In the US, kids in school learn to sing "The Star Spangled Banner." In Pakistan, they learn to chant "Death to America." In the US, France, and Japan, children go to Disney World, Smurf Park, or similar theme parks and meet six foot tall Mickey, Minnie, and Smurfette. In Lebanon, they go to the "Hizbullah Theme Park" where they learn how to kill Israelis or be martyrs for the cause.
Can anyone still believe that the Arabs want anything less than the complete obliteration of Israel?
Friday, September 21, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
The Subway Poster War
Welcome back To The Barricades. I've missed you.
There were a series of anti-Israel ads appearing on NYC public transportation stations a few months ago, that showed how the "Arab" sections of Palestine were shrinking steadily under Israeli encroachment.
The ads, for obvious reasons, annoyed pro-Israeli groups, including one led by one Pamela Geller. More about her in a moment. Portrayed as inflammatory and inaccurate, there were cries to take these posters down. Needless to say it didn't happen. Free speech, even for the speech we hate.
Now a group called The American Freedom Defense Initiative, led by the aforementioned Pamela Geller, has apparently struck back with these ads, which will appear in subways next week, barring court injunction:
The first question is this: is this free speech or hate speech? Well, that depends. Hate speech against whom? "Jihad" as used commonly today has represented violence against everyone from Palestinian vs. Arab to Syrian vs. Syrian. When a guy waving an AK-47 screaming "Death to Israel/the US/France" says he is in a jihad, it's a sure bet it's not a "jihad" to improve his knowledge of the Koran. And "Jihad" is associated with one group: Muslims. Now the Geller ad never once mentions "Arabs" or "Muslims." It makes a clear connection between the "civilized man" and "Israel." And the parallel comparison links "savage" to "Jihad." Not all Muslims, not all Arabs, just the concept of Jihad, with the undertone that it is Jihad against Israel and other nations.
In the strictest sense, no religious, ethnic, cultural, or political group is associated directly with "savages." But it doesn't take a genius to figure out that, just as if A=B=C=D, then Savages=Jihad=Islam=Muslims. Geller isn't fooling anyone, and I'm pretty sure she doesn't intend to. So I would have to say that this comes pretty damned close to hate speech.
Problem is, this particular hate speech is protected by the 1st Amendment. That's what the New York court ruled yesterday in ordering the Transit Authority to start running the ads. So the ads will run. Now let's be honest: given the climate today between Muslims and the West, maybe this isn't the best time to run them. You can be sure these signs will be spraypainted everywhere. They'll be torn down. They'll be pasted over with anti-Israeli posters. God forbid they bring about riots but who knows?
So who put up these pro-Israel, anti-Jihad/Islam/Muslim ads? The American Freedom Initiative, led by Pam Geller. This organization has been vehemently struggling to get pro-Israeli ads out to the public that will be equal to, as they see it, the anti-Israeli ads that the Palestinian support groups pump out every day. So far, nothing wrong with that. But who is this AFI and who is Pamela Geller. I quote the Infallible Source: "[Pamela] Geller and Robert Spencer co-founded the Freedom Defense Initiative and Stop Islamization of America, an organization which is labeled as a hate group by the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center." In other words, the groups behind these placards are labeled "hate groups" by the Jewish Anti-Defamation League. Pretty strong condemnation, I'd say.
So, Stephen, you're going to condemn these posters as hate speech and urge that they be taken down, right? Wrong, on two counts: 1) free speech trumps hate speech unless it incites to violence; and 2) I happen to like the message. Pam Geller may be a nutball, but she's right: those who engage in mob violence against anyone in the name of religion are savages. That includes the Jihadists of whatever group. I support Israel; I support her right to exist in peace and security; and I support her right to protect herself whether it is by combat against invading armies, or by posters in the subway. It's a pretty harsh way to put it, but in the conflict between Israel and Jihad, my money is on Israel.
There were a series of anti-Israel ads appearing on NYC public transportation stations a few months ago, that showed how the "Arab" sections of Palestine were shrinking steadily under Israeli encroachment.
The ads, for obvious reasons, annoyed pro-Israeli groups, including one led by one Pamela Geller. More about her in a moment. Portrayed as inflammatory and inaccurate, there were cries to take these posters down. Needless to say it didn't happen. Free speech, even for the speech we hate.
