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A Further Perspective
Muslim Rage and the Lost Dignity of the West
When an insult goes unpunished, it lowers everyone.
It does not really surprise me that a Scandinavian magazine called Se Och Hor should be the latest in line, following publications in Italy and Ireland, to publish nude pics of the Duchess of Cambridge when she thought herself protected by elementary courtesy.
Courtesy, as we know, is formal, often hypocritical; for that very reason it is valuable, worth teaching and preserving because the human animal does not always possess the sense of dignity, which in turn produces a sense of respect for others, which finds expression in good manners.
Why not? Why is the human animal not inherently dignified and respectful of others’ dignity? Probably — I am no anthropologist — because he is corrupt, corrupted by a lousy education that starts with lousy parents and continues through lousy teachers, school systems, and democracy as we currently practice it in our politics and our culture and our social behavior generally.
That is more that I can bear by way of theoretical introductions, and what I really mean to say is this: these gutter editors, these loutish photographers, if you were an Englishman and you ran into them in a bar or better in an alley, you would, were you brought up with proper manners, have no compunction about giving them a thrashing. And you would be right to do so, although — as a properly mannered gentleman — you might give them a break if they turned out to be the 99-pound weaklings they probably are (or frails without police or army training), and merely slap them just hard enough to dislocate a nose, redden an ear, or loosen a few teeth. Magnanimity is the essence of power.
If you were an Englishman: or, I hasten to add, a person of the Anglosphere, the English-speaking peoples, and, by a stretch perhaps, the West, which very much can include, in these strange globalistic times we live in, individuals and whole communities from any geographic or cultural territory on the planet. Yes, even the republicans among us — the editors of the Economist, for example, who for since 20 years or more, to my knowledge, have called for the abolition of the British monarchy.
You can be for or against the monarchy and you can be for or against the Windsors in particular and you can be for or against whatever you want, but you have to recognize the value of individuals and respect their dignity. You have to stick up for your side and what your side stands for, right or wrong in anyone else’s mind. Even your own, in fact, if the challenge comes from a foreign tribe.
This is why I respectfully disagree with the thoughtful, intelligent, and even poignant essay by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, published in last week’s Newsweek, that says that Muslim rage stems from the failure of Muslim cultures to internalize the Voltairian notion, itself footed in a uniquely Western faith in reason and rational discourse, that one may simultaneously object to another’s opinions and yet fight to the death for his right to express them. I rather agree with Voltaire on this, up to a point, but only insofar as Western societies are concerned. In societies where reason has not been internalized, forget it. It has no meaning.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who fled her native Somalia to escape an arranged marriage that she did not want, traded the Islamic fanaticism in which she grew up for the West’s liberal faith in reason. She writes that at 19 she took part in a demo supporting the fatwa to murder Salman Rushdie, though she had not read the book he authored, The Satanic Verses, and that offended the top Khomaniac. Many people died because of that fatwa, including the Japanese translator of Rushdie’s novel, but not Ayatollah Khomeini, who was never even charged with incitement to murder, which is punishable under the criminal codes of most law-abiding nations. Arguably he could have been indicted under conspiracy laws, including the RICO act, as well, but that takes me away from my point.
My point is that Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who settled in the Netherlands and later moved to the U.S. following the murder of a film maker with whom she produced a documentary about the treatment of women in Islam, believes, as does Salman Rushdie even after many years in hiding, under constant protection of the British police, that Islamic societies eventually will grow out of the “utopian ideologies” that political Islam, or Islamism, partake of. Her position is that they have a “short lifespan” and, therefore, we can wait them out. In the meantime, and here I find myself in agreement with her, we must not cede to the typical temptation to respond the way, by all reports, our own high officials responded to the latest expression of Muslim rage, namely by apologizing for what putatively caused it.
In the first place, the cause is not us, but them. As Mr. Tyrrell noted the other day in his news commentary column, there will always be some film or cartoon or what not circulating somewhere that a self-righteous and self-appointed guardian of the truth will find offensive.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali is quite on the money when she writes that Western governments and intellectuals are completely incoherent when they profess steadfast adherence to free speech and at the same time condemn its results. Our government is reported to be investigating — what in the world is there to investigate? — the authors of a film which practically no one has seen that is supposed to have set off the riots around the Islamic world, under cover of which American diplomats were murdered in Benghazi, Libya, which we liberated from the tyrant Gaddafi at considerable cost though not, fortunately, with American blood. The French government urged a magazine not to publish satirical cartoons disrespectful on the prophet Muhammad, sort of the St. Paul of Islam.
These are exercises in blaming the victim, as Ms. Ali well knows. At the same time, if Ms. Ali believes we must resolutely defend free speech because to curtail it in the name of prudence and in the false belief it will make Muslim fanatics like us is simply to subvert our own civilization, she also believes that Islamic societies are capable of evolving in our direction, namely in the direction of separation of religion and public affairs and away from the totalitarianism of “despotic ideologies.”
I hope she is right. But there is no evidence that she is right.
African Islam south of the Sahara differs from the variety that is known across the great crescent from Morocco to Iran and western Asia. This is because it is superimposed upon more ancient, more deeply rooted beliefs that value differences, because they expect them, between different peoples, and therefore do not go manic when people behave the way their people are expected to behave.
We are attempting to bring enlightenment and Voltairian free-spiritedness to Pak and Pashtun tribes that even the Brits, far more hard-nosed and resolute than we — though their own policy debates essentially foreshadowed ours, advancing the almost exact same choices — were unable to change over a much longer time during which they were in charge. The way our government is doing this is by saying, through the voice of our secretary of state, that freedom of expression is “reprehensible” when it offends people who hate us.
About the Author
Roger Kaplan, a Washington-based writer, covers the Middle East and Africa (and tennis) for The American Spectator.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (129) | Leave a comment
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Darin| 9.21.12 @ 6:31AM
Muslims demand respect for their beliefs and traditions while deliberately targeting the beliefs and traditions of others.
Killing a woman because she was raped and thus defiled herself.
Blowing up ancient statues of Buddah in Afghanistan.
Burning Bibles.
The list goes on.
Islam is in no position to demand or expect any sort of respect for Islam grants none.
chuck| 9.21.12 @ 7:02AM
There are Islamists in Egypt talking about destroying the pyramids because they are religious symbols.
Islam is a cult of death and destruction, and Allah is Satan.
Jack in Wi| 9.21.12 @ 8:30AM
It's none of our business what these countries do. Let them wallow in their own cultures. This crackpot zionist Kaplan thinks that we are supposed to start more wars all over the Muslim world in a never ending battle. The Christians and Jews in these countries were far more numerous before we stuck our noses in their business. Yes Roger this crude film and how it was used was the cause of these riots. The people who made this thing wanted there to be riots. They are all entangled with radical Zionists like Pam Gellar and Robert Spencer. Justin Raimondo over at Antiwar.com has exposed the connection in some great reporting. Who didn't know that this was just another false flag operation by the people who want us fighting endless wars for them. Of course it was done near the election. The answer is close the emabassies, close the bases, bring the troops home, end all foreign aid, and let them figure it out for themselves. They need us far more then we need them. If the embassies are closed there will be no way for people from these countries to visas. That is another good result.
irish19| 9.21.12 @ 9:04AM
Yeah, if all those pesky Jews would just submit or better yet drop dead all would be well.
