Of course that was directed at you because you are constantly bullying me with your thuggish use of photoshop and encyclopeadic knowledge of song lyrics.
TRADE EMBARGO! http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4687116.stm Iran has cut all trade ties with Denmark in protest at the cartoons satirising the Prophet Muhammad that first appeared in a Danish newspaper.
Personally, as a Muslim, I did consider it somewhat offensive, but nothing to get too worked up about. However, I have no agenda beyond that, so not sure what you're referring to as a "pretty strong agenda". Sishir, I realize you were somewhat of a late comer to this thread, so I am not sure if you've read my posts in this thread: this is one of the few times probably that myself and gwayneco are in agreement on this. In the initial post in this thread, I stated that "Muslims are overreacting" to a cartoon that was done in poor taste, and by the newspapers' own admission was done to offend. So your view of this is pretty much in line with mine; please read my posts in this thread if you haven't already done so. True, but it won't harm the US to try and score a few political points with a world in which we're directly involved in. I think it was clearly a calculated PR stunt and nothing more, I wouldn't put too much stock into it. Again, on more than a few occasions I denounced the violence and do truly believe that it does much more harm to the image of Islam than anything else. CAIR denounced the violence as did many politicians and religious leaders across the Islamic world, not just those in the West. I think it's pretty foolish to think that someone would actually think this type of behavior is a good thing.
http://www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/ this is the history of mohammed images since the beginning to the present
then expect this response...insensitivity breeds insensitivity. someone has to be the bigger man, eventually.
I mostly skimmed through the thread. I've been pretty busy so I apologize if I missed many of your posts. From the ones that I saw this looked like you and Adeel defending Islam and arguing for why this is offensive and Gwayneco and a few others bashing Muslim. I apologize if I mischaracterized your views. But how would the US score political points? If the US weighs in on the side of the Danes Muslims are just going to say that once again the US are siding with those who would defame Islam. If the US sides with angry Muslims Europeans and people like Gwayneco are going to say that the US is caving into Muslims because they are in the hands of the Saudis and want to make sure oil keeps on flowing from the Mideast.
Since embassies are sovereign land of the nation they represent, any attack on them should be considered an act of war. The US response to this should be that we will respond harshly to any such actions taken against us or our allies.
Big article in the Wall Street Journal today confirms what gwayneco had posted earlier about the Danish imam fabricating more offensive cartoons to spread ill will and harbor hatred. That imam is truly a b****** for starting this entire spat over cartoons from last September.
i agree that violence begets violence. but this goes beyond the code of hammurabi. these are not equal and opposite actions. satire, however poor in taste, should never be able to cause a violent reaction. being the bigger man would have been to just condemn the cartoons as offensive and moved on. there most definately is a problem with violence as regards islam. some are using this episode as an excuse to lash out and to get people riled up. ghandi most be rolling in his grave. where have you gone, mlk? a world gone mad turns it's lonely eyes to you. woo woo woo
i don't disagree with anything you just said. it shouldn't get this sort of reaction. but on the other hand, no one should be surprised, either. welcome to human history.
that's sad max. our history is littered with tyranny, no doubt. however, history tells us that we are capable a greatness, of compassion for fellow human beings. where are the great muslim leaders today? hell, where are there any great leaders?
i don't think expressing one's opinion on an important matter is ever pointless. i mean really where are the peace demonstrations against this violent reaction to a few silly cartoons?
True you didn't mention Saudi oil which is why I said "People like Gwayneco", meaning people like you who are upset to the point of anger over the possibilty that Europe or the US might give in and censor these cartoons. You put quite an editorial spin on reporting the truth in terms of calling Muslims "animals" and "uncivilized" that's more than just reporting the truth that's bashing.
coming from someone who is half Persian (albeit there aren't many muslims in my family), i say to hell with all of those nutjobs. these people's priorities are so far out of whack, what's the point of trying anymore? might as well really give 'em something to be pissed about. carpet bomb the protesters, assassinate their fanatical leaders, sanction the hell out of 'em. make those idiots suffer. if they want to torch, murder, and destroy over a ******* cartoon, then who needs them anyways? these people's mind's are stuck 1000 years in the past. i always tried to defend them when i deemed it neccessary, but not amymore. when you see practically MILLIONS of these people responding towards CARTOONS in this manner, it solidifies in my mind that they don't deserve to live in modern civilization. so blast them to hell and let them live like they deserve.... in caves. that's what they want anyways. yall say Islam is a religion of peace, but i call bullsh!t. and if it is, those who practice it's "peaceful" teachings are clearly in the minority.
history tells us that man cares first and foremost about his own interests. history tell us that people will abuse power. i agree with you that it's sad, but this is the state of affairs.
As I have said, there have been numerous politicians and Imams who have condemned this violence...in Lebanon a cleric was even beat by a crowd for asking them not to turn violent. Of course, it doesn't help that on the other hand you have a few idiots who're more than happy to flame this anger and are probably encouraging violence. The violence is despicable, it's truly shameful, the prophet himself would be ashamed of these people who claim to love him.
There haven't been millions of people responding with violence as you claim, so you're either misinformed or a liar. If the majority of Muslims were'nt peaceful, you and I would be dead right now. As for Islam being a religion of peace, it's not. It depends on the circumstances. If you want to commit genocide in bombing the hell out of people in an entire region, then you're more deranged than even those thugs you're protesting.
max, i meant that it is sad that you felt that way. if i had the same defeatist attitude then i'd probably just agree with SWTsig. i know you don't, and obviously i don't either, but you have to believe there is a solution. it starts with a different kind of leadership, one not offended so easily. we've certainly encouraged it but there is a wave of hostility towards the west, it's always been around but the tide is rising. someone from the muslim world needs to step up and end the madness. Because if it’s not love Then it’s the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb That will bring us together