Now a group called The American Freedom Defense Initiative, led by the aforementioned Pamela Geller, has apparently struck back with these ads, which will appear in subways next week, barring court injunction:
The first question is this: is this free speech or hate speech? Well, that depends. Hate speech against whom? "Jihad" as used commonly today has represented violence against everyone from Palestinian vs. Arab to Syrian vs. Syrian. When a guy waving an AK-47 screaming "Death to Israel/the US/France" says he is in a jihad, it's a sure bet it's not a "jihad" to improve his knowledge of the Koran. And "Jihad" is associated with one group: Muslims. Now the Geller ad never once mentions "Arabs" or "Muslims." It makes a clear connection between the "civilized man" and "Israel." And the parallel comparison links "savage" to "Jihad." Not all Muslims, not all Arabs, just the concept of Jihad, with the undertone that it is Jihad against Israel and other nations.
In the strictest sense, no religious, ethnic, cultural, or political group is associated directly with "savages." But it doesn't take a genius to figure out that, just as if A=B=C=D, then Savages=Jihad=Islam=Muslims. Geller isn't fooling anyone, and I'm pretty sure she doesn't intend to. So I would have to say that this comes pretty damned close to hate speech.
Problem is, this particular hate speech is protected by the 1st Amendment. That's what the New York court ruled yesterday in ordering the Transit Authority to start running the ads. So the ads will run. Now let's be honest: given the climate today between Muslims and the West, maybe this isn't the best time to run them. You can be sure these signs will be spraypainted everywhere. They'll be torn down. They'll be pasted over with anti-Israeli posters. God forbid they bring about riots but who knows?
So who put up these pro-Israel, anti-Jihad/Islam/Muslim ads? The American Freedom Initiative, led by Pam Geller. This organization has been vehemently struggling to get pro-Israeli ads out to the public that will be equal to, as they see it, the anti-Israeli ads that the Palestinian support groups pump out every day. So far, nothing wrong with that. But who is this AFI and who is Pamela Geller. I quote the Infallible Source: "[Pamela] Geller and Robert Spencer co-founded the Freedom Defense Initiative and Stop Islamization of America, an organization which is labeled as a hate group by the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center." In other words, the groups behind these placards are labeled "hate groups" by the Jewish Anti-Defamation League. Pretty strong condemnation, I'd say.
So, Stephen, you're going to condemn these posters as hate speech and urge that they be taken down, right? Wrong, on two counts: 1) free speech trumps hate speech unless it incites to violence; and 2) I happen to like the message. Pam Geller may be a nutball, but she's right: those who engage in mob violence against anyone in the name of religion are savages. That includes the Jihadists of whatever group. I support Israel; I support her right to exist in peace and security; and I support her right to protect herself whether it is by combat against invading armies, or by posters in the subway. It's a pretty harsh way to put it, but in the conflict between Israel and Jihad, my money is on Israel.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
It's been a very busy two weeks since I last wrote (okay, three). Holidays, visitors, etc etc.
Meanwhile one or two things seem to be happening in Central Asia. Some minor political player... let's see, what was her name, oh yeah, Benazir Bhutto was murdered by any of the following: 1) an al Qaida fanatic who shot her and then made her bang her head on her sunroof; 2) an al Qaida fanatic who shot her, blew her up, and then she hit her head on the sunroof as she was falling; 3) an al Qaida fanatic with either the direct approval of Musharraf or at least his deliberate non-interference, murdered her.
Pakistan has been remarkably quiet. I don't know if it's because there is no clear successor (her 19 year old son may well have the smarts but does not have experience -- he's a college kid, for crissakes!)or the Pakistani people have come to expect a coup as the usual method of a change in government.
Be that as it may, only the most naive optimists expect Pakistan to stay peaceful and stable of the coming year or so. It's 5:1 odds that if Musharraf loses te February elections, he will declare them invalid and stay in power.
Musharraf doesn't have the luxury of, say, Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan, where the national leaders (dictators) have complete control of the country. (As one writer said about the late Saparmurat Niyazov, "Turkmenistan has a one-man, one vote policy. Niyazov is the man, and he has the vote." So while Musharraf could declare martial law, suspend the constitution, and shut the country down, it will be a hard trick to manage with the US looking closely at it.
