Do the ST sages believe this story

The Coffee Shop
1

I did so well a year or so ago when I said I didn’t believe for a second that Hillary Clinton used to watch Capablanca over and over again while at Wellesley with her friends, so I thought I would take a second stab.

"

(CNN) – Last year at Christmastime, Rehan Seyam, a Muslim living in New Jersey, went to pick up some things at a local Wal-Mart. Seeing her distinctive traditional Muslim head covering called a “hijab,” a man in the store, addressing her directly, sang “The 12 Days of Christmas” using insulting lyrics about terrorism and Osama bin Laden.
She was stunned.
“Do I look like a terrorist to you?” Seyam said she asked the man.
According to Seyam, the man replied, “What else does a terrorist look like?”"

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/08/21/hijab.godswarriors/index.html

I don’t believe this story for a second. It neatly combines Christmas, Walmart, male bigotry, the hijab, Christmas music and a connection to CNN all in one convenient sound bite.

I am betting it never happened.
This story is about as credible as this one with the woman holding up obviously unfired bullets saying these shells hit her house during a raid by American soldiers:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1030/1125907463_270279fcdd.jpg

2

If you don’t believe that kind of bigotry, ignorance, and hatred exists in America, then you must live in a nice little bubble.

On the other hand, it’s nice to see that some people have not been affected by all that “all muslims are terrorists” propaganda that floats around all over the place. Please let me know where to buy those nice rose colored glasses…

http://www.nittanybeaglerescue.org/images/rose_colored_glasses.jpg

I would agree that the bullets have not hit that womans house, btw. Obviously she was not paying attention at jihad school.

3

It is fine that you want to rant and rave about how ignorant I am, but could you at least answer the question about whether you believe her story or not along the way?

4

why don’t you ask her yourself… looks like she’s looking for volunteers for a soup kitchen

(from a google search)…

http://www.islamonline.com/news/newsfull.php?newid=27607
WHAT: VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
WHERE: Morristown Interfaith Community Soup Kitchen, 36 South St in Morristown, New Jersey
WHEN: Thursday, August 16th & September 4th, 2007, 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
CONTACT: Contact Rehan Seyam (Rehannim@optonline.net) for a time slot (Full work shift 10am to 1:30pm, Partial 10am 11:30 or
11:15 to 12:30 or 12:30 to 1:30) Please CC br Zamir Hassan at: muslimsagainsthunger@gmail.com

5

I never said that you’re ignorant. My implication is that the person who sang the song to her is ignorant. Which means that yes, I believe the story. More in the sense that I believe it has happened, does happen, and could have happened to the woman. It’s a believeable story.

6

So who made up this story? What part or parts did not occur?

7

No fair, Ken. I asked first.

8

No fair, Ken. I asked first.

Based on a brief perusal of the 'net for this woman, I have no reason to believe that she is lying. I doubt that CNN has embellished the story on their own, either. It is possible she is fabricating this to drum up business for her practice, but she seems educated enough to understand the ramifications of being found out.

Your turn.

9

I don’t see anything in that story so outrageous as to render it “unbelieveable.” Not knowing much about the woman herself, I can’t say that I positively do believe it, but I’m curious as to why you are so convinced it’s a lie? Do you not think ignorant rude people work at WalMart? Do you not think there are people that hold those kinds of ludicrously stereotyped views? (Hint, some of them are on this forum)

10

After hearing hard-to-believe stories from fellow cyclists about some utterly obnoxious encounters with motorists, I am inclined to give her the benefit of a doubt.

There are some really idiotic, obnoxious people out there.

11

let me guess…

if she’s a “traditional” Muslim, she would not have been shopping alone, and would not have questioned the man. She would have left asking the question to her male chaperone (her father, brother or husband).

is that it what you’re getting at?

12

Actually, you didn’t answer, but I will take it that your answer is yes, you do believe her. Correct me if I am wrong.

I believe that the story developed over time, and got embellished like a fish story. Even money that there never even was a fish in the first place.

I am guessing that CNN never checked the story, since the facts were just way too good to check. Kind of like the story above or the Paul Thomas Beauchamps fable over at The New Republic or the Reuter’s photographs or the, well, you get the idea.

