The Washington Post noticed that the Trump Organization does not do business in any of the countries on his travel ban list.

It also does not include any of the countries where the 9/11 terrorists came from (e.g., Saudi Arabia).

Categories Education Reform

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Rudy Schellekens says:

January 29, 2017 at 12:07 am

They are, however, countries where active terrorists come from. Note that the worlds largest Muslim country is not on the list.

As an imam said during an interview on NPR, not all Muslims are terrorists, but too many terrorists are Muslim.

As far as Saudi Arabia is concerned, how many terrorists from there have been active over the last 15 years?

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- dianeravitch says:
  
  January 29, 2017 at 1:01 am
  
  Rudy,
  
  The two most recent terrorist attacks were carried out by native-born Americans: in San Bernardino, CA, and in Orlando, Florida.
  
  How does banning everyone from 7 countries stop terrorism? People with green cards, who had been vetted, were turned back. Scholars working at American universities were turned back. An Iraqi advisor to the 101st Airborne was rejected. Christian Syrians were sent back. Way to go with stupid policies that will inflame terrorism around the world.
  
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  - Rudy Schellekens says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 1:14 am
    
    I would like to see that list. I would like to see that there were indeed people RETURNING and were refused. Or green card carriers.
    
    Having been an official card carrier, i KNOW you don’t get those outside the country. And that you don’t get one until you’ve been checked out – thoroughly.
    
    Also, green card carriers don’t get their cards revoked unless there is cause – criminal.
    
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  - dianeravitch says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 8:51 am
    
    Read the newspaper. I won’t do your research for you.
    
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  - Joel Herman (@jwherman11) says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 10:16 am
    
    dianeravitch
    
    Orlando was not a terrorist attack . It was a mass shooting by a person of Muslim decent. The truck attack in Nice can also be classified in similar terms as an attack by a severely mentally ill individual (on several psychotropic drugs) of Muslim decent. Both individuals adopted an ideology days or weeks after they decided to commit suicide by cop.
    
    If Orlando is taken off of the list, not only have more Americans been killed by right wing hate groups . Most Americans stand a better chance of getting hit by lighting on a sunny
    day than being injured in a terrorist attack.
    
    The top issue for South Carolina Republicans was terrorism . If they have have finally added fluoride to their water supply, its time for Prozac
    
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  - dianeravitch says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 10:26 am
    
    Orlando was a terrorist act because Omar Mateen pledged allegiance to ISIS, as did the shooter in San Bernardino
    
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  - Joel Herman (@jwherman11) says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 10:21 am
    
    Lightning
    
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  - Joel Herman (@jwherman11) says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 12:10 pm
    
    Beg to disagree
    
    If a White Nationalist declared his allegiance to the United States and attacked either domestically or abroad , would that make his attack a US inspired inspired terrorist attack. Additionally if Obama had been President would that make Obama therefore ultimately responsible for his actions. The fact that ISIS welcomes such attacks is irrelevant. I am sure they welcomed the Florida airport attack as well. An east coast Tsunami would also be welcomed.
    
    .Mateen was gay that does not fit very well with being Muslim no less being a believer in ISIS, who would have roasted him slowly over an open fire. He supported Hezbollah and ISIS to organizations terrorist organizations that would fight it out till the last man standing and then some. Essentially both sides of the conflict.
    
    There is no evidence of any internet activity or attendance in any religious institutions radical or not. None prior till after he has a one night gay encounter at the nightclub with an aids infected individual who does not tell him he is infected . Terrorism by definition is meant to convey terror for political ends. This was mental illness, not terror. Pledging allegiance to ISIS was designed to put meaning to his useless life, he was about to end. To him it was far preferable to dealing with his homosexuality and the sentence he was about to receive. Having nothing to do with political objectives. No more so than a Tsunami would.
    
    “Terrorism , The unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims” : Oxford
    
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  - GregB says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 12:52 pm
    
    I’m with Joel on this one. Mateen was a troubled man with many pathologies, none of which had to do with perverted view of religion. I equate his last minute pledge to ISIL with one who has led a destructive life and claims Jesus’s forgiveness to be “born again” near the end. That person who is “saved” at the last minute is no more a Christian than Mateen was a Islamic terrorist.
    
