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Saudi Arabia Calls For Global Internet Censorship Body

Onymous Hero writes "Following the recent YouTube video 'The Innocence of Muslims' and the subsequent Muslim violence, Saudi Arabia has stated that there is a 'crying need for international collaboration to address "freedom of expression" which clearly disregards public order.' The World Telecommunications Policy Forum (a UN body) is the vehicle by which Saudi Arabia (and possibly other states) will try to use to implement a global set of internet content standards."

678 comments

  1. one word! by 3seas · · Score: 4, Insightful

    NO!

    1. Re:one word! by Vanderhoth · · Score: 4, Insightful

      but! If it wasn't religious extremists our US embassies around the world wouldn't of been attacked/rioted at and the one in Libya wouldn't of been raided the the ambassador killed! Hope and Change demands this!

      FTFY

    2. Re:one word! by dskoll · · Score: 5, Insightful

      And if women didn't dress provocatively, they wouldn't be raped.

      Yeah, yeah, that's it. Suppress freedom of expression so half-crazed Islamist assholes don't have an excuse to riot. Sounds like a great plan to me.

    3. Re:one word! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      NO!

      but! If it wasn't for that video our US embassies around the world wouldn't of been attacked/rioted at and the one in Libya wouldn't of been raided the the ambassador killed! Hope and Change demands this!

      Again, "NO!"

    4. Re:one word! by FudRucker · · Score: 0

      you actually believe that pile of bullshit the govt's mainstream media propaganda machine blathered on the TV?

      I think there is another reason why the natives in those other lands revolted and the govt does not want us western citizens to find out the real reason so they made up that story about the video

      --
      Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
    5. Re:one word! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      but! If it wasn't for political extremists our US embassies around the world wouldn't of been attacked/rioted at and the one in Libya wouldn't of been raided the the ambassador killed! Hope and Change demands this!

      FTFY

    6. Re:one word! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

      but! If it wasn't TERRORISTS our US embassies around the world wouldn't have been attacked/rioted at and the one in Libya wouldn't of been raided and the ambassador killed! Hope and Change demands this! Time for war, boys!

      FTFY

      FTFY again

    7. Re:one word! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      But she showed her ankles!!!! I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF FROM RAPING HER AFTER THAT!!!

      Besides don't forget to stone her after raping her. It's the Muslim way!

    8. Re:one word! by Desler · · Score: 1

      The "reason" was that they were assholes who wanted to attack those embassies anyway and they just used the video as a convenient excuse.

    9. Re:one word! by rtb61 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Now here's the catch. A riot was asked what they didn't like about the video or what was so wrong, answer, I would not watch that rubbish. So what do you do with morons who riot about content they have never even bloody seen and like automatons they are rioting because the were told to be insulted and that they should riot.

      Saudi Arabian government can fuck right off. The Government of Saudi Arabia via their nominated sub-cult the Wahhabis were the shit heads telling everyone to riot. No matter what anyone writes, draws or video if the criminally insane subcult of Islam spends money on telling the rest of the Islam world to riot via the religious communication channels then a percentage of fundamentalists world wide will riot.

      The problem is not the content the problem is the corrupt autocratic government of Saudi Arabia and it's fiscal campaign corruption of the US government. How many US politicians are crawling around feeding at the hand of the Saudi government and it's Wahhabi religious fanatics, shit they ran airliners into US buildings, own substantial interests in US media channels, corrupt US politicians and the US governments turns a blind eye, again and again and again.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    10. Re:one word! by Sollord · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Fuck that pack up and get everyone out and let the region burn and the barbarians kill each other if they want to kill each other over silly religious beliefs let them but they attack us once we leave them to rot as they seem to want show them the error of there way with bombs and drones if that fails we can always produces several kilometers of glass in a instant till they learn.

      I see no point in wasting the lives of our troops on helping people who don't really want it. A supposed silent majority is no majority at all

      Then again there is something to be said about stopping genocide which we will probably see one way or another when it comes to the Christians and Jews in the region if we did pull out.

    11. Re:one word! by Desler · · Score: 1

      You mean that don't have that excuse. They'll always think of others which is why the appeasement tactic against aggressors never works.

    12. Re:one word! by Sollord · · Score: 1

      That okay she was killed by her family to protect its honor so it's not an issue anymore but here is a chicken to cover your minor loss

    13. Re:one word! by Chrisq · · Score: 1

      but! If it wasn't for that video our US embassies around the world wouldn't of been attacked/rioted at and the one in Libya wouldn't of been raided the the ambassador killed! Hope and Change demands this!

      So you want to prevent everyone's freedom of expression because the Muzzies can't control themselves?

    14. Re:one word! by gtall · · Score: 1

      Not just that, the Shia-Sunni civil war would probably get a lot hotter, especially when Iran gets the bomb and the other countries decide they must have one as well or their dicks will look small in comparison. Also, the price of oil would go through the roof and deep-six the U.S. and other Western economies. And, as you mentioned, the pogroms against everyone who isn't Muslim.

    15. Re:one word! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Many do. Just like many people want us all to be fondled, nudie scanned, etc. because they are quaking in their panties over Muslim terrorists around every corner.

    16. Re:one word! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Of course they would have, they'd have made up some other lame ass excuse to do it. Like us helping that poor girl who was shot because she wants to have all girls educated (and not the way the idiots in charge of the religion she was born into want).

      If we really want to improve the world, then we should set certain education minimums before children are allowed to select which religion they want to follow.

      Say no to forced religious brain washing and mental abuse.

    17. Re:one word! by Sollord · · Score: 1

      Well it would be a shitty few years but we do have the resources in the US and Canada to replace all the oil from the middle east it's just some what messy but would probably be justified in those realities. Tar sands, and oil shale being the main ones

    18. Re:one word! by N0Man74 · · Score: 2

      You might want to get your sarcasm detector checked out. I think most of us picked up that the gp was being ironic.

    19. Re:one word! by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      Our economies deserve to be deep-sixed for our failure to make ourselves energy independent. We could have been doing far more to develop electric vehicles, public transit like SkyTran, developing renewable energy sources, etc., but we haven't.

    20. Re:one word! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Better yet, if we all kill ourselves right now, we won't run the risk of offending anybody else ever again.

      The perfect solution, right under our noses this whole time. Now let's form an orderly queue, everyone who makes a hobby of taking offense to things other people do should go to the front.

    21. Re:one word! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How do you know this? Do you have the ability to go back in time, change one thing, and see a different outcome! Just because they are using this video as an excuse doesn't mean that the events that occurred wouldn't have happened! Also, is it right that they are not basically demanding that America burn and all Americans be killed and they attribute it to this one video!!! Lets be realistic about this...

    22. Re:one word! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bull Shit. If it weren't for the global infestation of religious insanity and intolerance, our embassies wouldn't have been attacked. In fact, that video would never have been made, much less captioned and brought to the attention of just the right people. Never mind that thousands of people wouldn't have been murdered in just one morning 11 years ago. Hope and Change demands that we quit tiptoeing around these assholes and find a way - any way - to make them to get the fuck over themselves.

      Personally, I don't give a rats ass what anyone else believes, but if it's so blatantly ridiculous that you can't even keep your own stories straight, and resolve these conflicts by murdering thousands of innocent people, then you have no fucking business telling me I can't make fun of you or your stupid / ridiculous / violent / hateful / intolerant religion, or it's murderous pedophile prophet. We have something called Freedom Of Speech here in the US at least, and many other countries as well if I'm not mistaken. If you want to just throw that out to protect the sensitivities of the insane few, I say bite me.

      Besides, any treaty agreeing as such would be null and void, as it would necessarily violate the Constitution of the United States. Not many folks here would tolerate that.

      Bottom line is this: Everyone has the right to believe what they want. Nobody has the right to impose those beliefs on another human being. I don't care whether the law in another country makes it legal, that doesn't make it right. I also don't care whether any religion claims it is right, that doesn't make it so. But if you believe it's OK, or even your obligation, to murder someone for pointing out the obvious stupidity in your religion, I say you need to step off and re-examine your life. I will not give up the freedom of my mind just because some other dumbass has.

      There are a few reasons I'm posting as AC here - no secure access from where I am without accepting a man-in-the-middle CA from my employer means no login. Also, I know that a great many members of that "peaceful" religion would gladly track me down and behead me on camera if they knew who I was. That said, I think I can safely say this rant is not so much intolerance as just plain being fed up with the senseless violence and intimidation of a few superstitious morons.

      So I say this: Many people may not agree, including non-Islamic people, but I think putting a complete and utter end to Islam throughout the planet would be the single greatest achievement for global enlightenment and peace this world could ever hope to accomplish. Ever.

      Think of it as wiping out rabies on a global scale.

      Peaceful religion my ass. FOAD.

      Wow, it felt good to really just say what I think without holding back for a change ...

      Full Disclosure: I am an Absolute Atheist. I not only don't believe there is a god, I am 100% convinced there is NO god. He or she would have vaporized me in some spectacular fashion decades ago otherwise. I am an equal opportunity heckler when it comes to religious and other superstitious beliefs, but I tailor my opinions to the examples shown by each individual religion or belief.

    23. Re:one word! by Grishnakh · · Score: 2

      Actually, I may be wrong, but the way I see it, the Saudi government is actually rather progressive, for a Muslim nation. The King has pushed for many reforms there. The problem isn't the government, it's the people themselves: they're mostly a bunch of lunatics. The government does things like this (calling for global censorship, etc.) to appease its people, and stay in power, and avoids pushing for too much reform too quickly, so that their nutty people don't start a revolution and set up an even worse and more oppressive government. In short, an autocratic government is really the best thing for the people of Saudi Arabia, if your goal is to further human rights and get away from Wahhabism. Left to their own devices, the people of Saudi Arabia will be worse than the Taliban.

    24. Re:one word! by Scarred+Intellect · · Score: 0

      Your lack of spelling and grammar exacerbates your arrogance and your arrogance exacerbates your ignorance. It is painful to read what you write. There's a reason you're not a leader of Man.

    25. Re:one word! by Scarred+Intellect · · Score: 1

      You missed the part where he later supported his point.

    26. Re:one word! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It should be obvious that the biggest threat the US/Europe faces comes from the country that spawned bin laden and his ilk.. Saudi Arabia... not Iran, not Afghanistan, not North Korea, but these dickheads in the middle of a desert waste land. BUT.. they are friends of our great corporate enterprises that actually rule the world... So, here we are. And those bastards probably have a few nukes stashed away also. On American planes, but the bombs are there. This is so fucked. I wish the West would actually stand up for real freedom, and take these asshole OUT!

    27. Re:one word! by Sollord · · Score: 1

      I wouldn't want to be the leader of Man that sounds almost like a religious posting. I know big words and grammar make you powerful and all important on the interwebz I bow before your might

    28. Re:one word! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are wrong. The reason why Wahhabi has such a strong foothold in Saudia Arabia is pretty much because of the Saud family's political and financial alliance with Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab. The Saud family has no goals of getting rid of Wahhabism nor do they care about furthering human rights. You are incredibly naive to think otherwise.

    29. Re:one word! by Scarred+Intellect · · Score: 1

      I didn't realize I used any big words.

      And by "leader of Man" I meant "leader of Mankind" as in a leader of The People...no religious connotation. That you saw that as a religious thing goes on to demonstrate your idiocy. But I'll take your misinterpretation into consideration next time I write stuff; I try to be as clear as possible whenever I write anything; so in that I must thank you for your assistance.

    30. Re:one word! by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 1

      a chicken! cool! lets hang it upside down, cut its throat and watch it bleed.

      --

      --
      "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
    31. Re:one word! by M0j0_j0j0 · · Score: 1

      "And if women didn't dress provocatively, they wouldn't be raped. "

      Please stop quoting the republicans!!!

    32. Re:one word! by Grishnakh · · Score: 2

      Are you sure about that? The way it looks to me, these Wahhabists control the clerical institutions, and the Sauds maintain this alliance because it keeps them in power. The Wahhabists are probably only able to stay in power because the people love them. It's little different from what we have here in America: a bunch of nutty fundie Christian groups have enormous popular support in certain quarters, so right-wing politicians pander to them (i.e., a strategic alliance) in order to gain power and stay in power. A lot of the Republicans probably don't buy a lot of the religious BS, they just want the power that goes with the job, but they'll give a lot of lip service to it to get votes from the religious nuts.

      Remember, people are fundamentally followers for the most part, and want to be led. A progressive leader of a bunch of backwards morons can lead them out of backwardness to a certain extent, at a very slow and controlled rate, but if that leader tries to make too many reforms too quickly, suddenly the followers will turn against him and rebel.

    33. Re:one word! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is the root of the problem in many places, including the American south. A large number of the people are clueless morons with heads full of violence and religious nonsense, so a democratic system brings in insane leaders.

    34. Re:one word! by Golddess · · Score: 1

      So if someone were to kill you because of your post, does that mean your death should be ruled a suicide? :P

      --
      "I'm not sure I like the fugnutish tone you used in your post!" -RogL (608926)-
    35. Re:one word! by AvitarX · · Score: 1

      It would dramatically increase the cost of oil, and there is no reason to assume the oil would stay in North America if other countries have more of teh money.

      --
      Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
    36. Re:one word! by jdavidb · · Score: 1

      I agree with your sentiment completely with the exception of your last sentence. Christians in the region were actually safer before the U.S. government showed up.

    37. Re:one word! by LQ · · Score: 1

      Actually, I may be wrong, but the way I see it, the Saudi government is actually rather progressive, for a Muslim nation. The King has pushed for many reforms there. The problem isn't the government, it's the people themselves: they're mostly a bunch of lunatics.

      Are you serious? Try http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia#Politics - the royal family runs the show and is a barrier to reform in one of the most oppressive countries on earth.

    38. Re:one word! by Sollord · · Score: 1

      It was sarcasm and where did i support the content of that post? At no point did I support censorship because some video hurt some religious nutcases feeling at most I've support leaving the entire region to burn and if need be turn it to glass when they refuse the acknowledge we no longer wish to play in there religious murder games.

    39. Re:one word! by rtb61 · · Score: 1

      Your name wouldn't happen to be George W Bush by any chance, you know that guy the Saudis kept bailing out of failed business after failed business, for no apparent reason making him a millionaire in the process. Left to there own devices the Saudi's would still be a bunch of ignorant goat herders. It's American dollars that keep that regime going.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    40. Re:one word! by Sollord · · Score: 1

      but! If it wasn't for that video our US embassies around the world wouldn't of been attacked/rioted at and the one in Libya wouldn't of been raided the the ambassador killed! Hope and Change demands this!

      For those with broken sarcasm detectors this post is meant to sarcastic and a hit on the Obama spin and push for censorship after the attack on the Libyan embassy

    41. Re:one word! by interkin3tic · · Score: 2

      The distinction between "us" and "them" seems artificial. There are a lot of logical people over there who aren't interested in war and destruction to appease some strange cultish beliefs. There are a lot of violent religious fundamentalists over here who want to forcibly convert the rest of the world to appease their strange cultish beliefs. Maybe they have a higher portion of them, but if so, I suspect that has to do with ignorance and economics, not anything inherent to "them."

