Feb 03 2006
Hold Up Michelle
UPDATE III:
This is at the top since I doubt I will have more to say on this today. When I look at the pictures up at Michelle’s site and Powerline of Muslims calling for the beheading of those who insult Islam, what I see is Bin Laden’s EU army. I see pictures of the next Zaraqawi, the next Atta, the next Zawahiri. I see Al Qaeda taunting the West.
What I do not see is President Karzai of Afghanistan, who legitimately voiced his dislike of the cartoons. I do not see Hosni Mubarak, President of Egypt in those pictures – who also was not happy with them. These two critical allies voiced their disgust with the cartoons.
I do not see the Emir of Kuwait who risked all to host our troops prior to invasion of Iraq. I do not see Iragis with purple stained fingers. I do not see President Musharref. I do not see King Abdullah. I did not see the leaders of Turkey.
What worries me is, if we are not careful and precise about how we react to the deliberate PR campaign of these Al Qaeda storm troopers carrying the signs, we may end up seeing these allies in these pictures some day. And all because we couldn’t summon the compassion to agree some of these cartoons are offensive?
If we would die protecting this country from harm, how come we can’t listen to our allies who have ALSO risked death to protect this country and simply admit these are offensive. Not to us – but to them?
Are we going to attack the Bush administration next?
END UPDATE
I really admire Michelle Malkin. She has graced this site with many an appreciated link. And I know she puts up with a lot of garbage from the leftward fever swamps.
Which is why it pains me to say how disappointed I am with her latest post. From my small little niche in the blogosphere I have tried to alert folks to the fact that we need to be setting an example to the moderate Muslims how to deal with ugly free speech. The best way is to dismiss hate speech and marginalize it. Not one of the best ways is to get in an escalating yelling match:
No, you go to hell.
The calls for death to those who insult Islam is a PR taunt meant to get the West riled and chase the moderate Muslims towards the radicals. We all agree free speech is not always pleasant. And to voice outrage at outrageous cartoons is proper, while threats and acts of violence are not to be tolerated.
I fear we are seeing the start of the global war we have been trying to avoid for 5 years now. And it will be over some damn stupid cartoons.
I am not alone in this view – we just seem to be the minority trying to keep cool and focused, and not give into anger.
UPDATE:
More than two now. Mark, want to start another Coalition?
UPDATE II:
I am getting some wild comments here – because some think I am defending the violence and intolerance found in radical Muslim orthodoxy. Just the opposite. We in the West need to retain self control and not give into emotional outburts when the radical in Islam provoke them on their side. Our job is to show how freedom works, not how intimidation works.
I do have one question though. Why is it this episode is being flamed by two elements in society so opposed to the Bush administrations efforts to spread democracy and freedom? We have the over the top outrage of the radical Islamists, but we also have the in-your-face apparently religious intolerance being promulgated by the liberal media outlets:
Publication of the cartoons in Spain, Italy, France, Germany and the Netherlands triggered condemnation in the Muslim and Arab world, where consumers turned their anger on Danish companies.
Arla, the dairy company based in Denmark, where the cartoons were first published, admitted on Thursday its sales in some Middle East countries had fallen to zero. Carrefour, the French retailer, said it had removed Danish products from shelves in its Middle East operations.
Other Danish companies targeted in the boycott include Lego, the toymaker, and Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceuticals company.
As popular protests spread, the leaders of Egypt and Afghanistan warned the cartoons had offended millions of Muslims and could be exploited by terrorists in their war against the west.
I don’t like coincidences. Why are our the two largest groups opposing US policy all of a sudden taunting each other to the brink – and egging both sides on?
Could it be Iran needs a diversion of international focus?
42 Responses to “Hold Up Michelle”
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You’re right AJ. There seems to be a fine line between rightous indignation and incitement, and Michelle has taken a flying leap across it.
Let us sit back, quietly support freedom of speech, and see how the Europeans sort it out. Pass the popcorn!
AJ, I am a great fan and I normally am in agreement with you.
