Originally Posted by Jazzzoline

Cem? you wearing a scarf?

Do you want me to, Jazzzy? Anything for you...

Hoping Larry won't notice or mind,
Cem

[Jazzzoline]

Originally Posted by Cem

Do you want me to, Jazzzy? Anything for you...

Cem

Why not.. à la Bardot.
BTW, Larry never notices anything.

[Cem]

Originally Posted by Jazzzoline

Why not.. à la Bardot.
BTW, Larry never notices anything.

You mean Beardot...here's a recent shot...

[Jazzzoline]

Originally Posted by Cem

You mean Beardot...here's a recent shot...

Isn't he sexy....
mmm

[jazzy mary]

Hey is that Mark Morris!? LOL!! Just kidding. Now, to read the editorial.

[jazzy mary]

AGREED!! It's just pathetic writing!

[Monte Smith]

Originally Posted by Cem

As pathetic as it may be, it's nowhere near as dumb as the xenophobic, self-righteous & self-centered Middle-America.

You said it, snob! Why, the common vermin in the moronic demographic you describe probably never even heard of the Kennedy School of Government. Har har!

Originally Posted by Cem

As pathetic as it may be, it's nowhere near as dumb as the xenophobic, self-righteous & self-centered Middle-America.

Hey Cem,

Fuck you.




Love,

Scott from middle America

[Cem]

Originally Posted by Monte Smith

You said it, snob! Why, the common vermin in the moronic demographic you describe probably never even heard of the Kennedy School of Government. Har har!

I have a feeling we'd disagree on the numbers of the common vermin infestation, Monte.

[Cem]

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

Hey Cem,

Fuck you.




Love,

Scott from middle America

It was not a geographical observation, but I guess there's quite a bit of truth in that, too, eh?

I love you too, little buddy...

[jesus marion joseph]

As my scarf caught itself in the machinization of the treadmill (symbolic of the demonic industrialization of the United States), cutting off my air supply, I managed to gurgle "Thankyou; thank you, Al Gore. You have restored my flagging confidence in all that is good in Americaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh..........................."

Originally Posted by Cem

It was not a geographical observation

Let me guess. When you say "middle America" you are referring not to certain states, but to a certain state of mind?

but I guess there's quite a bit of truth in that, too, eh?

Perhaps you'd like to discuss vision and the eye with Goodz?

And please tell me more about middle America from a Vancouver perspective.

[Cem]

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

And please tell me more about middle America from a Vancouver perspective.

Aha...I guess, it's not fair practice to pass judgement on groups of people (period, but particularly on ones) one knows very little about, right.

My mistake...

Sadly, up here we seem to know Americans better than they know themselves, it seems...

[Enforcer]

Originally Posted by Cem

Sadly, up here we seem to know Americans better than they know themselves, it seems...

Pretty much everyone who doesn't live in the U.S. knows everything there is to know about Americans. Conveniently enough, all Americans are exactly the same and can be described easily by brief summarizations. It's really cool.

[Tom Storer]

Well, it's entirely pointless and startlingly naive, but it's not all that incredibly dumb. Friedman can beat this chick hands down when it comes to dumb op-ed pieces.

[Cem]

Fixed.

Originally Posted by Larry Nagel

Pretty much everyone who doesn't live in the U.S. knows everything there is to know about Americans. Conveniently enough, all Americans are exactly the same and can be described easily by brief summarizations. It's really cool to be xenophobic, self-righteous & self-centered.

[Noj]

Although the merits of her writing are certainly questionable, I'm not sure her perspective should be entirely dismissed. We do have an image problem in the Muslim world. The Muslim world is more exposed to our horrible television programming and fearsome military than to our everyday friendly citizens and freedoms. The Muslim world is also inundated, I'm sure, with loads of negative viewpoints about America and her values...

[jazzy mary]

Originally Posted by jesus marion joseph

As my scarf caught itself in the machinization of the treadmill (symbolic of the demonic industrialization of the United States), cutting off my air supply, I managed to gurgle "Thankyou; thank you, Al Gore. You have restored my flagging confidence in all that is good in Americaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh..........................."

JMJ, LOL!! Brilliant.

Originally Posted by Cem

Sadly, up here we seem to know Americans better than they know themselves, it seems...

Sadly, you honestly believe that to be true.

[tristano's ghost]

Geez, it's not the best writing I've ever seen, but it sure beats crap out of, oh, say, David Brooks.

Barring stylistic mediocrity, what's to mock about somebody who's used to being ostracized because of her religion expressing gratitude for being treated respectfully?

Amazing that we've degenerated to this--ridiculing someone on the grounds of being grateful for an everyday offering of dignity, the kind that most of us take for granted. Especially those of us who live in Middle America, cough, cough.

From the heartland,
TG

Originally Posted by Tom Storer

. Friedman can beat this chick hands down when it comes to dumb op-ed pieces.

no shit!

[crawjo]

No, I agree with Monte. This is the dumbest opinion piece I've ever read in any major newspaper, actually. It reads like something written by a high school freshman. I can't believe the Times printed this.

[walto]

Yeah, it's a wicked dumb piece, but leave it to Monten***o to suggest that it was Gore's fault it appeared.

[Monte Smith]

Originally Posted by walto

Yeah, it's a wicked dumb piece, but leave it to Monten***o to suggest that it was Gore's fault it appeared.

Don't believe I did that.

***

Imagine the stupidity of that op-ed expressed from the other end of the spectrum:

Cheney Answers Prayers, Fights Terror
Op-Ed Contributer
Times

Dear Editor,

I was walking my beloved miniature schnauzer yesterday morning in the cold, hard rain. As I walked along, I began to worry more and more about the jihadic threat that imbecile Arab fundamentalists are waging on our great nation. Specifically, I worried that as my dog and I traversed a busy city thoroughfare, a huge nuclear mushroom cloud generated by a terrorist bomb would appear and Fido and I would be swept away in a blast of fearsome energy.

And it was then, in the midst of my foreboding, that my beloved miniature schnauzer unexpectedly died of heart failure. I felt utterly bereft of hope, like the death of my dog was a symbol of all that was wrong with failing Islamic nations who are spewing forth hatred and violence--even as the failing heart of my miniature schnauzer was throwing forth clots.

Imagine my surprise when a stretch limo pulled up at the curb and Vice President Dick Cheney emerged. He leant down and put his ear to the chest of my deceased canine. "Heart failure, huh?" Mr. Cheney said. "I've been there." Mr. Cheney took my hand, looked me in the eyes, and declared, "Citizen, your pooch didn't suffer."

The Vice President got back in his limo and drove off. But I don't know if he realized how much he did for me in that moment, with just that gesture. Glancing into his steely grey eyes, eyes that had known pain, I was more confident then ever that the terrorists could not win.

Yours sincerely,

Wilbur C. Enya
Middle-America

[jesus marion joseph]

That's too funny.