Singer Cat Stevens not allowed in US.

Entertaining_Angels · Sep 22, 2004

Mϋzikdϋde said:
Don't try to peddle common sense here. No one's buying.

Sigh, okay. How's this?

okay, I confess, the government is 'watching' me (and you too) and I wanted to throw them off the track with those last posts. They caught on to my collection of Cat Stevens CDs years ago and I've felt their eyes upon me ever since. If you ever notice that I haven't posted in awhile, start asking questions. You guys are just too sharp.

BobbieDog · Sep 23, 2004

Brad'sDad said:
During an investigation involving national security, no country is going to give away their sources and details of the investigation to the press. People like you and me will never know or see the kind of documentation or proof you're requesting.

Where an act based on such "evidence" becomes potentially arbitrary, contrary to everything to do with constitutional right: which act should thereby fall; and this man should not be barred from entering the country.

Like profiling in general, and pre-emption philosophy: the potential shading to a near racing certainty, that all this comes to be driven by no more than ethnic prejudice; makes it an unsafe way for any civilisation to proceed.

No proof, no power: should be just as enshrined as no taxes without representation; and for much the same reasons. Powers to the contrary get corrupted, by the prejudice of those exercising them.

BobbieDog · Sep 23, 2004

Sir Monks said:
Why would you sing this at Easter? I wouldnt think it would bring any significance to an atheist to sing anything about God on a religious holiday

What about the radically outrageous understanding that F and his family bring their own meaning to this: and perhaps crucially through the singing; and perhaps through a-theistic understanding?

lunachick · Sep 23, 2004

Sir Monks said:
Why would you sing this at Easter? I wouldnt think it would bring any significance to an atheist to sing anything about God on a religious holiday

Because music transcends all.

I'm an atheist, but I love the old Negro spirituals and much as I love A Perfect Circle's Judith. I even love those rare occassions when Amazing Grace is sung so sublimely you get chicken skin, and the hair on the back of your neck starts to tingle.

Also, just as there are religious Jews and 'cultural' Jews, there are religious Christians and 'cultural' Christians. My family celebrates Christmas with good food, wine, music, gifts, lively conversation, and the pleasure of being together during a happy holiday. But then, that's kinda easy, too - as Christmas is in the summer and it's beach and barbeque time.
Christmas as a cultural tradition rather than a religious one is the norm for many families. Why shouldn't we enjoy it and revel in the laughter and warmth of good friends and family?

D'uh! I just typed all that out and then remembered we were talking Easter. Oh, well - you get the drift, I'm sure.

Izzy23 · Sep 23, 2004

OreGal said:
Sigh, okay. How's this?

okay, I confess, the government is 'watching' me (and you too) and I wanted to throw them off the track with those last posts. They caught on to my collection of Cat Stevens CDs years ago and I've felt their eyes upon me ever since. If you ever notice that I haven't posted in awhile, start asking questions. You guys are just too sharp.

LOL, good one.

burrow_owl · Sep 23, 2004

oregal said:
Personally, I believe some level of secrecy is necessary in a democratic society if we prefer to be 'free'. I have no problem with the government releasing all information when it would no longer be harmful to either national security or the individual - any individual.

Agreed, and agreed. Of course some things need to be kept secret. But is the reason that Cat Stevens was kept out of the country one of them?

Entertaining_Angels · Sep 23, 2004

burrow_owl said:
Agreed, and agreed. Of course some things need to be kept secret. But is the reason that Cat Stevens was kept out of the country one of them?

If I suspected some nefarious scheme, I'd be questioning his deportation as well, but, fact is, I don't. I haven't seen planes diverted left and right because ((gasp)) Muslims are entering the country. In this case, I have enough confidence to believe his name was on that list for a reason and, if the list is wrong, it'll get worked out.

Have a wonderful day all (shhhh....and remember, they're watching you)

burrow_owl · Sep 23, 2004

In this case, I have enough confidence to believe his name was on that list for a reason and, if the list is wrong, it'll get worked out.

Great. I'd bet he's on the list for a reason, too, and I'd like to know the reason. Simple as that.

