Still, the collapse was something Somalis never expected to witness in their new homeland. And it has some wondering if the American government has misplaced its priorities by ignoring a decaying national infrastructure in favor of its costly foreign policy.

"Instead of building bridges, they spent more on invading countries," said Abbi Osman, a young Somali who came to Minnesota four years ago and was watching buddies play dominoes Tuesday in a Somali coffee shop. "They are investing in the wrong places."

The collapse too adds to uneasy feelings among Somalis who say they have felt a federal backlash since Sept. 11, 2001 not only because of their Muslim faith but also because Somalia has been accused of harboring terrorists associated with Osama bin Laden. The bridge collapse has added jitters for Somalis who in recent years regrouped and rallied around one another.

Sometimes looking for the new "angle" makes reporters just plain stupid.

They appear to have completely internalized the muslim reflexes: everything outside of islam is an insult to muslims.

Or another angle: America is muslim land (no less an authority than Foggy Bottom sez so), so the failure to keep it in muslim-pleasing condition is an insult to muslims.

Wow, it hit Somalis particularly hard, AND it was Bush's fault!

And it has some wondering if the American government has misplaced its priorities by ignoring a decaying national infrastructure in favor of its costly foreign policy.

If only we hadn't invaded Iraq, we'd have enough money for education (because money=good education), health care, better roads, free ice cream...

Speaking as a representative for all immigrants to America, I demand my gold-paved sidewalks and a sausage collar for my dog.

In their culture, it's important for someone to be regarded as either dead or alive.

Wow, we have so much in common.
You know how we get all bothered when we don't know if someone is dead or alive?
We are practically twins with muslims there!

In their culture, it's important for someone to be regarded as either dead or alive.

Yeah, that's such a cultural thing.

In their culture, it's important for someone to be regarded as either dead or alive.

That's discriminatory. Equal rights for dead people! The living have been oppressing the dead for too long. Time to hold Million Dead Man March to demand respect for corpses, ghosts, zombies, and other life-impaired Americans.

life-impaired Americans.

LMAO!!

G.K Chesterton:

Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to that arrogant oligarchy who merely happen to be walking around.

In their culture, it's important for someone to be regarded as either dead or alive.

I wonder what they think of Schroedinger's cat?

In their culture, it's important for someone to be regarded as either dead or alive.

In Somali, there are over 200 words for "closure."

LOL!!

Reminds me of a show where an earnest Japanese person was explaining that the unique nature of some cultural practice or other was the result of the fact that "Japanese society was originally based on farming".

Yes, as opposed to all those other societies which were originally based on replicators, like on Star Trek.

In English, there are over 200 words for "Duh".

Somalis who in recent years regrouped and rallied around one another.

Er, not in their homeland, that's for sure.

fu somolias'
You shouldn't be here in the first place!! You hate us, ??? Got news for you....we hate you even worse. If life is sooo bad here, go back to your own stupid worthless ass country and make us Americans very very happy. We would never intentionally have a bridge that would jeopardize our people. We love OUR people, you are not OUR people. The somolia woman and her two children that perished.....oh bummer. Three less that will be milking our Welfare system. We will still defend our Country, bomb the shit out of people like you, and whatever else it takes. You should have NO rights here, yet you bitch about the ones you and I have. I don't bitch!!! I love where I live and who I am...an AMERICAN. All you people have some nerve coming to OUR Country and then bitching,.... a right that you didn't even have in your own country. You, you sorry son of bitch, will never be wanted anywhere in the world, hell, you even left your own sorry ass country, because they don't want their own!! Just kill yourself please. You have nothing to offer our Country.

I think Spiny's summary is more to the point.

No doubt. Then again, Spiny is not a frothing-at-the-mouth lunatic.