Amazing, since this is the first time I've been on Bush's side in an argument.
Its a shame, because this was propogated by prejudice against Muslims, and will now result in a severe anti-US backlash.
If you get a chance, check out Metroblogging Dubai, the UAE chapter of the blog I write for. They discuss the issue on occassion. I don't agree with a lot of what they write, but it makes for a very interesting point of view.
http://dubai.metblogs.com/
archiv..._american.phtml
The position of some that ALL American ports should be controlled only by American companies is somewhat understandable. Singling out this particular deal is not, to me, understandable however. However, most of the shock isn't just that this particular company would be handling our ports, it's that any foreign company would handle our ports...at least from what I've seen from objectors like R_V. This is just the deal that brought that situation to light.
Therefore, it's not so much racism if all ports are turned over to American companies, but it IS racism and/or prejudice to single out this company only. How this is handle will determine whether or not it is an act of racism.
I think I need to reevaluate the use of words... this is prejudice, plain and simple.
The position of why this is bad keeps changing to defend the prejudice, too...
First it was that foreign ownership of ports is bad, but when people learned that most US ports are owned by foreigners, they decided to address that Saudia Arabia is a fascist state. But then you see China has ownership in a port. So then it become that there were some pre-9/11 ties between the UAE and terrorists. Cooperation in terrorist attacks? No, but ties nonetheless (although the same terrorists used US banks and it could be argued had ties to the US).
People oppose this deal because its coming from a Muslim country, and they're suspicious. People are suspicious of any Muslim country. Why people can't concede that this is prejudiced I don't know.
"Why people can't concede that this is prejudiced I don't know."
Because then they'd be admitting they're wrong.
Commenting by HaloScan