      If so, it's not going to stop by ignoring "them." The innocent, sane people are going to get wiped out, more than they are now. And it will come back to bite us in the ass. We basically ignored Afghanistan, allowed the Taliban to set up shop. Look how that turned out. Large areas of the world cannot be left to fester without some of the rot affecting us too.

    42. Re:one word! by Vermonter · · Score: 1

      The attacks were planned before that video came out and had nothing to do with it: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/09/libya-consulate-attack-protests_n_1953057.html

    43. Re:one word! by Sollord · · Score: 1

      Most places are better off before a foreign power stick there nose into there business and outside of stopping genocide and other crimes against humanity or retaliating for an attack we really shouldn't be bothering with them but reality and history allow neither option now. Most of this is the long term fall out of WW1 and WW2 with the collapse of the old European empires and there colonies and then having a massive cold war with two super power doing there best to fuck each other over. We're now dealing with the cluster fuck of the last several hundred years slowly stacking on top of each other but History is what it is an we have to deal with the here and now and hope to do some what better

    44. Re:one word! by tibit · · Score: 1

      Sorry but making those electric vehicles currently takes so much energy that it just about balances any energy savings you may make over the life of the vehicle. Money has energy equivalents, and electric vehicles cost more simply because they take so much more energy to make. Look at numerous wheel-to-well analyses out there, they all pretty much agree that electric is not cheaper. It doesn't save any energy. It does make us just a bit more independent since instead of burning oil you burn coal, but at the present it's only a slight slant towards coal. Just making those vehicles takes a lot of oil and natural gas for various industrial processes that come up with all the parts. I guess it's an envrionmental-disasters-for-independence type of a tradeoff. Maybe one could argue it's OK, but we're all NIMBY on that. Keep the Virginias beautiful and all that.

      --
      A successful API design takes a mixture of software design and pedagogy.
    45. Re:one word! by Sollord · · Score: 1

      I know that but that is what the Obama was trying to push before reality curb stomped there spin

    46. Re:one word! by Sollord · · Score: 1

      Ponder why entire comment and draw what the next step in Afghanistan should be if they or there supports attack us once we pull out again

    47. Re:one word! by tibit · · Score: 1

      I don't know what republicans you are talking to, but all the ones I know of are quite religious, and many of them unfortunately are also first-rate hypocrites, too. Going to church is, for them, like going to a country club. Tea and cookies and all that jazz, and commiseration with com-uh-patriots.

      --
      A successful API design takes a mixture of software design and pedagogy.
    48. Re:one word! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just being pedantic, but last I checked, Christianity and Judaism weren't genetic.

    49. Re:one word! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, I am. The Saud family is what gave Wahhabism its foothold and they are what keep it around. You really think the clerics have any power over them? LOL. You really are naive.

    50. Re:one word! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Once we leave, they will just come back over here and blow up some more buildings. We can't win with these monsters.

    51. Re:one word! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I understand needing to show restraint for ankles, but when I walk into the grocery store and 80% of the women are wearing Yoga pants, they are just asking for it.

    52. Re:one word! by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      I think you're missing my point. The royal family's motivation is money and power: they want to be in power, because they like the power and/or the money (and considering how much money they spend and how lavishly they live, I think it's safe to assume money is either #1 or #2). What I'm questioning is their commitment to the religious ideals of Wahhabism. Do they really care that much about oppressing women and all that? According to the Wiki link someone else posted here about politics in SA, the King has now decreed that women will be able to be full members in politics there. That doesn't sound like a Taliban-like move to me, it sounds like a pretty serious effort at reform. Who knows, maybe his wife is pushing him? Whatever the cause, who cares; my point is that if the Wahhabists were really that powerful, that kind of thing wouldn't be happening at all.

      So the way it looks to me, the Saudi royals only provide lip service to the extremely conservative Islamic stuff, enough to keep people from revolting or losing their alliance with the Wahhabist clerics, so they can stay in power and enjoy the money. And maybe while they're in there, some of them are even trying to improve things too, despite what the Wahhabist morons and their followers would like.

      My whole point here, since it seems I need to spell it out, is that the conservatism and dedication to Wahhabism does not come from the top, it comes from the bottom. It's just like politics here in America; this nutty creationism-loving fundie Christianity isn't being pushed on us by a bunch of elitist politicians. That stuff is all coming from the bottom, from average everyday American people who believe in that insanity. The politicians who spout that stuff are just pandering to their base.

    53. Re:one word! by Grishnakh · · Score: 2

      How on earth does making EVs "take so much energy"? They're fundamentally far simpler than gas-driven cars, with far fewer parts; the main problem is the batteries, and batteries don't cost that much to make. Just take a look at Teslas; you can compare the energy costs by comparing the production costs of the cars directly, since energy more or less translates into money. Teslas don't cost millions of dollars to make, and the only reason they cost as much as they do is because they haven't scaled up their production processes.

      electric vehicles cost more simply because they take so much more energy to make

      Bullshit. They cost more to make because they're low-volume vehicles, and low-volume products ALWAYS cost more than high-volume products. Go read about "economies of scale".

      It does make us just a bit more independent since instead of burning oil you burn coal, but at the present it's only a slight slant towards coal.

      Except that you need far less, because you eliminate the ridiculously poor efficiency of ICE engines and the Carnot cycle they're based on. Carnot-cycle engines are maximum 35% efficient; electric motors are in the 95+% range.

      Just making those vehicles takes a lot of oil and natural gas for various industrial processes that come up with all the parts.

      What, and regular cars don't need tens of thousands of parts too? How much energy do you think it costs to refine aluminum (for engine blocks and other parts), forge steel (for connecting rods and crankshafts), etc? This argument is simply stupid.

    54. Re:one word! by shentino · · Score: 1

      And people who leave their houses unlocked wouldn't get burgled.

      Please stop justifying the actions of the aggressor by blaming the victim.

      Rape and burglary are still wrong unless you WANT to go darwin and say that the weak or foolish deserve to be oppressed or abused.

    55. Re:one word! by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      You know high-ranking Republican politicians personally? Or just Republican voters? The voters are indeed a bunch of religious hypocrites. The politicians are just telling them what they want to hear, for the most part. It's pretty hard to tell how much they really believe personally; that's the big problem with sociopaths, it's hard to tell where they really stand since they're so good at lying.

    56. Re:one word! by Grishnakh · · Score: 3, Insightful

      “Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.” - Seneca, Roman philosopher, mid-1st century AD

    57. Re:one word! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And yet, you didn't feel completely free to post as anything other than "anonymous coward". Think about that one for a while. And yes, I'm doing it too.

    58. Re:one word! by TFAFalcon · · Score: 1

      The problem is that the Saudi government is also suppressing anyone that wants to reform the country in non-religious ways. Such as implementing democracy. At the same time they are willing to ally themselves with religious extremists that support terrorism in other countries and oppress women at home, all in exchange for their help in staying in power. So how exactly are they 'the best thing' for the people? That's like saying that being a slave is a good thing, since you might be homeless if your master set you free.

    59. Re:one word! by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      Such as implementing democracy.

      That has nothing to do with religion, and everything to do with power. Why would rich authoritarians who have all the power want to give it up? Just about every government in history has suppressed efforts to replace that form of government with a different one.

      And how would implementing democracy help "reform" things in Saudi Arabia? They're trying it in other Arab countries now and radical Islamists are coming to power. The people don't want reform or progressivism.

      So how exactly are they 'the best thing' for the people?

      All I'm saying is that, if the people had more power, things would probably be even worse and more oppressive. You and others here seem to be trying to blame all the ills of Saudi Arabia on its government alone, and what I'm trying to point out is that the people are probably worse. Just look at what's happened in the other Arab Spring countries: they replaced crappy dictatorships with even crappier and more oppressive Islamist governments, because that's what the people want. Libya's Gadafi, for instance, was actually fairly forward-thinking when it came to things like women's rights; he even had an all-female bodyguard contingent, and sure as heck didn't have them wearing burqas. With the new people, I wouldn't be too surprised to see things go backwards.

      It just seems to me that most of these power-hungry leaders really don't care that much about religious ideals; they'll say whatever they need to to stay in power, but they're usually not the mindless lunatics that you find in the clerical ranks and among the most religious of the people.

    60. Re:one word! by tibit · · Score: 1

      Agreed, I don't know the politicians (and feel all the better for it, there's enough to obsess about as it is). I agree about sociopathic behaviors.

      --
      A successful API design takes a mixture of software design and pedagogy.
    61. Re:one word! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Uhm, your troops aren't there exactly to "help" anyone, your naivety is laughable. They're there because of the oil, you ignorant american.

    62. Re:one word! by TFAFalcon · · Score: 1

      Yes, the Saudi government probably doesn't care about religion. But it allied itself with the religious extremists in the country. And the longer this situation persists, the larger the number of extremists in the population will be - anyone not 'extreme' enough will be harassed by the religious police until they conform. And the government lets it happen, because it's their allies doing it, and it cuts down on the number of 'liberals' that might want to challenge the government itself. The government might be completely secular, but it does not matter. Now there are two options - either the government stays in power forever, or it eventually collapses. Since the oil in the region will run out eventually, and the US will have no further incentive for supporting them, the government is unlikely to survive (my guess is that the royal family will quietly slip out of the country when they see the party is over). So what happens then? The longer the current situation persists, the more likely it is that the extremists will take power, and the more 'extreme' they will be. They are already more or less part of the government, so the change will be easy for them - just replace the royal family with the clerics, and remove all those 'reform' laws that no one ever really followed. And what you'll have is a brand new religious state with a fairly modern army and no way to pay them, except with plunder. What could go wrong there.

      As for the Arab Spring countries, what happened there was a fairly typical revolution - the oppressed came to power and did everything the opposite of the dictators that used to rule them. Just like France and Russia, where religion was closely tied to the government went and slaughtered as many priests as they could find, so the Arabs went back to their religion. Yes the situation will be chaotic for a while, but so was the situation after every revolution. And yes, further revolutions might be needed to bring true democracy to the region. But in the long run dictatorships are never good for the people. They might be preferable in the short term, since they bring stability. But letting them stay in power does not prevent revolutions, just delays them and makes them even more painful. But each revolution lets new ideas into the society, and if enough people embrace them, then a brighter future can begin.

    63. Re:one word! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ...And the Christian way too. Sure, most christians clearly don't put rape victims to death, but neither do most muslims.

    64. Re:one word! by CraftyJack · · Score: 1

      A riot was asked what they didn't like about the video...

      "Attempting to interview a riot" sounds like a it should have been a Python skit. I'm picturing Cleese for the job.

    65. Re:one word! by Tom · · Score: 1

      Now here's the catch. A riot was asked what they didn't like about the video or what was so wrong, answer, I would not watch that rubbish. So what do you do with morons who riot about content they have never even bloody seen and like automatons they are rioting because the were told to be insulted and that they should riot.

      Now here's a thought: Why not instead of thinking about what to do, think about what must have already been done to people who have so much hatred stored inside that they react violently to a rumour.

      Automatons is exactly what they are not. Machines don't have emotional reactions.

      They are the same kind of people as live in the US and kill abortion doctors. There are just more of them and the visibility is higher.

      --
      Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
    66. Re:one word! by jdavidb · · Score: 1

      we really shouldn't be bothering with them but reality and history allow neither option now

      But I don't consent to that. If you think you need to do that, more power to you. I'd like to be uninvolved.

      Besides, we marched right in; in my opinion, we can march right out. I suppose you can stay if you think it's necessary.

      we have to deal with the here and now and hope to do some what better

      Doing better would be marching right out. Staying there is not better; it's just as bad.

      If I am reading you right, it sounds to me that in this post, you are saying that what you posted in your other post is not practical, due to history. I don't get it. We are not stuck. We can leave, as you say, and let the barbarians fight it out. We should do exactly that. At a minimum, those of us who want to leave (including withdrawal of our own resources that are funding this nightmare) should be permitted to do so.

    67. Re:one word! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So what do you do with morons who riot about content they have never even bloody seen and like automatons they are rioting because the were told to be insulted and that they should riot.

      welcome to slashdot!

    68. Re:one word! by ZigMonty · · Score: 1

      Except that you need far less, because you eliminate the ridiculously poor efficiency of ICE engines and the Carnot cycle they're based on. Carnot-cycle engines are maximum 35% efficient; electric motors are in the 95+% range.

      ICEs aren't based on the Carnot cycle (although carnot is the most efficient possible cycle). Carnot cycle engines are *not* maximum 35% efficient. Why you quote the efficiency of the motor by itself is bizarre (and also excessively high for modern electric motors over a normal drive cycle). Electric cars are not 95% efficient when you start from coal being burned to generate the electricity, and include battery, inverter efficiencies etc. Especially when you consider that coal power stations, also being heat engines, are bound by the same carnot maximum theoretical efficiency formula (although their practical efficiency is generally higher than ICEs).

      I don't actually disagree with the thrust of your rebuttal, GP is an idiot.

    69. Re:one word! by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      Yes, but coal power stations have economies of scale and are much more efficient than thousands or millions of small ICEs driving around at partial load most of the time. Yes, inverters and batteries decrease efficiency, as do transmission lines, but it still works out to be much cheaper. The easy way to see this is to simply compare the cost of driving per mile in each vehicle, given current gasoline prices and current electricity prices. Plug-in EVs always work out to be far, far cheaper in energy costs. And gasoline is only going to get more expensive, perhaps greatly so, whereas electricity can be generated from all sorts of sources so it doesn't have to rise in price nearly as much.

      Sorry if some of my other points weren't quite clear. 35% is not the maximum Carnot efficiency, that's approximately the maximum real-world efficiency of modern gasoline cars. And don't forget, if you're going to count stuff like electric transmission lines, then you also need to count things like how much energy (fuel) is needed to transport crude oil from remote locations to refineries, to run the refineries, and then to transport the resulting gasoline to filling stations with semis.

    70. Re:one word! by wagnerrp · · Score: 1

      Carnot-cycle engines are maximum 35% efficient

      Actually, Carnot cycle efficiency is dependent exactly on the ratio between the hot and cold sides. Since an internal combustion engine runs between atmospheric temperature at ~300K, to peak combustion temperatures around 2000-3000K, a true adiabatic Carnot cycle would run at 85-90%.

    71. Re:one word! by rtb61 · · Score: 1

      Hatred, no, religious obsession, yes. The real question in whether the cult of Wahhabi which hides behind the religion of Islam, should be consider part of the intelligence arm of the Saudi Government, actively seeking to enforce the power of the Saudi Government over other countries via acts of subversive riot. Muslims don't just pray to Mecca, they are also showing unknowing subservience to the Saudi Government, who is seeking to force their national cult the Wahhabi on the rest of the world via subversive intelligence operations and blatant global terrorism. Of those rioters how many were in fact intelligence operatives of the Saudi Government, certainly all the ones running the operation.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    72. Re:one word! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey if this only sensors content as it flows outside the US I'm all for it just as long as it doesn't sensors content within our borders then I'm fine with it.