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- jcgrim says:
  
  January 29, 2017 at 6:33 am
  
  No, US citizens are the perpetrators of the most serious terrorist attacks.
  
  Trump Has No Businesses in Countries Affected by Travel Ban
  
  Neo-nazies (Steve Bannon) and KKK (Stephen MIller) are setting US immigration policy.
  Tonight hundreds of immigrants, refugees and green card holders (i.e., legal residents) are detained in US airports as hundreds and/or thousands fill the terminals to protest the Muslim immigration ban.
  Among thousands of protesters in San Francisco was Sergey Brin, founder of Google (and an immigrant).
  
  While the reporters don’t emphasize it, I noticed that the advisors driving the moreoutrageous details of the immigration policy were Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller (a former aide to Jeff Sessions, our new DoJ head-in-waiting).
  
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Catherine Blanche King says:

January 29, 2017 at 12:18 am

And Trump does have businesses in the countries that he didn’t ban? I do hope that group who are building a lawsuit around the emoluments clause in the Constitution are keeping track.

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Susan Lee Schwartz says:

January 29, 2017 at 12:20 am

Aggggh! I want to see his tax returns! The American public wants to see it.

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- ciedie aech says:
  
  January 29, 2017 at 1:07 pm
  
  This could come down to that very demand: if he is banning citizens from this country, but not that one….
  
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Jon Awbrey says:

January 29, 2017 at 12:42 am

Trump has no business in the White House … and yet he’s there … for now …

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- Rudy Schellekens says:
  
  January 29, 2017 at 12:50 am
  
  As of December 19, 2016 trump officially became the president elect. As of January 20, 2017 he officially became president. So yes, he does belong in the White House, whether or not we like that.
  Between now and 2018 we have time to change part of the balance of power.
  Today’s reality is: trump is president.
  
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  - Joel Herman (@jwherman11) says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 10:32 am
    
    That could be short lived, those pictures with the Russian FSS/KGB
    hookers may be coming sooner than you think. The CIA is by no means the only State security service. The Russians are not the only ones in the computer hacking game. Go ahead Von Clownstick
    Keep alienating other nations . Entertainers like him and SONY pictures are amateurs.
    
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- dianeravitch says:
  
  January 29, 2017 at 12:59 am
  
  He is destabilizing the nation. We will relive the 1960s. He will soon destabilize the western alliance and the world.
  
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  - Abigail Shure says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 5:31 am
    
    Using social media, protesters are able to mobilize more quickly than in the 1960’s.
    
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  - Catherine Blanche King says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 9:26 am
    
    Diane says: “He is destabilizing the nation. . . . He will soon destabilize the western alliance and the world.”
    
    If we are to understand Bannon and insofar as Bannon and the others who think like he does influence Trump, the trend to “destabilize the nation and the world” is not an untended blow-back of Trumpian ignorance and ineptitude. Rather, it’s exactly what they want to do.
    
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  - dianeravitch says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 9:40 am
    
    Yes, Bannon said he wants to blow everything up.
    
    He is off to a good start
    
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  - Catherine Blanche King says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 10:09 am
    
    Diane: yes, if, as you say, Bannon wants to blow everything up, he’s “off to a good start.”
    
    If that’s not an enemy within (domestic), what is?
    
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concerned citizen says:

January 29, 2017 at 1:29 am

US government’s cozy relationship with Saudis, UAE etc. is longstanding policy, unrelated to Trump’s personal business interests.

In fact, the list of banned countries was created by the Obama administration: https://mic.com/articles/166845/the-list-of-muslim-countries-trump-wants-to-ban-was-compiled-by-the-obama-administration#.vtrRA8Prp

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- Abigail Shure says:
  
  January 29, 2017 at 5:36 am
  
  Great link concerned!
  
