Community Event in Salt Lake
Mayor to Meet with Members of SLC Bosnian Community
By Tracy Medley, 2-15-07
Mayor Rocky Anderson is eager to get the conversation rolling with Salt Lake City’s Bosnian community after the tragic shooting at Trolley Square Mall involving 18-year old Sulejman Talovic; a Bosnian immigrant. Mayor Anderson has scheduled a gathering at Basra restaurant on Thursday at 11:30 a.m.
The mayor is hoping to open a dialog with Salt Lake’s Bosnian community in an effort to heal wounds and address any issues that may have arisen after the event at Trolley Square on Monday.
The meeting is open to all members of the Bosnian community.
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As someone who is from the West - Idaho specifically - I am appalled at how quickly political correctness has become the theme of the day. I will always remember where I was when two jetliners were used as weapons of mass distruction resulting in the deaths of over 3000 innocent people. The fact is these planes were hijacked by facist muslim terrorists intent on death and distruction. So any time we have an act of violence by other muslims in our nation it is not an act of racial intolerance to question why they did it. The recent deaths in SLC by a muslim refugee are a case in point. His family witnessed the deaths of 8000 men and boys at the hands of serbs. We are at war with Islam even if those of the political left wish to put their head in the sand as usual. that is not racism or intolerance - just a plain cold hard fact.
Once suicide bomings became part of the military process of the terrorist. all bets are off. Muslims do not assimilate into our culture - they wish us to assimilate into theirs. Recently a family was covered here in Atlanta - they have a son whose name is Osamah different spelling but if I were he I would change it - would you want the name Adolf.
We are lucky the death toll was not greater on 9-11 or rather the death toll has only just begun. It will be years before we know how many will die due to lung diseases due to the towers collapse.
Have we forgotten. Have we forgotten. Let the Amish forgive it is there way. I hope SLC digs to be sure that this was an isolated incident and not an example of more isolated acts of terror. For affiliated or not this was cold blooded murder the act of a terrorist.
Have we forgotten 9-11. the pentagon and flight 93. I hope not for this war is far from over
I appreciate your comments. The reminder above was not intended to hamper the discussion concerning the traumatic shooting that took place at Trolley Square this week – even if that dialog leads to issues that make some uncomfortable. However, there is an enormous difference between those who wish to discuss the issue in a productive, compassionate and intelligent way and those simply spewing hate-speech.
This is not about political correctness; this is about maintaining a tone of dignity and respect for those who so recently lost their lives. This happened in our community only days ago – and we are still processing how and why this happened in our neighborhood.
This was absolutely an act of terrorism, but so far neither the police nor the FBI has found any link between Talovic and Islamic terrorism and no connection has been found whatsoever that would indicate his actions were politically motivated. Unless the facts reveal otherwise, I don’t see how pointing the finger at anyone – other than the shooter himself – will honor the victims of this tragedy.
I remember 911 just as well as you, but I also remember Dylan Klebold, Eric Harris, Kyle Huff, Charles Car Roberts, James Huberty and countless others. Sometimes people do unimaginable things without rational explanation or tidy political-religious radicalism. Sometimes people are just troubled.
I don’t know if that is in fact the case with Suljeman Talovic, but out of respect to those who died and suffered at his hand this week it would be nice to keep the discussion here at the very least, deferential for now.
Very well said. Will New West be looking into Talovic's story in depth? I'm not really getting that story anywhere else, right now, and yesterday hate radio (I was driving long distance, radio on) was filled with accusations that the "media" was not covering the story because it didn't fit a "political correctness" agenda. Absurd, yes, but a kind of challenge, too.
I'd really like to read some SLC-based New West reporting on it, rather than a fly-in from some larger newspaper.
Hal
To answer your question, yes. I was hoping to have the piece finished before the weekend, but it's been difficult - as you might imagine getting in touch with people involved. Look for something definitely within the next week or so.
Tracy
Thanks for the comments - unfortunately I am not familiar with the names you quoted. Craig brings up a good point about the Sudden Jihad Sydrome fellow in North Carolina. We should also not forget the gentleman whoshot up the LAX El AL ticket counter in 2002 before he was shot and killed by EL AL security. He killed two women in that attack. Israel called it terrorism then, We in America have become too Politicallly Correct. War is War whether it is general conflict by armies or isolated attacks like the ones discribed above, I suppose the poor lad was suffering from Sudden jihad Syndrome when he walked into that Mall and opened fire.
What will they think of next to excuse random acts of terror on Americans or other civilians. I suppose you could say he and the refugees are troubled after the slaughter that took place in the war in Bosnia. But I think looking into the mosques he attended and personal papers or diaries would reveal alot.
Sorry Tracey but we can no longer afford to sit back and wait for the next time. As a westerner respect is well but after the dead have been buried its best to make sure no other Jihadist reside in the Bosnian or any other muslim community in our nation. Thats not being a racist that's just stating a cold hard fact.
Why isn't the same delicate presentation of faith, as demonstrated here in Tracey's censorship threat, accorded to Mitt Romney? Why doesn't the press jump to point out that he is a hero for saving people from drowning? Why don't they jump to point out his successful governship in MA? Why don't they jump to point out his business acumen? The hypocrisy is striking to me to make faith an issue in a political smear but avoided when people are killed, maimed and injured in either premeditated or spontaneous jihad as occured in North Carolina and Seattle. Salt Lake is still TBD but the incident shares a common factor.
Dave - Authorities have gone through his personal paper and have looked into the mosque he attended "ever once in a while." So far nothing has been found that would indicate any connection whatsoever with Islamo-terrorism.
All signs so far would suggest that Talovic's actions much more closely resemble those of other "random shooting" mass murderers such as Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold who were the perpetrators in the Columbine shooting.
If authorities determine otherwise in the future - It will be reported here.
Tracy
The articles and discussions that focused in on his faith were never threatened with censorship as was entertained here. They invited the bigotry that you rightly condemn when there is NO demonstrated causal connection of unacceptable behaviour to the factor questioned.