But I hope you really think about where what you have written
leads. It is really that “bigotry of low expectations” – a cancer
pervading the left. What you are others are saying is no
difference – and therefore can be considered to be somewhat
- racist, when you think it thru.
“setting an example to the moderate Muslims how to deal with ugly free speech.” AJ??????
Yes, I remember it well………all those Christians rioting and threatening
to murder the network anchors who presented “Piss Christ”, all those
fires at the networks bureaus and the bombing at headquarters.
I do remember, and if you go to GatewayPundit, you’ll find lots
of church burnings around the world – rings a bit of a bell today,
with 6 Christian (and not black) churches burned in Al *-would
have been more – but the brick/stone ones take a bit longer and
were saved.
Bibles in Saudi Arabia???? Try it AJ! And it won’t take much
looking around the web to get a good overview of the political
view of the Islamists’ world.
So you are saying we should allow them their behavior because
……what? they don’t know any better?
they are such ignorant peoples, they must be dealt with as one
would deal with 2 year olds? They must be excused all their
2 year old behavior, AJ??
Is that what you are saying AJ?
Then there is no logic in trying to negotiate anything that you do
not want to renegotiate a hundred times – parents of 2 year olds
know this.
I could continue, but the logic string ends with the best way to
deal with them is in the parental mold. So we recolonize?
Or we give in to the 2 year old and in 12 or 14 more years
what do we have????
* wish I could remember the Intelligence person who said
“there are NO COINCIDENCES!”
I’m not sure why this hasn’t caught on, but the Koran doesn’t say that picturing Mohammed is against the rules. What it does say, though, is that they are forbidden from worshipping images, which is to prevent idolism.
So unless Muslims are worshipping the images printed in Denmark, Norway, and everywhere else, then all we have on our hands is a manufactured scandal from Islamic fundamentalists. This was done quite easily because they warped the meaning of the Koran long ago, so now this belief is held by many Muslims.
Summary: fundamentalist Islamists warped the meaning of the Koran, brainwashing many Muslims, and used this fallacy to manufacture a scandal used to legitimize violence and threats of the Western world. Parts of the Western world they would not normally have any excuses to attack.
AJ, the whole thing is just way out of control, isn’t it? Maybe with a weekend coming, it will die down…a shame, really, that with some many pressing issues, this is the one that has everyone all fired up…
Larwyn,
It is clear you do not understand what I am saying. Read all three posts – they are quite clear. Radical Islam is using the fact that moderates Muslims in the mideast are unaccustomed to the give and take of free speech. They are flaming outrage in society’s not yet experienced in the ugly side of free speech and how to deal with it. We in the West know all too well people use free speech in ugly hurtful ways.
My point is this is an opportunity to help the moderates explore ways to deal with the downside of speech. One thing they are doing is just fine – they are voicing their outrage and indignation. Some things they are doing are just wrong – threats of violence and violent acts.
Where in the world did you get the idea I was proposing we act like them or promote violence?
Did it ever occur to you that your emotional outburst is exactly what the propagandist in Al Qaeda want from you? Lashing out at Islam in general is playing into their hands.
I will not be a puppet of Al Qaeda. I prefer to help the newly freed get a grasp on these new freedoms and how to respond to them peacefully.
Seixon,
Agreed. But even worse, the radicals are playing too many of us in the West like fine violins….
We are reacting just the way they hoped we would.
Hugh Hewitt Nails It
I’ve been a little chagrined at the eagerness with which the cause of the Danish cartoonists has been embraced, and I’ve tried to vocalize that, along with a few others on the right side of the aisle. As is often the case, though, someone…
Free speech all around
I haven’t jumped into the fray on the Muslim cartoon brouhaha, the main reason to see what others were saying, and second, it’s just not my cup of tea.
WOW! AJ,
Sure hope you don’t work in “Child Protective Services”!
To equate sending a message to the Islamists that we will
not put up with your behavior and we will not give up
our rights to free speech, with:
“Lashing out at Islam in general is playing into their hands.”
