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Anti-blasphemy laws anyone?

(32 posts)

Started 8 months ago by OingoBoingo
Latest reply from LandsOnTwoFeet

OingoBoingo

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In light of current world events, should we amend to the first amendment of the Constitution of the United States an anti-blasphemy restriction for religious sensibilities?
Should we apologize for our free speech rights?

Posted 8 months ago #
SeaSpider

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The answer would emphatically be No and No. At that point we basically devolve ourselves to their level.

Also despite what Mitt Romeny thinks, the US has not apologized for our free speech rights. The embassy in Cairo issued a statement which condemned those who seek to offend the religion of others. That is hardly the same as apologizing for our free speech rights. You can call someone an idiot while still pointing out that they have the right to be an idiot (which the statement did).

The statement is as follows:
"The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others."

You have to be pretty dim and incapable of processing nuance to see that as an apology.

One other really important thing to keep in mind is that people in places like Libya and Egypt assume that ANYTHING coming from an American media outlet is an officially sanctioned statement of the US government. When some wacko makes an inflammatory film they assume it's being done with the support and blessing of the US government. The concept of free press is completely alien in these countries.

Posted 8 months ago #
Edog

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Give it a few minutes and Oneder will be here to post some incoherent stuff about how he is sick of apologists coddling and bowing to what is the most repressive and primitive of all dogmas, including our state department and white house.

Posted 8 months ago #
onederfullone

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No, and NO.

Every religion is subjected to ridicule, for good reason. If Muslims really think that the ridicule of their religion isn't on par with any other perceived offense, they've got their diapers in the wrong location.

I find the whole issue to be infantile, especially their treatment of women, their abject intolerance of any other beliefs.

I'm sick of apologists coddling and bowing to what is the most repressive and primitive of all dogmas, including our state department and white house.

This comment made possible by the first amendment, which many people died to protect.

Posted 8 months ago #
great idea

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I coddled an egg this morning.
making myself a nice ceasar salad for lunch.

now I just need to bow down to get the croutons on the bottom shelf.

Posted 8 months ago #
Edog

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Any minute Great Idea will post some stuff about how you gently boil it for about 90 seconds.

Posted 8 months ago #
great idea

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yes, you gently boil it for about 90 seconds.

Posted 8 months ago #
great idea

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strange. it's as if Edog can predict the future.

are you free to hit the horse track this afternoon?

Posted 8 months ago #
Cougar Bob

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Edog is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.

Posted 8 months ago #
Edog

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Any moment Oneder will comment on his results with the crummy odds for the ponies I picked at Emerald Downs.

Posted 8 months ago #
onederfullone

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Well...three out of four aint bad...

Posted 8 months ago #
ballardmike

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No and HELL NO!!

The a-holes that put this piece of crap movie together ought to be charged with incitement to riot though. They knew exactly what they were crafting.

The a-holes who used this piece of crap movie as an excuse to attack and riot and murder ought to be charged with criminal acts.

God told me so. ;) Mohommed (Mo for short) agrees.

Posted 8 months ago #
OingoBoingo

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@ballardmike

The 'a-holes that put this piece of crap movie together' have every right to produce this piece of garbage. Incitement to riot is a stretch. Why should we, as Americans, steppie-toe around how other countries feel. I welcome similar garbage films depicting Jesus, Moses and Joseph Smith. There would be no such mindless rage in this country.

Obama needs to put the hammer down that our rights trump any other countries' perceived protected ideological beliefs. To hell with them.

Posted 8 months ago #
onederfullone

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Damn nice edit, dog /sarcasm

Posted 8 months ago #
ballardmike

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‎"As a consultant for the film named Steve Klein said: "We went into this knowing this was probably going to happen."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/13/egypt-libya-hollywood-film?fb=native&CMP=FBCNETTXT9038

OUR RIGHTS??? God says bullshit. God also says those assholes that attacked don't get into his place.