    73. Re:one word! by KingBenny · · Score: 1

      ah, come on man, why not? why not let just raison d'état dictate what is good for you, why not take 500 years backstep and add religion to it. Ah come on man, be a good sport :p

      --
      Free speech was meant to be free for all... how can anyone grow up in a nanny state ?
    74. Re:one word! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      HELL NO!! to be precise.

  2. Saudi douches, internet censorship in 1 easy step by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Disconnect yourselves from it. Done and done.

  3. We already have a global Internet censorship body by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1
  4. no by MickyTheIdiot · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I am not one of the "OMG! Look at the religion of peace!" bozos. But this is way over the line. This asks for the ability to apply censorship rules to everyone. They should be bitch slapped and sent out of the room.

    1. Re:no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah. We here in the US only do that for the content Mafia gangs.

    2. Re:no by dskoll · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I am not one of the "OMG! Look at the religion of peace!" bozos.

      I am. Islam is a blight on humanity and evil things like those emanating from Iran, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan flow directly from Islam.

    3. Re:no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Try to get to know real muslims, those living day by day and living quite ordinary lives without intruding on anyone else's. Don't mistake islam for the noisy and the greedy. Most just want to live in peace. Not saying Islam doesn't have any problems, like Christianity, it has many, but the majority of muslims are quite peaceful and sane.

    4. Re:no by dskoll · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Note: I said the evil flows from Islam. I didn't say that Muslims are evil. The Muslims I know are all decent and humane people. That's because they ignore all the nasty crap in their religion and only pick and choose the benign stuff. But the religion itself is full of nastiness and evil and is a blight on humanity.

    5. Re:no by KiloByte · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Don't mistake good folks who pay only lip service to religion as Islam. You can't possibly be an observant muslim and a good person (as the holy book demands murdering infidels), but merely calling yourself a muslim does not preclude you from being fit for civilisation. You "just" need to disregard core articles of the faith -- fortunately, most do.

      --
      The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
    6. Re:no by Dunbal · · Score: 1

      The problem is telling them apart because the raving jihadi when he chooses suddenly claims to be a moderate, peace loving muslim.

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    7. Re:no by Jawnn · · Score: 2

      I am not one of the "OMG! Look at the religion of peace!" bozos.

      I am. Islam is a blight on humanity and evil things like those emanating from Iran, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan flow directly from Islam.

      Blaming the religion is the wrong approach. All you will accomplish by attacking a religion is to add to the resolve of those extremist followers who you seem to conflate with the vast majority of those followers who are not so fearful, ignorant, and hateful. Notice I said "a" religion. Not Islam. Christianity has it's share of nut-job followers too. They're not as well organized since The Enlightenment, but they are still there. We need to leave the religion out of it and deal with religious extremists for what they are, violent and anti-social criminals.

    8. Re:no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      as the holy book demands murdering infidels

      Isn't a similar statement also true for some of the instructions in the Bible? Wouldn't that make it impossible (by your standards) for someone to be an observant Christian and a good person?

    9. Re:no by MozeeToby · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Mao didn't need a religious excuse to kill millions, neither did Stalin. North Korea manages to oppress their people to a degree the middle eastern nations can only dream about. Christianity was used as a rallying cry for countless atrocities throughout the middle ages. Evil flows from evil people. If the evil people couldn't use Islam to be evil they'd use something else.

    10. Re:no by dskoll · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Isn't a similar statement also true for some of the instructions in the Bible? Wouldn't that make it impossible (by your standards) for someone to be an observant Christian and a good person?

      IMO, yes. All religion is bad. That being said, some religions are worse than others and IMO Islam is the worst of the lot.

    11. Re:no by dskoll · · Score: 2

      Blaming the religion is the wrong approach

      Why is that?

      On the contrary, blaming the religion is exactly the right approach because it is the religion that contains the evil. Most Muslims are quite decent human beings and are deserving of respect. Islam, on the other hand, is a set of ideas and philosophy and we should not hesitate to criticize it.

    12. Re:no by bickerdyke · · Score: 1

      Mao didn't need a religious excuse to kill millions, neither did Stalin.

      But that's not really any kind of progress compared to those who use religion as a pretext.

      --
      bickerdyke
    13. Re:no by DaveyJJ · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Islam is a blight on humanity

      Religion is a blight on humanity.

      Fixed that for ya. Doesn't matter whether intolerance and the desire for absolute control over morality and ethics emanates from Saudi Arabia, Rome, an Anglican pulpit or some intolerant, fundamentalist bigot in the southern US of A.

      Belief in mean, paternalistic sky fairies and an intense wave of misogyny is the problem, here. In other words, believe whatever you like, and practice whatever superstition you choose. But the minute you try to impose that belief on any another human being without allowing them the ability to critically question your assumptions, you're in the serious wrong and need to be bitch slapped back to sanity.

      Reminds me of the recent Onion item ... No One Was Murdered Because Of This Image

      --
      DaveyJJ
    14. Re:no by Jawnn · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Blaming the religion is the wrong approach

      Why is that?

      On the contrary, blaming the religion is exactly the right approach because it is the religion that contains the evil. Most Muslims are quite decent human beings and are deserving of respect. Islam, on the other hand, is a set of ideas and philosophy and we should not hesitate to criticize it.

      Then you must do the same for Christianity, and every other religion that contains as a part of it's dogma, the instruction to do evil (stoning, suicide bombing, whatever) to those who don't believe and act as you do (women who have the temerity to demand education, etc.). It's too much to keep track of, so I say let them believe whatever fucking loopy Bronze Age fairy tales they want, as long as the behave like civilized people and stop trying to force their twisted views on anybody else.

    15. Re:no by aliquis · · Score: 1

      And ass can be anyone and one can always claim being an ass is due to anything.

    16. Re:no by N0Man74 · · Score: 4, Informative

      If the evil people couldn't use Islam to be evil they'd use something else.

      I agree with you, but yet I still have to concede that it is a lot easier for evil people to manipulate people into doing evil by using the Quran than it is by using My LIttle Pony episodes.

    17. Re:no by Grishnakh · · Score: 3

      Then you must do the same for Christianity

      If this were an article about a bunch of morons in the Bible Belt calling for a Global Internet Censorship body, I'm sure he would.

    18. Re:no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The problem that I have with non-muslims deciding for muslims wether or not they are observant is that a religion is what its followers make of it, not what non-followers make of it. If decent and humane muslims call what they believe in Islam then that is a variation of Islam that is entitled to carry that name. Perhaps the definition you follow is more or less what militant Islam claims it is, but I don't see any reason to prefer the definition extremists use over the definition humane people use.

    19. Re:no by KiloByte · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It's impossible to really observe the bible, as it's a big pile of various works that often contradict each other (or even themselves!) on core points, such as whether afterlife exists (Job), whether other gods exist, whether Yahveh is the highest god or merely a member of the "god of gods" court (Psalms -- compare translations closely, as they often try to wriggle away), whether you are even allowed to _not_ genocide your neighbours if they don't immediately surrender into slavery, etc, etc. All while claiming that every piece of past law is still in effect.

      On the other hand, the Koran has hardly any contradictions -- usually they can be blamed on being literary devices; and even if it would contradict itself, there's an abrogation clause that says a commandment issued later overrides earlier ones. The very latest sura, 9 (they are not numbered in chronological order, remember!) is also the most bloodthirsty one.

      Thus, it is pretty clear whether you follow the Koran or not.

      --
      The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
    20. Re:no by Vanderhoth · · Score: 1

      I think in any situation where you have one central organization telling a shit load of followers to do something, and the followers blindly do what they're told, then good people will be far from in-between. This is what really makes religion dangerous. On the other hand your religion isn't being lead by a bunch of wack jobs that are more intent on remaining in power than doing actual good, religion could be a good thing.

      And yes Government is just as bad as religion. Look at the war in Afghanistan to start with. Bush's excuse was weapons of mass destruction (WoMD). He had no evidence there were WoMD, but he sent the Americans to war anyway, and for the most part they went willingly. Now maybe some of that was because 9/11 was still fresh in many peoples minds, but I'm not entirely convinced that wasn't an inside job intended to get the people riled up to make going to war easier.

    21. Re:no by hargrand · · Score: 1

      And where in Orthodox Christian doctrine or Scriptures does it require its adherents to perform stonings, suicide bombings or killing infidels?

    22. Re:no by dskoll · · Score: 1

      Then you must do the same for Christianity

      OK. Christianity is vile and disgusting too.

      But for some reason, nowadays it's Islam that seems to inspire the most heinous acts of religiously-motivated violence and that's why I'm concentrating on Islam. You need to put out the most dangerous fire first before going after the lesser fires.

    23. Re:no by dskoll · · Score: 0

      If the evil people couldn't use Islam to be evil they'd use something else.

      That statement is a well-known logical fallacy.

      Besides, if you studied Islam, you would know that it instructs its followers to commit evil acts. Are you saying that just because non-Muslims commit evil acts, it excuses Islam?

    24. Re:no by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 1

      muslims in the west are usually peaceful and get along with people.

      but the core values are just not practiced. their book still insists that, before the end of times, everyone must be converted or killed. (well, christianity also wants this, but its god that does the killing, not people).

      let me show you a quote that might illustrate my point:

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_and_antisemitism

      A reliable Hadith [tradition] says: 'The Jews will fight you, but you will be set to rule over them.' What could be more beautiful than this tradition? 'The Jews will fight you' â" that is, the Jews have begun to fight us. 'You will be set to rule over them' â" Who will set the Muslim to rule over the Jew? Allah... Until the Jew hides behind the rock and the tree. But the rock and tree will say: 'Oh Muslim, oh servant of Allah, a Jew hides behind me, come and kill him.' Except for the Gharqad tree, which is the tree of the Jews. We believe in this Hadith. We are convinced also that this Hadith heralds the spread of Islam and its rule over all the land... Oh Allah, accept our martyrs in the highest heavens... Oh Allah, show the Jews a black day... Oh Allah, annihilate the Jews and their supporters... Oh Allah, raise the flag of Jihad across the land... Oh Allah, forgive our sins..."

      talking rocks asking moslems to kill 'hiding jews'.

      pathetic.

      you guys are a bunch of idiots. if you believe any of this, you are retarded!

      --

      --
      "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
    25. Re:no by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 1

      saudi school books:

      more wiki quotes. just unbelievable. and yet - sigh - believable if you've seen the rioting that happens daily in the middle east between moslems:

      A May 2006 study of Saudi Arabia's revised schoolbook curriculum discovered that the eighth grade books included the following statements,[156]
      âoe They are the people of the Sabbath, whose young people God turned into apes, and whose old people God turned into swine to punish them. As cited in Ibn Abbas: The apes are Jews, the keepers of the Sabbath; while the swine are the Christian infidels of the communion of Jesus. â
      âoe Some of the people of the Sabbath were punished by being turned into apes and swine. Some of them were made to worship the devil, and not God, through consecration, sacrifice, prayer, appeals for help, and other types of worship. Some of the Jews worship the devil. Likewise, some members of this nation worship devil, and not God.

      and so, yeah, saudis have the HIGH MORAL GROUND to tell us what to do. yeah. right.

      --

      --
      "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
    26. Re:no by dskoll · · Score: 2

      Reminds me of the recent Onion item

      That defeats your hypothesis that all religion is (equally) a blight on humanity. The Onion image insulted a bunch of religions but there wasn't any violence. It seems that Islam is unique in that criticism of it or satire of it provokes deadly violence.

    27. Re:no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Note: I said the evil flows from Islam. I didn't say that Muslims are evil. The Muslims I know are all decent and humane people. That's because they ignore all the nasty crap in their religion and only pick and choose the benign stuff. But the religion itself is full of nastiness and evil and is a blight on humanity.

      And I will extend it to: Evil flows from Religion.

      Yes, your religion too. But evil is pretty clever, it flows from a lot of non-religious things too. The good news is good comes from a lot of non-religious things as well. Yes, it's true, there are good people that are not Christians.

    28. Re:no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Isn't a similar statement also true for some of the instructions in the Bible? Wouldn't that make it impossible (by your standards) for someone to be an observant Christian and a good person?

      IMO, yes. All religion is bad. That being said, some religions are worse than others and IMO Islam is the worst of the lot.

      Well, of the mainstream religions, I'd agree. There are plenty of far more batshit crazy little ones all over the place.
      Another way to put it, is that Islam is at the point today which Christianity was at during the Dark Ages and Inquisition.

      As for the Saudis, I say fuck 'em. Anybody who has to put a tarp over the women so the men don't go around raping everything in sight has got some seriously fucked up mental processes.

    29. Re:no by L4t3r4lu5 · · Score: 1

      Christianity is a blight on humanity and evil things like those emanating from Westboro' Baptist Church flow directly from Christianity.

      Your generalisation is a clear sign of your ignorance. Go read up on moral panic specifically the bit about disproportionality. These two groups do not represent the respective majority of their religions, and their behaviour is not representative of the larger group.

      --
      Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
    30. Re:no by interval1066 · · Score: 1

      But the religion itself is full of nastiness and evil and is a blight on humanity.

      Sounds like every religion I ever heard of.

      --
      Python: 'And then suddenly you have a language which says "we're all stuck with whatever the whiniest coder wants".'
    31. Re:no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      http://www.reddit.com/r/clopclop

    32. Re:no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      . It's too much to keep track of, so I say let them believe whatever fucking loopy Bronze Age fairy tales they wan

      The same does apply to Christianity. However the Bronze Age is 3200-600BC, so you might want to recalibrate your rant.

    33. Re:no by Jesus_666 · · Score: 1

      I agree with you, but yet I still have to concede that it is a lot easier for evil people to manipulate people into doing evil by using the Quran than it is by using My LIttle Pony episodes.

      Just give us a few centuries. If the bronydom continues going as strong as it does now I'd say that around the year 2500 we'll blow each other up over disputes like whether She Who Must Not Be Named was actually called "Derpy Hooves" or the precise number of Pinkie Pie's legs, not to mention the fringe cult that insists that Applejack was not a background pony.

      --
      USE HOT GRITS WITH STATUE OF NATALIE PORTMAN (NAKED AND PETRIFIED)
    34. Re:no by ByteSlicer · · Score: 2

      Note: I said the evil flows from Islam.

      Evil flows from homo sapiens. Religion is just an excuse do do evil.
      But evil doesn't really exist: it's just a human concept. In the end there are many similarities between groups of chimpanzees fighting over territories and resources, and humans.
      The animal within us is still strong...

    35. Re:no by Vermonter · · Score: 1

      Define evil

    36. Re:no by Jesus_666 · · Score: 1

      The question is whether imposing, violent nutjobs require religion in order to ruin everyone's day. I think that without religion they would just latch onto some other concept and use that as a vehicle to mess things up.

      The problem isn't religion, the problem is assholes. Unfortunately we don't really have a solution for that.

