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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009

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Lovers
Make Time
in Sydney
Clock Tower

Witnesses agog at towering hijinks

Nov 25, 09 3:40 AM CST
Coma Man's Words
May Not Be His

Experts doubt Houben's 'facilitated communication'

Nov 25, 09 2:28 AM CST
FAILED WORLD RECORDS

'Jet Man' Ends Up in Drink

Thanks to parachute, wing and pilot seem intact

Nov 25, 09 1:14 PM CST
Blair Knew Iraq Had No WMD
10 Days Before War Began

Intelligence ignored, British panel told

Nov 25, 09 8:16 PM CST
Saab Veering Toward Junkyard

GM's failed bid to unload Swedish automaker may spell its doom

Nov 25, 09 9:54 AM CST
Philippine Massacre
Death Toll Hits 57

Government declares emergency rule in Maguindanao province

Nov 25, 09 12:05 PM CST
After Nabbing Terrorist, Navy SEALs Face Assault Rap

Iraqi accused in '04 incident got bloody lip from US captors

Nov 24, 09 8:33 PM CST
Polanski Could Go
Free on $4.5M Bail

Director remains in jail pending appeal of Swiss court ruling

Nov 25, 09 12:25 PM CST
Israel Declares
10-Month
Freeze on Settlements

Not good enough,
say Palestinians

Nov 25, 09 2:20 PM CST
Politician Busted for Philippine Massacre

Powerful family blamed for murder of 57

5 hours, 29 minutes ago
Afghan War May Sock Us With Surtax

House Dems propose 1% war tax

Nov 25, 09 4:03 AM CST
Siberian Tigers Vanishing

Population may be down to mere hundreds

4 hours, 25 minutes ago
Polanski to Be Moved to
House Arrest

Director will trade
jail cell for
Swiss chalet

2 hours, 55 minutes ago

|NEXT STORY »

INTERVIEW

Gitmo Guard: Why I Embraced Islam

Terry Holdbrooks sympathized with the detainees, and was soon bounced from the army

By Kevin Spak| Posted Oct 7, 09 2:13 PM CDT|

(Newser) – Terry Holdbrooks didn’t know anything about Islam when he was assigned to guard the Guantanamo Bay detention center. The lone son of junkie parents, raised by his ex-hippie grandparents, he liked hard drinking, hard rock, and tattoos. But once there he became intensely curious about Islam, wondering how the detainees could keep smiling in the face of Guantanamo’s abuses, he tells the Guardian. Six months later he’d converted, in a secret ceremony with the detainees.

Holbrooks saw prisoners “locked up in horrible positions for hours upon hours,” but insists that the detainees “were having a lot more fun than I was,” because they could openly defy their persecutors. He hated the other guards, who he describes as “ridiculous Budweiser-drinking, cornbread-fed, tobacco-chewing drunks, racists, and bigots.” The army soon discharged Holdbrooks, citing a “general personality disorder.” Today, he’s a practicing Muslim. Why? It’s the “structure, order and discipline,” he explains. “I just love them.”

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (4)]

The sun rises over the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, Nov. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley, File)

A Guantanamo guard stands inside a doorway at the Camp six detention facility on Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Sunday, May 31, 2009. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley, Pool)

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The first thing I saw was a kid who is all of 16 who had never seen the ocean, didn't know the world was round. I am sitting there thinking, what can he possibly know about the war on terror? - Terry Holdbrooks

One time one of them said to me, 'Hey, Holdbrooks, you know what we are going to do today? We are going to skull-fuck the Taliban out of you — you're a sympathiser and we don't like that.' - Terry Holdbrooks, on the other guards

It was not easy praying five times a day without my colleagues finding out. I told them I had to go the bathroom a lot. - Terry Holdbrooks

There was one man who had defecated on himself and this ogre of an interrogator would douse water on him and then ask him if he was going to talk, and I remember thinking, what good is this going to accomplish? - Terry Holdbrooks

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

11.24.09

Murdoch and Microsoft: The Mice Are Trying to Roar

11.23.09

Books Are Bad for You

53 comments

VIEWING:

Aelius28
Oct 7, 09 2:18 PM CDT

So an all powerful space-daddy who sent an angel to reveal the greatest truth possible to an illiterate 7th century merchant barbarian is an acceptable claim to accept with no evidence whatsoever as long as the doctrine makes you disciplined and happy? I fear... for our species... Reply

IN RESPONSE:

alkaseltzersammich
Oct 7, 09 2:24 PM CDT

I'll pray to any Sky God that gives me 20 virgins to rail in heaven.

