Have Fun, RT
 

I am glad we finally had a muslim weigh in publicly on this matter. You seem to have your head screwed on straight despite the pressure from your extremist brethren. The straight dope for the Muslims is, if they come to the West, they need to assimilate into the population and culture of their host country-at least with respect to the rule of law and rights of man (and the women too). Embrace the freedoms that in all likelihood brought you all here in the first place. Even the 911 hijackers were smart enough to embrace the freedoms to get some government cheese and procreate (or at least schtup hookers) and at the same time practice their relion in peace. If it wasn't for the flying planes into buildings and jihad part they would have been model Muslims. Although you all should really try a nice pork tenderloin or chorizo. Good stuff. On the other hand, if you all can't laugh at yourselves and your so called Prophet a little and instead let the jihadis rule your roost, I think we in the West need to realize that if the end of days are coming, it well could be because of Islam. The jihadis are like rats that infest your house, eat your vittels, and produce more rats in effort to eventually destroy the whole house. Two words for that: cheese in a rattrap, my friend, cheese in a rattrap.


One question, if your Islam is supposed to be such a peaceful , thoughtful relion,why all the mainstream hate, oppression and sexual bias of womenkind? Surely the prophet would say that chicks deserve rights and respect too? And not just 9 year old chicks, I mean fully blossomed women.

Have Fun, RT
 

My own Muslim friends have all been living in the U.S. for some time (some from Iran, others Pakistan and one UAE) and, presumably, come from some money seeing as how they got here (to attend colleges in the U.S. - they stayed afterward) so their reactions may not reflect much of anything, but...their response to events like 9/11, hearing of this or that head cut off and other things perpetrated "in the name of Allah" has been pretty much the same: they shake their heads, say "Wow, that's fucked up" and then move on to another topic. In private, after a few drinks, they'll allow a lot more and sometimes make clear their feeling that the violence is somehow understandable. Some of these people have themselves been victims of overzealous Muslims (those whose families fled after the Shah left). Is there some value or other principle that prevents Muslims who are against violence from speaking up when these things occur and denouncing violence perpetrated in the name of Allah? A desire not to offend other Muslims? What do you, as a moderate Muslim, feel moderate Muslims should do when someone commits a violent act, purportedly to further the cause of Islam?

Carlsberg
 

I'm off to the Brickskeller for a Carlsberg. See you there S_A_M?

Also friends, keep supporting our Danish brothers in arms, I bought a cheese danish today to show my solidarity for them. I assume they get some kind of money for that. Here is what I will be eating for breakfast tomorrow:

http://aarons.cc/i/i6/mohammed-breakfast.jpg

Have Fun, RT
 

The poster already said em wasn't offended by the comic strips and believed his fellow Muslims ought to relax, too. So you'll need to update your schtick, Mr. Sock.

P.S. Knock it off, Penske.

Have Fun, RT
 

1. I know what he/she said dumbass, but actions speak louder than words. I'm sure there were a handful, maybe even a score of non-jew Aryans who were against the holocaust. Didn't do the majority of jews in Europe any good now, did it? Permit me to proffer some frank advice Diane: you are not likely to win allies and influence posters here with your scant attention to detail as compounded by your febrile writing skills. Analytical thinking and a little thoughtful reflection before you hit the "submit reply" button would serve you well. So, while it's an incontrovertible truth that even disjointed thinkers like Spanky write better than you, there is still a place for your twitticisms here if you concentrate.

2. And strike two, but tanks for playing.

Have Fun, RT
 

"9/11 is not a joke" is such a thoughtful, meaningful quote. As is "Burn Mecca Burn." Those ditties are priceless. Where DO you think of such clevah things??

Have Fun, RT
 

Well, that's not what I said, so maybe you should read my (free) speech again.

Just because you have a right to speak freely doesn't mean you have to be an ass. (And I don't mean you personally -- I hope that's obvious.)

Have Fun, RT
 

I was reading the Qur’an, in my ongoing effort to understand and connect with the multicultural world around me, and certain of the hadith**, the sayings of the Prophet, happened to catch my eye and inspired me.

**Qur’an 86:13 “Lo this (Qur’an) is a conclusive Word; it is not a thing for amusement. It is no pleasantry. And it is no joke.”

**Qur’an 4:115 “If anyone contradicts or opposes the Prophet after guidance has been conveyed to him, and follows a path other than the way, We shall burn him in Hell!”

Have Fun, RT
 

To the extent that that's what they're protesting, I disagree with them. But I think they're really protesting that a newspaper published something offensive.

And I totally accept that the protests may have been fomented for bad reasons. See, e.g., the first link here. But that doesn't mean that a lot of people weren't offended.

Mod response to email
 

For the record, I am also a mod and received no such request.

I find it surpassingly odd that someone would e-mail Penske instead of me to ask for censorship, but whatever.

Have Fun, RT
 

Karen Finley. I served her cognac once.

Have Fun, RT
 

Really? No Foolin? Was she interesting?

Have Fun, RT
 

I was just the bartender, so I really didn't hear much. Plus, she was fully clothed, and not in chocolate.

Have Fun, RT
 

VSOP, or was she of the people?

Have Fun, RT
 

I recall it was Hennessy (the only cognac I had), but not which one.

Here's a column by Anne Applebaum about the whole cartoon thing that I think is pretty good.

But I think there's a difference between Serrano's Piss Christ and what the Danish newspapers are doing, not so much re art ("art") itself, but in the way religious views are implicated. I'm a Christian, but I didn't particularly feel offended by Serrano. I mean, I didn't get the point, and he clearly had some issues, but that was his problem. To my (limited) understand, the Islamic belief about not portraying Mohammed is somewhat different.