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Deborah B. says:

January 29, 2017 at 9:32 am

I tweeted these out January 27th; if anyone wants to retweet, please do!

Forgotten 9/11? 15/19 attackers from Saudi Arabia; ringleader Egypt; other 3 Leb + UAE, not on DT's list. https://t.co/OabEKOcc4l

— DNAUpstander (@DnaUpstander) January 27, 2017

.@MSNBC .@FaceTheNation Forgot 9/11? 15/19 attackers from Saudi Arabia; ringleader Egypt; remaining 3 Leb + UAE; none on DT's ban list.

— DNAUpstander (@DnaUpstander) January 27, 2017

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Gordon Wilder says:

January 29, 2017 at 11:58 am

To my sorrow I have found that people will believe what they choose to believe despsite factual information. Trump said something to the effect that he could shoot someone and it would make no difference to his followers.
Sadly, I believe him.
People wanted change. They sure got it.
My fear is that the change includes authoritarianism
and
post-truth supplants real truth.
How does one fight bigotry, the belief that “those people” – ala Archie Bunker mentality how back authoritarianism, ]fascism if you prefer the term].
Following is my recent posting on facebook if anyone is interested.
………………………………………………………..

A nation divided against itself cannot stand.
“The Divided States of America”.
We disregard this at our peril. So let me try to expound on my recent thoughts a bit. Maybe it will make some sense to at least some of you.
Do we choose to live together in peace and harmony or tear ourselves apart in divisiveness? Do we see others as fellow human beings likewise created by God or as just members of some religion, ethnicity etc and thus we can denigrate, demonize “those people” who are different from us? “Those people” are less than us, WE are superior beings. Those who wish to divide and conquer await our answer.
Who are we, what do we stand for as individuals or as a nation? Some have suggested that this is a Christian nation. If so the bible they read must be different from mine. Do we really believe that love is stronger than hate? That he who takes up the sword shall perish … That we should do unto others…? That we should chase out the money changers and not worship the golden calf – monetary gain? That we should first seek the kingdom of righteousness? That we are our brother’s keeper? That we care for the poor, the helpless etc? [ Oxfam says that the top 1% will soon have as much money as the rest of us put together. Important?] That the despised “Samaritan” – Muslim, ethnic group etc – is our neighbor to be treated with respect? Those knowing the bible better than I could list much more.
When Rumi the great mystic Sufi poet died his funeral was attended by people from every religious persuasion and ethnicity. Would that that would be true of us all.
I was told when teaching high school choir I did too much religious music, caught a great deal of flack because of that. Yet when my former students got together they on their own sought to relive that candlelight procession we did in Monbeck auditorium. Many have told me what a great experience the “Christmas” concert was for them, some bursting into tears. Some remembered great Jewish music we did in other concerts. I have said that when we put aside our own belief systems and seek out the best, the BEST in that which other belief systems have and join together to create beauty we ourselves are enriched by these by becoming for at least a few moments deeply involved in these other cultures. That is why we “travel”. That is MY belief.
When we indulge in negative aspects, anger, hatred et al we ourselves are harmed physically and emotionally. That happens as a nation also.
In contrast when we, individually and as a nation project love and compassion it is my strong belief that USUALLY those kinds of things are projected back to us. When we project fear and hostility those aspects too are projected back and conditions are exacerbated that are deeply harmful – to everyone. This does NOT mean we should not be on our guard, protect ourselves against all who would harm us, domestic or foreign. But how many people are killed by guns in the U. S. every day by our own citizens vs how many have been killed by foreign “terrorists” in the last several years?
