Where’s the outrage? Oh, right here …
Too bad about the people who get killed. But it’s all publicity, right? Speaking of that, these constant images of maddened Muslim mobs tend to work against a religion that is supposed to be all gentle and nice. I think Islam is supposed to be all about the Five Pillars, faith and prayer and fasting and so forth. But all we see on CNN is a sixth pillar made of suicide bombs and AK-47s. Every time some grinning clod jams a stick into the hornet’s nest, he’s hoping for two things: some brief fame, and a wildly disproportionate reaction that further complicates Islam’s already serious public-relations problem. Over in Yemen, they’re always happy to oblige.
At the risk of restating the obvious: this kind of thing is not about Islam. It’s about a vast demographic of very poor, very ignorant and very angry young men, who happen to be concentrated in a region with no tradition of free speech. They see images of Western excess every day and resent it greatly. Add in the easy availability of weapons and explosives, a lot of cynical leaders who preach that death (not their own) is a really great outcome, and it doesn’t take much to get them going. In that climate, they could all be Unitarians and still be violent as hell. It’s not so much about defending the prophet as sticking it to the man.
I don’t know who made this stupid video and don’t really care. I don’t think U.S. officials should be apologizing for it and thus implying some sort of responsibility. All we can really do is reiterate that free speech is sacrosanct on this side of the world, and that individual speech has nothing to do with government policy. It won’t placate the mobs, but then you’ve seen the pictures. Only blood will do that.
Anna of the two religions
It’s not about contraception
No end to selective outrage
Presidents matter. Popes, not so much.
I can’t remember who wrote the column I’m thinking of, but they said one problem over there is that the mob members have access to technology that is hundreds of years ahead of their mental development.
And then we have our own idiots who poke them with a stick but are never in their line of fire.
Point well made, Dave. I still don’t understand how, where, or when anyone apologized for the video. I know Romney said Obama’s White House did, but I’ve read the statement he was talking about and it didn’t look to me like an apology. Maybe someone could apologize that a lot of stupid movies are made in Hollywood and/or show up on the internet, but I don’t think Obama needs to take the blame for that.
I agree that what we need to say is that the right to free speech is paramount, and that we will defend that right. We should not comment on the content or quality of the material because that is irrelevant. We should lead by example and try to help people (including our own people) see past superstition and bigotry. (And here I put my pessimist hat back on and say…) It may never happen, and may be impossible, given human nature, but we should at least try.
Splendid image of violent Unitarians finds its way to my tired mind.
You missed one part of your calling, David. I nominate you to replace Jennifer Rubin when she finally flames out on WaPo.
I also appreciate John H’s comment regarding helping people see past superstition and bigotry. We seem to be a lot better at encouraging superstition and bigotry. (See Jennifer Rubin above.)