So, I wake up to this reactionary crap this morning on Facebook, in reaction to this reactionary crap:
So if I understand your argument, I should remind my fellow citizens that they should endure public suspicion and added government scrutiny because they happen to share a religion with some wackos in another country? Because they are responsible for this how again? Oh, right yes, all Muslims everywhere are guilty by association. Just like all Americans are guilty by association to those who, say, blew up a Muslim wedding in Afghanistan. Does this go for Muslims of all races, or just the "Arab" ones? Because I'd like to be clear on who I'm allowed to be a bigot to.
Let me preface this by saying that I despise the tendency to kill or silence people who say offensive things. (Don't like it? Don't buy it, or write a letter, or protest peacefully.)
ReplyDeleteBut having said that, this situation is pretty disgusting from every angle. See this Yahoo news report about the film-maker:
"Bacile, a California real estate developer who identifies himself as an Israeli Jew, said he believes the movie will help his native land by exposing Islam's flaws to the world.
'Islam is a cancer, period,' he said repeatedly, his solemn voice thickly accented.
The two-hour movie, 'Innocence of Muslims,' cost $5 million to make and was financed with the help of more than 100 Jewish donors, said Bacile, who wrote and directed it."
Not only did the guy go out of his way to be offensive, he did it so irresponsibly that it practically invites violence against Jews, Americans and Israelis, especially those who can't afford to go into hiding like the brave director. It's precisely this kind of behavior that justifies the existence and enforcement of laws against hate speech.
I will say you can be a biggot to anyone of any religion. That way you can be sure you aren't singling out any particular religion. Now grow your hair long, stop eating pork, put on your magic underwear, become one with a tree and blow something up.
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