Boko Haram, Boca Raton very different

Frank Cerabino

There’s the Boko Haram group and then there’s the Boca Raton group.

One is a feared collective known for its excess, and the other is Boko Haram, an Islamic militia group operating mostly in northern Nigeria.

This week, Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar spoke on CNN about the downside to Read Frank Cerabino’s past columns at mypalmbeachpost. paying ransoms for those kidnapped by terrorists.

“Here’s the problem. Once you start doing that, then everybody, every American citizen traveling abroad becomes a subject in regard for kidnapping,” Gosar said, “and then the plight of how much money has been captivated in the Boca Raton group.”

He meant to say Boko Haram. But Boca Raton came out.

And it was never corrected

on the air.

This, I believe, deserves some attention.

As a borderline-respectable member of the “Boca Raton group” here in Palm Beach County, I will admit that Gosar was partly right.

Much “money has been captivated” in Boca Raton — whatever that means.

But I think it would be sloppy thinking to just use the words “Boko Haram” and “Boca Raton” interchangeably.

There are some key differences.

The people of Boko Haram are Sunnis. The people of Boca Raton are Sunnies — ones, who for the most part, ended up where they are by fleeing colder weather.

Boko Haram are followers of an extreme Islamic ideology called Wahhabism. The people of Boca Raton tend to put an extreme focus on following openings of new sushi restaurants, an ideology known as Wasabism.

The refugees from Boko Haram end up in makeshift camps in Cameroon. The refugees of Boca Raton end up on four-day Caribbean cruises.

Boko Haram women are covered. Boca Raton women are covered by prenuptial agreements.

Boko Haram practices Sharia law. Boca Raton assumes he’s got a brother-in-law who knows somebody in Sharia’s law firm.

Boko Haram subjects people to the indignities of long abductions. Boca Raton subjects people to the indignities of long gas lines at Costco.

The Boca Raton people don’t snatch school girls off the street. The mall does.

Boko Haram means “Western Education is Forbidden.” Boca Raton moms are OK with the education; they just don’t like the standardized tests.

The Nigerian military has been unable to stop the spread of Boko Haram, which keeps expanding its territory and influence in the region. Palm Beach County growth management has been unable to contain Boca Raton, which now extends practically to the Everglades.

The expansion has created problems. The United Nations Security Council called for regional African countries to make a coordinated military effort to stop Boko Haram. West Boca Raton wants to break away from Boca Raton.

Boko Haram lacks Boca Raton’s appreciation for valet parking, felonious financial manipulations and breast augmentation surgery.

Boca Raton lacks Boko Haram’s appreciation for kidnapping, rape and murder.

Subtle differences, yes. But differences nonetheless.

So in the future, Gosar and other members of Congress should not give the American people the idea that the “Boca Raton group” is accepting ransoms.

We’ve got enough white-collar crime in Boca without tapping into a whole source of shady capital.