We spend far too little time learning about and studying Central Asia. If, by some miracle, we withdraw from Iraq with a minimum of follow-on bloodbath, how long will it be before another Niyazov rises in these countries with large amounts of natural resources and abject poverty.
The West needs to start riding the Silk Road again.
Meanwhile one or two things seem to be happening in Central Asia. Some minor political player... let's see, what was her name, oh yeah, Benazir Bhutto was murdered by any of the following: 1) an al Qaida fanatic who shot her and then made her bang her head on her sunroof; 2) an al Qaida fanatic who shot her, blew her up, and then she hit her head on the sunroof as she was falling; 3) an al Qaida fanatic with either the direct approval of Musharraf or at least his deliberate non-interference, murdered her.
Pakistan has been remarkably quiet. I don't know if it's because there is no clear successor (her 19 year old son may well have the smarts but does not have experience -- he's a college kid, for crissakes!)or the Pakistani people have come to expect a coup as the usual method of a change in government.
Be that as it may, only the most naive optimists expect Pakistan to stay peaceful and stable of the coming year or so. It's 5:1 odds that if Musharraf loses te February elections, he will declare them invalid and stay in power.
Musharraf doesn't have the luxury of, say, Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan, where the national leaders (dictators) have complete control of the country. (As one writer said about the late Saparmurat Niyazov, "Turkmenistan has a one-man, one vote policy. Niyazov is the man, and he has the vote." So while Musharraf could declare martial law, suspend the constitution, and shut the country down, it will be a hard trick to manage with the US looking closely at it.
We spend far too little time learning about and studying Central Asia. If, by some miracle, we withdraw from Iraq with a minimum of follow-on bloodbath, how long will it be before another Niyazov rises in these countries with large amounts of natural resources and abject poverty.
The West needs to start riding the Silk Road again.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Secret Coded Message
My old buddies at NSA will have fun with this one
Skill plan for Frater Patroabo
1. Gallente Cruiser V (26 days, 14 hours, 37 minutes, 16 seconds)
2. Assault Ships IV (2 days, 17 hours, 49 minutes, 15 seconds)
3. Weapon Upgrades IV (1 day, 19 hours, 30 minutes, 54 seconds)
4. Weapon Upgrades V (11 days, 2 hours, 5 minutes, 31 seconds)
5. Spaceship Command V (4 days, 18 hours, 22 minutes)
6. Heavy Assault Ships I (52 minutes, 26 seconds)
7. Warhead Upgrades I (45 minutes, 27 seconds)
8. Warhead Upgrades II (3 hours, 31 minutes, 42 seconds)
9. Warhead Upgrades III (19 hours, 57 minutes, 22 seconds)
10. Warhead Upgrades IV (4 days, 16 hours, 53 minutes, 38 seconds)
11. Warhead Upgrades V (26 days, 14 hours, 37 minutes, 16 seconds)
12. Bomb Deployment I (36 minutes, 21 seconds)
13. Bomb Deployment II (2 hours, 49 minutes, 20 seconds)
14. Bomb Deployment III (15 hours, 57 minutes, 55 seconds)
15. Drone Interfacing V (23 days, 13 hours, 53 minutes, 26 seconds)
16. Combat Drone Operation I (18 minutes, 56 seconds)
17. Combat Drone Operation II (1 hour, 28 minutes, 13 seconds)
18. Combat Drone Operation III (8 hours, 18 minutes, 54 seconds)
19. Combat Drone Operation IV (1 day, 23 hours, 2 minutes, 20 seconds)
20. Combat Drone Operation V (11 days, 2 hours, 5 minutes, 31 seconds)
21. Heavy Drone Operation I (47 minutes, 20 seconds)
22. Heavy Drone Operation II (3 hours, 40 minutes, 31 seconds)
23. Cloaking V (31 days, 22 hours, 20 minutes, 43 seconds)
24. Long Range Targeting III (4 hours, 20 minutes, 41 seconds)