IN RESPONSE:

npkimmey
Oct 7, 09 2:27 PM CDT

If it makes them happy, why not let them believe in it?

IN RESPONSE:

osu1067
Oct 7, 09 2:30 PM CDT

Are all atheist condescending jackasses?

+11

IN RESPONSE:

Rob
Oct 7, 09 2:46 PM CDT

@osu: no

IN RESPONSE:

npkimmey
Oct 7, 09 2:48 PM CDT

@osu: I can understand how you would draw that conclusion, with people like this around. Not all of us are assholes, we just have different beliefs.

IN RESPONSE:

reasonator
Oct 7, 09 3:00 PM CDT

The claims of religion deserve a little bit of condescension. They kind of ask for it when they make the claims that they do. But I do believe honey attracts more than vinegar, and I am a nice guy, even to people with crazy beliefs. But, being nice I also think if I can help people to break free from the bonds of religion I can. Incidentally, nothing Aelius said was inaccurate about Islam, so if if offended you, maybe you should pause and think about it.

IN RESPONSE:

Nelstorm
Oct 7, 09 3:01 PM CDT

@OSU1067 - Are all religions based on ridiculous fables?

IN RESPONSE:

npkimmey
Oct 7, 09 3:03 PM CDT

Everyone deserves freedom from religious persecution.

IN RESPONSE:

Nelstorm
Oct 7, 09 3:09 PM CDT

Everyone deserves free speech. Also, people tend to get openly disagreeing with and horribly persecuting mixed up a lot...

IN RESPONSE:

newsrmandan
Oct 7, 09 4:12 PM CDT

where I agree with your statements regarding Islam you seem to be throwing all revelations from a higher source out the window together. I fear that your faith "atheism" is expressing itself with a certain Madi Murry O'Hare religiosity to it. If so my man/woman (?) I fear for you.

-3

IN RESPONSE:

Snarfeh
Oct 7, 09 7:16 PM CDT

@osu - Narrow-mindedness is not limited to religious fundamentalists. We are all guilty of it at some point and/or on some topics.

IN RESPONSE:

Aelius28
Oct 8, 09 2:41 AM CDT

@newsrmandan, yes I am grouping all claims of divine revelation in the same group. Why wouldn't I? They all have absolutely no evidence but for holy books that share equally guilty levels of logical fallacies, were compiled thousands of years ago, and are simply so stupid... and so fabricated that even a child can - and all children do, as you can tell by the questions they ask - actually see through them.

IN RESPONSE:

Aelius28
Oct 8, 09 2:54 AM CDT

Atheists make up almost a quarter of the world's population, 10-20% of the American population and 75% of the National Academy of Science members, and yet we're called the crazy ones. So, why am I so condescending? Because for some people, a rational discourse is what they need. There are a lot of atheists out there, like Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris, who can provide that. But what makes many kids stop believing in Santa Clause isn't the rational discourse; it's the ridicule. "Oh you silly first grader, you still believe in Santa Clause? lmfao, wow, hey guys look at this kid who believes in a jolly fatass physics-defying grandpa who drops down chimneys to give presents. Dumbass." That's what some people need, they need that emotional body-slam that just knocks the fucking reality around inside of them and hopefully gets them thinking.

IN RESPONSE:

Abdulsamadabdul
Oct 8, 09 3:01 AM CDT

Fear for yourself, there is much that you don't know and exponentially more that you don't understand.

IN RESPONSE:

Aelius28
Oct 8, 09 3:19 AM CDT

You're right. Human beings and their understanding of the Universe is pathetic. But that's no reason to go filling in the gaps with FUCKING.... MAGIC. You're saying "We don't understand everything so... God. Mohammad." You know there was a time when a god was assigned to thunder and lightning because we didn't understand the science behind it. Now we know how thunder and lightning work, and we can see that it was ridiculous to assign a god to the functions just because we don't understand it. You're doing the same thing, just at a different level. The more science uncovers, the more vague and less encompassing religion becomes.

IN RESPONSE:

Snowleopard
Oct 8, 09 8:00 AM CDT

Islam is no crazier than Chrisianity, Mormonism, or Hinduism.