      --
      USE HOT GRITS WITH STATUE OF NATALIE PORTMAN (NAKED AND PETRIFIED)
    37. Re:no by Nidi62 · · Score: 1

      I would argue the other way around that it is the violent ones that pay only lip service to Islam and ignore the core articles of the faith. One of the Five Pillars is Zakat, or charity. What is not mentioned in any way in the 5 Pillars is violence. At it's core, the religion is about charity and peace. It is at the fringes where it is distorted and twisted to justify violence.

      --
      The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
    38. Re:no by Jawnn · · Score: 1

      And where in Orthodox Christian doctrine or Scriptures does it require its adherents to perform stonings, suicide bombings or killing infidels?

      You're kidding. Right? If you are, well played, sir. Well played indeed. If you're not joking, mercy demands that I resist the urge to illustrate how stupendously wrong you are and merely suggest that you read your Bible a bit more carefully.

    39. Re:no by Vermonter · · Score: 1

      No, there is not. The only commandments in the Bible where God told someone to kill was for specific instances to exact the Judgement of God, not as a rule to always follow. When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus Christ said "Love the Lord they God, and love thy neighbor as thyself." Christ also said "Anyone who hates another is guilty of murder." So it would seem to me, that to be an observant Christian, that not only is it wrong to kill, but it's wrong to hate.

    40. Re:no by leonardluen · · Score: 1

      Why is that?

      because the moment you start attacking their core beliefs they will stop listening to you, no matter how right you are and how wrong they are. this is true for anything, not just religion.

      you need to approach it from the side, not a direct frontal attack.

    41. Re:no by dskoll · · Score: 1

      Christianity is a blight on humanity. That doesn't make Islam OK. And IMO at the current time, Islam is far more of a problem than Christianity. I don't believe the Westboro Baptist Church nutjobs have been able to mobilize tens of thousands of rioters in cities across the globe.

    42. Re:no by hargrand · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Sorry, but I'm not kidding. When I read the Bible, I see things like the Sermon on the Mount in which Jesus admonishes Christians to love their enemies. Christian orthodoxy requires adherents to spread the gospel, but to do so through teaching and preaching the Word in love, as the Apostle Paul did throughout the Book of Acts and more recently as Martin Luther King did during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960's. There have been times in history when this approach was not used, when violence and intimidation were instead used. Use of violence and other forms of coercion is not supported anywhere in the New Testament and historical uses of it have consistently demonstrated its failure to bring about any meaningful conversion.

      God's commandments in the Old Testament for the descendents of Israel to enter and occupy the Promised Land were to the Jews, not to Christians, and are therefore not part of how a Christian should spread Christianity.

    43. Re:no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      as it's a big pile of various works that often contradict each other (or even themselves!) on core points, such as whether afterlife exists (Job), whether other gods exist, whether Yahveh is the highest god or merely a member of the "god of gods" court (Psalms -- compare translations closely, as they often try to wriggle away), whether you are even allowed to _not_ genocide your neighbours if they don't immediately surrender into slavery, etc, etc. All while claiming that every piece of past law is still in effect.

      I'd like to see some specifics on that.
      Chapter and Verse, please.

    44. Re:no by ProfBooty · · Score: 1

      How does buddism figure into that

      --
      Bring back the old version of slashdot.
    45. Re:no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I agree with you, but yet I still have to concede that it is a lot easier for evil people to manipulate people into doing evil by using the Quran than it is by using My LIttle Pony episodes.

      I don't know. I've interacted with a few bronies; I'm pretty sure if Twilight Sparkle told them to murder, they'd do it without question.

    46. Re:no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm a bit confused about the comments on all these threads. So, what about we ask Dotcom about censorship, and instead of looking into other people's thought process on why this should be global effort, we check on why the US is capable of censoring and do as they please, but other countries have to lower the head and respect that?

      From what I see here, if the US enforces their censorship around the world, why Saudi Arabia cannot do that too?

      Of course we don't want that, but we have been allowing Corporate America to do that for us, because, oh well, it's not religion related.

    47. Re:no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The crusades and killings Christians committed was generations ago. Islamist still point to those saying 'hey look at Christian crimes, so our crimes are justified" Pointing out crimes of other in the past is not a justification of your crimes of today! Learn to grow up and take responsibility for the actions of those you defend.

      There are peaceful religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Baha'i, Confucianism, Zen, etc that live peacefully. At least learn from them and evolve.

    48. Re:no by Jawnn · · Score: 1

      God's commandments in the Old Testament for the descendents of Israel to enter and occupy the Promised Land were to the Jews, not to Christians, and are therefore not part of how a Christian should spread Christianity.

      True enough. Alas, most so-called Christians still open their bibles to various old testament verses whenever it's convenient to support their fearful and ignorant need to make others believe and behave has they do. This makes theirs the "orthodox" view, and yours (however correct it is WRT your messiah's teachings) the unorthodox (some might even say heretical) view. So until "Christianity" dumps all that baggage, your argument is of little practical application in the real world. Don't get me wrong. It is refreshing to encounter a self-professed Christian who actually does credit to the teachings of Jesus Christ, but for every one like you, there are thousands who use their "word of god" to justify all manner of wrong-doing.

    49. Re:no by Jawnn · · Score: 1

      Then you must do the same for Christianity

      OK. Christianity is vile and disgusting too.

      But for some reason, nowadays it's Islam that seems to inspire the most heinous acts of religiously-motivated violence and that's why I'm concentrating on Islam. You need to put out the most dangerous fire first before going after the lesser fires.

      Not quite, but you're getting closer. Islam is used to inspire "...the most heinous acts of religiously-motivated violence..." No argument there, but to ignore the fact that such use is almost inextricably tied to purely secular anti-west (anti-US) sentiment, is to make a huge mistake if one is trying to understand what's really going on out there. To even suggest that the religion itself is the source for all that hatred is naive in the extreme.

    50. Re:no by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

      At its core, it's a religion that was specifically created by a war leader to justify his extensive conquests and solidify its rule.

      Don't forget that the very first Pillar is shahada, which directly implies that everything that Muhammad said and did is worthy of praise and emulation - and he did kill a lot of people, including, in some cases, for insulting himself or opposing the spread of his religion.

    51. Re:no by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

      The problem is that religion (or rather ideology - religion is just a subset of that) can be used by a few evil people to gather masses of what would basically be decent people by themselves, and turn them into the tools of their evil. So, yes, there are evil people, and there are evil ideologies. The latter are far more destructive because they generate more evil people.

    52. Re:no by dskoll · · Score: 1

      To even suggest that the religion itself is the source for all that hatred is naive in the extreme.

      On the contrary, to deny any connection between the religion itself and the actions of those who claim to represent it is naive in the extreme.

    53. Re:no by hargrand · · Score: 1

      I think you're overstating the problem somewhat. There is certainly a very visible group who are doing as you say, and they may even form a majority of contemporary Christians in the United States. This is covered in considerable detail in books like Bad Religion and Counterfeit Gods. But the fact that those who call themselves Christians are failing to live up to the message of Christ in no way diminishes that message. In fact it only confirms that we are unable to live up to the standards God has established and are in need of a Savior.

      Furthermore, if you take a look at Christian communities in persecuted areas such as India, China and predominantly Muslim countries, I think you will see that ideal being worked out much more closely to that which Christ intended than in areas where persecution of Christian belief is rare.

    54. Re:no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your supposed contradictions are not in the scriptures. If you disagree, please state the contradiction, the publisher "NIV, KJV, NAS, or whatever" and the chapter and verse.

      On the other hand, http://www.usccb.org/bible/genesis/1:17 has the birds flying in the same (air) space that the sun and stars are in - the dome of the sky. A literal reader would have to wonder how migratory birds keep from getting fried.

      > On the other hand, the Koran has hardly any contradictions

      You must be joking.

        Muhammad had a very poor knowledge of Christian and Jewish scriptures. He has biblical characters from different centuries living at the same time, and biblical facts way out of kilter. To make up for what he later found were misstatements, he insisted that Christians and Jews, "the people of the book" changed/corrupted the scriptures. Catholic and non-catholic christian groups have their own scholars that translate the ancient writings. As much as they have fought in the past, their translations always came up essentially agreeing with one another, and also with translations from previous generations. There are copious non-scriptural references, too, to biblical writings, and from most any century. Most of the bible can be recreated just from them! In spite of what Muhammad said about the "people of the book", the said book was not changed or corrupted. Muhammad was just plain wrong.

      - anonymous for obvious reasons

    55. Re:no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And Christianity properly read is a gnostic allegory, which incorporates plenty of spiritual journeying and what we now refer to as spiritist practices. The religion as Jesus (who may have been more than one person historically) intended it died with the Council of Nicaea. You're only seeing the exoteric bits.

    56. Re:no by hargrand · · Score: 1

      This perspective is thoroughly rebutted in The Case for Christ and The Reason for God.

    57. Re:no by Tom · · Score: 2

      All religion is bad. That being said, some religions are worse than others and IMO Islam is the worst of the lot.

      You are ignoring the time dimension.

      At this point in time, islam is the worst. A couple hundred years in the past, if you had a choice, you'd have preferred living in an islamic country over living in a christian country - even as a christian.

      --
      Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
    58. Re:no by Tom · · Score: 1

      God's commandments in the Old Testament for the descendents of Israel to enter and occupy the Promised Land were to the Jews, not to Christians, and are therefore not part of how a Christian should spread Christianity.

      The worst part about christians is how they pick & choose from their supposedly "holy book", ignore the stuff that's no longer considered acceptable and focus on the stuff that still is.

      If there is stuff in the "holy book" that does not apply anymore - why has it not been removed? Don't tell me the crap about "word from god", because the bible has been reworked several times throughout history, so it isn't untouchable.

      --
      Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
    59. Re:no by KiloByte · · Score: 1

      Contradictions with both parts of the Bible, obviously. Muhammad did not have first-hand knowledge of the Bible, and did not really care about it. I'm talking about the Koran having almost no contradictions with itself. You can take a look at Skeptic's Annotated Quran, it lists 32 such contradictions as opposed to 461 in the Bible, and I'd argue with most of them (numbers match the entries in SAQ):
      1. [-] no one ELSE but Allah can change the text
      2. [+] indeed, a contradiction (permissibility of alcohol)
      3. [?] depends on exact wording, might be indeed a minor contradiction
      4. [ -] being outside the Universe, this concept makes no sense. A programmer can alter a simulation in any way (ie: do anything) yet can't have a real child inside (at most can arbitrarily name some bits as one)
      5. [-] plural form allows deputies
      6. [-] a literary device; people then had no concept of infinity or of different flow of time
      7. [-] making devils so disbelievers can choose, vs disbelievers doing the choosing -- all is ok IMO
      8. [-] "when the drowning overtook him" -- ie, not a word about ultimately surviving or not
      9. [?] this passage reinforces that Allah is supposed to be the god of Abraham; the fate of Christians and Jews is unclear
      10. [-] the taxes go "to Allah" rather than to Muhammad. Yeah, right... a lie but not a contradiction.
      11. [-] "forgive and be indulgent UNTIL Allah gives command", pretty clear
      12. [-] "turned to heaven" makes sense only if it has already been created, I think the passage speaks about further refinement
      13. [+] would make sense as "Allah forgives only once" but is so unclear I'll leave this as a contradiction
      14. [-] nothing says it's the same battle; also a literary device
      15. [-] the very next sentence (in 18:29) continues: infidels are free to disbelieve, which will put them into the Fire and under swords of believers
      16. [-] whole job vs a part of it
      17. [+] kind of a contradiction, unless angels and jinn are the same
      18. [?] Allah is fair only to believers; unclear
      19. [-] different ingredients don't exclude each other
      20. [-] merciful for muslims, smites everyone else
      21. [-] messengers are equal, reactions of recipients may differ
      22. [-] Iblis will _try_ to put people astray, believers will stay on the "right" path
      23. [+] there might be various degrees of being a true believer (as new revelation comes); I'd still count this a contradiction
      24. [-] saved his household, not necessarily every single member
      25. [+] a contradiction, common to all religions that try to claim their god is both all-powerful and good (aka the Epicurean paradox)
      26. [+] a contradiction with no consequences, but still one
      27. [-] "he sends angels with the spirit of commands" vs "we send not down the angels, save with the Fact" -- nothing wrong here
      28. [-] "he does X" vs "if he wants, he does X"
      29. [-] setting slaves free is a welcome charity, but slaves themselves need to behave whether they're freed or not
      30. [-] same as 4, above: Allah may at most name someone created as a "son"
      31. [-] you have to try, but you can't fully succeed; if shit happens despite trying, do X
      32. [+] a contradiction, no consequences

      So here, out of the 32 purported contradictions, there are only 7 left and 3 doubtful. I did not review all 641 contradictions Skeptic's Annotated Bible lists, but trying some at random, most seem to hold.

      --
      The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
    60. Re:no by KiloByte · · Score: 1

      There are copious non-scriptural references, too, to biblical writings, and from most any century. Most of the bible can be recreated just from them!

      Er, what? There's nearly zero data that corroborates the Bible, and what there is, tends to contradict it. Egyptians kept pretty detailed records, and there is nothing about Israelites there -- and drowning a pharaoh with his troops would be pretty newsworthy. Or, how Abraham or Moses could worship Yahveh if this cult had been borrowed from Kanaan in early 10th century? Saul and David were said to eradicate the cult of Asherah -- yet surviving inscriptions have Asherah as Yahveh's consort all the way until 8th/7th century. Or, for the New Testament, they refer to a census that happened 10 years after Herod's death.

      --
      The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
    61. Re:no by KiloByte · · Score: 1

      Psalms 82:1, for one. The big boss is El, you can find more about him here.

      It's 2am, apologies for not finding the rest of references today.

      --
      The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
    62. Re:no by hargrand · · Score: 1

      ... how they pick & choose from their supposedly "holy book", ignore the stuff that's no longer considered acceptable and focus on the stuff that still is.

      It's not a matter of picking and choosing; it's putting things into their proper context and perspective. That which God defined as sin is still sin; what has changed is the manner in which it is atoned for. Jesus says He is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets and He specifically says He's not abolishing the Law. He took upon Himself the punishment of the sins we have committed so the eternal separation from God we deserve will not come to pass for those who have trusted in Jesus as their Savior.

      If there is stuff in the "holy book" that does not apply anymore - why has it not been removed?

      Well, a couple of issues here. The most practical is who is to going to judge which of Gods Words are no longer applicable? Another issue is that orthodox Christianity has never proclaimed that any of the canonical Old Testament is in any way no longer applicable (though I suppose you could argue that the Apocrypha may be a non-canonical portion of the Old Testament which different groups of Christians view with different degrees of authority). Still, when Moses penned the Torah, he did it for the Israelites God led out of captivity in Egypt as a manual for how they were to live their lives in service to Him. The Old Testament is filled with references to the decedents of Jacob as God's chosen people... they were chosen to be a holy people through whom the Messiah would come to benefit not just Jews, but all people. From that perspective, there is every reason to keep that content in so we know the context into which Jesus came and how He fulfilled the Law.

