It isn't even a complex argument. It's quite simple.
Anyway, I'm sure you're aware of them, but if not, you should visit on a daily basis Cox and Forkum. I'm cynical, but these guys make me look like an aloof, ignorant suburbanite girl who is more concerned about American Idol than I am the insanity going on.
www.coxandforkum.com
No, i know. There are good muslims out there and I feel bad for them. Gal named Mariam posts regularly. My tailor is muslim. Mechanic from college was muslim. All they want to do is lead a normal life and heck, my tailor is a bigger conservative than I am. I'm still balancing/thinking it out how to appraoch solving the problem, if it at all can be solved.
ReplyDeleteRegardless, there is no doubt in my mind that the kid with the sign is on a crash collision course with Western society and somebody is going to die, and i'll be damned if it's me.
I think a lot of their lives are so sad and desperate that they literally don't care about living and it's just easier to blame other people for your problems. So no amount of reason is going to stop these guys.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds an awful lot like Europe is trying to pick a fight with Islam.
ReplyDeleteExactly. But I strongly disagree with DMKhldibo's comment that this is about bored people looking to sell more papers.
If I say anything more, I'll be repeating what I just wrote at AtlasBlogged. Which I am not above doing, but I'm tired, so I'll ask you to go there instead.
But the fact that Americans would be paying less attention doesn't change what the story is really about, or how important it really is (or isn't). In fact, it sounds like all you are really pointing out is that the cartoons were published in September and 99% of Americans had no idea about it until last week, when riots and embassy-stormings started, during a time that did not involve a bigger story. And that I will agree with.
ReplyDeleteAs I point out on my own blog, this also explains why American papers didn't bother printing the cartoons. It's overseas, it's not a big deal, it's not going to be worth it to risk looking insensitive here.
Over in Europe, it is worth that risk, so more papers printed them.
I really like your earlier comment that The solution needs to be something like giving people something better, more important to do than pulling at threads.
I have long said that rather than engaging in military confrontations or embargoes, this nation should concentrate on exporting goods to countries that hate us. Because they love them some Nikes and CocaCola. People around the world can't help demanding the cheap corporate goods that our own college students think should be outlawed. A love of our goods is always followed by a love of our freedom. And as Tony Snow notes,
it’s amazing how a functioning economy influences civilized behavior.
To be honest, DM, I feel overwhelmed by that question. I have told my congressman, my friends, my students, and my fellow bloggers that I would like trade barriers brought down immediately. The embargo against Cuba has not worked yet, so can't we please recognize that and undo it? But for each of us individually, there isn't much we can do.
ReplyDeleteJon Henke at
Q and O is particularly interested in seeing libertarian-minded bloggers coming together to work in concert toward common goals. He has been strongly critical of the Libertarian Party, and would like to see libertarian bloggers be more successful at influencing policy.
If you would be interested in that, I strongly encourage you to email him and ask about it. Or read their blog for a while first, and check out their NeoLibertarian Network.