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Commentary: I Am Not Racist, But..

‘I am not racist, but…’

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‘I am not racist, but I believe I am superior to an entire race of people because they are all lazy. I am just being a realist.’

‘I am not racist, but I love to make fun of people’s ethnicity, especially people who are darker than me. It’s just more funny that way.’

‘I am not racist, but there is no way I would employ someone of that race. He/she just would not be suited for this job.’

‘I am not racist, but “those people” really cannot be helped. Because they don’t want to be helped.’

‘I am not racist, but people should stop being so sensitive when I make racist jokes which are not funny.’

‘I am not racist, but thank God White people civilized the world.’

‘I am not racist, but the minorities should not express discontentment in this particular peaceful manner. There are other ways – that do not offend me, are out of my sight, do not make me aware of your problems, do not force me to confront painful realities – to do so.’

‘I am not racist, but I do not really like to pray beside Indians in the mosques because they smell.’

‘I am not racist, but I do some/all of the above. But my father’s neighbour’s cousin’s brother-in-law is from a minority race, and since I know him personally, I cannot be racist.’

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You are not racist, only because you do not wish to see yourself as a racist.

Source: Walid J. Abdullah

October 23, 2017
Man Who Placed An Explosive Device At North Carolina Airport, Vowed To ‘Fight A War On US Soil’

A man planted a Mason jar filled with explosive chemicals and nails at a western North Carolina airport last week and vowed to “fight a war on US soil,” according to court documents released Tuesday.

The criminal complaint written by an FBI agent said investigators found the improvised explosive device on Friday at the Asheville airport near a terminal entrance. Asheville police bomb technicians then rendered it safe.

The complaint accuses Michael Christopher Estes of attempted malicious use of explosive materials and unlawful possession of explosives at an airport.

Estes was arrested Saturday, and the complaint says he admitted leaving the explosive device at the airport. The complaint states that Estes “claimed he was getting ready to ‘fight a war on US soil,’” but didn’t elaborate on this alleged motive.

He was being held at the Buncombe County jail without bond after a brief court hearing Tuesday. Jail records list him as a 46-year-old Native American.

A federal public defender assigned to the case, Fredilyn Sison, didn’t immediately return messages seeking comment.

Court documents say authorities found the improvised explosive device around 7 a.m. Friday at Asheville Regional Airport. The investigation revealed it contained ammonium nitrate, Sterno fuel, nails and a .410 gauge Winchester shotgun cartridge.

An alarm clock was taped to the outside of the jar with matches attached to the arm that strikes the bells, according to court documents. The alarm had been set for Friday.

Surveillance video showed Estes dressed in black pants, a jacket and black hat approaching the terminal entrance shortly after 12:30 a.m. Friday and appearing to leave behind a bag, the FBI agent wrote.

In nearby woods, investigators later found a backpack and tool kit containing similar items to what was used in the explosive device: tape, Sterno fuel and more shotgun shells. Investigators determined such items had been purchased at nearby stores earlier in the week, providing more surveillance video.

Estes left chemical explosives and nails in a Mason jar.Wikipedia

Authorities released a photograph made from the video, and tips from the public led them to Estes, who was arrested Saturday near one of the stores. The complaint said Estes waived his Miranda rights, answering questions and admitting to building and planting the device.

“Estes described how he created the device … and then rigged the alarm clock to strike the matches and cause the flame necessary to trigger the device,” the complaint states. “More specifically, the alarm clock would go off, the matches would strike, the Sterno would heat up, and then the Ammonium Nitrate would explode.”

However, Estes also claimed that he hadn’t actually set the device to go off, the complaint says. He told investigators that he had staged himself in the woods near the airport in the days before planting the device.

A man who answered the phone at a listing for Estes in Tazewell, Tennessee, said he didn’t know the suspect.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com

October 23, 2017
3 Tafsiran Ahok Atas Pepatah ‘Tuntutlah Ilmu Sampai ke China’

Jakarta – Gubernur DKI Jakarta Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) mengungkapkan dia punya tafsiran pepatah ‘tuntutlah ilmu sampai ke negeri China’. Ahok menyatakan hal ini saat menghadiri pelantikan Dewan Pengurus Wilayah (DPW) Badan Komunikasi Pemuda Remaja Masjid Indonesia (BKPRMI) DKI Jakarta.

“Banyak sekali hadist nabi yang saya pengen tahu tafsirannya. Seperti ‘tuntutlah ilmu sampai ke negeri China. Saya penasaran tapi dulu guru SMP saya saat ditanya enggak tahu dan hanya bilang hadisnya kurang kuat dan masih diperdebatkan,” kata Ahok di Balai Kota, Jakarta Pusat, Jumat (5/12/2014).