      ... the bible has been reworked several times throughout history ...

      So, you have extensively studied this, or is this just what you've heard from your friends? If the former, perhaps you would be willing to cite some reputable sources.

    63. Re:no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      gOD realized killing didn't sell to well?

    64. Re:no by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 1

      Mick Jagger already did: "Evil is putting bombs in people's shops."

      --
      Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
    65. Re:no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All religion is false religion.

      Buddhism is not a religion.

    66. Re:no by Xarvh · · Score: 1

      That the Old Testament does not apply to modern Christian is YOUR interpretation and not the one of many modern Christian.
      Ain't it funny how the Holy Books are so ambiguous that can mean everything and its opposite according to the wishes and prejudices of the reader?

      If you ask me, God did a really bad job at inspiring that stuff.

      Further, ALL my Muslim friends are fantastic, nice and tolerant people, not unlike most Christian you may meet in, say, Italy.
      The problem, is that religion can be easily used for political agendas and there are crazy Muslims, not unlike the Christians you may meet in the US.

    67. Re:no by Tom · · Score: 1

      It's not a matter of picking and choosing; it's putting things into their proper context and perspective.

      Oh please. That's just weasel-words for the same thing.

      He took upon Himself the punishment of the sins we have committed so the eternal separation from God we deserve will not come to pass for those who have trusted in Jesus as their Savior.

      Which is why ever since christians don't have to worry about sin anymore... oh wait... not quite...

      The most practical is who is to going to judge which of Gods Words are no longer applicable?

      So, should I still stone my neighbours to death because they are having sex without being married? Should I suffer the witch at the local occult store to live or not? Tricky decisions indeed...

      From that perspective, there is every reason to keep that content in so we know the context into which Jesus came and how He fulfilled the Law.

      I dig the bible as a horribly sourced history book, roughly on par with other legends or folk tales from the same time period. Also, historical research does not support the account in the bible. Not a surprise, given that it was written during a time where nobody really cared much about writing down truth and written accounts were routinely exaggerated or simply invented.

      And yes, to answer your other question, while I am not a historian, I do some more research than just remembering what a drunken friend mentioned over a beer last weekend. I could cite sources for what I claim, but frankly I'm not bothering anymore because christians in general tend to ignore it. I've been here before, done that before and I'm not wasting my time anymore on people who aren't going to accept the sources anyways.

      No, instead of playing bait and switch with me, you will have to state your conditions up front. What does it take to change your mind? Tell me what evidence you need to say "oh damn, I was wrong" and I'll see if I have it. You don't get to decide afterwards, because so far, every single christian who told me to provide evidence and got it then turned around and said that the evidence doesn't really matter.

      --
      Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
    68. Re:no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Says one who's never been oppressed under the iron shod hooves of Big Pony.

    69. Re:no by uninformedLuddite · · Score: 1

      You obviously have forgotten the violent christian riots at the screening of Life of Brian

      --
      The new right fascists are bilingual. They speak English and Bullshit.
    70. Re:no by hargrand · · Score: 1

      That the Old Testament does not apply to modern Christian is YOUR interpretation and not the one of many modern Christian.

      I didn't say the Old Testament no longer applied... what I said is that its primary value was to place in context the events and philosophy described in the New Testament.

      ALL my Muslim friends are fantastic, nice and tolerant people, not unlike most Christian you may meet in, say, Italy. The problem, is that religion can be easily used for political agendas and there are crazy Muslims, not unlike the Christians you may meet in the US.

      I won't dispute your experiences; you are after all closer to them than am I. I will say that if we don't influence political processes based on what we value, then what's the point in having the values in the first place? We can bicker over who's values are "better" but don't tell me you don't vote to support positions consistent with your values any more or less than I vote to support positions I value.

    71. Re:no by Xarvh · · Score: 1

      You are playing with words.
      Your context is not someone else's context.

      The core of the problem is that there is not a common framework to interpret the holy books, an ultimate rule to decide the validity of a statement.
      Ultimately everyone can believe whatever they want about the meaning of these texts, religions continue to split, and your beliefs are no more accurate than those of any other religious person, regardless of religion, denomination or flavour.
      Given the variety of beliefs, "Faith" works impressively bad as a way to discern the truth for at least the overwhelming majority of the faithful.

      You probably know a lot of good Muslims yourself.
      But most good Muslim (just like most good Christians) don't make a big deal of their faith to others, so most of the time you don't even know they're Muslim!
      Peaceful and freedom-advocating Muslim exist just as in any other group, they just don't make the news.
      The Arab Spring didn't happen because of Christians.

    72. Re:no by hargrand · · Score: 1

      Ultimately everyone can believe whatever they want about the meaning of these texts, religions continue to split, and your beliefs are no more accurate than those of any other religious person, regardless of religion, denomination or flavour.

      I can see where you might think so, but it's not as simple as that. Core Christian belief is summarized in the Nicene Creed which is derived from the Biblical texts which were available at the time of its writing. It has stood the test of time as being consistent with the Bible and is therefore a reasonable statement defining essential and orthodox Christian belief. If somebody calls themselves a Christian, they by definition believe this creed; if they don't believe it in its entirety, they are by definition not a Christian.

      What you're refering to deals with differences in the way the rest of the Bible is interpretted and has resulted in the creation of various Christian denomonations. Different denominations will interpret different Scriptures to mean different things in a manner that does not detract from the overall truth of the Bible ... so when I talk about context, I mean that Scripture should be interpretted in a manner which is consistent; where there are apparent inconsistencies (e.g. election vs. free will) these are open issues which I expect won't be resolved until we have the opportunity to ask God what's what. These apparent contradictions do not, however detract from the underlying creed.

      Where you see this as a problem, I see it as adding to the diversity of thought within the body of Christian belief, and provides Christians with the opportunity to expand their perspective. However, it's important that Scripture be interpreted consistently. There are sects and even entire denominations teaching heresies (e.g. "health and wealth theology" and "liberation theology") since what they teach is demonstrably inconsistent with what is recorded in the Bible; people believe them not because they are Scripturally sound, but because they feel they should be true. This doesn't mean they are not Christian; only that they believe things which contradict portions of the Bible not specifically related to core Christian belief. I'm not trying to minimize this. These heresies undermine the message of Christ, and are damaging the effectiveness of the Church to be about God's work and they need to be corrected if the Church is to remain viable in the U.S.

      For a better view of orthodox Christian doctrine, consider reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. I've not really done it justice here.

    73. Re:no by Xarvh · · Score: 1

      "Christian" means "followers of Christ", and your use of "by definition" doesn't mean what you think it does.

      The fact that there has been a big meeting and they decided once and for all which was the Real Word of God (TM) does not lend more credibility to Christianity.

      The scriptures are ambiguous (are you saved by works or by faith?), and there are one thousands different way to "consistently" read them.
      Anyone without Christian Goggles could see it, but alas, this is the nature of religion and you are proof of it: to use St. Augustine's words: "Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe."
      I happen to agree with him entirely.

    74. Re:no by hargrand · · Score: 1

      Which is why ever since christians don't have to worry about sin anymore... oh wait... not quite...

      The Apostle Paul has perhaps the best response to this.

      So, should I still stone my neighbors to death because they are having sex without being married? Should I suffer the witch at the local occult store to live or not? Tricky decisions indeed...

      Jesus taught on this subject, and practiced it. Unrepentant sin should be removed from the Church so the work of the Church will not be hindered. If a member of the Church is engaged in sexual immorality, or is practicing witchcraft, and they are unwilling to repent when confronted, they are to be removed from the Church, but are also to be welcomed back if they do repent. If the society requires additional action taken against such people, there is the civil and criminal justice system. So, you seem to be confusing the civil / criminal justice system and the responsibility of the Church to police itself so it may effectively minister to the community.

      That's not to say there haven't been instances where sin has been tolerated in the Church; it has. But that tolerance is contrary to the Biblical doctrine on proper Church governance.

      What does it take to change your mind?

      Interesting question, and I took a while to think about how to respond. So, I think I have to start at the beginning.

      I consider as axiomatic two articles of faith:

      1) There is an objective reality which exists independent of my ability to sense it; that is, it exists whether or not I can sense it.

      2) My senses, either directly, or indirectly (through artificial means or through the observations of others) relay to me meaningful information about some portion of that objective reality.

      From these initial articles of faith, there is a sound chain of logic, supporting my belief in objective moral standards, God as creator not only of the physical universe and laws of nature, but that objective moral standard as well, and the necessity of a Savior. The Bible is the only document which is consistent with that train of logic and I therefore believe it to be revealed Truth. There's obviously more to the argument than this. Still it raises the issue of how I should deal with apparent contradictions between what the Bible says and observations within the physical realm. What I have concluded is that there is no contradiction, only lack of understanding either of the meaning of the observations recorded (assuming they were reliably recorded) or a lack of understanding on the meaning of the applicable Biblical passages, or most often a mix of the two.

      So, back to your question. I suppose what you're going to have to do to convince me that I'm wrong is to convince me that my initial articles of faith are fundamentally flawed. Without them, my entire belief system dissolves into nothingness.

    75. Re:no by hargrand · · Score: 1

      The fact that there has been a big meeting and they decided once and for all which was the Real Word of God (TM) does not lend more credibility to Christianity

      You're free not to believe it if you so choose. Why do you begrudge me and the millions of Christians who do choose to believe it the right to do so?

      The scriptures are ambiguous (are you saved by works or by faith?)

      There may appear to be ambiguities, though your example isn't really a good one -- faith comes first; works demonstrate the faith and if there is no works to demonstrate the faith, there never really was any faith ... it was dead). A better one, which has resulted in heretical teaching arises from the apparent conflict between the loving nature of God and His just nature. Emphasis on the former lead to the Health and Wealth Theology which essentially says God is my sugar daddy who won't let me suffer. Emphasis on the latter in the early to mid-twentieth century lead to emphasis on God's punishment (Fire & Brimstone), which lead followers to fear God's wrath, rather than accept His love... they therefore followed out of fear, not love. The results of each need to be measured against the relevant metrics in the Bible; both come up short. There is a balance which is perfected in God in a way we cannot completely understand nor can we attain.

      "Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe."

      Now who's selectively choosing quotes to confirm a belief system? Have you read any of his other quotes? Which of them have you rejected?

      My reading on this: I have faith Jesus is my Savior; my reward is that I will one day see Him. I suspect your interpretation is somewhat more cynical. I wonder whose is closer to St. Augustine's original intent...

    76. Re:no by Xarvh · · Score: 1

      I don't begrudge you; just remember what our argument is about.

      Many Christians will disagree that Faith comes first, so by affirming the opposite you just made my point.
      (Incidentally, it also means that you believe that anyone that does not share your Faith *deserves* to be *tortured for eternity*, but probably you will fail to see how this is outright evil).

      Finally, LOL, it's obvious that St.Augustine (a pillar of Christianity) and I (a filthy atheist) give a very different meaning to the same sentence.
      But that's brain on religion for you: irony impaired among other things.

    77. Re:no by hargrand · · Score: 1

      Incidentally, it also means that you believe that anyone that does not share your Faith *deserves* to be *tortured for eternity*, but probably you will fail to see how this is outright evil

      Well, yes and no. On the one side, we all deserve eternal separation from God, for we have all sinned. God grants us grace, purchased through the sacrifice of His Son, which spares those of us who choose to believe in that sacrifice that separate. Whether faith comes first followed by works, or if the works bring about faith, the key point is that faith is the necessary element by which we are saved. Those who place their faith in their works, rather than in sacrifice of Jesus are those to whom the gift of grace will not be extended.

      But that's brain on religion for you: irony impaired among other things.

      Oh, the irony wasn't lost on me. In fact my initial read on the quote probably aligned pretty well with your reading of it (of course I think you may have set me up for that;). I actually had to read it several times (taking into account who St. Augustine was and looking at some of his other quotes) before I came to (what I believe to be) a better understanding of his meaning.

      Oh, and one question? In what way is atheism not a religion? You may not hold worship services, but beyond that, I see little evidence it is anything other than just another belief system. Others have tried to explain the difference to me, but none ever satisfactorily. Why are all other belief systems religious, but atheism is not? Just wondering.

    78. Re:no by Xarvh · · Score: 1

      Again a lot of words.
      Can't you give a straight answer?

      Ok.
      Question.
      I do not believe in the existence of your God.
      I think that the Holy Spirit is a fantasy as is most other stuff written in the Bible.
      Let's further assume that I am a compassionate and kind human being, struggling every day to make the life of my fellows human beings better.
      I die without repenting.
      According to your beliefs, how's my afterlife like?

      (Also, define what you mean by "religion" and I will tell you whether atheism is a religion or not.
      I don't see how playing semantics is relevant to the current discussion. Don't you have better arguments?)

    79. Re:no by hargrand · · Score: 1

      According to your beliefs, how's my afterlife like?

      You will be eternally separated from God under that condition; not sure exactly what that looks like, but there is nothing good there. But that is your choice. Would you have Him torment you by forcing you into His presence for all eternity instead? Which is more merciful?

      Also, define what you mean by "religion" and I will tell you whether atheism is a religion or not

      2.Details of belief as taught or discussed

      This is relevant in that atheists generally claim to have no faith or belief; they rely upon scientific proof. I find this somewhat shallow since it assumes there is some objective reality which can be observed and which in some way correlates to what we sense about it. That is an article of faith. If it wasn't you should be able to prove you exist without appealing to my senses? Since, by faith I can only believe that what they are telling me is based in some measure in objective reality. Even if you able to logically prove your existence or the existence of an objective reality that resembles what I can sense of it, you will still have to rely upon axiomatic articles of faith which by their very definition cannot be proven.

    80. Re:no by Tom · · Score: 1

      Unrepentant sin should be removed from the Church so the work of the Church will not be hindered.

      And when has the church ever acted that way? Definitely not anytime within the past 1000 years, probably not for at least 1500, 1600 years.

      So, you seem to be confusing the civil / criminal justice system and the responsibility of the Church to police itself so it may effectively minister to the community.

      No, I am referring to specific commands in the bible calling for specific punishment for specific actions. And while you can point out that the NT allegedly supercedes all that, it is very light on details, basically the Jesus statement regarding completion instead of replacement is all to go by. The 10 commandments, for example, are still considered to be in effect, aren't they? So there is another instance of pick & choose.

      I consider as axiomatic two articles of faith:-

      As axioms, these are quite acceptable. I won't attack them because that takes us deep into philosophy and more specifically into areas that are hard to prove or disprove.

      But then you skip a step. You claim that there is "a sound chain of logic". But you don't point it out. Would you not have to list that as an article of faith as well? Would your faith not unravel just the same if the chain were disproven?

      For example, you claim that contradictions are not mistakes in the bible. Apparently, the bible knows more about insects, rabbits or bats than modern-day biologists then, because it gets basic facts about them wrong (e.g. listing the bat as a bird). There are textual errors (multiple references to the book Jasher, which is lost to time) as well as quotes in one part of the bible quoting another part of the bible - but with mistakes in the quote.