The ramifications of being found out? What do you mean by that? How could anyone prove it never happened? We are not talking about the possibility of a blue dress showing up. What ramifications? She would no longer be a CNN source any more like Police Captain Jamil Hussein? Horrors.

13

*Kind of like the story above or the Paul Thomas Beauchamps fable over at The New Republic or the Reuter’s photographs or *
**
or curveball, or the aluminum tubes, or… welll you get the idea.

14

I thought I made it pretty clear that it would be very difficult to squeeze more hackneyed stereotypes of politically acceptable attackees into one paragraph if one were to try. then it miraculously found its way to CNN.

How do you think CNN got the story in the first place? Investigative reporting? They got it by answering the phone. Who do you suppose called?

15

My implication is that the person who sang the song to her is ignorant. Which means that yes, I believe the story. More in the sense that I believe it has happened, does happen, and could have happened to the woman. It’s a believeable story.

Let’s see here. A quick search on Google turned up three hits citing this story (Woman in hijab getting harassed at Wall-Mart by man wielding a modified version of the 12 Days of Christmas targeting OBL), and on the second or third page, the only reference to a 12 Days of Christmas OBL version (see below), which appears to be from a quite dated web site.

So, this most unfortunate woman goes innocently shopping last year, and apparently:
a) Runs into the one and only man in NJ (and perhaps the eastern seaboard) that not only is aware of the lyrics of this rather obscure song, but has them memorized for just the right occasion,
b) stands there in rapt attention, while said rare individual proceeds to reel off the whole performance.

If this story were true, who really is the more ignorant person? The dufas singing, or the dufas listening?

Osama’s Twelve Days of Christmas - These are a list of “gifts” sent to Afghanistan from George W. to show the true “holiday spirit” of America this year.

On the FIRST day of Christmas, the U.S. sent to you, A rope to hang you from a bare tree.
On the SECOND day of Christmas, the U.S. sent to you, 2 caves to hide in.
On the THIRD day of Christmas, the U.S. sent to you, 3 B-52’s
On the FOURTH day of Christmas, the U.S. sent to you, 4 fresh batteries.
On the FIFTH day of Christmas, the U.S. sent to you, 5 anthrax-laden Christmas cards.
On the SIXTH day of Christmas, the U.S. sent to you, 6 marine battalions.
On the SEVENTH day of Christmas, the U.S. sent to you, 7 gas masks.
On the EIGHTH day of Christmas, the U.S. sent to you, 8 cities captured.
On the NINTH day of Christmas, the U.S. sent to you, 9 rangers leaping.
On the TENTH day of Christmas, the U.S. sent to you, 10 Taliban running.
On the ELEVENTH day of Christmas, the U.S. sent to you, 11 bombs exploding
(Now sing it loudly so everyone can hear)
On the TWELFTH day of Christmas, the U.S. sent to you,
12 flags from New York City,
11 bombs exploding,
10 Taliban running,
9 rangers leaping,
8 cities captured,
7 gas masks wearing,
6 marine battalions,
5 anthrax-laden Christmas cards,
4 fresh batteries,
3 B-52’s,
2 caves to hide in,
And a rope to hang you from a bare tree!

16

Are there Walmarts in New Jersey? Serious question.

I’m skeptical of the story. Is it plausible? Sure. But it seems too well constructed. It would be more believable to me if the Ugly American had said something like “fookin Muslim”, “damn terrorist this is 'Merica”, or something equally sanguine. Singing an impromptu anti-Muslim Christmas carol is a little over the top.

My vote … bogus.

17

Is she suing Wal-Mart? If not, then the story is made up.

18

Are there Walmarts in New Jersey? Serious question.
Dozens.

19

Actually, you didn’t answer, but I will take it that your answer is yes, you do believe her. Correct me if I am wrong.

I believe that the story developed over time, and got embellished like a fish story. Even money that there never even was a fish in the first place.
Embellished by whom?

20

Inasmuch as I don’t in general trust the mainstream media not to make up stories, I’ll have to plead agnosticism on this one. The story is not inherently unbelievable, however. There are some incredibly dumb people out there, even if they don’t represent the views of the vast majority of Americans.

I notice that some people are assuming that the man singing the song was a Walmart employee, but it doesn’t say that in the story. If it had, the story might be a lot harder to believe, since one would presume that the employees are better trained than that.