IN RESPONSE:

Spudsy
Oct 8, 09 2:15 PM CDT

If there was a god, he wouldn't want to be represented by books that promote slavery and murder. I hope.

| 0 minutes ago

rajanKazhmin
Oct 7, 09 2:23 PM CDT

Yeah.... Structure order and discipline can not exist without imaginary friends. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Stasis
Oct 7, 09 2:31 PM CDT

INVISIBLE SKYMEN OF THE UNIVERSE UNITE!!! Reply

| 0 minutes ago

schmidtkoff
Oct 7, 09 2:36 PM CDT

who boy. another turncoat. gimme the bud guy anytime, minus the chew drunk racist bigots.a practicing muslim because of "structure, order and discipline.of the muslim faith?." and our military does not afford that structure, etc? general personality disorder is an understatement. loser is more like it. Reply

-1

IN RESPONSE:

Dictator
Oct 7, 09 3:11 PM CDT

i dip! dont hate lol

-1

| 0 minutes ago

Galileo
Oct 7, 09 2:51 PM CDT

Although I am an Atheist, I don't mind this story at all. The fact that he referred to other guards as racists, bigots, etc is encouraging. I am not a "terrorist sympathizer," but I can only imagine the racism that probably exists in those institutions. We know for a fact at least some of them are innocent (i.e. prisoners who are released because they are innocent) so that's what makes me uneasy. If he wants to embrace discipline et all in the name of Islam, fine by me. If he starts discriminating and trying to influence society/government with his religion, count me out. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

paul123
Oct 7, 09 2:57 PM CDT

If that's what makes the guy happy, more power to him. We have freedom of religion in this country after-all. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

reasonator
Oct 7, 09 3:03 PM CDT

And we have the freedom to help others exercise their freedom to beak free from religion. But doing it in a nice way is a definite plus.

IN RESPONSE:

paul123
Oct 7, 09 5:48 PM CDT

And we have the freedom to live and let live. If others wish to follow a religion, it is their prerogative. Why must we feel the need to help people "break free" from religion. Maybe, just maybe, following a religion, regardless of which one it is, is in itself a freeing experience.

IN RESPONSE:

Aelius28
Oct 8, 09 3:01 AM CDT

Because, paul123, religious people overwhelmingly influence our society. If people kept their religion to themselves, I wouldn't care any more than I care what kind of porn they prefer. But a religion that keeps to itself is like an egg-free omelet. The closest you can get is Judaism, my favourite of the religions because they leave you alone and don't give a shit what you believe as long as you leave THEM alone. But Christianity and Islam are notoriously moralistic and imposing in their ideologies. In the United States of Jesus, despite our First Amendment, you HAVE to believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and physically ascended into heaven or my friend you are not fit for office. I wouldn't care about religion if they weren't trying to teach junk science to my kids; I wouldn't care about religion if they weren't trying to deny gay people basic human rights; I wouldn't care about religion if they stopped influencing people's opinions regarding war against Muslims; I wouldn't care about religion if people weren't incorrectly claiming the United States is a Christian nation; I wouldn't care about religion if people didn't fucking KILL their own children by refusing to get medical treatment in favour of prayer... I wouldn't give a fuck about people's religious beliefs if they were THEIR religious beliefs and theirs alone.

IN RESPONSE:

paul123
Oct 8, 09 9:36 AM CDT

Aelius, the topic at hand was resonator's point that we must break people of religion, gently of coarse. It is nobody's duty to force religion or break people of it, as again, this is a free country. The fact is, is that you have incorrectly categorized and pigeon-holed Christianity. Where does it say you have to be a christian to take public office? Where does it say that the majority of people in this country are not christian? Junk science? I have plenty of books by accredited scientists that support the creation theory and not the theory of evolution. They both however are just THEORIES. As far as gays and rights, I assume you refer to marriage only, I only will have you to look at California and the recent election and Prop 8. Im sure that many of the people who voted against gay marriage in California weren't Christians, so don't try to pin that one exclusively on Christians or "religious" people. As far as people not taking their kids to the doctor and instead prefer to pray for them, well, that is indeed wrong, and I would estimate that less thatn 1% of Christians do that, but it is their choice, something liberals tout highly. Your animosity is misguided and misplaced.