      But, I'm going to dodge the whole bible issue because it doesn't matter. You jump to conclusion way before that, claiming that from your two articles of faith the rest would follow. I can disprove that, simply by creating a different chain of logic that does not require a god. Reductio ad absurdum is generally considered valid in philosophy. Are you willing to accept it?

      i.e. my approach is to negate your statement and then disprove it. Namely your statement being "from these article articles there is a sound chain of logic that leads to my faith" the inverse would be "from these articles, there can be no chain of logic not leading to my faith". Disproving the inverse would prove that your faith does not necessarily follow from the axioms.

      --
      Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
    81. Re:no by hargrand · · Score: 1

      The chain of logic I'm referring to has been documented in Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis and again in The Reason for God by Timothy Keller. The historical veracity of the New Testament is described in The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel.

    82. Re:no by Xarvh · · Score: 1

      So, a good person would *deserve* "nothing good"?
      LOL, and yet so many people believe in this "Hell" thing that you slither away from.
      Man, this God did totally a poor job in inspiring His ideas.

      Atheism is a religion exactly as "non believing in Santa Claus" is a religion.
      There are infinite ideas that can be imagined.
      Infinite beliefs to be held.
      It does not take YOU faith to reject most of them.
      Why should it take ME faith to reject one more?
      I'm doing the same thing you do, only more consistently.

      I do not have faith that there is a reality with which I can interact.
      Me reading your drivels on the computer is evidence of that.
      Unless you want to lower the concept of 'faith' so deep that it becomes utterly meaningless.

    83. Re:no by Tom · · Score: 1

      Sorry, I'm not going to buy a book to win an Internet argument. It only goes that far.

      As for the historical accuracy, I'd rather trust historians than a lawyer and journalist. Does that make sense to you? Would you rather trust a bible scholar on bible content than, say, a plumber?

      --
      Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
    84. Re:no by hargrand · · Score: 1

      Lee Strobel may have written the book, but he did so by interviewing historians and theologians. Still, if you're not willing to put in the effort there, I suppose we can continue here, but it will take some time. So I'll pose a question to you:

      Throughout history (pretty much up until the time of reliable contraceptives) sexual intimacy was legitimized through marraige. That is most cultures considered sexual intimacy legitimate only when engaged within the context of marraige. Having come from a predominantly Christian background, with the Christian perspective of marraige, the United States recognized the institution of marraige in its various laws. Since the advent of reliable contraceptives, marraige as being the legitimate context in which sexual intimacy is sanctioned has been replaced with the concept of consent. What two consenting adults do is there business and all that. So the question is what is so sacrosanct about the notion of consent that it will legitimize sexual initimacy when present and yet when that consent is absent, it is no longer legitimate?

    85. Re:no by hargrand · · Score: 1

      So, a good person would *deserve* "nothing good"?

      And how are you judging what is good? How are you determining that one person is good and another is not?

      Consider this... a person, who is a pillar in the community, who helps the poor, gives of his time to build a better life for others, who has all of the virtues I expect you consider to be right and good and honorable has a lapse in judgement. One day, he decides to brutally rape and murder a child. Should those good works save this person from a lengthy prison sentence or worse?

      I do not have faith that there is a reality with which I can interact.

      I believe you exist, but I don't know you're anything more than a figment of my imagination for faith is the belief in something which cannot be proven. If you don't have faith that there is an objective reality, but instead know that there is, then you should have that proof. I'd very much like to see it.

    86. Re:no by Tom · · Score: 1

      Two things do.

      One, a sexual encounter is an event between two persons. The requirement of consent for interactions is not unique to sex. Depending on the context, interactions without consent go by various names - harassment, assault, etc.

      Two, a unique feature of sex is that it actually occurs within the body of one of partners. We humans have this interesting psychological thing called "boundary violations" - google it, it's very fascinating. A simple example goes like this: Spit into a cup. Now swallow your spit from the cup. Feels icky, just thinking about it, doesn't it? And yet, a few seconds ago, that spit was still in your mouth and didn't feel the least bit icky.
      Entering someone's body is a major psychological event, due to the boundary violations involved. Requiring consent is the most logical conclusion to draw from that fact.

      I'm not sure what you are going for, but there it is.

      --
      Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
    87. Re:no by hargrand · · Score: 1

      So reading between the lines, it seems you value the dignity of the individual, yet you're appealing only to cultural constraints to justify that dignity. If it is just a cultural artifact then certainly other cultures are free to reject that dignity (and many do) and by extension the notion of consent (and again, many do). What makes your view correct and the view of those others somehow any less correct?

      I'm not sure what you are going for, but there it is

      You'd understand if you read either of the first two books I mentioned. Like I said, this is going to take some time.

    88. Re:no by Xarvh · · Score: 1

      LOL, is this an argument "you need God not to rape or murder or pillage"?
      Compassion is innate in social animals.
      Please stop running in circles.
      You take a good man and judge him bad only because he does not share your fantasies.
      You diminish the overwhelming majority of humans that do not share your particular belief, because you think they deserve less.

      I think you are stupid and evil.
      But never, never for the love of my life I would think that you deserve to suffer for eternity.
      That's only what a psychopath would consider "just" or "compassionate".
      The fact that you don't see it is my beef with religion: it blinds people.

      Most Christians believe that there is Hell and eternal torment.
      Allow me to refresh your memory: http://bible.org/article/what-bible-says-about-hell
      Do you read the same book and get to a different conclusion?
      I'm not surprised.

      And no, raping and murdering someone all of the sudden is not a "lapse of judgement".
      Unlike mine, this is a really extreme scenario.
      Yes, that man harmed others and should be punished.
      Are you saying that raping and murdering are a crime just like "not believing in the right book in the right way"!?
      Again, your religion is badly fucking up your morals.
      This is insanely bad and you can't see it.

    89. Re:no by Xarvh · · Score: 1

      Oh man, assuming that reality exists is just a huge big leap of faith as assuming that Santa Claus exists.
      You are wanking with words.
      I interact with some sort of reality as my basis for existence.
      This is all the proof that I need.
      And that YOU need.

      Ask any Christian if they need Faith to accept that reality exists... They will laugh at you because it cheapens so much the Faith you need to believe in God.
      But yes, let's go along your game of twisting words.
      Yes, I need faith that reality exists.
      You need that as well.
      Plus, you need Faith that God Exists, you need Faith that He reveals himself through the Bible, you need Faith that he's not a trickster playing a game on you and I could continue.
      In short, even with your ludicrous premises, I need much less "faith" than you.

    90. Re:no by hargrand · · Score: 1

      Let's start with some small steps then.

      I think you are stupid and evil.

      Against what standard do you judge me as evil?

    91. Re:no by hargrand · · Score: 1

      And I'm not the only one who has considered this possibility.

    92. Re:no by hargrand · · Score: 1

      And here is another one. Personally I don't believe the universe is just a big simulation, but to completely dismiss the idea without any proof one way or the other ...

    93. Re:no by Tom · · Score: 1

      I don't just value the dignity of the individual, I value other things about it, too. What I am appealing to is not cultural - the conventions and details are, but the base is not. Every culture has a concept of consent for interactions, in no culture I know of is it acceptable to simply do with others as you please.

      What makes my view correct is that it is cross-cultural, a human phenomenon and objective reality - it can be measured. Not trivially, but by anthropologist comparisons, for example, we can arrive at a set of shared values that exist independent of culture, religion, etc. amongst all humans. Details vary, but there is a shared humanity.

      Like I said, this is going to take some time.

      Then we should probably move to mail - tom@lemuria.org

      --
      Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
    94. Re:no by Xarvh · · Score: 1

      Against human innate compassion.
      Against that trait that allowed us to evolve as social animals, and can be seen in many social animals.
      Would you kill, rape and pillage if God told you so? (There seem to be precedents in the Bible...)
      Have you ever heard about Euthyphro's dilemma? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthyphro_dilemma

      And you are running away from a few issues.
      1) Why do Christians believe in an afterlife of eternal torment?
      2) Why do you believe different stuff from them?
      3) Why do you believe that it is just and merciful to punish someone strictly for her beliefs?
      4) Why don't you believe in Santa Claus?

    95. Re:no by hargrand · · Score: 1

      Not sure what you mean by running away from the issues. I thought I answered them, but apparently not to your satisfaction. So, I'll try again.

      1) Why do Christians believe in an afterlife of eternal torment?

      We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Judgment of the dead (Revelation 20:11-15).

      As a Christian, I firmly believe we have all sinned against a holy and just God; it's in our human nature to sin. We sin with every lie we utter, every time we have a lustful thought, every time we say something unkind to somebody else (Matthew 5:21-30). These are sins not only against others, but against God (Exodus 20:1-17), since we are each made in His image (Genesis 1:26). So what exactly should the punishment be for sinning against an infinite God? Should it not likewise be infinite? It is for these sins we are judged and cast out of the presence of God.

      But that's not the end of the story. In addition to His just nature, God also desires us to have fellowship with Him. It is the purpose of our existence; it's why He made us. But He made us with the ability to either love Him in return, or to reject Him... it is our choice. But since we have sinned, we have no hope in anything we can do to overcome the death we have rightfully obtained through our sin. Therefore, since we can do nothing to save ourselves, and God still desires to be merciful to us, He sent His son to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. He was and is without sin (Hebrews 4:15) and became the perfect sacrifice to atone for our sins (Hebrews 10:1-18).

      So, God has given us a choice. We can chose to believe He is real and trust He has provided for our salvation, and act accordingly, or we can choose to turn our back on Him and all that He has to offer us. God does not condemn anybody to Hell who hasn't already made the choice to go there.

      2) Why do you believe different stuff from them?

      What stuff would that be? If you're talking about believing whether or not the universe exists, I think most Christians would agree that it does. If you ask them to prove that it does, they will likely give you the same response you gave me ... of course it exists.

      My point in that is to show that even atheists have to have faith. Even if you could prove the universe is real, you would still have to rely upon axioms which cannot be proven... they would be the assumptions you would have to make to draw your conclusions. That's the way logic and philosophy and mathematics all work. You start with axioms you assume to be true and draw conclusions from those. If a particular axiom can be shown true without relying upon itself, but only on some subset of the other axioms, it ceases to be an axiom, and instead becomes a conclusion or a theorem or a consequence of the others.

      3) Why do you believe that it is just and merciful to punish someone strictly for her beliefs?

      I believe it would be less merciful to force somebody into God's presence when they never wanted to be there in the first place.

      4) Why don't you believe in Santa Claus?

      My parents told me so, and I trust them.

      5) Would you kill, rape and pillage if God told you so? (There seem to be precedents in the Bible...)

      Slight correction: There is no place in the Bible where God instructed anybody to rape somebody else. Rapes are recorded in the Bible, but never at the instruction of God. I'll concede that God carved out the area we now call Israel for the Israelites after they came out of Egypt, and that during this conquest, the Israelites were instructed to kill and in some cases pillage. That said, what you're asking is highly hypothetical, and I can't conceive of an instance where God would call me to do those things. My country might, and I have a responsibility to render unto Caesar (Mark 12:13-17) and to be subject to those in authority over me (Titus 3:1), so from that context, I suppose I would be required to do so

    96. Re:no by Xarvh · · Score: 1

      "Should it not likewise be infinite?"
      No.
      Just, no.
      It's retarded.
      Since when the size of the offended commesures with the size of the punishment?
      To me, this God of yours seems only an infinite douche.

      Also, the Infinite Douche desires love at gunpoint.
      Awesome.
      Love me or I will torture you.
      What a fucking psycho.

      Point 2) refers to the fact that you didn't have the balls to tell me that a just men deserves to be tortured for eternity, which is what happens in Hell according to most Chrtistians.
      You conveniently said that you don't know what afterlife is like.
      Why many Christians seems to know and you don't?
      Why people that read the same book end up believing really different things?

      I do rely on axioms that cannot be proven.
      But I choose to believe the bare minimum I need to interact with reality.
      They are a practical necessity, unlike god.
      You choose to believe the above AND whatever idea you like.
      So even in your distorted mind where "induction" and "faith" are the same thing, I rely on belief MUCH less than you do.

      "I believe it would be less merciful to force somebody into God's presence when they never wanted to be there in the first place."
      LOL, I love the way your brain struggles not to give me an straight answer.
      Man, a politician would be proud of you.
      Hell is supposed to cause you to suffer, a way or another.
      "If you don't like to stay with me then I am sure you will be happier to go in a pit of lava" is a ridiculous, laughable, dishonest answer.
      I grow tired of your games.

      "4) Why don't you believe in Santa Claus?"
      "My parents told me so, and I trust them."
      Are you fucking serious?

      "5) Would you kill, rape and pillage if God told you so? (There seem to be precedents in the Bible...)
      I suppose I would be required to do so, which after all was the context God used in the case of the Israelites entering Canaan."
      You are an evil being and a morally bankrupt person.

      "Are humans really all that compassionate?"
      No (this is a straight answer, see how it looks like?)
      Humans are just enough compassionate to thrive in societies.
      The important thing however, is that they definitely understand compassion.
      It is not an absolute value, it changes with person and time, and I don't have the answers to all moral questions.
      But I'll take this any time over what you have, where "good" is whatever a crazy psychopath arbitrarily decides from above.

      I'll keep my flawed compassion, knowing that is flawed and imperfect, rather than being a monster like you, that would kill me or anyone else if only its best super friend told him (and incidentally, is exactly what the Taleban do).

    97. Re:no by hargrand · · Score: 1

      you didn't have the balls to tell me that a just men deserves to be tortured for eternity,

      Because there is no such thing as a just or good person, not Abraham Lincoln, not Ghandi, not Al Gore, not Billy Graham, not Mother Theresa, not you, not me; none are good, none are just, except for Jesus; He alone is good because He was and is God. From a Christian perspective, your basic premise is flawed.

      "5) Would you kill, rape and pillage if God told you so? (There seem to be precedents in the Bible...)
      I suppose I would be required to do so, which after all was the context God used in the case of the Israelites entering Canaan."
      You are an evil being and a morally bankrupt person.

      Nice the way edited that to make me seem to have said something I didn't say. I served for 20 years in the military. I was never called to actually take the life of another human being. But I would have done so, not gladly, not happily, but because it would have been my duty to do so to protect, among other things, the rights of the individual to hold beliefs, even beliefs such as yours. That is the context under which I would have taken the life of another human being. That is the context under which I would have seized or destroyed the property of another country. I would not have raped anyone regardless of who was ordering me to do so in part because there is no military reason for doing so, but also because the notion is repugnant to me. Was that a clear enough response to your hypothetical question?

      There are other things I should respond to, and will in the course of time. But these I couldn't let pass without some sort of immediate response.

    98. Re:no by jwhitener · · Score: 1

      If the evil people couldn't use Islam to be evil they'd use something else.