No AJ, standing up to 2 year old behavior is what teaches
and reinforces civil behavior.
You’re a bit too touchy at my bringing up their use of
“free speech” to demonize Christians, Jews, Buddists and
every other religion that is not Islam – or the “correct”
version of Islam.
I am in total agreement with Seixon. They pulled this out
at a very appropriate time with both Iran and the Hamas
“rights to foreign aid” coming to a point.
Also, I find it very interesting that stories about these
friendly and peaceful threats and demos are not prefaced
with the fact that 3 truly dispicable cartoons were added
to the booklet to stir up the street.
So tell us all about the doggie/prayer cartoon they produced.
We need to tell them ” Act like civilized adults and we will treat
you accordingly”. Responsible parents know this line well,
that is one of the ways we produce responsible adults.
Some succint comments from Michelles email regarding our
State Dept’s response:
Reader Poul E. e-mails me from Denmark with a question:
Is the US under sharia law?
Ouch.
Reader Dave C.:
Will the State Dept. come down on NBC and the writers of Will and Grace for their Cruci-fixins show due out the day before Good Friday?
***
http://www.michellemalkin.com/
Larwynn,
You are a long time valued reader – don’t cross the line of civility. You seem to be unable to discern between radical islamists like Bin Laden and moderates like Mubarak and Karzai. The acting like civilized adults starts here and with us.
In my humble opinion you are being played by the radicals who want you to lose control and lash out in anger. You are being used.
If you don’t like that view I am sorry. When the leaders of Egypt and Afghnistan voice their outrage to the cartoons without any threats of violence then they are not doioing anything wrong. And I am listening because they may be offensive in a way I am not aware – since I am not Muslim. This is not a crime.
Stop lumping Muslims together and you wil finally grasp what I am saying,
I say we just drop the whole damn thing, let those fundamentalist bastards scream all they want until everyone starts ignoring them, and then keep on doing our thing.
I think we’ve made our point now. Don’t apologize. Don’t “stand down”. Just drop the issue. Like a hot potato. Stop talking about the Muslim reaction. Stop giving them TV time. Just ignore them.
Ignore a troll, and he will go away.
And if they do attack us… well, then that’s a new ball-game. A ball game which will come regardless of what we do, anyway. The fundamentalists have already burned the Reichstag, all we can do is hope that they don’t start the war.
Or, you know, put a moderate Muslim on TV pointing out that the Koran doesn’t say anything about depicting Mohammed, and thus this is really a manufactured issue by the fanatics, which it is. Call it a public Islamic lesson, which I think many Muslims might learn something from, having been brainwashed into believing the Koran says something that it does not.
That would put the fight back in the Muslim world, which is where it belongs. If there’s anyone who should be talking about, scrutinizing, and discussing Islam and the Koran, it’s Muslims.
Seixon-
I think you’re absolutely right about not feeding the troll.
I think you and I are saying the same thing Seixon – except I would easily acknowledge the fact some of these are offensive to our allies like Karzai and Mubarak. And I would also agree people have the right to peacefully voice their objections.
The Muslims are boycotting the Danes in a peaceful protest the way we boycotted France over Iraq. To me that is progress! Those boycotting are doing something else besided terrorism – at the moment
I totally agree with Seixon and just maybe he has experience
with 2 year olds – when they throw tantrums and are in a
safe place and reasoning doesn’t work – you ignore them.
But I have found more talented experienced writers to present
my attempt to get you to understand my case.
I am not the one implying the “low expectations” meme.
May these excepts be my defense:
Those not familiar with this credentialed psychiatrist may
chuckle at my use of excerpts from Dr .Pat Santy’s site
aptly named DrSanity.
I hope this gives you a much better understanding of my stance and
I am proud to be standing with VDH, Wretchard, Dr.Santy and good
common sense.