Jack in Wi| 9.22.12 @ 8:26AM
They should make peace, which they could have done for decades. Instead they just keep up with the murder, torture, and theft. Israel is going to have to live in the neighborhood it stole from the rightful owners who had been there for 5000 years. We are bankrupt and can't carry them any more. It is like when the Roman Empire pulled out of provinces it could no longer defend. The people then had to figure it out for themselves.
CJW| 9.21.12 @ 10:24AM
The film was not the cause of the terrorrist attacks and rioting. It was a pretext.
Even Baghdad Bob Carney for the Obama regime has admitted it is "self evident" that these are planned terrorrist attacks. The Libyan president said the same one the first day of the attacks.
Anthony| 9.21.12 @ 1:05PM
So right CJW, but we must pity poor, poor, little purp the twerp and vtwin, as these two Obozo stooges have now been deprived of their favorite TAS post, "Obozo killed Osama".
No more bragging little fools, Obozo and Hillary have thrown you all under the bus, along with the rest of America.
C. Vernon Crisler | 9.21.12 @ 10:40AM
Pam Gellar and Robert Spencer are wonderfu people, who are telling the truth about Islam. Justin Raimondo is just a Paulista crackpot.
I definitely agree we need to end foreign aid to Moslem countries, and even to friendly countries. Government subsidies create dependency not only in individuals but also in foreign governments.
Also, I don't see anything crackpot about Kaplan. Obsessed with sports, maybe.....
Jack in Wi| 9.22.12 @ 8:09AM
End all foreign aid to all Muslim countries absolutly. But most of all end a foreign aid to the greatest welfare queen in the history of the world. We have been carrying this cancer on the world for decades. If they can't support themselves they should just take their dual paassports and go back to where they came from. They might like it better and the world would be a far better place. A million Jewish Israeli's have already left Israel. Lets hope they are joined by millions more. If not that, then get rid of all the crazies in the Israeli government and make a just and lasting peace. After all why did you steal the place if you hated the neighbors? Didn't you ever hear location, location location?
Jack in Wi| 9.22.12 @ 8:17AM
As For Gellar and Spencer. The only word I can use for them is hatemongers. I believe in calling a spade a spade. Their job is to keep turmoil and hate going.
C. Vernon Crisler | 9.22.12 @ 12:15PM
Jack, I'm sure the writer of Mein Kampf would agree with you.
Jack in Wi| 9.22.12 @ 12:37PM
The differences between National Socialism and and Zionism are only in a matter of degree. Hitler until Krystal Nacht 1938 treated the Jews better then you Israeli's treat the Arabs. We all know how that ended. His policies were very similar, harssment, deniel of rights, push for ethnic cleansing, and it finally led to genocide. All these policies except genocide have been carried out by the Israeli's. There are planty of people in Israel who want to push the Arabs out into the desert. In fact it is really the official policy. As for genocide, their are many insane people, like Occam, on this site who call for the murder of millions just so the Zionist nightmare can come through. Have a nice week end. Shalom is always the answer.
RCV| 9.21.12 @ 11:32AM
Jack - And what we and France and Denmark do in our own countries is none of THEIR business, either.
Jrk| 9.21.12 @ 1:47PM
You are such a pathetic weakling Jack. You are also a complete idiot who has bought into the bs reasoning of blaming the video. Do us all a favor and STFU!
Jack in Wi| 9.22.12 @ 8:15AM
Typical Zionist hack. Name calling and nonsense. They stink up every Middle East forum. Well what do,you expect? Most of them are kids in some Schul run by a crackpot rabbi. Who knows? Some of them might learn something here from some honest discussion? I hope so.
Riff Raff| 9.21.12 @ 3:45PM
"Crackpot!" Thy name is Jack.
Occam's Tool| 9.21.12 @ 5:37PM
Jack "Islam has it Right" Cheesehead Jihadi Cheekspreader speaks again. Amazing. Like a dog speaking, and about as intelligent.
Jack in Wi| 9.22.12 @ 7:59AM
I don't agree with Islam or Israel. I could care less what happens to them. I think they will do far better on their own without all our interfernce. What we doing sure isn't working, and what you propose mass murder and genocide is disgraceful. We have been carrying Israel around our necks for 64 years. It has cost us many trillions in foreign aid and grants which are never repaid, intrest which goes on forever, high oil prices as the Arabs screw us more and more, wasteful military spending to have huge forces in the Middle East and general bad will all around the world.
John Navratil| 9.22.12 @ 11:54AM
Occam's Tool,
At least my dog knows his friends and enemies.
Trinacria| 9.21.12 @ 7:01PM
"This crackpot zionist Kaplan thinks that we are supposed to start more wars all over the Muslim world in a never ending battle."
Really, Jack; that's what you read? Here's what I read:
"The assaults on our embassies and our diplomatic personnel should be met not with apologies but with punitive expeditions: by no means in every circumstance, for these affairs must be done when conditions assure their success, but often enough to make it clear to the offenders that we are a Power and we hold accountable both them and the governments in whose jurisdictions they operate."
I happen to be of like mind with Mr. Kaplan, at least to the extent that I embrace the radical view that we should protect our embassies and the Americans within from violent assault. Guess that makes me a wild-eyed, crazy zionist who wants to run willy-nilly starting endless wars all throughout the Muslim world. Who knew?
Jack in Wi| 9.22.12 @ 7:51AM
Thats all we have been doing is punative missions and we get more and more hated. When are you boys going to figure it out? We are hated for what we do not because of who we are. I have read Roger before, many times, and don't believe I mischarecterized him in any way. He is a crackpot Zionist.
Trinacria| 9.22.12 @ 2:59PM
Have it your way, Jack, but I shan't be inclined to like your chances in a war. You see, the trick is to fire back when fired upon; standing defenseless without returning fire makes the whole business rather unsporting.
You are certainly entitled to believe in the "if we just leave them alone they'll leave us alone" foreign policy doctrine (and you and Mr. Paul can stand by roasting marshmallows while our embassies burn). Me? No thanks. I tend to believe the lessons history has taught us, and there's nary a shred of evidence in the long disgraceful history of these primitive pukes that suggests a desire (or respect) for peace.
btims86| 9.21.12 @ 6:35AM
The Western man (and woman) have become wimps, lacking self-confidence, lacking drive, lacking pride.
We don't even believe in our country anymore. We lack the will to enforce our territory (borders) when it comes to mass illegal immigration because we're afraid of being called racist.
We used to be a nation of people who did things. Now we have been "Oprah-fied" for 20 some years. We talk about feelings. Pathetic.
Trinacria| 9.21.12 @ 7:05PM
"We don't even believe in our country anymore."
Guilty as charged. When we as a country devolve to a point where a disgraceful puke like the current occupant of the White House is selected by a majority of the voting citizens as an acceptable embodiment of the American ideal...well, you're damn right I no longer believe in that country anymore!
TLP| 9.21.12 @ 6:57AM
Did ya ever notice how being around idiots, tends to make normally Rational People sound like.........how can I put this..........like Idiots.
It's the same with Brainiacs, Politicians, and everyone from The Upper West Side, sitting in Starbucks with a Poopamocarino in one hand, and their d*ck in the other one, looking at their reflection in the Window, while one of those puffy cloud things hovers just above their heads with Al Franken's SNL Charachter life coaching them how Special they are. (Is that the longest sentence in TAS History, and did I just Win something?)
What was I doing?
Riiiiiiiiiiight - CONTEST FRIDAY.
A heeeeeeeeeeeeeere they are. (Hat Tip - The Dating Game)
Did you happen to notice that EVERYTHING is going wrong? And, not just here, or in the Middle East, but EVERYWHERE.