Mϋzikdϋde · Sep 23, 2004

OreGal said:
Sigh, okay. How's this?

okay, I confess, the government is 'watching' me (and you too) and I wanted to throw them off the track with those last posts. They caught on to my collection of Cat Stevens CDs years ago and I've felt their eyes upon me ever since. If you ever notice that I haven't posted in awhile, start asking questions. You guys are just too sharp.

Now you fit in

Cat Stevens is on CD?
I have vinyl, I'm sure the government hasn't tracked it because when I bought those albums Cat was still an all American boy (although a Democrat). You can borrow them if you like.

Entertaining_Angels · Sep 23, 2004

Hey, thanks. My father, a big Cat fan as well has the vinyl. I.. just haven't found a 4-Runner installed with record player so I invested in the CDs. Something about cruising down the highway, singing at the top of my lungs about our "Wild World...sigh You're welcome to borrow the CDs. I also have a pretty nice collection of Simon and Garfunkle

Mϋzikdϋde said:
Now you fit in

Cat Stevens is on CD?
I have vinyl, I'm sure the government hasn't tracked it because when I bought those albums Cat was still an all American boy (although a Democrat). You can borrow them if you like.

Mϋzikdϋde · Sep 23, 2004

burrow_owl said:
Great. I'd bet he's on the list for a reason, too, and I'd like to know the reason. Simple as that.

I don't disagree with this, I would also like to know. But the simple fact that it's a list implies that there's more than one name on it. Why focus on one guy? Because he's such a loveable peace activist? Because we dig his music? Because some of us just can't bare to see the hippie era come to an end.

Cat Stevens made a living protesting the government by singing songs of love and peace during a highly controversial war. He was a passive aggressive rebel.
Which gives me an idea: I think I'm going to start writing protest songs. I can get rich riding on the back of national dissent. I could be the next Bob Dylan.
Now I have to vote for Bush in order to maintain job security.

*off to write some lyrics*

burrow_owl · Sep 23, 2004

I don't disagree with this, I would also like to know. But the simple fact that it's a list implies that there's more than one name on it. Why focus on one guy? Because he's such a loveable peace activist? Because we dig his music? Because some of us just can't bare to see the hippie era come to an end.

In a free society, the question shouldn't be 'why should the government release information?', but 'why shouldn't it?'. Personally, I don't really care about the why's of this particular case. What concerns me is the growing secrecy of the government. This is troubling in a democracy (spare me your 'well, it's not a democracy' nitpicking) in which a premium is placed on the transparency of government.

Mϋzikdϋde · Sep 23, 2004

burrow_owl said:
In a free society, the question shouldn't be 'why should the government release information?', but 'why shouldn't it?'. Personally, I don't really care about the why's of this particular case. What concerns me is the growing secrecy of the government. This is troubling in a democracy (spare me your 'well, it's not a democracy' nitpicking) in which a premium is placed on the transparency of government.

Sorry, I left this off my post

'Twas in jest.

burrow_owl · Sep 23, 2004

D'oh!

where's that dunce cap? Oh, here it is. On my head.

Mϋzikdϋde · Sep 23, 2004

Nah...after reading my post, I realize it sounded way too serious...other than the fact that I changed my tone since yesterday.

SuzQ · Sep 23, 2004

Mϋzikdϋde said:
Aren't you Veruca Salt?

If you've seen my pic, you can imagine what I looked like as a little girl. Yup, almost exactly like her, so I was teased relentlessly by my older brother & sisters - especially if I threw a fit. "I want an oompa-loompa, and I want one NOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWW!!!"

Mϋzikdϋde said:
Don't try to peddle common sense here. No one's buying.

Exactly! (That's it - you need to change your name to "Kewldude". ).

Oregal, you better burn those Cat Stevens CD's or our trigger-happy government is coming for YOU. lol! I think I would be arrested for really bad taste if someone saw my ALBUM collection - I actually bought Cinderella??? (the rock band).

By the way, thanks Firscherling for pointing out that he sang, "Morning has broken". I DO know that song - wasn't it the one the guy is singing on a guitar in Animal House when John Belushi grabs the guitar & smashes it against the wall??? Could be mistaken....

hyperborean · Sep 23, 2004

SuzQ said:
I never said I never heard of Cat Stevens??? Just needed a reminder who he was/what he sang. Sorry you find it "sad" that I don't get into 60's/70's hippie music.