25. Long Range Targeting IV (1 day, 21 hours, 9 minutes, 27 seconds)
26. Long Range Targeting V (10 days, 15 hours, 26 minutes, 54 seconds)
27. Signal Dispersion I (45 minutes, 27 seconds)
28. Signal Dispersion II (3 hours, 31 minutes, 42 seconds)
29. Signal Dispersion III (19 hours, 57 minutes, 22 seconds)
30. Signal Dispersion IV (4 days, 16 hours, 53 minutes, 38 seconds)
31. Signal Dispersion V (26 days, 14 hours, 37 minutes, 16 seconds)
32. Sensor Linking IV (2 days, 19 hours, 44 minutes, 10 seconds)
33. Signal Suppression I (45 minutes, 27 seconds)
34. Signal Suppression II (3 hours, 31 minutes, 42 seconds)
35. Signal Suppression III (19 hours, 57 minutes, 22 seconds)
36. Signal Suppression IV (4 days, 16 hours, 53 minutes, 38 seconds)
37. Signal Suppression V (26 days, 14 hours, 37 minutes, 16 seconds)
38. Repair Systems V (5 days, 7 hours, 43 minutes, 27 seconds)
39. Cruise Missiles IV (4 days, 16 hours, 53 minutes, 38 seconds)
40. Standard Missiles V (10 days, 15 hours, 26 minutes, 54 seconds)
Okay, look, it's for a frickin' MMORPG game, fercrissake. You can't bust me for this. HEY!!! I WANT A LAWYER!!!
Skill plan for Frater Patroabo
1. Gallente Cruiser V (26 days, 14 hours, 37 minutes, 16 seconds)
2. Assault Ships IV (2 days, 17 hours, 49 minutes, 15 seconds)
3. Weapon Upgrades IV (1 day, 19 hours, 30 minutes, 54 seconds)
4. Weapon Upgrades V (11 days, 2 hours, 5 minutes, 31 seconds)
5. Spaceship Command V (4 days, 18 hours, 22 minutes)
6. Heavy Assault Ships I (52 minutes, 26 seconds)
7. Warhead Upgrades I (45 minutes, 27 seconds)
8. Warhead Upgrades II (3 hours, 31 minutes, 42 seconds)
9. Warhead Upgrades III (19 hours, 57 minutes, 22 seconds)
10. Warhead Upgrades IV (4 days, 16 hours, 53 minutes, 38 seconds)
11. Warhead Upgrades V (26 days, 14 hours, 37 minutes, 16 seconds)
12. Bomb Deployment I (36 minutes, 21 seconds)
13. Bomb Deployment II (2 hours, 49 minutes, 20 seconds)
14. Bomb Deployment III (15 hours, 57 minutes, 55 seconds)
15. Drone Interfacing V (23 days, 13 hours, 53 minutes, 26 seconds)
16. Combat Drone Operation I (18 minutes, 56 seconds)
17. Combat Drone Operation II (1 hour, 28 minutes, 13 seconds)
18. Combat Drone Operation III (8 hours, 18 minutes, 54 seconds)
19. Combat Drone Operation IV (1 day, 23 hours, 2 minutes, 20 seconds)
20. Combat Drone Operation V (11 days, 2 hours, 5 minutes, 31 seconds)
21. Heavy Drone Operation I (47 minutes, 20 seconds)
22. Heavy Drone Operation II (3 hours, 40 minutes, 31 seconds)
23. Cloaking V (31 days, 22 hours, 20 minutes, 43 seconds)
24. Long Range Targeting III (4 hours, 20 minutes, 41 seconds)
25. Long Range Targeting IV (1 day, 21 hours, 9 minutes, 27 seconds)
26. Long Range Targeting V (10 days, 15 hours, 26 minutes, 54 seconds)
27. Signal Dispersion I (45 minutes, 27 seconds)
28. Signal Dispersion II (3 hours, 31 minutes, 42 seconds)
29. Signal Dispersion III (19 hours, 57 minutes, 22 seconds)
30. Signal Dispersion IV (4 days, 16 hours, 53 minutes, 38 seconds)
31. Signal Dispersion V (26 days, 14 hours, 37 minutes, 16 seconds)
32. Sensor Linking IV (2 days, 19 hours, 44 minutes, 10 seconds)
33. Signal Suppression I (45 minutes, 27 seconds)
34. Signal Suppression II (3 hours, 31 minutes, 42 seconds)
35. Signal Suppression III (19 hours, 57 minutes, 22 seconds)
36. Signal Suppression IV (4 days, 16 hours, 53 minutes, 38 seconds)
37. Signal Suppression V (26 days, 14 hours, 37 minutes, 16 seconds)
38. Repair Systems V (5 days, 7 hours, 43 minutes, 27 seconds)
39. Cruise Missiles IV (4 days, 16 hours, 53 minutes, 38 seconds)
40. Standard Missiles V (10 days, 15 hours, 26 minutes, 54 seconds)
Okay, look, it's for a frickin' MMORPG game, fercrissake. You can't bust me for this. HEY!!! I WANT A LAWYER!!!