Europe is trying to come to grips with the FACT that - Minus Germany - the whole Continent is a buncha Lazy Effeminate Bums.
We have our own Effeminate Lazy Bum, in the Mosque at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. who's not just Lazy, Effeminate, and a Bum. He's actually NEVER HAD A JOB. So, why do we think he can get one for us?
Pecos Pete| 9.21.12 @ 7:31AM
Well Tim, he is going to retire to palace in Hawaii on the beach and live like a king for the rest of his life. From nothing he has built a massive fortune from two books and a relatively low salary as president. He ain't done too bad for himself.
Where did he get the stash?
TLP| 9.21.12 @ 8:02AM
INTRUDER ALERT! INTRUDER ALERT!
We have an Unauthorized Breach.
Move below for more Contest Related items.
TLP| 9.21.12 @ 7:45AM
The entire Explosive Belt Wearing population is back to doing what People who wear Explosive Belts are wont to do. They're Blowing things up. It doesn't matter to them WHY they're blowing things up, anymore than it matters WHO's pointing at Alan B. from the other side of the Peep Show Booth.
They're all over the place, Sacking our Embassies, Murdering our People, Blowing up Jewish Stores and Western Businesses with IMPUNITY. (And no, Albert, you don't fix that with Viagra.)
Meanwhile, back at the French Riviera, the French are still Frenching their Fries, their Guys, and (If they have any Money?) checking the Internet for some new digs.
The Spanish are Beatin Feet the Hell offa that Sinking Ship.
The English are busy buying up Hand Lotion and every Publication with The Royal Twin Peaks inside, that they can get their hands on, add Lotion, and get their hands on something else.
In other words - The West is literally Diddling themselves, while the whole world Burns. They won't even deign to ADMIT that there's even a Problem. In their Latte, Goose Liver World, all of this is just Bad Manners, befitting a Severe Tongue Lashing.
So they chit and they chat, and they Parley and they Confer with one another.
TLP| 9.21.12 @ 8:00AM
Meanwhile, the Capitol of the Explosive Belt Wearing Community is THISCLOSE to getting The Bomb.
When I look at this I see Lord of the Rings - I see the Scene where the Hobbits - Pip and Meri - seek out the Inhabitants of the Magic Forest, for their Help in turning back a Great Evil that is sweeping across Middle Earth (Middle East) and seeks to Consume everything in it's path.
The trees agree to gather, and they talk, and they talk, and they talk some more. And, when they are finished Talking, they decide that the best solution is not to do anything. After all, it doesn't have anything to do with them, directly, yet.
I see the Trees as The West, and Pip and Meri as Netanyahu, who keeps trying to impress upon our "Best and Brightest" that They are Coming, and it is in Everyone's Interest to Stop them NOW, before it's too late.
TLP| 9.21.12 @ 8:21AM
The object of the Game is to come up with the Best Analogy of what is in the News. In this Case - The Utter Alfred E. Neumann "What Me Worry"? attitude concerning the THREAT of what is building in the Middle East, and the Threat that I'mahandajob is building Underground, in Iran.
It can be a Movie. It can be from Television. It can be a Cartoon.
Alan? One of those three. Okay?
Obviously, it can't be the one that I did.
And, if the Gal who claims to be 36-24-36 is thinking of playing? Just putting down your Phone Number might be enough.
The Prizes, as some of you already know, are as follows.
The Winner(s) will receive a Collection of Paperboy Bicycle Seats, that were recently uncovered in an old Storage Locker, rented by Purp. They are all wrapped in cellophane, apparently to preserve any Scent that they may have. So, enjoy.
The Loser(s) get one of the Drool Cups, used By "There is No God" Kitty, during her Night Job behind the 711 where she lives, making $20 a Session, on her knees, Converting the Believers in to Non Belivers.
That's it.
As Mitt Romney might say - Ready? Go? SET!
Whatever.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 9.21.12 @ 8:43AM
I’m thinking of Kill Bill, Part II, in the last scene in the trailer in the desert. Think of Uma Thurman as Israel, previously attacked by Bill’s minions (those Middle East nations which have denied her right to exist). Think of brother Bud as Assad’s Syria (burnt out, but still mean as hell). Darryl Hannah with the eye patch is Achmedinejad’s Iran (treacherous, willing to make alliances of convenience but pathologically evil), and the sword and the snake emblematic of the urge to develop its lethal nuclear capability.
Hopefully, the US will be Sonny Chiba, having given Darryl the implement she will need to win her battle for survival, as she goes back into the trailer (and doesn’t get a load of rock salt in the region of the anatomy that dominated the discussion in much of last week’s contest), rips out Darryl Hannah’s other eye, and lets the snake finish the job out there in the desert.
TLP| 9.21.12 @ 9:43AM
I gotta tell ya.
That's pretty good.
One more IMPORTANT THING, people.
You need to EXPLAIN the Scenes that you are Entering. Keep tit clean. Some people are proned to Fantasizing about certain Female mechanisms that Rhyme with Mitt, and Deloris. And I think we ALL KNOW who he is.
Also, I invited Kaminsky to partake.
With any luck, he will take me up on my offer, and join us right after his Pedicure.
You must explain the Scene.
Joellen| 9.21.12 @ 6:22PM
Ok I am in. The Great Escape, when the great Steve McQueen (he represents America) sticks his neck out to confirm the escape strategy (this is afer the Scot (he & Steve always seem to be ISOLATED) is excuted by the Nazi's). The Longest Day, when the great John Wayne is filled with disgust and outrage (that would be us Patriots he represents) when he comes upon the US paratroopers hanging in the trees shot by the Nazis (just think of how Obama has our Military hanging in the wind) and finally Braveheart, where the great Mel Gibson passionately ask the freedom fighters (us) do we wish to live in fear and chains or do we have the courage to risk dying, fighting for freedom for us & our posterity (ok I dont remember it verbatem - but you all know that terrific scene). Three great movies - I only pray that the outcome for us works out as well (for the country); if you remember McQueen 's character was isolated at the end; Wayne 's was injured and Gibson 's WW well his body was mutilated (again) think Islamic Terrorist.
Trinacria| 9.21.12 @ 7:46PM
Caddyshack.
Chocalate bar in the pool.
Everyone sees it as a turd and a mass exodus ensues.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 9.21.12 @ 10:27AM
"having given Darryl the implement "
Actually, I meant Uma, but everyone seems to be following so far.
TLP| 9.21.12 @ 1:52PM
I'm not so sure.
I'm looking at the Judges, and they do not look happy.
Pecos Pete| 9.21.12 @ 9:10AM
The Utter Alfred E. Neumann "What Me Worry"? attitude: Albert Gore's Current TV along with all the news of the day at http://current.com/.
Personally, I think Albert C., jr. has a lock on the winner's prize, but then I am not Tim who be de judge.
TLP| 9.21.12 @ 9:44AM
Wow.
Aren't WE the Quitter.
TLP| 9.21.12 @ 9:47AM
Ladies and Gentlemen.
I give you Pecos Pete.
Absolutely the LAST GUY you want in the Fox Hole with you.
Pecos Pete| 9.21.12 @ 8:25PM
Thanks, Tim. I think not.
TLP| 9.22.12 @ 7:32AM
Joke, Pete.
George S| 9.21.12 @ 10:04AM
Tod Browning's Freaks
No particular plot line or scene but just like the film, we elected real-life freaks in '08 to run our government. If that doesn't make for a horror film, nothing does.
