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Just watched John McCain debunk some of Sean Hannity's distortions and self-aggrandizations on Hannity's own show and then get cut a bit short. On the next set Hannity compared Obama to Jimmy Carter. 'Expert' commentator Ed Rollins lamented that Carter sold out the Shah. Then Rollins gave his full support and condolences to Hosni Mubarek as Hannity stated that the Egyptian election was not about democracy because it established Sharia. Some bimbo on the same set ranted that Obama sympathized with the consulate attackers and that we should through him out. All quite amusing, except that so many people worship this program.
It will interesting to see what the commentariat focuses on.
Saw your clip on "explaining free speech." Maybe America needs to realize that free speech which provokes in times of where national security is a real concern, is not really "explainable." Maybe we should do more education of our own people as to what responsibilities come with free speech. There is no logical "education" for people in other countries in order to have this make sense. If a Muslim American stood on the street corner and had an Anti-American screed, I wonder if he would be treated the same way.
Yes, John Crane-Prague, we should further educate our own citizens about the responsibilities of free speech- to think of the consequences of what we freely utter, and our duty to tolerate speech that we find loathesome. Living in a society that embraces free speech requires ongoing complex and nuanced assessments.
HOWEVER, the basic idea is not hard to understand. For that reason, I find the "outrage" of rioters in Egypt, Libya, and Yemen to be contrived and phony. It's condescending, as well as inaccurate, to see middle eastern mobs as unable to grasp the basic concept because they were oppressed for so long. The basic concept is simple, and middle eastern people are no less intelligent than we are. They used the internet and social media to overthrow their leaders during the Arab Spring, and sent videos all over the world to reveal atrocities and raise money. They know how easy it is to access YouTube or other visual social media. This is particularly true of those in their 20's and30's, the ones who are rioting now. They can easily understand how that video got onto the web without any U.S. government involvement, they just don't want to. This may be the first time I've disagreed with Rachel Maddow, but I disagree sharply on this issue.
Moral outrage is a powerful social and psychological force. Phony and contrived moral outrage is the cocaine of the embittered, and no less powerful. It's one thing to be offended by an idiotic movie, or the antics of that phlegm-wad Terry Jones. It's quite another to riot half way around the world, to attack and murder people who, it's easy to understand, were unconnected with their acts. The people in these mobs wrap themselves in the mantle of phony victimhood and false outrage so they can lash out at nearby vulnerable targets. Contrived sanctimony justifies the unleashing of their deep seated anger, and helps maintain the illusion that they're doing something virtuous. The reaction to the Danish cartoons is 2005 was just as contrived. Muslims rioted around the world, making everyone even more afraid of Muslims than they already were. I can't help wondering if that wasn't and isn't part of their intention- to make themselves feel powerful by instilling fear in others. It may serve the emotional needs of the rioters, but it harms the cause they claim to support, and the majority of those who believe in Islam.
Just like their countries have their extremists we do too. Instead of setting fires in the street Right extremists here like the Teaparty, are attacking Planned Parenthood, women , in general and a host of other people and their beliefs. They wish they could riot like other Countries because they have inadvertantly started it and they know it, they are just using more deceitful means, like voter suppression. They shouldn't say one bad word against the protests against us, they started the fires. They have no right judging others that's Gods' job and the Islamic Community is trying to communicate this to Americans. If we are to truly believe in Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha and others like them, then you oughta know they are walking on this Earth right now. And they are protecting the people that they hold dear, whatever Country they happen to live in now.
The Obama administration is doing the right thing by proceeding in a measured way. In a time when emotions run high, slowing things down and giving people a chance to settle down is the right course of action.
It's also true that it's upsetting when one's religion, or any other closely held belief, is questioned, mocked, or attacked. The Muslim religion has a long and proud history. The vast majority of its followers are peaceful people who find comfort and strength in its teachings.
All of that said, I have two words of advice for all the protestors overseas, who seem to lost all sense of control: GROW UP.
These countries, and the Muslim religion, have been in existence for centuries. For tens of centuries in many cases. Their history is replete with people who have done a whole lot worse things to their religion than create a comic strip, make a movie, or write a book. Especially when none of these things would have an audience that would get out of the hundreds without the undue attention the protestors call to them.
To the leaders of these countries, such as they are: Show a little perspective. Start bringing your citizens into the modern world. Maybe the civilized parts of the world will take you seriously as leaders.
They feel like they have been betrayed by America, we just need to communicate to them that we still have wanna be dictators who live here. They have to realize that nobody is perfect and that we feel their frustration just like they do because of the close-mindedness of people who live in our Country. World peace is still just around the corner. Let God take care of the scoffers, if you truly believe in him then you must know that he can make all this right. He is just waiting for us to figure it out on our own.
In response to the segment on the Romney campaign's original comments on the tragic situation in Libya -- and Romney, Portman and other GOP surrogates' seeming incompetent followup: It is only to distract. By giving too much attention to Romney's lies and incompetency, Rachel tends to mask what a phenomenal job our President is doing in handling an incredibly difficult situation.
It is no different than the tactic of using the filibuster to bloc all legislation. It is a smoke screen, in this case an unpatriotic one, as was the filibuster tactic.
Where in the Cairo Embassy statement does it say "We apologize" and why did Rachel not vociferously point out that it most definitely does not start out saying "we apologize" nor contain an apology nor the word sorry nor even regret? It was a lie when Romney said it first, second, third, however many times he said it and it was a lie when Portman said it on CBS This Morning.
I see the left is now trying to define what the meaning of 'is', is. That sounds familiar.
huh? Read it-
"The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims - as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others."
When you issue a statement of condemnation over something which someone is blaming you for, that is the diplomatic way of apologizing. This is not at all complicated.
Just FYI on the holocaust denial, that's the not completely uncontroversial law in many European countries, including the country responsible for it. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laws_against_Holocaust_denial) Those laws especially in Germany go far beyond Holocaust denial to include a wide range of Nazi symbolism and speech. The perception in German policy discussion is similar to the argument for hate crime legislation in the US, although they do not require any additional, actual crime to have happened.
What I don't understand is why would anyone want to start another war by denying a war? This is a strange way of having History repeat itself.
It's not about war it's about genocide. It's about inciting hatred against a specific, maybe ethnic group of people. Maybe you could say it's a self-prescribed repentance (to not forget and let nobody forget ever). You might not see what the use of such a law is, but I'd rather have it in place than not.
As Rachel pointed out, North Korean children are taught that American kids are taught hatred for them in school Talk about repeating a lie often enough. When these societies are exposed to more information ie the internet is not banned, western tv is available etc, the extremism is more limited to those who seek chaos for their jollies. As these new governments have successes without trampling on education and freedoms, the reactionaries have less power. If we did not have strong law enforcement, how many more mosques, or Sikh temples would burn. How many more abortion clinics would be torched. The civil rights movement with its lynchings, beatings and church burnings are not so far behind us.