LUNACY
Victor Davis Hanson hits on all the essential topics today and highlights all the ongoing lunacy:
SNIP
Ever since that seminal death sentence handed down to Salman Rushdie by the Iranian theocracy, the Western world has incrementally and insidiously accepted these laws of asymmetry. Perhaps due to what might legitimately be called the lunacy principle (”these people are capable of doing anything at anytime”), the Muslim Middle East can insist on one standard of behavior for itself and quite another for others. It asks nothing of its own people and everything of everyone else’s, while expecting no serious repercussions in the age of political correctness, in which affluent and leisured Westerners are frantic to avoid any disruption in their rather sheltered lives…..
VDH
DR.SANTY CONTINUES:
It is quite alarming–even for a psychiatrist who is used to seeing a lot of insanity–to observe what is going on all over the world today. To refer to all these events combined as a “crisis” is a little bit of an understatement. The patient is already completely out of control, exhibiting the irrational and paranoid thinking characteristic of psychosis; and immediate steps must be taken to restrain that patient before the suicidal and homicidal intent becomes a reality.
What we do in these types of psychiatric emergencies–where there is imminent danger to self and others– is to clearly articulate without any ambiguity or hesitancy our expectations of what is appropriate behavior and what is not. At the same time it is also extremely wise to make a show of force that is compelling, direct, and unflinching. Both strategies are necessary to demonstrate the exact consequences the patient can expect if self-restraint is not forthcoming.
READ THAT POST AND THEN
AND SCROLL ON DOWN PAST THE LINKS TO SAMPLES OF ISLAM’S
CARTOONS TO:
THE HIGHWAY TO HELL
Not many people realize it yet–particularly on the left–but in the Danish Muhammed cartoon controversy that has inflamed the Muslim world, the multicultural /politically correct mindset has now been fully exposed as a fraud. The shocking consequences and deadly potential of that fraud are suddenly becoming all too clear.
Wretchard comments:
The fine, broad highway to Hell that is political correctness which has achieved the opposite of its intent: not the universal chorus of harmony but religious conflict at its most primitive level.
DR.SANTY:
One wonders how anyone could have expectd a different result?
Having given up any objective standard by which to mediate such vastly different perspectives and feelings; having abandoned reason altogether in favor of expressing one’s feelings no matter what the cost; and, finally, having endlessly touted the critical importance and essential need to “belong” to one’s race, tribe, religion or group first and foremost; the outcome is what Stephen Hicks refers to as “group balkinization” –with all its inevitable and inescapable conflict.
Why, in other words, would peaceful coexistence result from a movement that has done everything in its power to eradicate universalism and foist multiculturalism into the public consciousness?
READ IT ALL AT :
http://drsanity.blogspot.com/
AJ, hope that helps inform my view of the issue.
AJ, you mean the same Mubarak that had his daughter married to one of his generals at the age of 12?
I just read a gruesome story @ Memri where she tells us her story, of what it is like to be the daughter of what you call a Muslim moderate. You might find it an interesting read
You need to read up on some articles about Jihad to truly understand that according to the Quar’an it is a Muslim obligation. The fact that most Muslims do not wage Jihad does not make it any less of an important part of their core belief.
It is a religion of zero tolerance towards anyone who is non-Muslim. How on earth can that be moderate in any way shape and form. What we in the West categorize as moderate is simply not openly advocating Jihad, but nevertheless agreeing with it behind closed doors and in their own language.
It is difficult to summarize in a few sentences what I have written so much about.
This is the comment I find the most offensive.
You need to wake up and smell the coffee, before someone shoves you down to your knees in the direction of Mecca. To think you can simply sit back because you think this is a European problem is simply ignorant.
Case in point.
“I do not see the Emir of Kuwait who risked all to host our troops prior to invasion of Iraq.”
Jeez AJ!!!!!!
The Emir of Kuwait would be spending his days between London
and Paris —-if not for that minor thingy called
THE GULF WAR!!!!
REMEMBER 1991????
Sorry AJ,
Can you fix my link, and stop it from running on, it should have at the end of “an interesting read”. Thanks.
Larwyn,
Doesn’t help one bit. I know Dr Sanity well enough – we keep in touch.