IN RESPONSE:

Aelius28
Oct 8, 09 11:36 AM CDT

Actually, several states still have Constitutions dictating a theistic requirement for holding office. If challenged it probably wouldn't hold up in the Supreme Court, but the point is technically it IS there. My point, though, was that a non-Christian would never be elected President in the United States. Too many people take a President's religion into consideration when voting. Just look at the bald-faced lies propagated that Obama is a Muslim. As if it mattered! If you seriously think a non-Christian could be elected President in the U.S., you don't know anything. The majority of people are Christians, yes, but the majority of people are white. The majority of people are women. Would you call the United States a nation of white women? Actually, you wouldn't, 'cause someone would kick you ass. If you don't believe in evolution, I swear to god, you're no dumber than the guy who says "If the Earth is round and not flat then how come people in China don't fall off the bottom?" Okay, that really is how fucking retarded people think creationists to be. It's that stupid; when you have 99.98% of all Earth & Life scientists in the country accepting evolution, and some arrogant fuck like yourself has the gall to come out and say "I know better than 99.98% of all scientists who have years and years of education and experience because i red me a book, i has an edumacation". For people who understand evolution, that IS what we think of you. As for gays, yes it was voted on but what if it was slavery was voted back in? Just hypothetically, what if it was voted back in, would you say that black people are NOT having their basic human rights denied? Would you say that black people shouldn't complain because it was fucking VOTED on? The whole POINT behind human rights is that it's not up to the majority to decide. Human rights are there to protect the minority from the majority.

| 0 minutes ago

Netstorm2k9
Oct 7, 09 3:01 PM CDT

Persecution always draws martyrs, martyrs make converts. Nothing new there. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Aelius28
Oct 8, 09 3:04 AM CDT

@Enoughie, what makes you think there requires a religious-like authority, such as the Pope or God himself? And what are you talking about when you refer to substitution? When you're free from religion... that's it... good game. It's like asking "If you fix my cancer, then what will you replace it with" ... ... err, nothing. That's the point, you're free. And yes, if religion is actually keeping people from breaking the law and murdering their neighbours... then stay the fuck in church! Don't become an atheist!

IN RESPONSE:

Aelius28
Oct 8, 09 3:05 AM CDT

Ah shit, sorry, that was supposed to be in response to the next series of posts below.

| 0 minutes ago

Berzelius
Oct 7, 09 3:43 PM CDT

Religion as a philosophy or moral compass is okay. It is going to be hard to skim thru right here, but for the atheists wanting everyone to split from religion. I understand where you coming from, BUT, in order to do so first you have to first educate the hell out of the many many believers. And I don't just mean send to school and math and stuff. You have to educate them intellectually. This is going to be an impossible task. If all the shallow masses that subscribe to religion all the sudden had no belief system, no 'supreme being' to fear would judge them at death, the world could possibly become more violent and dangerous than is already.So if religion is the binding that keeps the simple behaving civilized (and yes i realize the wars stem from religion make it easy to refute this civility, but they are mostly waged by gov't not the individual) then so be it. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

newsrmandan
Oct 7, 09 4:05 PM CDT

curios statement. Please clarify are you saying that people who have a faith in -something- that expresses itself in a form of religion lets say christianity or hinduism or you choose one (no matter) are they the simple minded who would otherwise be more complex minded open and free from the strictures of said religion? You seem to be implying that these "shallow masses" would run amuck if the glue or god they follow were suddenly be exposed to them for the lie that it is? Can you explain in what sense your statement is not as bigoted and shallow and without warrent as those who justify their killing by some holy book found in the dessert sent by some "sky daddy". A28 you can answer as well.

IN RESPONSE:

Enoughie
Oct 7, 09 4:31 PM CDT

The problem with many Atheists is that they cannot offer a religious person a perfect substitute to his religion. Rational thinking (whatever that may be - after all, humans are by nature not completely rational) is nice, but clearly far from enough. My question to atheists out there is this: if you want people to "break out of the bonds of religion," can you offer them something that is just as comforting as religion, or even better? Also, the idea that some religious people have that if not for the existence of god there would be nothing out there to prevent people from killing, stealing and raping is quite troubling to me. But I'm also saddened by the fact that many atheists don't really have a good answer to that argument.