Posted 8 months ago #
cd6

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I think Americans have managed to continuously prove they are too stupid for freedom of speech.

Posted 8 months ago #
onederfullone

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"I think Americans have managed to continuously prove they are too stupid for freedom of speech."

Definitely too stupid to ascertain appropriate speech, and who's entitled to say it.
First amendment protects it. Period.

Posted 8 months ago #
stopgo

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Americans are smart enough to get that bloated idiot Glenn Beck kicked off the air. Now that is the real american way. Never prouder to be an American!

Posted 8 months ago #
Hello

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I just wonder how such an obscure film funded by Christian fundamentalists who created the smokescreen of being funded by and created by Jewish fundamentalists et al. ended up in the hands of such violent radicals?

Hmm.

Posted 8 months ago #
Corvus

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Ummm... I think they call it Youtube. That and Facebook are largley credited for being the vehicle for revolutionary change in the middle east last spring. I don't think there is any great conspiracy at work here and calling those people radicals is overstating their importance and intelligence.

Perhaps there should be a new video put out on Youtube every day depicting mohammed buggering a sheep . Eventually these people will wear themselves out and just maybe get over themselves.

I have no liking for Phelps or this new guy. I think they are every bit as worthless as the rabid crowds of halfwits in the middle east, but blaspehmy is a god given right. Gods who fear it aren't gods at all, only figments created by very very little men.

Posted 8 months ago #
Hello

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I have many videos on You Tube which are very offensive. I can't even get up to 1,500 hits. Jesus Christ.

Posted 8 months ago #
Hello

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I think if people are killed... we can go into radical territory.

Posted 8 months ago #
allisonw

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Killing dedicated foreign service staff and diplomatic corps members is never gonna change our rights to say whatever we want, no matter how asinine and offensive it may be. These guys who made the film are assholes, but what they did was perfectly legal. Killing the FS personell was stupid and misguided. They lost many allies.

How Romney reacted may have

Posted 8 months ago #
Mondoman

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Allison's exactly right!

Posted 8 months ago #
iPlod

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"This comment made possible by the first amendment, which many people died to protect."

And still are dying.

Posted 8 months ago #
Corvus

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On the Freedom to Offend an Imaginary God -

http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/on-the-freedom-to-offend-an-imaginary-god

I agree whole heartedly. Any god trite enough to fear blasphemy is no god at all. I detest Terry Jones as much as I detest the ignorant rable in Libya, but I'm sick of hearing about offended sensibilities. The message from our government and other secular governments should be clear - "grow a pair and quit your whining".

Posted 8 months ago #
onederfullone

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It would undoubtedly be easier for our leaders to say if they actually had a pair.

Posted 8 months ago #
OingoBoingo

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@corvus
Sam Harris' article is succinct and on point. Thanks.

Posted 8 months ago #
OingoBoingo

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What about the 'other side'? Where is the outrage over Islamic terrorist flicks?

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/radical-islamic-terror-flicks-insult-humanity-deeply-idiot-film-muslims-a-felonious-man-article-1.1161857?localLinksEnabled=false

Posted 8 months ago #
Corvus

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Finally, maybe the Muslim world is going to wake up...

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/21/14018495-protesting-libyans-overrun-militant-compound-in-backlash-against-armed-groups?lite

Posted 8 months ago #
OingoBoingo

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Ah! The Arab spring, isn't the breeze refreshing?
Not much conversation at the state dept for this one

Egyptian Christians sentenced to death for anti-Islam film

Reuters
Wednesday, November 28, 2012 01:55:00 PM
CAIRO - A Cairo court on Wednesday sentenced to death seven Egyptian Christians tried in absentia for participating in an anti-Islam video that was released on the Internet in September and had prompted violent protests in many Muslim countries.

Posted 5 months ago #
LandsOnTwoFeet

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Political correctness goals coming to fruition.

Posted 5 months ago #