My point is we have strong allies voicing their feelings the cartoons are repulsive. It is a simple point – do we listen to our allied or push them towards Bin Laden’s side?
This is your last warning. I do not spend time on this sight for your little temper tantrums. Of course I remember the Gulf war. My point is where would we be if our actions alienated the moderate leaders?
I suggest you take a breather from here.
Alexandra,
I am not condoning Mubarak. I am asking a simple question – do we want him on our side or Bin Ladens? And if I am right, and the people who are reacting emotionally are playing into Al Qaeda’s plans – what then?
Why do people need to complicate the calculus with irrelevant or secondary issues?
If we over react and start bad mouthing Islam in general out of anger – the moderates will join the Jihadists and all we worked and died for will have been lost.
Over stupid cartoons????
Karzai is not going to make us kneel to Mecca. He is an ally and he was insulted. Is it too much for you to agree he had a right to voice his issues with the cartoons??
Why are you lumping him in with Bin Laden?
The Mohammad Cartoons
The Commisar has put out a call for bloggers to post the Danish cartoons of the prophet Mohammad that have Muslims worldwide kind of ticked.
I’ve been slow to the party on this one, but not because I disagree about free speech. Certainly it is …
Wretchard ends today’s post with this:
The West should understand, if it didn’t realize it before, that Muslims are willing to fight for their religion. And Muslims should understand, from the cartoon controversy, that whatever they had heard to the contrary it goes double ditto for the West. And in the long run that grudging respect may make the the process of winning over the Muslim moderates easier than feigning the cheap and superficial attitude of multiculturalism. For who in Islam would believe in us if we did not believe in ourselves? Who in Islam could trust that we would fight at their side if we could not defend all that we were, all that we believed?
posted by wretchard at 10:17 AM | 53 comments
HOPE YOU WILL READ IT ALL AND REMEMBER THE OBL
REFERENCE TO “BACKING THE WINNING HORSE”.
http://fallbackbelmont.blogspot.com/
AJ,
The only difference between “freedom fries” and “down with Danes” is of course that in the former, it was the policies of the French government and the attitude of the French people that was being protested against. In the latter, it is a protest against the actions of a single (small) newspaper in Denmark.
Yes, they do have every right to protest against what they may feel is a slur against their religion (although their own holy book says otherwise…) but they don’t even realize that their entire protest is quite false due to being brainwashed into believing that the Danish or Norwegian or [insert something] governments/people stand behind these cartoons.
If Karzai and Mubarak are offended by the depiction of Mohammed, then they are not following the Koran. However, if they are offended by the nature of some of the images, that’s fine, because some of them were offensive. Although I would argue that most of the images are purposefully being misunderstood.
The picture of Mohammed with a bomb as a turban isn’t meant to say that Mohammed really is a terrorist, but that Mohammed is being misused by terrorists.
Well, I hope that’s what the artist was trying to convey, anyways.
CARTOONS – AT WAR WITH MODERNITY
HT Right Wing Nut House
I’ve tried to post representative views from reasonable thinkers in the Blogos. I tend to favor this one at the Right Wind Nut House. On the otherhand AJ at
I would tend to agree with both AJ and Dr. Sanity. You must first understand what the west is dealing with and take the appropriate action (maybe like that of dealing with a 2 yr old) but not just react in the same way they are. Stand your ground on freedoms we hold dear, be on guard if necessary, and acknowledge non violent means of protest as ok. Stuffing more of the problem back into their face won’t yield a good result.
I tend to relate this to when my wife is so pissed off at me that she completely flips out and starts an absolute insane tirade directed at me. I’ve learned over several years of different approaches that I must rise above the invective and remain on an even keel. Two people flying off at each other lights off an incredible escallation which everyone regrets later.
Here’s the deal. The West will end its cartoons of Mohammed if the Arab press ends its vile anti-Semitic cartoons.
I’ll bet the Arabs back down. They will never give up their Jew hating.
Sammy,
I relate to the last paragraph. Heh. Two angry people is definitely not better than one. We should apply this to the current situation with the… cartoons… Cartoons for crying out loud. Man this is pathetic.
