[Ronn_Bman]

Until now, I thought the reports I heard about the controversial sheriff of Davidson County, NC, were great.(can't remember his name)

He painted the prison pink, inside and out, to make it stand out and embarrass the prisoners about the fact they are prisoners. He returned prisoners to black and white striped jumpsuits for the same reason. He also returned prisoners to labor while imprisoned, instead of watching TV and lifting weights they are performing needed services. He has done many things to deter crime which aren't politically correct but have been effective. To this point, I thought his "old school" approach had merit.

Then he mailed Christmas cards showing him on the front holding Osama's head in one hand and a bloody scimitar in the other. Nothing too wrong with this, other than poor taste.

But now, he's gone too far. Inside, the inscription on the card reads "Happy Ramadan, Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year." Without the reference to Ramadan, this card would have been just in poor taste, but now he's offended local Muslims, which is completely wrong.

They are right in being offended because this card included them in the same thought and on the same level as Osama, and that is wrong in everyway. Ramadan isn't about Osama! It's about the legitimate Muslim faith.

I am completely pro-war, and I am completely anti-Osama and the Taliban, but I am also pro-Muslim. I believe their beliefs are as important to them as mine are to me. I'm not for stopping the offensive during Ramadan, but I think abject disrespect is wrong.

People who do things like this do not help the argument for war because they are not representative of the pro-war effort, and I would rather they not be considered on my "side".

[ 11-14-2001: Message edited by: Ronn_Bman ]