"P.S. Pssssst!! Um, who is CAT STEVENS anyway??? Little before me time, or what? Can someone refresh my memory? LOL!"

That was from your post No. 38. You don't get into hippie music? What do you think Bob marley's music is?

SuzQ said:

Bob Marley is still and will always be a LEGEND. Can we honestly say the same worldwide about Cat Stevens???

Click to expand...

What is going on inside your head? This is not about what rock star is more popular. You need to do some reaserch about the religion of Rastafarianism.
What is a Rastafarian Christian? I never heard of that one. Rastafarians reject your bible don't they Suzy?

SuzQ · Sep 23, 2004

hyperborean said:
What is going on inside your head? This is not about what rock star is more popular. You need to do some reaserch about the religion of Rastafarianism.
What is a Rastafarian Christian? I never heard of that one. Rastafarians reject your bible don't they Suzy?

Are you serious??? What is going inside YOUR head?? I clearly said, "Who is Cat Stevens, can someone REFRESH MY MEMORY"?? Um, sweetie, you quoted it yourself. Did anyone else see where I said I "never heard of him" - besides what Hyper said in his post before this?

I've been to Jamaica & learned much from the local rastas. Here's a "bread loaf" for you: Rastafarianism is more of a social belief than a religion, if you want to get technical. Yes, Bob Marley was BOTH. He believed in being from a descendent of the King of Ethiopa & embracing his African heritage = Rastafarian. (Like we believe we are descendents of Adam/Eve - other biblical people were descendents of King David, etc).

Yes, early followers (rastafarians) at first rejected the "white man's religion" when they came & took the Africans from their homeland. However, they WERE later successfully converted to accept Christ as their Savior - as Bob Marley did.

You are strongly encouraged to read the Bible for direction - but that is NOT what will get you into the Kingdom. You have much to learn about Christianity. If you kneel & accept Christ as your Savior - you win. It's as simple as that!!

Mϋzikdϋde · Sep 23, 2004

Maybe we could all benefit from a little pre-post research...(pre - post?) Anyway,

http://www.lionofzion.com/faq/78da334a040000c70094/Bob+Marley.html

From the official Christafari website.

MarkAnthony · Sep 23, 2004

Federal officials said authorities believe donations from Islam may have helped fund Omar Abdel-Rahman, the blind cleric who was convicted for the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and Hamas, a Palestinian militant group that the U.S. and Israeli governments consider a terrorist organization.

In July 2000, Islam was deported hours after arriving in Jerusalem. A local paper reported then that the government claimed he had delivered tens of thousands of dollars to Hamas during a 1988 visit. Islam denied ever knowingly supporting terrorists.

On Wednesday, Islam's brother said the singer who changed his name after converting to Islam more than a quarter-century ago, does not associate with possible terrorists.

"It's not true," the brother and business manager, David Gordon, said. "His only work, his only mind-set, is humanitarian causes. He just wants to be an ambassador for peace."

Islam has made several trips to the United States in recent years, including one in May for a charity event and to promote a DVD of his 1976 MajiKat tour. He donated half the royalties from his most recent boxed set to the Sept. 11 Fund to help victims of the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

Islam was born Stephen Georgiou. He took Cat Stevens as a stage name and had a string of hits in the 1960s and '70s, including "Wild World," "Morning Has Broken," "Peace Train" and "Moonshadow."

He changed his name and abandoned his music career in the late 1970s after being persuaded by orthodox Muslim teachers that his lifestyle was forbidden by Islamic law. He later became a teacher and advocate for his religion. He founded a Muslim school in London in 1983.

He drew negative attention in the late 1980s when he supported the Ayatollah Khomeini's death sentence against Salman Rushdie, author of "The Satanic Verses."

His brother said Islam did not actually support the death decree, but was misunderstood.

This idiot was a free rock and roller until he flipped to Islam...... he left his music behind? Brainwashed Cat does not have nine lives. He's done.
You can't throw money at the US and expect them to forget your past.

Singer Cat Stevens not allowed in US.

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