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Dallas Mayor Says He’s More Fearful Of Armed White Men Than Syrian Refugees

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M

Malyse

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The mayor of Dallas is pushing back against politicians who say Americans should be skeptical of Syrian refugees, saying he is “more fearful” of armed white men than people fleeing civil war in the Middle East.

Speaking to MSNBC on Saturday morning, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings was asked to discuss the growing anxiety over Syrian refugees entering the United States, purportedly over concerns they could be potential agents for militant groups such as ISIS. Rawlings staunchly rejected the assertion that Syrians are somehow uniquely prone to violence, saying he is more concerned with the rise of white supremacy and the recent flurry of mass shootings committed by white men.

“I am more fearful of large gatherings of white men that come into schools, theaters and shoot people up, but we don’t isolate young white men on this issue,” Rawlings said.
He also said that vilifying refugees only helps ISIS, as doing so falls into their “trap.” He then pushed back on the notion that ISIS is somehow representative of Islam.

“ISIS is no more Islamic than Nazi senior staff was Christian,” he said. He also subtly challenged Christian governors and other followers of Christ who have rejected refugees, referencing Jesus’ scriptural call to “welcome the stranger” in Matthew 25:41-43, asking, “Christ following people like myself — how do we deal with this issue of strangers, and are we going to let them in?”

Video

Rawlings’ position is in line with current statistics on domestic terrorism, which show that right-wing terrorists have killed more people than “homegrown jihadists” since September 11, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. This includes this summer’s tragic church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, when avowed white supremacist Dylann Roof murdered 9 African American worshippers in cold blood after sitting with them in a group Bible study for an hour. Another Christian white supremacist, Larry McQuilliams, attempted to burn down the Mexican consulate in Austin, Texas last year, firing more than 100 rounds in the downtown area before being shot dead by a police officer while trying to enter a police station. More recently, the FBI successfully thwarted a white supremacist plan to bomb and shoot up black churches and synagogues, and groups of armed, primarily white men continue to protest regularly outside of mosques in places such as Texas: Over the weekend, a group of armed men protested outside a Muslim house of worship in Irving, Texas.
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http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/11/23/3725109/dallas-mayor-syrian-refugees-white-supremacists/

WELP.
 
A

Anoregon

The flight plan I just filed with the agency list me, my men, Dr. Pavel here. But only one of you!
Statistically it's not even debatable. The chances of being killed by an actual ISIS terrorist, let alone an innocent Syrian refugee, pale in comparison to the chances of being killed by run of the mill gun violence in America.
 
H

Hackworth

Member
Fair enough.
Like, idk the global stats, but white guys have been killing more innocents than pretty much everyone put together in the USA. Shit's fucked up.
 
U

User1608

Banned
He's very much correct. I'm way more scared of them too. Love that he called out the hypocrisy of Christians as well.
 
A

Angry Grimace

Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
What he's saying probably isn't even controversial, particularly on left-leaning GAF. In fact, I'd say the shocking part is "Mayor of Dallas Texas is a Democrat."
 
S

shem935

Banned
If you are an American you are more likely to kill yourself or be killed by a fellow American than Isis. Not sure how that isn't obvious. In conclusion lock your doors and wrap yourself in bubble wrap.
 
C

Chie Satonaka

Member
This is obvious to anyone who can think for more than five seconds without getting a headache.

...So it's not really obvious to a lot of Americans.
 
A

Angelus Errare

Banned
tumblr_lrf57f2idf1qkw3cpo1_500.gif


I said these exact same sentiments a week back on FB, never in my life had I saw "Reverse racist" thrown as much as it was that day.
 
R

rjinaz

Member
devilhawk said:
Why did he stop there? There are a ton of things that are much more likely to kill you than White dudes or ISIS.
Click to expand...

Because there is an obvious point to be made which would have been diluted, that the people that are "scared" of Syrians or ISIS should be more scared of the people that look like themselves.

You're right though.
 
H

Henkka

Banned
White males are pretty scary. Sometimes I see myself in the mirror and get spooked. I haven't snapped yet, but it could be any day now... :(
 
Z

Zubz

Banned
If I lived in Dallas, he'd have my vote right here. It's refreshing to hear someone in power acknowledge this commonly-held fallacy, let alone from Texas, of all places.
 
P

partyphone

Banned
an unhinged white male slaughtered a bunch of children at an elementary school and we did nothing. nothing.

we should be very, very afraid of white men with guns.
 
bengraven

bengraven

Member
Oh don't worry.

There will be plenty of white men with guns surrounding the capital from now on because he opened his mouth.
 
B

bonesmccoy

Banned
That's good stuff, but I don't think lines like

“ISIS is no more Islamic than Nazi senior staff was Christian,” he said
Click to expand...

are actually all that helpful, for anyone.

That said, he's 100% correct here

“Christ following people like myself — how do we deal with this issue of strangers, and are we going to let them in?”
Click to expand...
 
M

Malyse

Member
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