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tragic lives of the irony-impaired

Muslims armed with assault rifles and grenade launchers rallied outside the European Union headquarters in Gaza City and fired shots in the air.

They were demanding an apology for cartoons that "disrespected" Islam by relating it to terrorism.

In Basra, Iraq, a roadside bomb targeted a joint Danish-Iraqi military patrol. There were no casualties in the attack.

"British Maj. Peter Cripps said coalition forces are investigating if there was any link between the attack and September's publication by the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten of cartoons of Prophet Muhammad deemed offensive by many Muslims."

Like this one? *

If Muslims are characterized as terrorists, whose fault is that?

* ironic observation thanks to jOnz, at this very extensive discussion at Harry's Place.

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Posted by Mary Madigan on Tuesday January 31, 2006 at 8:03am

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double-plus-ungood (www):

If Muslims are characterized as terrorists, whose fault is that?

Idiot xenophobes who are more mentally comfortable with stereotypes than actual people?

Just a guess.

1.31.2006 11:42am

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mary (mail) (www):

Are you calling the Muslims who threatened all citizens of the Norway and Denmark idiot xenophobes?

I can't disagree with that.

1.31.2006 11:48am

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double-plus-ungood (www):

I wouldn't catagorize all Muslims as terrorist because of the the ones freaking out over the Denmark cartoons any more than I would catagorize all Sikhs as terrorists or all Christians as intolerant idiots because of the actions as a few of them.

If some people characterize all Muslims as terrorists, it's because those people are idiots, not because some Muslims object to certain cartoons.

1.31.2006 12:30pm

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mary (mail) (www):

I wouldn't catagorize all Muslims as terrorist because of the the ones freaking out over the Denmark cartoons any more than I would catagorize all Sikhs as terrorists or all Christians as intolerant idiots because of the actions as a few of them.

During the Irish 'troubles' I heard a lot of Brits making standard jokes (as they always do) about how stupid the Irish were. That was offensive, and I'd say so. But if they characterized all Irish as terrorists, I wouldn't argue, because the behavior of the majority of Irish, who either supported or were willing to quietly tolerate terrorism, was abominable and indefensible.

The people who were willing to quietly tolerate terrorists in their midst were morally indefensible and entirely to blame, then and now.

1.31.2006 1:44pm

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double-plus-ungood (www):

The notion that the Irish are all terrorists is defensible. Okay, got it. Thanks.

1.31.2006 2:15pm

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mary (mail) (www):

the notion that the Irish are all terrorists is defensible.

Well, that's not what I said, but the Irish unwillingness to condemn and destroy the shits who turned to terrorism in the '70 is a scar on our heritage. I'm not going to defend that.

1.31.2006 11:13pm

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double-plus-ungood (www):

So then could we assume that anyone who claimed that all Irish are terrorists would be a dick?

I mean, that's what I've been assuming already, but I'm curious as to where this thread leads.

2.1.2006 11:56am

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mary (mail) (www):

So then could we assume that anyone who claimed that all Irish are terrorists would be a dick?

Bigots hate people for what they think they are, not for what they do. Brits who reflexively call the Irish stupid, an assumption that (of course) has no basis in reality, are bigots.

On the other hand, terrorism is an abomination. People deserve a certain amount of contempt if they're not willing to condemn terrorism, or if they actively let it thrive in their society.

2.1.2006 3:49pm

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double-plus-ungood (www):

People deserve a certain amount of contempt if they're not willing to condemn terrorism, or if they actively let it thrive in their society.

Well, of course. But does that mean that I can go on assuming that people who reflexively call the Irish terrorist are, in fact, dicks? Or not?

2.2.2006 2:29pm

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mary (mail) (www):

You don't need my permission to assume anything about anyone's dick or non-dick characteristics. Assume whatever you please.

2.2.2006 5:17pm

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double-plus-ungood (www):

Thanks, will do.

2.2.2006 6:46pm