Gooble-Gobble.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 9.21.12 @ 12:40PM
"Now you're one of us" sends chills through my spine in the context of your example, as the 47% tries to make the 52 of the remaining 53% as dependent as they are.
rightasrain| 9.21.12 @ 10:12AM
At the risk of being repetitive, nothing says the Obama administration like the Marx Brothers:
Hillary Clinton: Excellency, here is the report on Iran's nuclear capabilities. I hope you'll find it clear.
Obama: Clear?!!! Why a four year old child could understand it! Now run out and find me a four year old child because I can't make heads or tails of it.
I also like the lyrics to the Eagles song Get Over It -- if songs are acceptable. "You complain about the present and blame it on the past. I'd like to get your inner child and kick its little ass."
TLP| 9.21.12 @ 1:54PM
Anything for you, rightasrain. (you're one of our Lady Friends, right?)
R Martin| 9.21.12 @ 10:30AM
Animal Farm. The whole book; it works on so many levels.
rightasrain| 9.21.12 @ 11:05AM
Thinking about how impotent America is these days reminded me of The Mouse That Roared with Peter Sellers where the teeny Grand Duchy of Fenwick declares war on the US because there is nothing as profitable as going to war with the United States and losing. The prime minister says that Americans are very strange; whereas most countries won't forgive anything, Americans forgive everything. Then when Fenwick actually wins, a US General tells his men that if they are captured they must not talk, even if they are tortured. His men then ask "can we scream a little?"
mike 3/505| 9.21.12 @ 11:24AM
Tim,
I will answer with a "fast forward" to election day in November, when hopefully, Romney wins.
It will be like the beach scene in Lord of the Fies, when all the animals/children/liberals are raging in a full blown riot on the beach killing each other.
Then the rowboat touches the shore and an adult steps out and the riot stops....
I know it's sort of a repeat...
Regards,
Mike
mike 3/505| 9.21.12 @ 11:25AM
The "powerful group" of kids is the Islamists while the weak group is the US led by Obama.
TLP| 9.21.12 @ 1:59PM
C'mon. You're a TWO TIME CHAMPION.
Asking me to allow this unbelievably weak and lazy entry?
That's like asking ARod to bunt.
I have to REJECT this Entry, and please ask you to put down the Bag of Potato Chips, and get back to work on some NEW MATERIAL.
Chop, chop.
Al Adab| 9.21.12 @ 2:06PM
I'm particulary fond of the COEXIST bumper sticker especially as I notice the riots all across America where our people are burning the Egyptian embassy and firing into the Libyan embassy. The hanging of several American Moslem leaders along with the Iranian Ambassador by the outraged mob certainly shows how intolerant and agrieved the American population is for the many movies and other "art" examples which insult their values and religion.
CJW| 9.21.12 @ 4:42PM
We do not even have to look at movies or tv shows to show the clueless Obama regime.
First, Obama on Letterman said he did not know the amount of the deficit when he took office. Then he said the deficit is not a problem in the short term, probably because he knows he will lose and move to Hawaii next year, so Romney gets to deal with the problem.
Second, Moe Obama and Larry Rhodam Clinton (where was Curley Biden?) apologizing to anyone who will listen, and running the ad on Pakistani TV. Hillary looked like she was catatonic, on valium or lithium. The only time she gets angry and animated is when she attacks the vast right wing conspiracy. Maybe we should tell her the muslim terrorrists are conservative Republicans.
They attack us and we apologize. Obama and Hillary.
mike 3/505| 9.21.12 @ 4:09PM
Doctor Zhivago...no explanation necessary.
Joellen| 9.22.12 @ 5:05PM
Mike, I agree - I always you this movie as a "wait and see - this could happen to us if we dont protect our freedom".
Bob Grant| 9.21.12 @ 3:54PM
Caddyshack,
Bushwood Country Club - Iran
the Gopher infestation - Iran's nuclear proliferation
Carl Spackler - Israel
The Turd in the Pool - Barack Hussein Obama
Sorry, this is all I got. I watched Caddyshack last night.
Terrible Ted| 9.21.12 @ 4:39PM
I submit the tag team matches from professional wrestling as I remember it on TV in the 60s.
There are two teams. One with good guys who play by the rules; the other team with unruly guys who constantly flout the rules. The referee emphatically ensures the good guys follow the rules while the “heels” double team the lone good guy in the ring. The crowd goes into a frenzy over this obvious outrage.
The unruly team is the Explosive Belt Wearing (sometimes literally) population. The good guys are us, the law abiding portion of western world. The referee represents the current administration and the media (one in the same) turning a blind eye to everything that is terrible, the unruly guys, while lecturing the good guys about breaking the pliable rules. The crowd, demanding that the referee get it right, to no avail, represent Netanyahu.
In the end, though, I think the good guys always win—good triumphing over evil—no matter how much the referees tilts the contests. Perhaps they wake up by playing by the rules given to them by the dishonest referee, temporarily, and rise up to defeat the belt wearers.
TW in SC| 9.21.12 @ 10:13PM
"It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!"
Just as the classic cartoon kicks off the holiday season by celebrating perhaps one of the more fun bits of being a kid, or used to, the gaggle of kids in this perpetual Halloween goodie represent the American people and the government.
Lucy opens the classic with her naive, intellectual brother, rolling the largest pumpkin out of the patch because, it's not so much the spirit of the thing as it is having the biggest sumbich punkin around. Then, she promptly "executes" it in front of her naive, uber-intellectual brother who is horrified to learn the reality of Halloween involves gourd surgery.
Linus is the left. But Lucy is both Harry Reid and Obama rolled into one as we see her convince the republican, Charlie Brown, the gullible, wanting-to-be-liked guy that he is, run up and miss the football as Lucy once again pulls it away and he "lands flat on his back and kills himself".
Could there be a better analogy to compare to democrats' lying and republican gullibility? Even with Charlie saying, flatly and directly, "I don't mind your dishonesty half as much as I mind your opinion of me; You must think I'm stupid."
TW in SC| 9.21.12 @ 10:18PM
The parallel continues as Charlie Brown tries his best to make a simple costume and bolluxes it so badly, that the givers of treats (the electorate) keeps giving him rocks instead of treats.
Meanwhile, Linus, ever the utopian, heads out to the punkin patch to wait for the Great Pumpkin, who will satisfy his need to believe in a better thing than what the rest of the world is doing by going out and getting, admittedly, begging at the door, but it's a sanctified custom, much like welfare and even social security.
He waits and waits.
Snoopy, ever the independent, goes about his own way, doing his own thing, not caring much about the rabble or the hoi-polloi, and thus, finds himself deeply basted in a fantasy of his own making. Much like the "independent" voters in the rolls of the electorate.
He even crosses paths from time-to-time with both the utopian and the rabble at the party. Interestingly, the most radical of the rabble, Lucy, is disgusted by the independent.
Charlie tries to make sense of it all but is, again, used as a prop by the masses of the left-wingers to be...a model for how they want to carve the pumpkin. They duped him again, suckered him by taking advantage of his good nature, only to be humiliated.
TW in SC| 9.21.12 @ 10:23PM
After the party's over, the rabble goes home. Lucy finds her utopian brother chilled to the bone waiting for his idol, only to result in a no-show. Even Sally, a generally conservative person, waited with him in the hopes of getting goodies and was sorely let down by the promises of the utopian, who failed to produce.
But Lucy, ever the watchful, if somewhat cruel guardian over her utopian brother, brings him back inside and puts him to bed.