Unfortunately there are no secondary issues in the religion of peace. You are either with them or against them. Cartoons have become irrelevant now, they are simply a means to an end.
Jihad is a fundamental part of the Muslim belief and the Quar’an asks all good Shari’a abiding Muslims to either wage it themselves or abet those who will. Once you have understood that, you will understand that there are no moderate Muslims, there are only Muslims who do NOT follow the Quar’an to the letter. If you think that belief in Jihad in the Quar’an is exclusive to Bin Laden and co. you are simply wrong.
When you have time read myThe Jihad Apocalypse ‘A Muslim Obligation’
My friend at Sigmund Carl & Alfred puts it rather well today:
Rose, Jyllands-Posten’s cultural editor is right when he says:
I have never said that no one should be offended, and you are missing the point if you think that this issue boils down to that. It is everyone’s right to be offended, including ours when we are forced to see grotesque versions of ‘Piss Christ’.
But we do not declare war on Islam because of a painting nor do we haul people out of hotels and threaten their lives, nor do we burn flags and threaten to behead every non-Christian because of a cartoon.
Why should we make different rules for Muslims just because they shout the loudest and threaten us the most? Do we recall our Ambassador from a country that ‘offends’ us by posting rude photographs of anyone of who we deem to be our religious leaders? Do we withdraw offending cartoons or take down paintings simply because the believers of a particular religion are offended. Do we close down institutions and expel people out of our country for drawing an offensive cartoon, or writing offensive prose?
It is easy to speak of tolerance when you simply ban the very existence of Christianity in an Islamic country. What sort of moderation or tolerance is that. There are no Christian churches in Saudi because they are illegal. Simple isn’t it? Meanwhile England is busy building the largest mosque in Europe .
The whole thing is upside down AJ, and I am afraid that appeasement will bring us closer to Ahmadinejad’s dream rather than away from conflict. The conflict is at our doorstep and is not about some silly cartoons. It is about breaking down our core value system of democracy, liberty and the freedom of speech that we hold so dear. Chipping away bit by bit…..and the more we apologize the more the goalpost will simply shift.
Anyway I have already said far too much, and I do after all have my own blog to run. Good to see you AJ.
Folks, I am going to enjoy some time with friends and family. If you do not add more than two links to a comment they should post immediately. If you are a new user I think I need to approve the first one before the system recognizes you as a regular user.
I will try to come by now and again and free the suspended comments – but no promises!
All of you have a great weekend.
The Cartoon War
Never has the adage ‘Information is Power’ felt more critically relevant. And never has the Power of ‘Dis-information’ revealed its evil effectiveness more poignantly. I am grateful for a better understanding of the meaning behind these not so long…
Maybe it would be a good idea if the Western media published many of the nasty cartoons the people in the Muslim world see.
Often the most effective ammunition against an opponent are his own words, or in this case, cartoons.
Let them be embarrassed by how they depict others. Show what they put in their textbooks.
Voices of reason on the Danish cartoons
There’s been an enormous amount of aburdity written about the cartoons of Mohammed printed in a Danish newspaper and now re-printed in a number of European papers. But through all the din a few voices of reason have managed to come through, som…
http://www.littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/photos/3rd-infantry-saddam-911.jpg
Dont hear Muslims bitching about this mural from 2003.
Good idea Snapple, I have no problem using Islamic hate cartoons to say ‘ we know how you feel, free speech can be a real bear sometime’ while holding up their cartoons.
Muhammad Cartoon in Perspective
Photo montage of Militant Islam’s Reactions and Open Trackbacks
In my very first comment – actually the second comment
of the post, I suggested looking around the web today.
Now, that perhaps you have, and regulars like Snapple are
pointing to the cartoons of the Islamic world, you
may also wish to consider this regarding following our
“moderate” “allies”:
“The “moderate” Muslim governments have no interest in standing up for free speech; they don’t tolerate it in their own countries and supporting the West would put their (pseudo) Islamic legitimacy in question. For the Islamists to back down and be seen as backing down is to show fatal weakness.