We spend as much on our military as the next 7 countries combined including Russia and China. We are asked to pay more. We have enough nuclear armaments to decimate every man, woman and child in the world many times over. We are asked to add more to the trillion dollars already allocated to update them and then build even more.
Meanwhile about 20% or our children live in poverty. Our nation cannot afford health care for all as does every other industrialized nation which provides better care for a fraction of our cost. Our infrastructure crumbles. Ad nauseum. Priorities?
```
On my recent posting as well as past postings people immediately ASSUMED that what was put on the page was antithetical to their views and arguments were made which had nothing to do with what was posted.  Do we really listen to what others say?  
It is disheartening.  I seriously doubt if many, likely no one, ever looked up the things I posted.  On the continuum we all follow in search of ultimate truth, wisdom, they already knew, had made up their minds as to where they were on that continuum and that further exploration of a possible enrichment of thought was not possible. 
In the past two people I consider very good friends and myself were having coffee together.  They had completely different political views.  Something was said and I interjected a view and one friend said to be careful.  I said why.  Good friends should be able to discuss differences amicably.  If we did so perhaps both of us could learn something.  This is the kind of thing I am advocating.  Of course we have disparate views.  We put our faith in what we believe is true in different places.  Some believe the bible contains all truth, some the Koran, some only in science. Etc.  Perhaps in all are some basic truths which in at least a limited parameter of understanding are truths.  Those believing in the flat earth society, utilizing Euclidean geometry; it works for the person utilizing limited space.  For the astronaut it is disastrous.  Enlarging perspectives is, I believe, imperative in the search for truth and wisdom.  Knowledge without the wisdom to use it can be catastrophic.  
Yes, I do have definite views but have made it a point to try to find intelligent discourse on the several sides of political discourse.  I believe I have written more letters to President Obama objecting to some of his policies than all my very conservative friends put together.
Thus my fears for the division which enfolds our country now.  We can or should be able to disagree without being disagreeable.
In all honesty I find, from my viewpoint, that there is a humongous danger when any person promotes him/her self as the possessor of all knowledge, who knows more than than the experts, that disputes the findings of scholarly research, who utilizes “alternative facts” and is the only person who can “save” us.  This is especially intolerable to me when that person tries to suppress any ideas that are antithetical to his/her own and/or makes up their own “facts”.
This may or may not be of interest to anyone nor satisfy you but as I said I will continue to try to educate as long as I am able.  Many will disagree with me.  That is fine.  As I told Colleen I am glad that people have the courage to differ with me and  to expound on their beliefs.  What I ask is that be very careful.  There are many “wolves in sheep's clothing” who are very clever.  Democracy when once lost is very difficult to get back.  I for one do not wish to live in a police state no matter who is president.
So, where do we go from here?  What do we choose as the best path to follow?  Do we love our neighbors as ourselves?  Do we spread the hand of friendship to others,  nations and individuals and as Pope Francis wished build bridges or do we build walls separating us from “those people”.
Do we admire and follow those who spread dissension, fear etc?  Are we a beacon of light for human values or do, should we practice what we preach?
There is so much more and others say it much better than I but my concern is deep and real.  I shall continue to do my best to create an enrichment of ideas.
```
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Lloyd Lofthouse says:

January 29, 2017 at 12:32 pm

To get off that list, a clear message to those 7 countries that they better start doing business with Trump and/or his sons/daughter.

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- Catherine Blanche King says:
  
  January 29, 2017 at 12:37 pm
  
  Lloyd Lofthouse: Oh, that’s so terribly sad . . . but probably true.
  
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Norwegian Filmmaker says:

January 29, 2017 at 2:28 pm

Saudi Arabia is among one of the most offensive when it comes to civil and basic human rights. Just look at their penal system and thier treatment of women. Let’s please not forget that.

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- Abigail Shure says:
  
  January 29, 2017 at 3:44 pm
  
  NF,
  
  Saudi Arabia has lots of oil.
  
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- Rudy Schellekens says:
  
  January 29, 2017 at 3:53 pm
  
  The Saudi Arabian people are looking at the western world as decadent, without morals. Why should we not respond with changes in our society and adopt their rules?
  What makes the west so high and mighty that all the rest of the world should be like “us?”
  
  Something tells me that you don’t have over SEVEN HUNDRED murder victims in Riyadh in a year like you have in Chicago. Or almost a MILLION abortions for reasons other than health, rape or incest.
  
  Customs and habits outside the western world are not ours to condemn or force to change.
  
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  - dianeravitch says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 4:00 pm
    
    Rudy,
    
    You are so right about Saudi Arabia as an example for us! Why do we let women drive? We don’t we decapitate people in public or cut off their hands? That would surely reduce the crime rate? Why don’t we ban other religions? Because we are America and not a theocracy?
    
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  - Rudy Schellekens says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 4:05 pm
    
    What gives YOU the right to condemn their culture, and what gives YOU the right condemn them to have ideas about the western world?
    
    And btw, I’m not about to touch the women driving thing with a ten foot pole…
    
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  - dianeravitch says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 4:11 pm
    
    Rudy,
    
    As an American, I am protected by the First Amendment. I condemn any culture that treats women as second-class citizens and that discriminates against Jews, Christians, and gays.
    
    If you don’t like it, tough.
    
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  - Rudy Schellekens says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 4:18 pm
    
    And as an American, last I read the constitution, you are not God, so at least have the decency not to judge others by YOUR standards.
    
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  - dianeravitch says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 4:48 pm
    
    Not God? Now, that’s a shocker.
    
    Rudy, we are all free to make judgments, as you do 25 times a day on this blog.
    
    Just as Saudis may judge me and find me wanting (they have their moral code), I judge them as well. As a woman and a Jew, I would not be welcome in their country, yet you want me not to have a judgment.
    
    Get over it, Rudy. This is America. We are entitled to our views, but not our facts.
    
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  - Rudy Schellekens says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 6:47 pm
    
    As are Saudi citizens. They don’t need to become “like us.”
    
    Apart from that I don’t recall ever judging or condemning anyone for views held.
    
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  - dianeravitch says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 7:01 pm
    
    Whoever suggested that Saudis should become “like us”? That’s your straw man, Rudy.
    
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  - Catherine Blanche King says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 7:25 pm
    
    Rudy: You said “agreed” to my post, but cannot agree AND hold your later viewpoints with others here, and be consistent at the same time. So I take it that you either didn’t read my post thoroughly, or you are deliberately inconsistent in the positions you take. No matter. I’m done.
    
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  - Catherine Blanche King says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 5:07 pm
    
    Rudy–.. . . sigh . .
    
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  - Catherine Blanche King says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 4:26 pm
    
    Rudy: The point is, they and we have to live in the world with others. And THAT carries with it the need for change on many, not all grounds–and it’s why a secular state,with basic freedoms, especially 1st amendment freedoms, if not a democracy, is the only way to maintain a dynamic peace.
    
    Of course, there’s North Korea whose leaders don’t want to live with others in the world–but to conquer them. It’s basically BCE tribal thinking. The major difference between North Korea and the thinking in many Middle-Eastern cultures is only the difference between political and religious ideological domination–it’s all domination regardless. But with today’s technology, such thinking cannot stand unchallenged.
    
    On the other hand, putting forth the “idea” (not ideology) of self-government can hardly be called a quest for domination, I say the above even though the rise of capitalism as a quasi-political foundation and mentality spreading around the globe can be understood as another form of tribalization and, wrongly applied, is anathema to anything that looks like “self-government.”
    
    Also, some “others” condemn the west and some of its practices, and guess what–they would be right in some regards and instances. But that doesn’t mean the whole idea of western culture is “evil” or wrong.
    
    Humans can screw up anything good. And living in freedom is not for sissies.
    
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  - Rudy Schellekens says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 4:32 pm
    
    Agreed…
    
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  - Abigail Shure says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 4:43 pm
    
    Rudy,
    
    I am in need of a driver. Are you available?
    
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  - Rudy Schellekens says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 4:45 pm
    
    As I said: not about to touch the women driving with a ten foot pole. I have six sisters….
    
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  - dianeravitch says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 4:46 pm
    
    Your six sisters should hit you with that ten-foot pole.
    
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  - Rudy Schellekens says:
    
    January 29, 2017 at 6:36 pm
    
    Because…? They respect the fact that with 7 siblings for each of us it is okay to have a different point of view on things.
    We don’t use words like stupid, ignorant and worse for those who reach different conclusions.
    
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