IN RESPONSE:

Berzelius
Oct 7, 09 4:58 PM CDT

@newsrmandan, I am not saying thre are no intellectual or deep religious thinkers. THere are plenty. But many people, you have to think worldwide here, are very simple people. They only have their family, their religion, and maybe a job. Most people in the world live a struggle, and don't have time to comment on comments sections of news aggregators. You must know at least a few of these people. If religion is what inspires them to make an honest living and a 'righteous' life, then its okay. You actually think if someone was struggling and thought after you die its just worm fertilizer and you walked by with a sack full of goods he wouldnt hesitate to cut you up for it without his fear of eternal damnation.?

| 0 minutes ago

newsrmandan
Oct 7, 09 4:21 PM CDT

to who's side would said "shallow Masses" go yours? Then they would be free unfettered to run amuck in a godless system you so eagerly embrace? Who would you blame for the societies they set up. The raping the murder the theft the business greed the wars for pleasure sake? How could you blame them or keep them in check? Wouldnt they be just from an non-religious evolutionary perspective just be doing what was right in their own eyes? Where would this society get its sense of morality? You have some questions to answer and don't even try to change the subject by calling me wacko loon job who believes in the sky daddy. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Berzelius
Oct 7, 09 5:02 PM CDT

I'm sure you are talking to me but did you even read the post? The whole latter part of it is in accord with your post. It kind of reinforces the shallow mass portion, even though it isn't exactly how I meant that part. I meant most people are simple, most people are religious, therefore shallow masses. Maybe shallow is the wrong term.

IN RESPONSE:

newsrmandan
Oct 7, 09 7:15 PM CDT

berz I understand your implications regarding "shallow masses" and I also know that for most of the world - slavery, is to their religion. Thats because theirs is a false religion. I agree with most atheist when they talk of religion. I have to make a distinction between religion and Christianity and even between christianity and true followers of Jesus Christ. I know of hords of people who claim to be christian but they are no different than the sacred hindu of the world. Atheist however don't have any distinction to them any higher being is fairy tale. So at least in one sense Atheists are more closed minded. But get to that on another post. I guess I was (?) by your statements of shallow masses because its like most atheist to proclaim ignorant those who have differing thoughts and even beliefs. My faith in the historical Jesus of the Bible is not based on historical fact it is based on a gift that I could not deny. To know your forgiven is a powerful overwhelming thing. but I'll spare you from sounding like a true believer.

IN RESPONSE:

Snarfeh
Oct 7, 09 7:20 PM CDT

"Theirs is a false religion." That right there is what is wrong with religion.

IN RESPONSE:

Aelius28
Oct 8, 09 3:09 AM CDT

@newsrmandan, you don't need religion to be moral. Look at most European countries, where most people are atheists, they have lower crime rates, higher happiness, less corruption, higher life expectancy etc. Furthermore, someone who believed in Zeus or Apollo could say to you "If you don't believe in Zeus or Apollo, where do you get your morality from?". Your religion is one of thousands of different religions and yet you have the GALL to say that "All of the thousands of other gods are all false, mine is true"? Holy fuck, that takes balls.

IN RESPONSE:

Aelius28
Oct 8, 09 3:13 AM CDT

@newsrmandan "My faith in the historical Jesus of the Bible is not based on historical fact it is based on a gift I could not deny". So you admit you have no historical basis for believing in a supernatural Jesus. Yet you say it's based on a gift? What, eternal life? Forgiveness? What makes you think that Jesus is offering you a gift in the first place? Why aren't you a Muslim, accepting Mohammad's gift? Why aren't you a Hindu, accepting Krishna's gift? Why aren't you a Scientologist accepting whatever the fuck they offer? You happen to have, by the sheerest accident of birth, been brought up in a Christian family. If you had been brought up in India you'd be believing in Krishna. If you were brought up in Pakistan you'd be believing in Mohammad. If you had been brought up in Denmark at the time of the Vikings you'd be believing in Wotan and Thor. If you had been brought up in Africa you'd be believing in the great Juju up the mountain. Don't have the arrogance of claiming that an all-powerful Universe-creating god took time out of his cosmic invention to offer a pathetic little human being a "gift" when you yourself deny that there's any historical basis for that AND you deny the "gifts" from the THOUSANDS of other gods you just so happen to not have been brought up to believe. It reeks of seething putrid arrogance.

