The Cycle Continues

Okay, let's be realistic about this story. Muslims across the world are upset over the opinion of one man, published in cartoon form, in a Danish newspaper called Jyllans-Posten, and are blaming all Danes and Europeans in general for the desecration of the image of Mohammed. In certain places, such as Lebanon and in the Palestinian territories, there are riots in the streets, and consulate buildings being burned, and all Danes and Norweigans are being urged to the leave whatever Muslim nation they happen to be visiting, living in, passing through, etc.

In the interests of public debate (because most commercial news sources are afraid to show the pictures, or can't, because they profit from the use and thus cannot claim FAIR USE as a justification for using the work of another, and because of a million other ancient, pre-internet copyright laws) I shall post an image of the offending pictures below. I found the image on a third party site (or fourth, or fifth, or sixth), which probably copied the image from elsewhere, but all credit goes to the Jyllans-Posten, whom I've linked to above.

And before I have a million angry people at the gates demanding that The Wheel be thrown up on the Great Tire Fire, allow me to say that I while I think it would be stupid to riot over a mere cartoon, my point is that this is about far more than just one stupid cartoon (and, well, about how it felt for me personally to see the Islamic world angry at someone other than Americans for once). They are angry about far more than this cartoon, though the media would have you believe otherwise.

The cartoon explanation is a simple way to trivialize what these people stand for (which, in my opinion, is the protection of their Culture, through any means necessary, as tyrants and rebels have always done, throughout history). The result is always Death and Misery for all. War is a disease of the human condition, but I have to believe it can be cured.

Peaceful-minded Muslims across the world (wherever they are) need to speak LOUDLY for once. I know Islam is a religion of peace, so I have to believe that most would admit that suicide bombings among crowds of innocents are something Allah would abhor. Even they have to admit this, or they are hypocrites, and furthermore, there does seem to be a disproportionate number of groups in the world that are committed to blowing themselves up----along with dozens of innocents----in astounding acts of horror----that happen to be Islamic militants. If anyone has heard of any non-Islamic suicide bombers recently, please let me know. I'll be glad to take back what I just wrote.

So, if these Muslims want to be mad at anyone, why aren't they mad at the terrorists----whom they refer to as martyrs, or freedom fighters----who misrepresent everything Islam stands for? Or, if they are angered, why aren't they speaking out? Is it because of Fear? (Paranoia: Is it a Global Media Conspiracy, silencing those voices??) The terrorists are the ones who are giving this horrible image to Islam, an image that is contrary to what the religion is supposed to stand for. Where are the vocal advocates of peace in the Islamic world? Their voices need to be heard. I have to believe that they're out there. Only they can bring peace, because fanatics cannot be reasoned with (and that includes Bush fanatics as well----an entire subject altogether).

At any rate, I hope this doesn't spark a controversy, but I shall post the image, as promised. My use of it is for the benefit of intellectual debate, and this page is completely non-profit, so this use falls under Fair Use. Here 'tis:

Oh, and meanwhile, as this story is going on, there is breaking news regarding the escape of the al-Qaida motherfucker who bombed the USS Cole on October 12, 2000. Nice fucking job guys. How's that War on Terror going? It ain't looking so good right now.

My friends and I who followed the news all knew back then--and even before the Cole bombing--that bin Laden and his group had some serious fucking intentions, and that the Taliban was doing horrible things in Afghanistan. I have a feeling that 9/11 was the first time GW Bush ever even heard of bin Laden, other than perhaps as a rebellious child in a family tied to the Bush family through Oil, and other holdings. Now Bush just uses him as an excuse to create a police state, and to do whatever he wants in the name of national security. Ugh, it's all very disheartening to think about.

Okay, no more politics for a while (maybe I'll just make it a Sunday thing. . .). I had to get that off my chest.