Tak puas, suami Veronica Tan ini pun lantas mencoba-coba membuat tafsirannya sendiri. Dia mengaku penasaran kenapa yang disebut harus negeri China.

“Saya coba pikirkan, akhinya saya ketemu, ini tafsiran ala saya sendiri ya. Wajarlah dibilang sampai ke negeri China, lihat saja Tiongkok begitu maju budayanya,” kata dia.

Dari perenungannya dan hasil membaca berbagai teori filsafat asal negeri Tirai Bambu itu, Ahok menemukan tiga keunggulan yang membuat Tiongkok layak untuk ditiru.

“Pertama di sana ada ajaran Konfusius. Dia prinsipnya kalau bicara pendidikan tidak boleh ada pengkotakan. Tidak ada diskriminasi untuk pendidikan. Coba lihat kalau di kita, semua diskriminasi,” tuturnya.

Menerapkan prinsip pertama itu, Ahok pun ingin menghapuskan diskrimasi antara si kaya dan miskin dalam hal pendidikan. Dia memberikan KJP bagi pelajar yang tak mampu. Mulai tahun depan jumlahnya pun akan ditingkatkan dari hanya Rp 200 ribu per bulan menjadi Rp 800 ribu.

Prinsip kedua, yakni dewa dalam tradisional Tiongkok yakni Fu De Zheng Shen, yang dalam Hokkien dibaca Hok Tek Ceng Sin. Fu yang bersimbol kotak bermakna petak sawah. Dia menafsirkannya bahwa tiap orang harus punya lahan atau sawah agar bisa makmur.

“Orang harus ada usaha yang adil, bukan hanya untuk orang kaya. Makanya kita mau bangun areal untuk menampung para PKL,” tambah Ahok.

Tafsiran ketiga yang dipetiknya dari negeri Tiongkok itu yakni bahwa jika kepala lurus maka bawahannya juga pasti lurus. “Makanya kalau punya gubernur, bupati dan walikota yang lurus, bawahannya masih berani korupsi enggak? Pasti takut,” pungkas Ahok.

“Nah kalau ini kita terapkan Jakarta pasti makmur. Ini tafsiran saya atas menuntut ilmu sampai ke negeri China,” kata Ahok sambil tertawa.

Source: https://news.detik.com

October 23, 2017
Meet Ghostbuster Sa’ad Ja’afar, A 44yo Self-Proclaimed Hantu Hunter Offering Long-Range Ghostbusting Services

If there are spooky apparitions in your neighbourhood, who do you call? You call ghostbuster Sa’ad Ja’afar apparently.

The 44-year-old self-proclaimed hantu hunter will end the hauntings … and from afar.

All it takes is a phone call and no matter the distance, he will work on it.

Sa’ad said he can reach anywhere in the world from his centre here, to get rid of ghosts or end hauntings but the furthest he has done so thus far is Sabah – “I caught a jinn (an evil spirit) there”.

“I don’t need to be physically present to help those who need my services to rid their premises of the supernatural,” said the ghostbuster who hails from Melaka.

He claims his centre – Rawatan iLahana – is the “first in the world” to offer long-range ghostbusting services.

Assisted by Mohd Azim Adam, 46, Sa’ad started the centre in 2015 and claims to have cleansed some 300 locations nationwide to date. Among his satisfied clients, he counts 70 of different faiths.

In that time, he and his assistant caught a large number of jinn, which he said have been imprisoned at a secret location near a mosque.

“We keep them near a mosque so that they will be encouraged to repent for their sins,” he said.

It’s RM200 for a two-hour session but customers can pay according to their means, he said.

According to Sa’ad, the conventional way of fighting jinn and ghouls is to use black pepper and rock salt, “but these only scare them away”.

He said jungles, mountains, waterfalls, lakes and rivers are favourite haunts for such spirits.

Source: http://www.thestar.com.my

October 20, 2017
Biker Assisting Police Investigations After Performing ‘Donut’ Stunt Around Groom At Wedding

A 26-year-old biker is assisting police with investigations after a video of a motorcycle stunt being performed around a groom at a carpark went viral.

In the video of what happened that was posted on Facebook pages All Singapore Stuff and ROADS.sg, the biker can be seen revving the engine of his motorcycle while going in a stationary circle around the groom.

The stunt created a thick column of smoke and left a huge black ring on the ground of the carpark.

At the end of the video, the biker, who was clad in a blue jacket, rode away from the scene.

Around two weeks after the video made its rounds on social media, the biker was identified and tracked down by police.

Said a police spokesman with regard to what happened:

“The 26-year-old rider has been identified and is currently assisting Traffic Police in investigations.

“If convicted for the offence of Rash Act under Section 336(a) of the Penal Code, Chapter 224, the offender shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 6 months, or with fine which may extend to $2,500, or with both.”

Source: http://stomp.straitstimes.com

October 20, 2017