IN RESPONSE:

newsrmandan
Oct 8, 09 2:17 PM CDT

@A28....your ranting is correct on a few things its just that your wrong on the most important one. I have not claimed that my "religion" -christianity is the only true one. Jesus did. And the claims of being the one way the one truth and the one life are his claims. You need to take up that argument with him. I never said my faith has no historical warrant I said my faith is not based only on historical facts. You failed to answer my questions. So I ask you again Was Jesus a historical figure yes or no? Did he die yes or no? Did he raise again from the dead yes or no? If you say no to any of these (which is of course is yours to do, I have never been one for throat shoving) you would be on the wrong side of the historical data. Data that has been believed rightly and wrongly for more than 2000 years. Also the morality of european countries is not one that I would hold up as an example to aspire to you might I don't. As a side note do a little historical fact finding about the European countries you'll find A little thing happened in the 1600s called the Reformation they can thank the reformers for any shadow of morality that still exists in the EU. You are correct we (I) was born into a country where we are free to practice religion of our choice, you seem to want to change that. But because most people believe what their parents teach, missionaries have gone from this and other nations to the ends of the world giving the message of new life. So that these hords some call Shallow masses, dont have to live under the tyranny of their religion but under the freedom in Christ. Unless you feel severing the hands and legs of albinos for "witch doctors" is better then setting up hospitals and schools where they learn about agriculture and the benifits of clean water and oh ya churches? You rail against christianity and all religions as if they are all the same. None are equal to Christianity in that all others are self-righteous, do good works, be pleasing to this piece of wood or stone or gold figure or some other sky daddy and hope for the best. Christianity is about the righteousness of another paying for the dept you owe. Christ took it upon himself to bare the full wrath of God for the sins of the people God gave to him. Some have called it a purchase, so I was purchased by Christ he paid my dept on the cross. But you call me seething arrogant poor ignorant stupid numbed brained etc.etc. To Which I'll admit I have been known to be all of those at one time or another but what I like to call myself the most is child of Christ and if that makes me foolish then foolish I will be.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

Aelius28
Oct 9, 09 1:22 AM CDT

@newsrmandan, I did answer those questions. They weren't answered on this article, as you didn't ask them on this article, I assume you got your comments mixed up. But anyway, you say that YOU don't claim those things about Jesus, you say that Jesus claimed those things. You cannot reasonably say that, because the Gospels were first written down decades after Jesus ever existed, so they were really just passing on what they had heard. It's about the farthest thing away from eyewitness testimony you can get, and it's generations after the fact so it's not even accurate to paraphrase what Jesus might have said IF he existed. Even if Jesus did say the things you claim he did, so what? He could have been fucking crazy, you ever consider that? There are thousands of people today, RIGHT NOW, who will claim that they are the second coming of Jesus, that their religion is the true one, or some other crazy religious claim. Why don't you believe them, applying the same standard that you apply to Jesus: "well he said so".

| 0 minutes ago

SemperFI
Oct 7, 09 5:23 PM CDT

Islamics believe in Jesus too. And didnt an angel come down and speak to Mary? Religious tolerance. That was what this Country was founded on. Although,there are some far out religions that I dont even understand. We still must allow them their rights. Unless you plan on signing up for the Nazi Party Reply

IN RESPONSE:

freethemall
Oct 7, 09 6:42 PM CDT

Islam does provide structure, order, and discipline. It is also the duty and privilege of Muslims to conduct Jihad against the enemies of Allah. Do they consider us "the great Satan" to be an enemy of Allah? Why do you suppose they planned and executed the terrorists events of September 11, 2001? Tolerance is a great virtue, but does it make sense to be tolerant of the insanely intolerant? You tell me.

IN RESPONSE:

Berzelius
Oct 7, 09 9:20 PM CDT

Islam did not perpetrate Sept 11. A group of reactionary (notice i didn't say radical) muslims did. Any more than did Christianity bomb Iraq back to the 19th century.

IN RESPONSE:

riffran
Oct 8, 09 12:19 AM CDT

thats right FTM..Those slimeballs claimed to be followers of Islam...Per investigation into their past...If part of you're faith demands you kill others that dont follow the same path...then you shuld be hnted down and exterminated LIKE A RABID MONGREL...P.S. I made those words all aps..to emphasize the idiocy of radical islam....."I wipe my ass with the Koran".......(not really I just wanted to piss off the trolls)

IN RESPONSE:

Aelius28
Oct 8, 09 3:16 AM CDT

@SemperFi, there's a lot of things I don't understand about religious people. Up there high on the list, however, is this idea that because we want people to shake off this Bronze Age nonsense that we somehow want to deny people their right to believe it if they so insist. I just don't get it, it's like saying Alcoholics Anonymous is trying to deny people their right to drink beer because they're trying to get people free of its addictiveness. 'the fuck, man?

