27-Sep-04

Letter to the Editor,

Recently, Yusuf Islam, formerly Cat Stevens, was denied entry to the U.S. In response, morning radio hosts and late night comedians ridiculed this action, and the tone of the mass media was no better. This type of reaction is both ignorant and irresponsible and only serves to undermine the credibility of our security efforts by being flippant.

Let’s look at the facts. Israel has connected him with funding terrorists including money to Hamas. He has given to many charities and some of these are linked to terrorist organizations. Yusuf Islam supported the Fatwah against Salman Rushdie. Regarding the latter, he explained that he was only trying to describe what the religion of Islam dictates. Are we supposed to ignore that this is the religion he adheres to?

And now the media is critical of our intelligence agency’s efforts to protect us and expect that they should give someone a free pass just because he was once a well know singer. God help us if Osama bin Laden ever picks up a guitar!

It is very easy to find humor in the fact that a former folk singer might have connections to terrorism, but how is that different from any other profession? One could just as easily declare “what does America have to fear from a plumber? Or a common store keeper?” It only stands to reason that terrorists are likely to have day jobs when they aren’t plotting to kill us.

Yes, Cat Stevens once sang “Peace Train.” He doesn’t sing it anymore. The media and the general public are evaluating a man based on the person he used to be, but has long since renounced. I’m thankful that the CIA has more common sense and evaluates him based on the harm he might do as the man he is now.

Eric J. Lakits

I encourage readers to consider the man's own statement (click here) on the Salman Rushdie affair, which is instructive. An article on the New York Times website provides more information on YI/CS's comments on Rushdie.

Also worth a look: related writings at michellemalkin.com. and debbieschlussel.com.