Thursday, December 6, 2007
No sympathy for a "troubled young man"
Robert Hawkins, the bastard who killed 8 people plus himself -- too bad he didn't start with himself -- was a "troubled young man" according to some who knew him. An acquaintance of mine gave me her first reaction when she heard about the murders: "Why didn't someone get him some help?"
The pig fucker had been a ward of the state. That means he had access to Child Protective Services, counselling through several programs, and a ton of other ways to help him cope with what inarguably was a bitch of a life. But he didn't want to. He quit school. He quit treatment for depression. He didn't want to be helped. So "society" isn't to blame. "The system" isn't to blame. Not even the stepfather who kept the AK-47 (gods know why) which this kid stole, is to blame. Robert Hawkins, and no one else, is to blame.
This is a case which would have met my strict criteria for the death penalty: guilt to a mathematical certainty; multiple victims or carried out in a particularly brutal way (is murder ever "gentle?"). He saved the state the money and trouble of a trial by killing himself. Good for him.
May the Holy Ones, blessed be They, comfort the families of the dead and wounded; may the dead be granted the fulfillment of their spirits.
And may whatever is left of that worthless piece of shit waste of DNA and other useful materials suffer every torture ever imagined by any religion, human or otherwise.
So take away my liberal license. This character was not "salvageable." Best he was recycled. The tragedy is that he took eight others with him.
The pig fucker had been a ward of the state. That means he had access to Child Protective Services, counselling through several programs, and a ton of other ways to help him cope with what inarguably was a bitch of a life. But he didn't want to. He quit school. He quit treatment for depression. He didn't want to be helped. So "society" isn't to blame. "The system" isn't to blame. Not even the stepfather who kept the AK-47 (gods know why) which this kid stole, is to blame. Robert Hawkins, and no one else, is to blame.
This is a case which would have met my strict criteria for the death penalty: guilt to a mathematical certainty; multiple victims or carried out in a particularly brutal way (is murder ever "gentle?"). He saved the state the money and trouble of a trial by killing himself. Good for him.
May the Holy Ones, blessed be They, comfort the families of the dead and wounded; may the dead be granted the fulfillment of their spirits.
And may whatever is left of that worthless piece of shit waste of DNA and other useful materials suffer every torture ever imagined by any religion, human or otherwise.
So take away my liberal license. This character was not "salvageable." Best he was recycled. The tragedy is that he took eight others with him.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Full Disclosure
In the interest of full disclosure, I must reveal that I have committed to work for Scott Kleeb if he runs for the Democratic nomination for Senate.
That won't stop me from saying what I think of him, good or bad, or what I think of any of the other candidates, good or bad. I have never pretended to be completely impartial, even back in the days of the first incarnation of this bit of bloggery. But I will at least try to be equitable and as factually accurate as I can be, given that I am dependent upon the kindness of other media for my facts.
In the meantime, go, Scott!
That won't stop me from saying what I think of him, good or bad, or what I think of any of the other candidates, good or bad. I have never pretended to be completely impartial, even back in the days of the first incarnation of this bit of bloggery. But I will at least try to be equitable and as factually accurate as I can be, given that I am dependent upon the kindness of other media for my facts.
In the meantime, go, Scott!
Scott Rides Off Into The Sunrise?
If you haven't seen it yet, have a look at Scott Kleeb's latest video. It's a great piece of PR. And make sure you watch the ending. It's too bad the music from The Magnificent Seven is copyrighted.
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