There has been a lot been said in the last few days about Muslim unrest, terror attacks, etc.etc. Recently a lot of it has been focused on some video that supposedly has caused the most recent problem. OK. I am sure that this "film" is offensive to those who practice Islam and perhaps they have reason to be in in a bit of a tizz. I wouldn't know (or care). That should not be enough to attack an embassy and kill diplomats and other employees of course, but we are dealing with savages here. Or do you disagree?
What are we to do? Are we in the United States supposed to censor our speech so as not to offend? There are those in this country who think so. Something wrong there.....
Our country was founded, so to speak, on "offensive" speech. Many of our forefathers made a habit of twisting the tail of the British Lion. I am sure that a whole lot of folk were afraid of John Bull back then and feared such speech and expression. In this age it seems there are those who are afraid of offensive speech no matter the "victim." Just recently at work I watched some nonsense "training" video about being careful to not offend co workers. Of course one is not going to run out and yell "nigger, nigger, nigger" at work (good way to get an ass whipping), but something as harmless as saying "that's not kosher" or "this computer program is stupid" could be construed as offensive. Or so those actors on the video told us.......
The whole PC thing in this country has gotten out way of hand. In this land if someone wants to write "fuck a Pope" in an op ed, some film maker wants to damn a major religion, or some nut job "minister" wants to publicly burn a Koran, well then, so be it. Go for it and have fun with all that.
On a related note; it sure seems odd that our leadership is bending over backward to let the Muslims know that official policy is that the offending video is reprehensible and in no way reflects the opinions of most citizens of this country. As if that will do any good. I also hear that the "president" of Egypt has said that offending Islam is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Really. I have some news for him......
This latest great offender of Islam (this film maker) is not the first or last person who will offend those practitioners of the religion of peace. Happens all the time and these backward folk kill over it.
The day that Americans give a damn about what is offensive to others is the day that we no longer truly exist as a free country. With that being said, I would not be surprised in the least if there is some govt action restricting the speech of our citizens before all is said and done.
Won't be surprised at all.
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As a point of interest, from Reuters News, "An Egyptian-American man behind an anti-Islam film that has stoked violent protests across the Muslim world was arrested on Thursday in California for allegedly violating his probation, and a federal judge ordered him jailed without bond."
Perhaps he did "violate his probation." I would like to think that was what he was arrested for. The alternaive smacks of something I care not to think about at this time.
Yeah, hold on to that happy thought, Cabbie. Probation violations are not usually handled by the Feds, and they don't usually involve being held without bail. Just keep thinking those happy thoughts that America is still what it used to be.
You are correct. It is not the same country. My friend says there will be "gulags" operating before long. Not sure I would go that far quite yet. At least I don't think so.
To me, what is happening is the cancer of political correctness getting out of hand. Way out of hand.
We don't live in the same country we used to. I agree. I have heard the term "soft Facism" being thrown around or perhaps it was soft totalitariansim. Not sure.
Funny thing is, to the younger people, things are considered just normal. I don't think most feel that their freedoms are in any large way restricted (except for the restrictions on their weed). They don't understand the freedoms that we used to enjoy. Hard to put into words really. I will go with this "soft facism" thing. You know it is there, but it has not become odious enough to completely cause upheaval. Still you feel it.
Maybe one has to be over the age of say 40 to get it. I don't know.
Enough rambling. I have not expressed myself as I would have liked. Can't get the words around the issue.
I will try to think happy thoughts. Perhaps get a little college ball in this afternoon.
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"On a related note; it sure seems odd that our leadership is bending over backward to let the Muslims know that official policy is that the offending video is reprehensible and in no way reflects the opinions of most citizens of this country. "
Oh really, 'odd'? Why is that?
Given how much you have been whining over the past years, why don't you go ahead and list specifics that _YOU_ would have done and do to handle the situations in the Middle East differently. Take your time; use as much space as you need.
Ema Nymton
~@:o?
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Hi Ema,
What would I have done differently? Fair question.
If I had any statement at all to make it would be that freedom is what our country stands for and our citizens cherish. Nothing more.
Most likely would not have said anything at all about the film, but would have condemned the killing of our diplomat and other govt employees.
What would I do differently in a concrete way? That is rather simple. Number one, stop all monetary, military, etc. aid to lands such as Egypt.
I would been a grown up and not supported "democracy" movements in these regions. I would have been a realist about it and recognized that we just might have to do business with, and support, totalitarian regimes in the area.
What matters is not what is good for the Arab (or other masses), but what is good for the security of the U.S.
We have only seen the tip of the iceberg as far as unrest in this general region of the world. It would not matter much if major choke points were not in jeopardy. I am rather sure you don't need a geography lesson.
Our last two (or four) administrations do not look at this region of the world with reality in mind. Treasure and Western blood have been the consequence.
Rather nicely put, Cabbie, nicely put.
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"... freedom is what our country stands for ..."
Pal ese. Freedom and Liberty are meaningless Madison Avenue slogans. The words mean nothing, as you point out in the rest of your comment.
"... , stop all monetary, military, etc. aid to lands such as Egypt."
USA has legally binding international treaties, agreements, and laws which prevent such foolish actions.
"I would been a grown up and not supported "democracy" movements in these regions. I would have been a realist about it and recognized that we just might have to do business with, and support, totalitarian regimes in the area.
What matters is not what is good for the Arab (or other masses), but what is good for the security of the U.S."
Peoples from other lands will definitely appreciate such a reactionary foreign policy. And you think your efforts will lead to more or less anti-USA actions in the world?
Ema Nymton
~@:o?
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There will always be "anti-USA" actions around the world (or at least in the area of the world we have been discussing here).
As long as we are seen as pro Israel, and have to do business in the area, we will be hated and feared.
The hatred is of little concern. Their fear of the West is of great importance.
I'll give you this. Our freedom and liberty did at one time mean something. I am beginning to think this might not be the case so much anymore. I'm not blaming the current POTUS totally for this. It has "trended" that way for a long time and it doesn't really seem to matter which "party" is in power. After all, both major political organizations have been ruining this country for decades. The talking points are different. That's all.
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