| 0 minutes ago

yoeydude
Oct 7, 09 6:36 PM CDT

we are a social animal , we find comfort in the huddle ,... we are always looking to see where we can belong , we desperatly need to be a part of a group , for some , any group ,.... its an ape thing that expresses itself in the mob , the gang , the army , the congregation ,...... Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Spectre655d
Oct 7, 09 8:47 PM CDT

As a retired MP and Deputy Sheriff I can say that this is a serious blow for the USMC. Islam aside, when the inmates are "converting" the guards to anything you have big problems. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

AdamSadik
Oct 8, 09 8:08 PM CDT

A detainee at Guantanamo talked people into flying airplanes into buildings -- converting a guard is child's play by comparison.

| 0 minutes ago

cochiserocks
Oct 8, 09 4:30 AM CDT

Marx famously referred to religion as the opiate of the masses - nowadays it's cheap beer, TV and consumerism. Sounds like the guard swapped one set of brain numbing occupations for another. Ritual without insight in any form is just a material distraction. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 53 comments »

Islam • Guantanamo Bay • soldier • Muslim convert • Terry Holdbrooks

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Associated Press

As a federal judge halts a Gitmo case, a detainee seeking his freedom files...
(Nov 11, 09 4:51 PM CST)
6 Chinese Muslims from Guantanamo Bay arrive in Pacific nation for resettlement
(Oct 31, 09 8:16 PM CDT)
Despite FBI raids, Islam's message of equality and discipline resonates with...
(Oct 31, 09 12:17 AM CDT)
Despite FBI raids, Islam's message of equality and discipline resonates with...
(Oct 30, 09 1:22 PM CDT)

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Gitmo Guard: Why I Embraced Islam

Terry Holdbrooks sympathized with the detainees, and was soon bounced from the army

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (4)]

Gitmo Inmate Policy Chief Bails

Phillip Carter led search for prison replacement

MORE ABOUT:
Pentagon • Guantanamo Bay • Department of Defense • detainee • guantanamo deadline • Phillip Carter • Guantanamo closure

Obama:
We Won't
Make Gitmo
Deadline

Pres tells Fox's Major Garrett prison will close after Jan 2010

MORE ABOUT:
China • Barack Obama • Guantanamo Bay • Fox News • Guantanamo prisoners • Uighurs • Gitmo • guantanamo deadline • closing guantanamo • obama fox news

Conservatives to GOP: Stop Gitmo 'Scaremongering'

Bob Barr, others write letter supporting Obama's plan

MORE ABOUT:
federal courts • Guantanamo Bay • Grover Norquist • Bob Barr • detainees • American Conservative Union • David Keene

Islam • Guantanamo Bay • soldier • Muslim convert • Terry Holdbrooks

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Gitmo Guard: Why I Embraced Islam

Terry Holdbrooks sympathized with the detainees, and was soon bounced from the army

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (4)]

Related Newser Stories

Gitmo Inmate Policy Chief Bails

Phillip Carter led search for prison replacement

MORE ABOUT: Pentagon • Guantanamo Bay • Department of Defense • detainee • guantanamo deadline • Phillip Carter • Guantanamo closure

Obama: We Won't Make Gitmo Deadline

Pres tells Fox's Major Garrett prison will close after Jan 2010

MORE ABOUT: China • Barack Obama • Guantanamo Bay • Fox News • Guantanamo prisoners • Uighurs • Gitmo • guantanamo deadline • closing guantanamo • obama fox news

Conservatives to GOP: Stop Gitmo 'Scaremongering'

Bob Barr, others write letter supporting Obama's plan

MORE ABOUT: federal courts • Guantanamo Bay • Grover Norquist • Bob Barr • detainees • American Conservative Union • David Keene

Islam • Guantanamo Bay • soldier • Muslim convert • Terry Holdbrooks

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

from our news partners

Associated Press

About

Help

Tools

Site Maps

What is Newser?

MORE ABOUT:
Pentagon • Guantanamo Bay • Department of Defense • detainee • guantanamo deadline • Phillip Carter • Guantanamo closure

Obama:
We Won't
Make Gitmo
Deadline

MORE ABOUT:
China • Barack Obama • Guantanamo Bay • Fox News • Guantanamo prisoners • Uighurs • Gitmo • guantanamo deadline • closing guantanamo • obama fox news

MORE ABOUT:
federal courts • Guantanamo Bay • Grover Norquist • Bob Barr • detainees • American Conservative Union • David Keene