The next day, the utopian and the fatalist republican have a conversation and Charlie says he's done some stupid things too. Linus takes serious umbrage to the statement and curses Charlie Brown for his lack of faith in utopia and says, "Just wait'll next year....YOU'LL see!" perpetuating the myth that utopia is somewhere in the future, if we only have the courage to get there.
TW in SC| 9.21.12 @ 10:29PM
There are a few things to parallel today's events. Charlie's observance of the obvious, for one and then there's Lucy's choosing a witch mask saying, "One should always choose a costume, which is in direct contrast to their own personality", which is Pelosi and Reid and any other duplicitous socialist in our government today.
Snoopy, the independent, occasionally looks in on the rabble of the world but only participates when he can be the center of attention. Independents seem to be a lot like that.
Schroeder, the musician, is a closet gay and doesn't like to say too much but when he does, it's usually from a conservative viewpoint. This, he knows would belie his skill as a reputable musician so he usually just keeps it to himself, and he truly dreads Lucy for many reasons. One, she's a girl. Two, she's a flaming socialist feminazi and three, she's a loudmouth.
I think Charles Schulz had his finger on the pulse of the US in 1963 more than people realize.
TLP| 9.22.12 @ 7:54AM
Better late than never.
In a startling reversal, the Judges have declared TW in SC our Grand Prize Winner!
Omgicbtsobjwtc!
I'm Texting, and whoever deciphers it, gets all of the Cellophane that the Bicycle Seats came wrapped in. AND, you can have my old Bicycle Seat, that I put in the back yard to keep the Deer out.
I don't know who TW is (Tom Wolfe?) (Tilt a Wirl?) (Tiny Wiener?) (Tony [Anthony] Wiener?) (Does anyone care?) but this is the kinda Stuff this Contest was meant to bring out of all of you Pathetic, Friendless, Shut-ins.
I think you could tell from my last entry, yesterday, that I was Down. Disappointed. Deflated. Lots of D words.
I put my Heart and Soul into this, because I love all you guys so much, and it has nothing to do with this being my Community Service Assignment. (Go figure)
Even though you've lost your Bike Seats, you don't leave, empty handed.
I'm sending you all a Coupon for One Free Slurpie, at the 711 where No God Kitty lives. But, you can only redeem them after dark.
Get the Picture?
Occam's Tool| 9.21.12 @ 5:38PM
Germany is increasingly becoming a society of lazy bums, as well, TLP. For one thing, no kids.
TLP| 9.21.12 @ 6:17PM
The Contest Ends at 8pm.
I will be awarding the Prizes, shortly thereafter.
I gotta tell ya, I was down in the dumps, over the poor showing, earlier today.
But with this late flurry of entrants, I have Hope, once more.
Thank You.
All of you.
TLP| 9.22.12 @ 7:55AM
"No kids".
That IS lazy.
Trinacria| 9.21.12 @ 7:08PM
TLP,
With respect, even with Germany Europe is a bunch of lazy effeminate bums; they're just lazy, effeminate bums with no sense of humor...
TLP| 9.21.12 @ 8:57PM
Wow.
I notice that a lot of last weeks Contestants are gone this week. That's too bad.
Then, again, I notice a lot of New Faces, and that's good.
This will be the Last Contest for a while, for, like most things, the 3rd time is not necessarily the Charm.
The 3rd Godfather Movie. The 3rd Star Wars Movie. The 3rd, 4th, 5th Rockey Movies.
I get it. Everybody's on edge, and Emotions are running high. I get it.
As far as the Prizes go?
I'm giving everyone a Bicycle Seat from Purp's Collection. Albert Constantine whatever gets one for his Enthusiasm, as well as his Entry.
mike 3/505 gets one for his Commitment to the Art of Movie Analogy.
CJW, Trinerica, Gary B. Terrible Ted, Bob Grant, Al Adab, Joellen, rightasrain, R Martin, George S, Pecos Pete, and Tina B. all get one for showing up, and giving it their all.
Thanks.
My truck broke down today - $400. My 7 year old was a Dick. My 12 year old IS a Dick, I hate the Stupid Dog, and my wife is gonna Bitch all night, because my tools are in the Dining Room, the Sink is full of Dishes, and we've got Two Days of Baseball Games and Birthday Parties Tomorrow and the Next Day.
Hey, it was a nice run, and we had some laughs. But, like Star Trek Next Generation: "All Good Things".
As far as the Drool Cups?
I'm giving them back to Godless Kitty.
Without GOD in her life, she can use all of the Friends she can get.
Til Monday.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 9.21.12 @ 9:46PM
TLP;
Once again, thanks for the partial prize. I’ll immediately be submitting my bicycle seat to the FBI crime lab to test for DNA, in order to determine which of those children on the milk cartons placed there by the Center for Missing and Exploiting Children were last “friended” by Purp.
Again, there were so many great entries, that I am humbled that I claimed a partial prize. Like you, my 12 year old is trouble (smarter than everyone. If you ask him), and my 16 year old is fighting with my wife( and my teenage daughter is more in the right than my spouse) and my 18 year old just registered as a Republican voter, so I take back all that I said about the virtue of remaining celibate and childless. At the moment, all of our Jeeps are hanging on, but every day is a hostage to the auto repairman.
I miss Nick tonight, but God works in mysterious ways
There were a lot of great entries, even if they didn’t always stick to the Iran and Israel theme you described for today’s contest. Joellen, Trinacria, R Martin (shout out for the First State), Pecos Pete, George S. Rightasrain, Mike 3/505 (the riggers are packing his next chute as we speak) have all helped move the ball forward on the contest. CJW and Al Adab threw blocks as well.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 9.21.12 @ 9:48PM
While America might be like Hadleyville in High Noon, without enough Americans willing to be Gary Cooper [too many (perhaps 47%) are like the bartender, who remembered the good times when Frank Miller and his crew ran amok, and count on the good times to return once the threats to their checks are eliminated}, you, TLP, mobilized us briefly not to consider Holllywood as our enemy, but as a metaphor factory for thinking people.
So for that, as they might say at the Hanzo sword shop in Okinawa, Domo Arigato Gezaimas.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 9.21.12 @ 9:53PM
Not to mention Bob Grant's "Varmint Cong"...
TLP| 9.22.12 @ 8:12AM
Not for nothin? But you might wanna SROLL UP a little.
There's been a Startling Happenstance since last night. The Judges have done something Unprecedented in the 3 Long Weeks this Contest has been going on. Something SHOCKING, that was completely out of my control.
Perhaps, I should have informed all of you at the beginning, that these were Replacement Judges, as the Regular Judges are all at The Betty Ford Clinic.
It seems that they have allowed a Late Entry, while the rest of us were asleep.
Check it out.
And, remember - This had nothing to do with me.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 9.22.12 @ 9:51AM
I have changed the Fedex label on the box containing my bicycle seat from the FBI lab to TW in SC. The entry is clearly superior. Like Booger in Revenge of the Nerds II, as he meets the gas expelling Asian man in the motel, I bow before TW in SC and utter: "Master".
TLP| 9.22.12 @ 8:15PM
"In another life, I might have called you, Friend." (Hat Tip - Romulan Commander, Episode 3 - Star Trek.)
You're the best, Albert.
I couldn'ta done it without you.
Live long, and look for the next CONTEST.
Joellen| 9.22.12 @ 7:28AM
Thanks Tim, you have mobilized a small army here at TAS. I am proud to be among this group of Rebels. GOD bless all and keep us sane in the days and weeks to come.
TLP| 9.22.12 @ 8:30AM
You know what? I take back what I said about this time not being as good as the Last.
