If Muhammadism isn't the religion of peace, then why did the man who sang "Peace Train" convert to Islam?

Cat Stevens became a Muslim and changed his name to Yusuf Islam, and now he's on one of those government watch lists. As he was taking a transatlantic fight to the United States, the Brit's plane was diverted to Maine. Stevens was taken off the flight, and sent back to England. Apparently, our government deems him a security risk. I understand the general tendency to not want someone named Yusuf flying on your plane (or becoming your cell mate, for that matter), but c'mon folks--this is Cat Stevens. "Father and Son" is one of the greatest songs ever. What terroristic threat does he represent? Perhaps place him on a weirdo watch list along with Phil Spector, Michael Jackson, and one of those dudes from Peter, Paul, and Mary, but Cat Stevens doesn't belong on a terrorist watch list. Then again, maybe there's something we all don't know about him.

"Father and Son" is one of the greatest songs ever....Dude I hope you were drunk when you wrote that. Auc

Yeah...I think Dan must have forgotten to use that "sarcasm" font.

Cat Stevens has been engaged in ear terrorism for decades.

I happen to like "Father & Son." Also, every Easter Morning we sing Cat's arrangement of "Morning Has Broken," perhaps one of the most universal songs in Christendom.

Now then, I haven't forgotten what Yusef said about Salmon Rushdie a few years ago, and I am sure the gov't hasn't either.

Also, I am sure the TSA would rather have done what they did with him than strip search Bea Arthur. (I need a sarcasm font here too.)

Be well,

Sponge

Auc hilarious and true! Flynny come on man! These are the type of people who should be kept from entering our country. Anyone who submerges themselves so deeply into a religion and changes their name should be an automatic red flag in this day in age. We have people in Iraq getting their heads cut off because the freaks think Ala tells them it is just to kill the infidel. Whether or not Stevens has such beliefs or ties to terrorism should obviously be a deterant to anyone in charge of keeping our country safe. I appaud them and hope that this will continue often!! Its about time we batten down the hatches and make it difficult for anyones enterance into the U.S. It's been a long time comin!!

Cat Stevens has indeed been involved in terrorism for years. First on the airwaves and now on my eyesight ( have you seen the dude lately... the 60's are over...the 1560's). Look Dan all of us at Flynnfiles are going to pretend that you didn't just say Cat Stevens was great and pretend that those comments were due to lack of sleep. Next thing you know you are going to say that Morrisey is not gay. Jeeesh.

Stephens is a financial and moral supporter of Hamas.

Taste in music is one of the most subjective things on the planet. As much as what kind of food a person likes. Depends entirely on the person.

So, although I was (and am, I guess) a huge Cats Stevens fan, I respect anybody’s right to think his music is better or worse than it may be.

Regardless of who he was, the old Cats adopted the religion of peace and transformed himself into a devote Muslim. And although ‘Mr. Peace Train’ may have the most honorable and noble intentions, it may also be true that he doesn’t. So, why take the chance?

Whatever the reasons he ended up on a watch list, I’m sure that by degree they are good ones.

I’d rather have a careful pilot and a responsible carrier operating on my behalf than to take the chance that something could go horribly wrong.

There’s certainly not accounting for human nature so I see this as a good thing.

Anyone who looks like the individual in EITHER picture posted by Dan should be on the watch list.

He has been known to have given money to organizations with terrorist ties. That is why he will be deported!

Didn't Cat Stevens right that really nice song used on the movie Rushmore's soundtrack? I can't recall the title but I really dig that song.

The real question is why would anyone who went by such a cool moniker as "Cat Stevens" ever want to change his name? That alone makes him suspicious in my book. Same with Muhammad Ali since Cassius Clay was such a great name.

Anyone see the HBO special last year, where the guy gave his 12yr old and 18yr old kids XTC? He equated his ability as a drug dealer to his Dads abilities as a preacher. 'My dad helps people and I help people get high! Were so much alike!' They kept playing "Father and Son" in the background, then he'd start crying. It was great! What a friggin loser. Plus they were from Sacramento, which is pretty pathetic in itself:)

AUC. THAT MAN NOW WORKS AT FIDELITY HOUSE DRIVING KIDS DOWN TO THE MANNOR. HE ALSO WORKS AT THE BOWLADROME AND BUYS FOR KIDS AT GILES. THAT MANS NAME IS JOHN GUANCI.

10-4 good budy! "The bus is leaving for the mannor." Wasnt it clever how the called the projects the "mannor."

Anyone who changes his name to "Yusuf Islam" is asking for trouble. If Cat Stevens does have ties to terrorist groups, he should be stripped of his citizenship and banned from ever re-entering the U.S. Let him live out in the desert with the rest of those idiots.

I think that the concern with Cat Stevens is his fundraising activities. He was kicked out of Israel last year for raisiing funds for Hamas. I think the government would prefer he didn't do the same thing in America, which is probably why he was denied entry.

"Anyone who looks like the individual in EITHER picture posted by Dan should be on the watch list."

Grimmy- I knew I time where you looked a lot like that first pic. of Stevens ;o)

Wasn't Stevens a Christian for a short time...that so sad. I guess he couldnt resist the 100 virgins promised by the AliBabba-bigomist.

I should have been on that list. I admit it.

They should ties Cat Stevens to a chair, shave his ratty beard and force feed him pork rinds.

I remember reading a quote from him in an old Stereo Review mag. It was something like "Americans are so bloodthirsty that one day they'll go to Carnegie hall to see the President get shot." I think he was making a point about violence in the US entertainment industry. Anyhow, Cat Stevens always had an edge to him, which is what made his music more compelling than most.

What's so extrordinary about supporting Hamas. Almost all Arabs do. Every American is forced to support the Isarali government via taxation, which hasn't exactly been all lollipops & rainbows for the Palestinian people.

Israel's fight is our fight.

Hey DB, you did it again. Can't control the swearing eh? They can track your IP address so it doesn't matter what moniker you post under.

Man, if you accurately represent the lib dems, your philosophies and party are in deep trouble.

He does and it is.

who'z DB?
btw... oooh... track my ip, mofo'z, make my day. wtf are they gonna do? block my ip? i got 10,000 ip's i can use. complain to my isp? like my isp gives a shiet.

The dude dresses like an immigrant grocer by choice. What's up with that? He's got some preverse attraction to wearing old bedsheets and pillow cases. I dig religion but don't front by dressing like a pip from the 1st century. He's sandals must reek....damn.

"Anyone who submerges themselves so deeply into a religion and changes their name should be an automatic red flag in this day in age."

Hmmm.. That story sounds framiliar.. Submerges themselves in religion and changes their name.. Oh! I know! The Pope! Silly me. Of course that sort of judgement should only be passed on people we don't understand and who's skin color and religion are differant then ours. We don't 'red flag' our own! Good thing, too. I was worried we'd let one of those bastards slip by.

All of you should take a good long look at your selves. First of all Mr Cat has done alot of good in his life I won't go into what good because if you were all fit for judging you'd know what or who you were judging. Second....
Have you all forgotten who use to give your good president cash and who was it again that gave guns to these monkeys and then trained them how to use them...Smell the roses.