This is like two children fighting and when you ask them what is going on, both yell "He started it!!!"
The fact is, there are probably a LOT of nice, peaceful muslims in the world and slapping all of them across the face is not beneficial to anyone's position.
On the other hand, simply waving hi to some of them will start an uproar and one thing leads to another and away the fight is flying.
We have to be effective and sorting the idiots out on both sides and condemning them. The 1st amendment carries responsibility with it.
Let me explain, I was at a basketball game once while in high school and our predominantly white team was playing a predominantly black team. One of the guys from our school went up to the bleachers in front of the opposing team, flipped them the bird and yelled F*** you N******s!!!!
Needless to say, it took the police about 2 hours to clean up the situation.
He has first amendment rights, but at some point we should all acknowledge that he failed in his responsibility to recognize that his words would lead to a violent situation.
Now putting up these cartoons is more subtle because it only draws violence from the reactionaries, but it still offends the majority of muslims. It doesn't deserve arrest, but it does deserve contempt.
He has first amendment rights, but at some point we should all acknowledge that he failed in his responsibility to recognize that his words actions would lead to a violent situation.
Yeah, oh damn, huh?
Now putting up these cartoons burning American flags is more subtle because it only draws violence from the reactionaries, but it still offends the majority of muslims Americans. It doesn't deserve arrest, but it does deserve contempt.
So what's it going to be then, eh? Are Muslims to be held to the same standard as everyone else, or not? Are you willing to treat them like adults, or treat every riot that they start as some unavoidable force of nature, some inevitable consequence of something that "we" did, rather than a conscious choice that came about through human agency?
Part of being civilized is not expecting people to pamper you and never question anything you say or do. Part of being civilized is having the ability to be criticized and not respond with a temper tantrum. Want to know who I actually do have respect for? The Muslims that didn't riot. They're on the ball. The ones that reacted to a criticism of their beliefs by burning embassies down have a ways to go.
"The fact is, there are probably a LOT of nice, peaceful muslims in the world and slapping all of them across the face is not beneficial to anyone's position"
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Boy you sure know how to miss the point.
These so called "Nice" muslims, who share our western values, will see those cartoons for what they, complain if they feel the need, and let it go. They will not riot or demand censorship. They will also condemn, with no equivocation, those muslims who reacted with violence to the cartoons, and threatened the cartoonists lives.
Funny, I didn't see that outrage from nice muslims. They stayed quiet just like the Dhimmi press.
Comparing this situation to a basketball game is the height of foolishness. We are at war with forces equally insane and evil as Naziism. To appease it in any way, or equivocate that its really not that bad, or we are just as bad and mean, is just suicidal...as Europe found out in the 30's.
Buchanan loves all those who hate Jews. That has been clear for many years now. In my opinion, and the opinion of very many people, he is a closet Nazi. Not suprising that the Nazi's allied with muslims during ww2...the two political movements are two hateful peas in a pod.
Bring on more cartoons....and bring on the fight!!!!!