After a good night's sleep, and going back and reading all of these, I retract that Statement.
These were really, really, Good. I had a Bad Day, and I took it out on you guys. You didn't deserve that, unless you tried pawning off a Previous Entry as "New and Improved" or you were the guy who Gave Up, after the 1st Analogy was written.
These were excellent contributions, and you guys still crack me up with some of this stuff.
If nothing else, I have prepared Albert Constantine Jr. for a life in Politics, or Film. Or, at least the Acceptance Speach part of it.
Exposed the Laziness of mike 3/505, the Perkiness of Joellen and Tina B, the lack of self esteem in Pete, Occam's need of The Complete Volume Set of American Dad, the Sticktoitiveness of the rest of you, and the GREATNESS of TitWillager in South Carolina.
What can I say?
Let's do this again, sometime.
John786| 9.21.12 @ 7:20AM
Freedom of expression is important. But in the real world it is not absolute. For example western governments have required YouTube to take down videos ( -some by American citizens-) which incite or encourage terrorism. On balance this is right. Governments should restrict inflammatory material when it inflames or leads to violence. This is a very fine line.
Jacob McCandles| 9.21.12 @ 8:29AM
There is an enormous difference between material that "incites or encourages" terrorism and things that are "inflammatory", or "lead to violence." After all, if an individual worships some evil, hideous creature like, say, Hillary C. you might inflame this silly SOB by posting a video of her dancing. Then the bastard goes out and starts firing a weapon.
Appleby| 9.21.12 @ 8:54AM
Freedom of Speech is pretty much absolute, but it does not come with a Get Out Of The Line Of Fire Free card. That is, actions have consequences.
Consider the consequences and then speak or remain silent with your eyes wide open.
spike59| 9.24.12 @ 6:12AM
That is, actions have consequences.
Consider the consequences and then speak or remain silent with your eyes wide open.
-----------------------------------------------------
spoken like a ture Canadian 'subject'...one CERTAINLY wouldn't want to run afoul of the 'Human Rights' Tribunal, would one?
btw, how DO kangaroos survive the Canadian winters?????
junkyard infidel| 9.21.12 @ 1:03PM
If that's the case, then all comments containing ignorant nonsense should also be restricted. So from now on, comments from you, the perp-a-traitor, kingofthenut, jackofflondonandWI, alanbrooksatthegloryhole, etc. will be dispatched to the recycle bin. See how easy that was.
Jrk| 9.21.12 @ 1:54PM
Sometimes I am amazed at how weak some people are such as John786. Grow some balls dude. My family came here on the Mayflower and some have died protecting our right to freedom of speech. I'll be damned if I give in to those bastards cause their feeling got hurt.
Occam's Tool| 9.21.12 @ 5:41PM
John786---Islam is a religion started by a murderous, rampaging thief who was also a pedophile. Now, this magazine has a right to take down this post if they wish, but the US government does not. It is 1) the truth and 2) political speech. (I despise Islamic law and nations run under it.)
We have freedom of speech here, supporter of child rape and murder. You are a moral scumbag.
John786| 9.21.12 @ 6:19PM
Forgot to take your pills mr tool box. Like a broken record you can't play a different tune. There is no concept of absolute freedom of speech anywhere in the world. The US government orders information to be removed everyday from the Internet. And American citizens, inciting speech, at the wrong end of the war on terror are burnt alive by drones. Free speech in reality is a narrow window. And some are more equal than others.
Trinacria| 9.21.12 @ 7:41PM
"The US government orders information to be removed everyday from the Internet."
The fact that this administration violates the first amendment does not mean that the rights enumerated therein do not exist (despite what the administration believes).
OP4| 9.21.12 @ 7:26AM
I have absolutely no confidence that " Islamic societies eventually will grow" out of their current insanity. Islam was originally spread through violence, terror, submission of other societies, and oppression of those who don't convert. Nothing has changed.
The nations of North Africa were once thriving Romanized Christian communities - before the sword of Islam arrived.
Five Hundred years ago King Ferdinand recognized the facts and booted the Muslims out of Western Europe.
Alex Feltham | 9.21.12 @ 7:45AM
Freedom is worth a little lost dignity.
And in the struggle against Islamism it is one of our greatest allies as this story "My Kinda Girl" from Iran illustrates at:
http://john-moloney.blogspot.com/
Stephie| 9.21.12 @ 7:59AM
Will President Romney stand up to the terrorists? Or will he and his cabinet bow, scrape and apologize like this pitiful administration.
Moe Blotz| 9.21.12 @ 8:42AM
So very nice to read something from Mister Kaplan that is thought provoking and inciteful. Regarding his tennis articles, I could not stand the racket. Madame Secretary Rodham Rodham sets the standard for lack of dignity with her phrase, "The willing suspension of disbelief." Fits the modus operandi of our state department to "T", what?
cuban pete| 9.21.12 @ 9:32AM
It is not her phrase Moe. She stole it from Coleridge and did not acknowledge the source.
I doubt the woman has ever had an original thought.
Gary B| 9.21.12 @ 10:33AM
Except for maybe, "Kill Bill."
Seek| 9.21.12 @ 3:12PM
Is that Part I or Part II?
William L. Gensert| 9.21.12 @ 8:47AM
This sums up the beliefs of the Obama administration perfectly, "freedom of expression is "reprehensible" when it offends people who hate us."
I would add that they also don’t support free speech when it goes against their political beliefs or is critical of the President, as well.
I agree with Mr. Kaplan about the photos of Kate, and I have little sympathy for men who release sex tapes made with ex-girlfriends. I would never do either; I believes it's wrong, personally.
However, unless something is criminal, the First Amendment guarantees the right to be un-chivalrous.
Then again, I am not a big supporter of today's main stream press. I think most have sold their souls for the handful of magic beans that is the myth of Barack Obama.
My article in today's American Thinker:
http://www.americanthinker.com.....dopes.html
Moe Blotz| 9.21.12 @ 9:31AM
Strip away the Obama myth, and what do you have left? An empty chair, of course.
Trinacria| 9.21.12 @ 7:31PM
Well, that and $16 trillion in debt...
merlin| 9.22.12 @ 7:39AM
William L,
I believe that as originally intended, the first amendment protects political speech - the only kind anyone wants to censor these days. Pornogrophy etc. are local issues.
Louis Jenkins| 9.21.12 @ 8:57AM
Di, I'm sorry, Kate, if she didn't want to be photographed ala natural, then she should of kept her shirt on. You dithering old school marm, part of the problem is giving the photographers the opportunity. You live in a transparent world, always the object of the hunt, the prey, and they scored. Haven't seen the pictures, haven't looked for them. I believe this is a whirlwind in a bathtub, hardly worth the effort. Keep your clothes on Princess.
And as far as Islam changing? Get real. They have their usual rabble rousers, like we have ours (ie, Jackson Sr.). They make their livelihood inspiring the masses to riot, and they're entrenched. Isalm will never change. Even the next president will have problems and so forth. Next the Muslims will demonstrate because we eat pork.
Gary B| 9.21.12 @ 8:57AM
"I rather agree with Voltaire on this, up to a point, but only insofar as Western societies are concerned. In societies where reason has not been internalized, forget it. It has no meaning."
By this definition, the liberals among us are part of something other than Western civilization. They have obviously not internalized reason, as their behavior is that of a suicide cult. That certainly meets with my approval. The problem arises when they insist on the forced recruitment of the rest of us. You know, kinda' like radical Muslims who have nothing better to do.