The most interesting question concerns how this ends. Will the Muslims settle for a non-apology apology that is the specialty of those schooled in the PC world? (”I am deeply sorry if my cartoon has offended anybody’s feelings.”) Or, will they continue to demand full obeisance to their skewed perception of what free speech involves?
If the Islamists feel that they are not yet ready to openly confront the Europeans on their home turf in Europe, prominent Imams will accept the proffered apology, the crowds will dissipate, and things will quiet down.
Click here: ShrinkWrapped: The Inexorable Logic of Terror
This from my initial post – #2 in comment queue:
Bibles in Saudi Arabia???? Try it AJ! And it won’t take much
looking around the web to get a good overview of the political
view of the Islamists’ world.
Larwyn,
You already lost all credibility with me. So if you wish to debate others – knock yourself out.
Wow. AJ, I know I headed toward this comment space to say, “Amen, and kudos! You took the thoughts right out of my head before I got around to thinking them.”
I haven’t changed my mind through the rather long, bizarro gauntlet of some of the comments ahead of mine — many left by posters with whom I’ve agreed more often than not.
That Karzai and other allies were offended by the Danish newspaper cartoons, I find completely understandable. I am regularly similarly offended by antics, behavior and statements of some of my fellow Americans (I guess they are) on the political left, when they push the First Amendment envelope and use vulgarity and obscenities to denigrate my religion, my flag, my president.
And I’m not real tolerant — an image of Robin Williams, for instance, will never remain on my television screen longer than it takes me to reach the remote control (and I loved his portrayal in “Survivors” and a couple of other pre-GOP-political dominance films).
I fully admit to not liking it when my sensibilities are offended, and to react by letting anyone who can hear me, know exactly how I feel. I might even write letters or sign a petition to withdraw tax subsidies, for example, from so-called “art” with a Christian icon and elephant dung, or a crucifix in a bottle of urine.
I don’t think that’s an unreasonable reaction, if I’m offended. And it seems to be pretty comparable to the reactions of Karzai and other Muslim allies, to cartoons which offended them. Their reaction, by the way, seems no more intense than the letter to the Washington Post, signed by several US generals, who were righteously offended by a recent ugly cartoon depicting “Dr. Rumsfeld” standing over an armless, legless serviceman in a hospital bed.
Your points were excellent, and well made. Enough said.
And here you have it, just what was asked for.
Plea to bin Laden to retaliate
Tens of thousands of Sudanese demonstrators in Khartoum filled a downtown square, calling for a boycott of goods from Denmark after the publication of controversial cartoons of the prophet Muhammad. Some shouted: “You Danish Satan, the Muslim people are now out after you!” Some even shouted for al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden to retaliate for the insult to their prophet. “Strike, strike, strike, bin Laden!” the frenzied group chanted.
SBD
[...] From my latest post on this, some of my favorite readers have lashed out at the still totalitarian societies in the Middle East nations that censor speech, as if to say this censorship (re bibles in Saudia Arabia) somehow legitimizes Western anger in this situation. [...]
[...] Hugh Hewitt and AJ Strata seem to suggest that mockery of religious beliefs is never appropriate. I disagree and so does Matthew Parris in his piece entitled So they have thin skins. That shouldn’t stop us poking fun at them [...]
You hit the nail on the head. We (the western world) are still too ignorant to figure out how to win the propaganda war. Worse, we are losing it badly.
Michelle’s post is indicative of just how ignorant we are.
Michelle and her type get emotional at the site of a few photos of people that represent a minority of the muslim world. Getting emotional is for the weak and un-educated.
The images in the media represent the muslim world as much as these photos represent the western world:
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze4m6cx/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/4363390-r1-082-39a.jpg
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze4m6cx/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/4363390-r1-000-55a.jpg
If she wants to emotionally fall victim to the extremists propaganda, she can do so in the privacy of her own home. But don’t pass it off as news.