Crazy Like a Fox

On "Fox News" this past Tuesday, they were discussing Muslims in America.  That's sort of the media equivalent of giving a seven-year-child a hand grenade as a birthday gift, so it's not shocking to discover that the conversation went off the rails.

But it was most notable for when the current designated liberal on the station, Bob Beckel, said, "We know that in the Muslim communities around the world, they do not like us.  They recruit people from poor areas and turn them into terrorists."

What notable is not the statement.  One can agree or disagree with it.  What's notable is that this is what Fox likes to parade around as a liberal.  And, it follows, a liberal position.

For what it's worth, no, we don't know that in the Muslim communities around the world, they do not like us.  I'm guessing that when it comes to not liking something, what Muslims most don't like are people who generalize about them all as hateful terrorists who want to take over the world.

And lest anyone leap up and cry, "But it's true!," I'd not only suggest that they probably don't have a clue what's "true" or not about the Muslim religion, but further, when it comes to a religion wanting to take over the world, once upon a time Christians had actual armies, the Pope commanded an actual army, and they organized Crusades to conquer the heathen.  So, it's always good to step back, take a breath, and try to be rational.

So, random, reckless acts of generalization are rarely a good thing.  Like when Mr. Beckel -- designated Fox liberal -- suggested that perhaps we should also restrict Chinese students coming into America, solely so that they could study computers and then return to China where they can "hack us."

My only suggestion is that Bob Beckel be careful about using the word, "hack."