Anger Over Mohammed Cartoon

[richlevy]

I really have a problem with the attitude of 'How dare you imply that Mohammed is not a prophet of peace. For this we must kill you.'

It would be funny if it weren't so deadly serious.

[Undertoad]

Belmont again:

Like the politicians of the 1930s, the leaders of the West after September 11 each made their own calculation. In America's case it took the shape of thinking that it could make common cause with the most enlightened elements of Islamic civilization against fundamentalist extremists who were vying for Islam's soul. The strategy for achieving this goal, though reviled as simplistic, was anything but: America would not pick a fight with Islam itself. Rather it would make itself Islam's friend, ally with its most moderate elements, overthrow its worst oppressors and enlist the aid of the Muslim everyman against the Osama Bin Ladens of the world. In practice it would build a web of relationships with intelligence services, soldiers, intellectuals and politicians in Islamic countries who would provide the information and in cases the manpower to hunt down fundamentalist villains. The War on Terror would be to wars what Smart Bombs were to bombs. It would destroy the miscreants while leaving the surrounding structure untouched. It may be that Europe's calculation was more cynical. But it was equally sophisticated. It would pursue a policy of Appeasement which like Chamberlain's was calculated to drive one nuisance against another, pitting America against Islamic fundamentalism in the hopes that one would wear the other out. And the key to Europe's establishing its bona fides with Islamic countries was to make nice at every opportunity; avoid giving offense; be lavish with aid; open to immigration and obstructive to America at every turn. Like the appeasers of the 1930s it paid for its diplomatic strategy by systematically weakening itself.

[Undertoad]

Syrians burn the Danish embassy.

[Kitsune]

Where are the protestors in America? Why is this anger only taking place in a few select countries?

[jaguar]

Belmont makes the mistake of thinking of Europe as one country. Might seem that ways from the other side of the pond but the situation in France is very different to the UK which is very different to Denmark, all of whom have different agendas and strategies.

Yes, I would also like to point out that the Muslims are to Europe as Mexico is to the US. Many European nations depend upon the supply of cheap foreign labor coming in the form of workers from Turkey and other Muslim countries. Europe is no more appeasing the Muslims then we are appeasing wetbacks. Going by Belmont's logic, one could say that the US is wimping out to illegal immigrants from south of the border while Europe has taken a strict stance as proved by the fact that hardly any illegal Mexican workers show up there. And Jag is correct. Each country of Europe has its own policy and reasons. The UK allows in Pakistani's and Indians because these countries were once part of the British Colonial Empire, not out of some desire to appease the Muslim world. Switzerland allows in Turkish foreign workers simply because so few Swiss are willing to do the low paid labor intensive jobs commonly performed by the Turks. I was visiting one of my aunts in Switzerland once when a group of Turks came into our compartment on Swissrail as we were traveling from Zurich to Luzerne. My aunt made no effort to hide her contempt. While I do not applaud my aunt's open prejudice, it was hardly an attitude of appeasement.

[smoothmoniker]

Mari, that's a fairly good comparison. The difference, of course, is that fundamental structure of the immigrant culture isn't all that differnet than ours. The collonial roots run deep in each, we share common religious roots, and by and large the same rational, western worldview.

Contrasting with Europe, where almost none of those things hold true between the Old Europe and the new immigrants.

Precisely, SM! Imagine if Mexico and the rest of South America were Muslim countries! I think what we would call "appeasement" by Europe, might take on the very same flavor here.

There are many in this country - especially the religous right - who do NOT consider that the people of Mexico have much in common with the US. They are mostly Catholic, speak a foreign tongue, and have different cultural traditions, etc.

I will agree that the Mexican immigrant to the US is probably more easily culturally assimilated than the Turkish immigrant to Switzerland, however.

[jaguar]

true, but that doesn't have much to do with the belmont argument.

[smoothmoniker]

Mari, I don't know how you manage to wrap up every group you dislike into the nefarious "Religious Right". As far as I know, they don't have much of a position on illegal immigration.

Originally Posted by smoothmoniker

Mari, I don't know how you manage to wrap up every group you dislike into the nefarious "Religious Right". As far as I know, they don't have much of a position on illegal immigration.

Actually, they do. Folks from south of the border are hopelessly entangled with that nasty Papist religion of theirs. See the cite I gave in my response to the "Opera is scarey for kids" thread.

[WabUfvot5]

Tried to do my part and get Jarlsberg cheese at the store. There was none. So either:
1. They pulled it because Arabs who I've never seen in the store complained
2. There was a groundswell of support for Norge
3. It was on sale for a week and they sold out

I'm gonna go with option three myself.

[fargon]

These animals have done it again. They burned the Danish and Norwegian embassies in Syria over that cartoon. According to WIZM 1410 AM, this short blurb came from CBS News. I just checked CNN.com, just doing some fact checking. I hope that the PC crowd can finaly get that we are not dealing with sane and responsible people, but savages.

I am waiting for them to blow up a church or school over here. I have friends (Cops and Firefighters) that say if that happens they will stand by and let the citizens take out vengence on the animals.

I believe that we should round these assholes up and send them back to their country of origin. Fuck 'em if they can't take a joke.

As far as oil we have plenty of sources rite here we can bring our people home and let them kill each other if thats what they want to do.

[wolf]

This is the difference between our Christian Right, who Glorify God, and the Islamic Extremists, who fight for (their conception of) the Glory of God.

Originally Posted by wolf

This is the difference between our Christian Right, who Glorify God, and the Islamic Extremists, who fight for (their conception of) the Glory of God.

And our Christian Right hates opera.