John II| 9.21.12 @ 2:16PM
"You know, kinda' like radical Muslims who have nothing better to do."
The Left's shameless deference to Islam goes way beyond, for example, President Bush's senseless blather about Islam's being a "religion of peace"--delivered in all earnestness at a Washington mosque in the wake of 9/11.
The Professor's asinine Cairo speech eight years later probably marks the decisive turning point when America as a nation officially surrendered to a creepy fantasy. Whatever the ontology of the Left's warm-fuzzies toward Islam (and one needn't strain too hard to see the connections between left-liberal nihilism and jihad nihilism), the psychology of it all is as plain as day.
Every time the smug Professor and the ghastly Hillary open their mouths in public, something comes out of them that doubtless confirms the jihadists' perception of interior Western rot and thus fires their determination to finish us off.
The Left's degeneracy is itself objectively treasonous, giving aid and comfort to a murderously fanatical enemy.
And now back to "The Caine Mutiny" (1954), in which Fred MacMurray plays a character emblematic of the psychological connection between a know-it-all disposition and a penchant for personal treachery.
Gary B| 9.21.12 @ 6:35PM
"... the jihadists' perception of interior Western rot..."
Western rot is the product of progressives. It's ironic that jihadists hate the rot that forms the lifestyle of their US sponsors? I swear, the world is upside down. It'll take strong Judeo-Christian leaders to right it again. My kingdom for one.
Trinacria| 9.21.12 @ 7:19PM
Well stated; couldn't agree more. In the interest of accuracy, however, I hasten to note that the correct term would be "smug lecturer", as the current occupant of the White House never attained the status of "professor" (despite his persistent suggestions to the contrary)...
John II| 9.21.12 @ 8:46PM
Well--thanks, Trinnie, except that the old-timers around here may recall that I deliberately attached the appellation "Professor" to, well, the Professor some four years ago.
It has nothing to do with his brief spin in academia. It has everything to do with my 40+ years in academia. When the Professor first foisted himself on the national scene, his mixture of ignorance, arrogance, self-regard, and demagogic bloviation put me in mind instantly of the sort of people I work with--all of whom, it perhaps goes without saying, are passionate supporters of the jackass.
And they all have the same first name. Whence my designation of the Professor as . . . the Professor. I really, really, really hope and pray that I won't have to think or talk about him at all after this coming January.
Trinacria| 9.21.12 @ 11:04PM
Got it; I stand corrected (thanks for the clarification). I, too, hope our long national nightmare is coming to an end, though my confidence in my fellow Americans is on it's last leg...
Joellen| 9.21.12 @ 9:07AM
TLP - the obvious Network, from a tea party stand of view "I am mad as hell and wont take it anymore". Too easy I know - but will give it serious thought throughout the day. End the contest late for those of us who have to work.
TLP| 9.21.12 @ 9:54AM
8pm.
Remember. If your that 36/24/36?
All the Judges wanna see is your Phone Number and a Photo.
Finzi Holst| 9.21.12 @ 7:13PM
I don't know a lot about the contest, but nothing, I mean nothing says the Obama/Clinton approach to foreign policy better than Dag Hammarsjkold:
"The lapdogs disguised themselves as sheep and tried to hunt with the wolves."
SUBVET| 9.21.12 @ 10:06AM
OOOOOOOh........Tim I think she has your #.
TLP| 9.21.12 @ 6:19PM
Yeah, but I don't have Her's.
Who Knows?| 9.21.12 @ 10:53AM
Here’s a thought---
Madame Clinton and The One are simply using THEIR own free speech rights, when they say the drivel that oozes out of their slimy mouths.
And, free speech marches on!
All of us consumers of the reported news of the day, which is free speech on parade, get to digest it, and if we like, speak freely about what WE think about it.
Ain’t America grand?
About Islam growing up---my bet is it won’t happen in the lifetime of any extant adults. Why, it seems like only a day ago that I, at 18 in 1960, first grokked the whole Israel verses Islam war to the death.
Let’s see, 2012 minus 1960---that’s 52 years, and nothing essential has changed, except the Islamists have much more money from selling oil, and Israel is even more threatened.
Islam---fools and knaves, one pointed in their programmed certainty that only they are the TOTAL answer.
Some people WANT to be led, others to be free to choose.
Moslems and Democrats in America don’t want to have to think! It’s so much easier to go along to get along.
Slavery still exists, in this form.
Crowds of such followers are about to crowd freedom out, if Obama wins again.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 9.21.12 @ 12:16PM
Actually, despite Obama’s denouncements, I think another point needs to be expanded upon regarding this film and our current POTUS.
Sam Basile AKA whoever he really is didn’t make that film. There were roads that brought the crews to the locations and set. There were acting teachers and coaches who taught the cast how to play their roles. Maybe there was a government grant that taught the sound technician how to dub the lines into the soundtrack.
Sam Basile didn’t do it on his own. He had help, as Elizabeth Warren would say. At the helm of all of that assistance is Barack Hussein Obama, according to the philosophy of governance he expounded upon in Roanoke earlier this year.
TLP| 9.21.12 @ 3:24PM
I smell Bicycle Seats.
Trinacria| 9.21.12 @ 7:22PM
Brilliant! LOL!
Anthony| 9.21.12 @ 11:41AM
Of course leftists are completly incoherent and irrattional when it comes to defending Western Culture, and the Constitution in particular.
How can any rational person justify barbaric Islamic practices as well as their surrender of our core principles? The answer is they cannot.
That is why leftism is irrational; it practices daily a blatant contradiction of our core principles in the name of the two most corrosive elements of leftism, political correctness or moral relativism.
Truth be told, most leftists are comfortable with the surrender of our core values in the name of appeasement, as Obozo "The One" has demonstrated. This is why these people are dangerous and cannot occupy positions of power.
Their control of government is a direct threat to the survival of our Constitutional Republic.
Anthony| 9.21.12 @ 12:20PM
Limbaugh is proving my point as we speak. Obozo and Hillary are apologizing for an American's exercise of his First Amendment right in an ad airing in the middle east, which is a straw dog to begin with.
Obozo has got to go. And he needs to take Madam Coldfish (Monica and Bill's sobriquet) with him.
All together now: "WE'RE ALL OSAMA'S OBAMA".
nathan| 9.21.12 @ 2:19PM
The writer states that the British were unable to change the Pak tribes while they were in charge. Perhaps because they WERE in charge? Many not all people don't respond well to colonization and being dictated to by people who invade you and exploit you. (Yes, the British imperialists were there to exploit primarily, the "civilization" part really was secondary and primarily to help the British, not the inferior cultures they were dealing with. The British were horribly racist. Ask any Indian who dealt with them.)
How many of you, the subject to a successful invasion and colonization by a group who considering themselves to be your "betters" would willing adopt their culture, their way of living? Some to be sure, but not many. So why should we expect any different in that case?
Trinacria| 9.21.12 @ 7:27PM
Yes, quite. And these Pak tribes have done so swimmingly well when they've been in charge themselves, haven't they? Why I should like to think that with another 11 or 12 centuries or so they'll have a sporting chance of sprouting into a civilized culture...
MyGirlFriday| 9.21.12 @ 2:43PM
The President and Secretary of State have issued an apology from the United States via a new video to appease rioting islamists.
You can view it at www.whitehousedossier.com
Anthony| 9.21.12 @ 4:26PM
Yes, MGF, and note how slick Obozo and Hillary are with their verbal slights of hand. Oh, how clever these leftists think they are.