      I agree with you, but yet I still have to concede that it is a lot easier for evil people to manipulate people into doing evil by using the Quran than it is by using My LIttle Pony episodes.

      Apples to Oranges. You should have said "it is a lot easier for evil people to manipulate people into doing evil by cherry picking from any major religious text" . Quran/Koran, Torah, Bible, etc.. all have violent passages or histories of violent periods.

    99. Re:no by hargrand · · Score: 1

      Love me or I will torture you.

      You're reading too much into it. God is not in Hell, and He is not torturing anybody. He may relegate those who choose Hell over Him to their choice, but He is not there... as I said earlier, there is nothing there.

      You are an evil being and a morally bankrupt person.

      In order to make such an assertion, you have to draw upon some sort of objective moral truth; from where did it arise? What is its origin?

      And would any notion of civility be within your notion of such an objective moral truth? If so, you might want to pay attention to what it's telling you.

    100. Re:no by Xarvh · · Score: 1

      "Because there is no such thing as a just or good person"
      No.
      There are a MILLIONS of good people out there.
      And you would see that if you didn't see everything from the distorted lens of the impossible standard that your petty, childish God arbitrarily set.

      I wonder, will you propose to your next girlfriend letting her know that if she does not love you, you have set up things so that she will suffer and be punished?
      But anyway, I'm not here to convince you.

      "Nice the way edited that to make me seem to have said something I didn't say."
      You said exactly that.
      Only you do not realize it.

      "I would not have raped anyone regardless of who was ordering me to do so [...], but also because the notion is repugnant to me."
      I am glad you do.
      And what if God all of the sudden told you to "take their women for you"?
      What if He decreed that rape is ok?
      Moral is entirely arbitrary, after all, and God is not good (because He arbitrarily decides what is good).
      Would you suddenly find it less repugnant?

      The problem is that what you downplay so easily has happened since the dawn of time and continues to happen to these very days.
      And it happened in the Bible.
      Humans overcome their compassion because of their beliefs.

      You scare me.
      How can I know that your evil God won't go all Old Testament again?
      I am sure you consider yourself righteous, like everyone else that slaughtered countless in the course of history.
      In my eyes, you are no different.
      And this is NOT hypothetical.
      Please understand that from my point of you, you are no different than a taleban, than a crusader, or than a communist gulag guard.
      Why?
      ** Because you allow your system of beliefs to overcome your compassion. **
      Because you don't care about killing if God or whoever appointed by Him tells you to do.
      Because you think that people deserve to be harshly punished for their *beliefs* rather than their actions.
      And because you are utterly blind to all this and think that it's not so important.
      ** Just as it happened throughout history and continues to happen. **
      They have just to give you an enemy to transform you in a happy killer.

      You are a danger to your fellow human beings.
      Your ideas are harmful and must be exposed.

    101. Re:no by hargrand · · Score: 1

      For the sake of argument, let's assume you're correct and that God does not exist. What are the logical consequences?

      First, if God does not exist, then there is none to perfectly judge our actions against an objective moral truth.

      If there is none to perfectly judge our actions against an objective moral truth, then no judgement of our actions against such an objective moral truth can be made.

      If there is no judgement of our actions against an objective moral truth can be made, then the entire notion of an objective moral truth is meaningless, for there are no consequences for violating it.

      If there is no meaningful objective moral truth, your notion of good and evil is likewise meaningless, making statements like "There are a MILLIONS of good people out there." completely irrational.

      If there is no meaning to the notion of good and evil then we can justify or condemn what ever we want and give it whatever label we think is appropriate (which is precisely what you've been doing during this discourse).

      You can't have it both ways. You are either irrational for labeling my beliefs as evil or you are implicitly acknowledging there is an meaningful objective truth, defining the terms to which you appeal and therefore implying there is One to judge such. You may not like the consequences, you may not care for the attitudes of the Judge, but that doesn't impact the Truth one bit.

    102. Re:no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Matthew 5:17-20

      Read your own link. Jesus states in his most famous address that the Old Testament rules still bind Christians, on pain of losing their eternal reward. Liberal interpretations try to define this passage out of existence, but any conservative/fundamentalist reading will absolutely hammer this verse home.

    103. Re:no by Xarvh · · Score: 1

      ""If there is no meaningful objective moral truth, your notion of good and evil is likewise meaningless, making statements like "There are a MILLIONS of good people out there." completely irrational.""

      I agreed with you until here.
      You see things in black and white.

      Indeed there is no objective moral truth: if you look at human history, morals continued to change (God notwithstanding).
      There is no objective moral truth and we have to cope with it.
      How?

      By asking ourselves what can make us, and those around us happy.
      By asking ourselves how we can reduce harm and suffering.
      By not taking good and evil for granted.
      They are open questions.
      I don't have an ultimate answer.
      Work in progress.

      Those that think they know already the answer however, they scare me.
      Because they are less likely to stop and think about good and evil.
      Because they are much likely to overcome their compassion.

      I understand the allure of your world.
      Much less responsiblity.
      Hey, someone else choose already for you what's good and what's bad.
      Easy.

      Maybe one day your God will tell you (or someone with similar beliefs) to kill all those that don't "love" Him enough.
      It happened so many times in history.
      And for you it will be a good (TM) thing to do.

    104. Re:no by hargrand · · Score: 1

      By asking ourselves what can make us, and those around us happy.
      By asking ourselves how we can reduce harm and suffering.
      By not taking good and evil for granted.

      If there is no objective moral standard, then why are these important? And why is it important I agree with you? If there's no absolute moral standard, then why have you spent all this time arguing with me to get me to see your notion of "reason" and convince me to adopt your worldview?

      Much less responsiblity.

      Different responsibilities perhaps not less. Yes, it's spelled out for me what's right and wrong, but I still need to judge my own actions against that standard. And if that's not what you do, then you get to create the standards as you go along with only retrospection to serve as a guide.

      Maybe one day your God will tell you (or someone with similar beliefs) to kill all those that don't "love" Him enough.

      God chooses not to act in a manner which is contrary to His nature which is in perfect alignment with the objective moral truth you dismiss as anachronistic.

    105. Re:no by Xarvh · · Score: 1

      "If there is no objective moral standard, then why are these important?"
      Because we are humans, and we have feelings.

      "And why is it important I agree with you?"
      There is no way you will ever agree with me.
      I am happy not to give a free pass to your stupid ideas.
      Maybe to expose the stupidity.
      Definitely to keep myself sharp and possibly learning something new.

      "I still need to judge my own actions against that standard."
      Naaaaa.
      You just have to unconsciously decide that what you want is conveniently what God wants from you.
      At least, it is what most of those that share your ideas do.

      (Uh, I have been ambiguous so far: I am not attacking YOU. I am attacking your ideas. My bad.)

      "God chooses not to act in a manner which is contrary to His nature which is in perfect alignment with the objective moral truth you dismiss as anachronistic."
      (I don't dismiss it as anachronistic. I dismiss it as "never happened".)
      His nature?
      What do you mean, exactly?
      What is God's nature?
      Can God change His own nature?

      Above is question 1).
      Also, I am still curious about a couple of things:

      2) Let's assume you found the woman of your life.
      You love her, but she's free to love you or to reject you.
      Assuming that it would be practical to do so, would you set up things so that if she rejects you she will be harshly punished and suffer?
      If no, why?

      3) You are convinced to be the good (albeit sinner) guy, acting after the wish of the One True God.

      The Taliban are convinced to be the good (albeit sinner) guys, acting after the wish of the One True God.
      Prove to an impartial observer that they are wrong.
      (I do NOT need you to prove that YOU are right.)

    106. Re:no by hargrand · · Score: 1

      I respectfully decline to tilt at your strawmen a second time, and instead leave you with the following, which summarizes the ideal Christian perspective on how we are to live in this world.

      But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
      gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

      Galatians 5:22-23

      You would do well to exhibit some of these qualities. Farewell.

    107. Re:no by Xarvh · · Score: 1

      I'd be really interested in understanding why do you consider that (I suppose the love one) a strawman.
      And I'd be really interested in your answer to the other two questions.

  5. Gee can you say censorship?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    In a word, "no". In two words "fuck no".

    A governing body such as this would be co-opted in a heart beat.

  6. Aww poor little guys by sanosuke001 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    How about we tell them to stop being so sensitive and they can just ignore it.

    --
    -SaNo
    1. Re:Aww poor little guys by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Because that *totally* works, when their entire model of reality is built on the thing we're rattling on.

      I know enough about psychology, to know that their brains literally fear for their lives when facing such "attacks".

      The only way we will get rid of it, is by doing the *opposite* of hating them back. Unfortunately, we're just as much hate-filled pieces of shit, when it is justified by *our* agenda/mindset.
      The only solution to religious schizophrenia, is to make them *feel* (remember: this is unrelated to rationality) that the real world is nicer, safer and better for them. While keeping their self-respect intact. (Hint: Sell it as “Hey, look, you just found this even *greater* extension of your already great mindset!”. As if living in the real world *was part of their mindset all along*, and *they* came up with it. Nobody disagrees with others saying he’s great and had a great idea. ;)

      Next time you see a fundamentalist, go the high road: Be nice and forthcoming. Make a nice emotional argument for the real world.

    2. Re:Aww poor little guys by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "The only way we will get rid of it, is by doing the *opposite* of hating them back."
      Nope. That's not the only way. There's at least one other.

    3. Re:Aww poor little guys by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How about we tell them to stop being so sensitive and they can just ignore it.

      Yeah, and while we're at it, let's tell all those Jews to stop being so sensitive and repeal all those laws that make Holocaust denying illegal.

      Fact is there are already massive restrictions on certain speech. I don't agree with any of them, but be realistic. Many countries have laws on the books to protect the feelings of Jews. This is hardly that big of one

    4. Re:Aww poor little guys by sanosuke001 · · Score: 1

      I never stated that holocaust denying laws were okay but muslim laws weren't; they're both not okay. I said they should get over it and stop worrying what other people said about them; they're only words and words can be ignored. It doesn't matter if it's realistic; it's still the right thing to do.

      --
      -SaNo
    5. Re:Aww poor little guys by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And I agree. It's ridiculous in my opinion to complain about Saudis asking for censorship when there are just as restrictive and ridiculous laws already on the books.

    6. Re:Aww poor little guys by fermion · · Score: 1
      Yeah, because that so well in other countries. We ask all the right wing fundamentalist in the US who just want to force their beliefs on everyone else to just turn off the TV, or better yet don't have a TV and play with your kids, but they instead invoke Sharia law and make us all pay for a V-Chip, including taxpayer money spent on educating people on the v-chip.

      Then there are all the Sharia drinking laws. I barely have time to get off a second shift and grab a beer because the religious fundamentalists do not have the self control to moderate their behavior unless everyone else is moderated equally. I imagine that there are safety issues as well with everyone leaving at the same time, instead of a more leisurely and extended exit time.

      That are many more examples of cost in human rights, human capital, and human treasure incurred by Sharia law imposed by religious fanatics. In many states we can't properly educate our children because the wingnuts are afraid of educated children. The court system is inundated with frivolous claims, such as when a piece of body jewelry was accidentally exposed at the superbowl. At the national level we cannot pass fiscally prudent policy because everyone is afraid the Pope is going to yell at them.

      It is pretty to think that we could just ask the religious fanatic to stop being so sensitive, to just accept that others have different beliefs and priorities, but it just does not work. As long those that think religious law is appropriate in a civil society are allowed to have power, then our rights will be infringed and our treasure stolen.

      --
      "She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
    7. Re:Aww poor little guys by sanosuke001 · · Score: 1

      It's not ridiculous to complain about Saudis asking for censorship laws; they deserve it. However, it is ridiculous that we allow those other laws to stay on the books, not that we don't allow the new laws because the old laws exist.

      --
      -SaNo
    8. Re:Aww poor little guys by nitehawk214 · · Score: 2

      Next time you see a fundamentalist, go the high road: Be nice and forthcoming. Make a nice emotional argument for the real world.

      I agree, though most fundamentalists I have interacted with will take rational and compassionate arguments as personal attacks as well. There is literally no winning with someone that has an inconsistent internal view of the world.

      But, it is fun an easy to knock them down a peg, though.

      --
      I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
    9. Re:Aww poor little guys by tibit · · Score: 1

      Aaaaand, laaaadies and geeeentlemen, we have, we have, we have a winner! Thank you fermion.

      --
      A successful API design takes a mixture of software design and pedagogy.
    10. Re:Aww poor little guys by tqk · · Score: 1

      "The only way we will get rid of it, is by doing the *opposite* of hating them back."

      Nope. That's not the only way. There's at least one other.

      It doesn't work. Both the Nazis and the Khmer Rouge (among others?) tried it, and failed.

      --
      "Tongue tied and twisted, just an Earth bound misfit ..." -- Pink Floyd.
    11. Re:Aww poor little guys by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just say the word "evolution" around one of them.

  7. awwww poor religious oppressive country... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can't keep your citizens in line with fear and religious nonsense anymore?

  8. The sexist in me... by thisisfutile · · Score: 0

    ...wants to send plane loads of Vagisil over to them.

  9. Drop dead by smooth+wombat · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If your feelings get hurt every time someone calls you out on your religious convictions, either you're not confident enough of your religion or you need to stop believing in fantasies.

    Either you believe in freedom of speech, and all the nastiness that goes with it, or you want the world to adopt your narrow-minded, pathetic excuses for why women shouldn't drive, be allowed to walk alone or meet with men who aren't their relatives.

    When you drag yourselves up to the 20th century, then we can discuss things you have issues with.

    --
    We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
    1. Re:Drop dead by thisisfutile · · Score: 0

      "When you drag yourselves up to the 20th century, then we can discuss things you have issues with." I just felt this needed repeating

    2. Re:Drop dead by aicrules · · Score: 1

      I'd be okay if they dragged themselves all the way up to the 21st century, but I suppose 20th is a good start.

    3. Re:Drop dead by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Even the 18th or 19th century would be a good start.

    4. Re:Drop dead by Jason+Levine · · Score: 1

      It's not just "comfortable in your religious convictions." If someone (e.g. Saudi Arabia) calls for censorship because something offends their religious sensibilities, then they should realize that their statements might offend someone else. Giving your religious explanation why women shouldn't drive, vote, or be seen in public? That offends me. By your own rules it should be stricken from the Internet. In fact, anything about Islam is bound to offend some Christians/Jews/Atheists so take that down. And Christian/Jewish posts might offend some Muslims so remove that. And Atheist posts should be taken down for offending the religious. Pretty soon you'll have nothing left on the Internet.

      Oh wait, that's the plan. Never mind.

      (As far as I'm concerned, I'm comfortable enough in my religious beliefs. People can criticize them all they want. I might ignore them but the only time I might ask for them to be taken down would be if they turn violent/threatening.)

      --
      My sci-fi novel, Ghost Thief, is now available from Amazon.com.
    5. Re:Drop dead by mapkinase · · Score: 0

      >Either you believe in freedom of speech, and all the nastiness that goes with it, or you want the world to adopt your narrow-minded, pathetic excuses for why women shouldn't drive, be allowed to walk alone or meet with men who aren't their relatives.