Obozo and Hillary decried the video (straw dog number one) by claiming the Constitution and American values defend religion, hence, the justification for supression of free expression, while of course, not condemning the barbaric acts of these fanatics.
Yet at the same time, these same hucksters demand that we accept art, in the form of Maplethopre's Piss Crist, as an expession of free speech, an equal protection under the Constitution.
Of course we conservatives are being consistant because all we decry is the use ot tax dollars to support this "art". We defend this innocent video as we defend artistic expressions we find personally repugnant.
So Obozo and Hillaryply their mental gymnastics hoping their dopy followers don't connect the dots of the larger picture.
These folks are dangerous, like kids with matches.
J.C.Eaton| 9.21.12 @ 6:55PM
TLP, try as I might, only one scene from filmdom captures the world's current setting in such perfectly molded form. That, of course, is the wonderful moment from The Big Lebowski, where Walter has just been stymied by the sullen silence of the little schmuck that stole Jeff's car. HE RUNS INTO THE STREET SCREAMING:"This is what you get......" Of course he's id'd the wrong car and beats a new Corvette to a pulp, and is interrupted by the true owner who works mayhem on Jeff's. See the rich similes?
Finzi Holst| 9.21.12 @ 7:13PM
I don't know a lot about the contest, but nothing, I mean nothing says the Obama/Clinton approach to foreign policy better than Dag Hammarsjkold:
"The lapdogs disguised themselves as sheep and tried to hunt with the wolves."
Cpm| 9.21.12 @ 7:18PM
TLP, this reminds me of that scene from "All The President's Men" where Woodward and Bernstein along with intrepid editor Ben Bradlee run interference for President Nixon, ignoring his administration's many lapses of legality, by printing, day after day, misleading and meaningless hit pieces about Democrats, film stars, and Bobby Fischer.
ReaganConservative| 9.22.12 @ 5:55AM
This, from the Salafi Egyptian prosecutor who is charging 8 Americans with inciting violence by insulting Islam- quote- "He claimed it would deter others from exercising their right to free expression in regards to Islam."
Well, if this isn't the most definitive anti-Freedom of Speech statement, then nothing is.. This statement by this Egyptian prosecutor against the 8 American citizens, is the absolute islamic world's indictment of how tyrannical they are in imposing their will upon free people everywhere in the world.
Freedom of Speech, ie; Freedom and Liberty are non-negotiable, period !!
Obama, Hillary, and their crony henchmen and women in this anti-American regime administration espouse, promulgate, and implement their liberal progressive appeasing naive mentality to their foreign policy actions, thus getting the results we have seen from those naive appeasing weak policies they implement..
Roger Kaplan is exactly correct, as only strong punitive actions in responsive to these islamist thugs and terrorists, whatever prominent position they hold, will ever deter them. Like the Communist Soviets, they understand only one thing, strength and power. Appeasement and capitulation in bowing to their aggression, for whatever religious militant excuse , cause, and agenda they have, only emboldens them further, not passifies them.
ReaganConservative| 9.22.12 @ 6:05AM
This article quote from the Salafi Egyptian prosecutor who is charging 8 Americans with inciting violence by insulting Islam- "He, this Egyptian prosecutor, claimed it would deter others from exercising their right to free expression in regards to Islam."
Well, if this isn't the most definitive anti-Freedom of Speech statement, then nothing is.. This statement by this Egyptian prosecutor against the 8 American citizens, is the absolute islamic world's indictment of how tyrannical they are in imposing their will upon free people everywhere in the world.
Freedom of Speech, ie; Freedom and Liberty are non-negotiable, period !!
Obama, Hillary, and their crony henchmen and women in this anti-American regime administration espouse, promulgate, and implement their liberal progressive appeasing naive mentality to their foreign policy actions, thus getting the results we have seen from those naive appeasing weak policies they implement..
Only strong punitive actions in response to these islamist thugs and terrorists, whatever prominent position they hold, will ever deter them. Like the Communist Soviets, they understand only one thing, strength and power, and the ability and willingness to use that strength and power. Appeasement and capitulation in bowing to their aggression, for whatever religious militant excuse , cause, and agenda they have, only emboldens them further, not pacifies them.
Cats1cowboy| 9.22.12 @ 8:59AM
No one can hurt your feelings. You can only choose to allow your feelings to be hurt. Most hildren eventually grow out of the selfishness but liberal/progressive/socialists never do. What's worse is that they are inflicting their childishness on our children in the indoctrination centers called public schools.
Philo Vaihinger | 9.22.12 @ 10:00AM
Kate is a celeb babe like Princess Di before her, and babe celebs who are nude out of doors or in public are fair game.
That is all there is to royalty, now.
If the Brits went republican the royals would still be around and still be celebs, like the rest of Europe's royals hanging around long past monarchy's expiration date.
Theo Prinse| 9.23.12 @ 9:09AM
As a Dutchmen I witnessed the fight of Ayaan Hirsi Ali in Dutch Parliament siting next to Geert Wilders in the seats held by the liberal party the VVD (For Freedom and Democracy) Geert Wilders was ousted from the party and threatened in a letter 'attached' to the murdered body of Dutch film maker Theo van Gogh (nephew of Vincent van Gogh) which urged both of them to be protected by the Dutch State. Geert Wilders lives a terrible live behind protective glass, and guards, and safe houses etc. etc. and leads his new party - the Freedom Party, PVV (Party for Freedom) ... while Ayaan Hirsi Ali remained in the VVD until she was ousted from the Netherlands by low educated vulgar reactionaries under the professional lead of the left wing socialist elite. who control the entire television.
As a matter a fact, on the 12th of September Dutch Parliamentary election day - these social democrats (communists) used their monopoly over Dutch televison by manipulating the massive undecided voter resulting in a landslide win for the communists under the lead of a former Greenpeace internationalist.
The point Ayaan Hirsi Ali is making is the same she always made back in 2001 - 2006 which position has been unassailably the position of the current Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte who visited B. Obama in nov 2011 - a colleague of their former party (VVD) .. Cntd
Theo Prinse| 9.23.12 @ 9:10AM
Cntd Ayaan Hirsi defends precisely like Pamela Geller does the Freedom of Speech in the context of Speech being the primal instrument of truth ...
Once Freedom of Speech even in the slightest measure is reduced .. it is dead.
The main argument of Muslims assuming feelings of pain for critique on their prophet in video's is merely pain in the assuming fantasy of the muslim.
Other than physical hurt no real pain is caused by saying something because whatever critique that has been said is nothing more than molecules bouncing on the Muslims eardrum.
So the pain is not caused by the physical aspect of the critique expressed ... but what a random Muslim projects his own prejudice in it.
The pain alleged in critique against the prophet is caused by the muslim himself.
The Muslim should either punish himself or shut up.
Having said this it is true that the islam is not a Abrahamic religion but a military terrorist doctrine under the guise of a conventional religion.
Left wing liberation religion communist circles within the Christian International community have accepted this notion of Islam being a peaceful religion and deny Islam in reality to be a murderous terrorist ideology. Cntd
Theo Prinse| 9.23.12 @ 9:10AM
Cntd 2ndly it is true that where the islamist terrorist doctrine has its legitimizing code written in the Quran called Shariah and that the tactic of conquering is divided in a kinetic and a stealth method .. it is also true that the entire 'endeavor' of the world wide Caliphate is financed by US and European car drivers at the gas stations.
That is why Mitt Romney’s plan for Energy Independence in 2020 needs our support.
RedinDenver| 9.23.12 @ 2:29PM
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