      I find it amusing that of all restrictions in Shariah you chose the ones related to women...

      And, yes, I choose the latter. Moreover, since I am too old to go anywhere, I choose to work on establishing the latter in your country.

      And may Allah help me with that. Ameen.

      --
      I do not believe in karma. "Funny"=-6. Do good and forbid evil. Yours, Oft-Offtopic Flamebaiting Troll.
    6. Re:Drop dead by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      unfortunately they wont drag themselves into the current century. we (i,e, the west) will have to drag them kicking and screaming into it. the funny thing is that all those saudi princes enjoy many of the privileges that they do not afford to their citizens, whether it is at home or abroad.

      now beware, highly inflammatory material coming :)

      my thesis: one thing that pervades muslim society, but is not talked about frequently, is homosexuality. think about it: women are faced with all these restrictions so what is a man suppose to do when a woman does not have the freedom of expression to reveal herself (not necessarily nude) in a magazine or on a beach or in a shopping mall? the average heterosexual man would be driven to insanity.

    7. Re:Drop dead by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd be okay if they dragged themselves all the way up to the 21st century, but I suppose 20th is a good start.

      Depends on the place and time in the 20th century they drag up to. I'd prefer them not to drag up to 1940s Germany, or the Soviet Union.

    8. Re:Drop dead by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's not how the schizophrenic mind works. It's indeed not about confidence, but about feeling the fear of death when we rattle on the shitty instable wooden pillar that they have built their entire world on. If it falls over, how will they even know they're not falling through the floor tomorrow? It is *incredibly* frightening to a person, to lose its entire model of reality. Because it makes achieving a goal, like survival, completely impossible.

      Offer them a really nice, stable, reliable, safe foundation, and tell them that they discovered it, and it was even more exactly what they wanted all along, than their current pillar. Because it is. Then the whole nonsense will vanish into thin air all by itself.

      (The reason we don't already do this constantly, is because 1. it is an art to create a gradient (dragging and pushing) that is strong enough, or will take a loong time, 2. they are extremely over-confident and we aren’t, so they tend to dominate the mindset (e.g. about if you're supposed to respect them or laugh at them), and 3. it is morally not acceptable to force our own mindsets on them, even when we think it will help them, because then we're doing exactly what they are doing, and we're being arrogant dicks. It's a complex matter.)

    9. Re:Drop dead by smooth+wombat · · Score: 1

      but I suppose 20th is a good start.

      Thus my point.

      --
      We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
    10. Re:Drop dead by xelah · · Score: 1

      If your feelings get hurt every time someone calls you out on your religious convictions, either you're not confident enough of your religion or you need to stop believing in fantasies.

      I think this neglects the transmission mechanism for religion. New believers don't believe because they're persuaded by argument. They're indoctrinated through social and moral mechanisms - a lot of serious and important people around them take their belief very seriously, the beliefs are treated with reference and respect, and there's a strong 'belief in belief', a sense that belief is the morally right thing to do. The environment to which impressionable people (children especially, but maybe adults with less predisposition for religious belief) are exposed is important. Religions which survive are religions which are good at tending to this transmission mechanism, and some do this by being good at making people feel disgust towards attacks on it. And, so, it's no surprise that there are people who get unreasonably upset and angry when this environment is polluted.

      For the same reason it's very important that access to competing material is preserved. Indoctrinating others this way is an abuse of a person's position, one which goes on to cause its victims to abuse their position in turn. Keeping genuine discussion and exposure to alternative views available is vital in breaking this cycle of abuse.

    11. Re:Drop dead by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And I will oppose you!

    12. Re:Drop dead by bickerdyke · · Score: 2

      Or back to the 12th - 13th-ish century.

      Back then, the muslim areas were the most advanced and enlighted ones you could find. Commerce, Arts, Science... I sometimes wonder what happend since then and if every religion sometimes has a few violent centuries now and then...

      --
      bickerdyke
    13. Re:Drop dead by Elbereth · · Score: 1

      Islam got hijacked by the fundamentalists, and they've been under the thumb of extremists ever since. It's a good example of why we need to fight against fundamentalism in the West.

    14. Re:Drop dead by L4t3r4lu5 · · Score: 1

      I sometimes wonder what happend since then

      The Enlightenment happened

      --
      Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
    15. Re:Drop dead by Zephyn · · Score: 3, Interesting
    16. Re:Drop dead by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      scientific advancement under religious pressure only goes so far before it grinds to a halt. Kind of like under a government, but we're still waking up to how evil patents are, and how just as arbitrarily stupid as religion that they are.

    17. Re:Drop dead by smooth+wombat · · Score: 1

      Picking women's equality issues was an easy choice. If your religion dictates the worth of a person is based on their sex, that is screwed up.

      As we saw recently in Pakistan, fanatics of your religion were so incensed that a woman, a girl actually, would dare to advocate that she and every other girl be educated, that they put a hit out on her. That they failed shows their ineptness, but then they compound their ineptitude by saying they will try again.

      Apparently the Islamic religion, and to a certain extent Judaism and Christianity, is so terrified that women be treated as equals, that some adherents will go out of their way to kill women who dare to demand they be allowed to get an education. This is beyond wanting not to be covered in a burlap sack, or wanting to walk down the street with any man they choose or be able to drive when and where they want.

      Those were easy restrictions to pick on because they go the core of the problem with religion in general which is this overriding, nearly dictatorial effort to control people and put them in little boxes almost exclusively based on gender. Nearly all the other issues with religion stem from this one fact and once people regain the age of enlightenment, many of the problems that exist today will be solved.

      Until then, we have to put up with hearing how one group of Muslims killed another group of Muslims because the second group didn't follow the same rituals as the first. Way to go religion, show your true colors.

      --
      We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
  10. What about our public order? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

    We should be all in favor of this;) Content standard #1 should prohibit anything that doesn't respect equal rights for ALL and due process, since OUR "public order" is fundamental dependent upon those principles. We are offended by civilizations that don't abide by such policies.

    1. Re:What about our public order? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What it should prohibit is anything that oppresses the rights of anyone. Like this stupid censorship idea would restrict the rights to freedom of speech for more than half the freaking planet.

      No, we should most definitely not be in favor of this. Are you really this stupid?

  11. Thank You, the US... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    For keep funding and supporting this brilliant representative of Islam and the Middle East.

    Thank you.

    (Note: By "the US" I mean the US governments and authorities, not her citizens, whom I pity much for having to make do with illusionary presidential "choices".)

    1. Re:Thank You, the US... by interval1066 · · Score: 1

      To the EU: We'll stop buying their oil if you do.

      --
      Python: 'And then suddenly you have a language which says "we're all stuck with whatever the whiniest coder wants".'
  12. Isn't is supposed to? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Freedom of expression is supposed to be uncomfortable and challenge public order. That's the whole idea.

    1. Re:Isn't is supposed to? by uninformedLuddite · · Score: 1

      Public order is a national security issue. Freedom of expression needs to be banned.

      --
      The new right fascists are bilingual. They speak English and Bullshit.
  13. Censorship - part of the 10 year plan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    It is part of a 10 year plan of the Muslim Brotherhood to make it a universal crime to speak ill of Islam or Mohammed.
    Once this were to be achieved it would be easier for the Caliphate to take over the world since any rejection of Islamic expansion would be viewed as anti-Islam hate speech and thus be illegal.
    The Muslim Brotherhood is already entrenched in the US Federal government due to the Obama administration.
    The blaming of the killing of the ambassador and 3 others in Libya on some film most have not seen nor care about is meant to advance the agenda so that, in an attempt to placate these people, we will disavow the freedom of speech.
    I really don't think that Obama was "shooting first" and thinking later necessarily as he accused Romney of doing.
    I think Obama's complicity with the Muslim Brotherhood is telling.

    1. Re:Censorship - part of the 10 year plan by packslash · · Score: 1

      I've seen some misinformed fantasy posts on slashdot before but this is a contender for crackpot 2012. Care to provide any tangible evidence of how the "The Muslim Brotherhood is already entrenched in the US Federal government due to the Obama administration" and no his middle name is not sufficient.

    2. Re:Censorship - part of the 10 year plan by nitehawk214 · · Score: 1

      I find it rather concerning that lots of people believe this kind of bullshit. I suppose there is no arguing with irrationality.

      --
      I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
  14. Yes! Let's do it! by bradley13 · · Score: 5, Informative

    "international collaboration to address "freedom of expression" which clearly disregards public order"

    I agree absolutely. Let's set the standard: public disorder - destroying property, killing people - is a crime. Freedom of expression is not. Pretending that freedom of expression forced someone to violence is a transparent and pathetic excuse.

    According to TFA, Saudia Arabia is still blaming the video clip for the violence. It is now well-established that the violence was pre-planned; the date of September 11th was picked carefully. The video clip was merely a transparent excuse, and the upload may, in fact, have been coordinated to coincide with the violence. Saudia Arabia is trying to use the situation to impose their fundamentalist values on the rest of the world. No thanks.

    So, yes, let's set a standard: Free speech is too important to compromise.

    --
    Enjoy life! This is not a dress rehearsal.
    1. Re:Yes! Let's do it! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Pretending that freedom of expression forced someone to violence is a transparent and pathetic excuse.

      They are no different from those who use 'defamation' and 'libel' as the same excuse to censor speech that I've run into here on Slashdot. Virtually nobody wants real freedom. They only want their freedom.

    2. Re:Yes! Let's do it! by cpghost · · Score: 1

      Let's set the standard: public disorder - destroying property, killing people - is a crime. Freedom of expression is not.

      But there ain't no Universal Law that all countries agree on! What is a crime and what is not varies heavily from legislation to legislation. Freedom of expression isn't a crime where we are, while copyright infringement is a heavy crime or will soon be. In other places, it's the other way around. That's the reason why international bodies like the UN shouldn't interfere with internal matters of their members. It's simply not their business.

      --
      cpghost at Cordula's Web.
  15. The One Solution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    OK, do as Saudi Arabia calls... but KISS. We only need One Rule to Rule Them All:

    RELIGION HAS NO RIGHTS OVER FREEDOM OF ANY KIND BUT ITSELF.

    We have freedom of speech, so telling everyone how shitty religion is is my freedom an no religion has the right to shut me down.
    We have freedom of sex, so being homosexual is over that shitty religion you keep talking about.
    We have freedom of mind, so I don't mind telling how stupid a people is believing in religion but I won't tolerate they attack me (driving people to commit suicide [christians], shouting I must be killed [muslims], etc.) in fact, I will do my whole to erase religion from Earth as it's the worst infection this planet suffers.

    And, at last but not at least, please, do not mix "religion" with "ethic". I won't kill anything because I find it unethical not because my *own* religion forbids it. Religion can be sent without any problem to the incinerator and sent to oblivion.

  16. What the fuck is the point of the UN? by Zarian · · Score: 1

    Seriously, what the fuck is its point anymore? Last I check I didn't live in the United Nations. I lived in a country that has it's own sovereign rights and laws.

    1. Re:What the fuck is the point of the UN? by aicrules · · Score: 1

      As a forum to bring together countries to discuss global level issues it's a great idea. As a governing body being used to try to create global law, it is a terrible idea. On the up side, it does let idiots like these guys show exactly what they're trying to accomplish when so many of their apologists have tried to water down the true goals of their actions.

    2. Re:What the fuck is the point of the UN? by Xest · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Bless, I actually wondered how far I'd get down the thread before someone started mouthing off about things they don't understand, which is often the case when the UN is in a story, I had to actually get quite far this time before I reached your post.

      So let me explain for you, the UN is a bit like your government, except whilst your government represents the population of your nation, the UN represents the governments to the world.

      So a bit like when a member of your government comes up with some braindead law and no one wants, the UN works in the same way, but with far more safeguards. Saudi may well be mouthing off about this sort of thing but it wont happen, because the only UN body that comes close to this sort of thing would be the ITU, and the ITU requires unanimity on votes, and as the West wont vote for this measure at the ITU, it wont actually happen.

      Think of Saudi as that annoying representative in your government that cries think of the children, and comes up with ideas that frankly scare the shit out of you, but are thankfully so insane, that they don't actually ever get passed.

      Really though, the UN is less scary than government in this respect, because sovereign nations can opt-out of it, or elements of it, whereas you can't opt-out of your government. There are some exceptions, if one member state threatens another, or if one government ceases to represent it's people through committing war crimes against them for example, then the UN may act, but for the most part, nations sign up to what does suit them, and don't sign up to what doesn't (i.e. some countries don't think the WTO would benefit them).

      The point is though, for every fringe-organisation of the UN filled up by the nutjob countries, there are plenty of UN organisations that facilitate global cooperation, for example, the International Civil Aviation Organization helps facilitate global standards on air traffic control so that when a plane enters another country's air space they can navigate safely to land, or avoid other air traffic, without fear of conflicting standards on such things causing issues. The Universal Postal Union helps ensure you can send a letter from your house in the middle of whatever country your in, to just about any other address in the world and so forth.

      So yes, don't worry, your sovereign nation's rights and laws will remain intact, providing it doesn't try and force them on anyone else, which is precisely why Saudi Arabia's bid is just noise that is doomed to fail. The UN still has a point, just as your government still has a point, even if it probably does a lot of things you dislike as most governments do. Just as at least some form of government is necessary for a civilised society to exist by enforcing laws against being able to arbitrarily murder people and so forth, the UN is necessary to ensure that certain international efforts and cooperation flow smoothly by mitigating the potential for cultural barriers and so forth to cause issues (i.e. imagine if an air traffic controller at a busy airport like Heathrow, or Chicago O'Hare had to know every language in the world to cater to pilots flying in from all over the world).

    3. Re:What the fuck is the point of the UN? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's just an embassy where more than two countries come together. An arbitration room for when multiple countries are involved. So they voice their discontent there, instead of going to war.

      It is not meant to do anything. It is meant to slow things down and sleep over it for a bit, to get people back to a normal discussion. It is just the dumb hub of the network between the devices. It can't stop collisions. But it can tell you about them.

    4. Re:What the fuck is the point of the UN? by jfengel · · Score: 1

      which is precisely why Saudi Arabia's bid is just noise that is doomed to fail.

      And they're well aware of that. I suspect that this bit of idiocy is aimed more at their populace and neighbors than it is at the UN. It's breast-beating, "Look how pious and righteous we are" with no fear of it actually passing anything. (Unlike the asshole Congressman, who actually does seem to imagine that he's somehow genuinely leading the fight against evolution/for school prayer/against those dastardly climate hoaxers.)

      I assume they're also aware of how much animosity this stunt creates outside of their friends and neighbors, though. It is unfortunate that the UN gives them an opportunity to make everybody else nervous that they actually mean it. The US government knows it will not happen, but the citizens get cranky, and that ratchets up anti-Muslim sentiment (especially combined with the genuine violence.) And it risks stirring up that violence by making people believe that the government is on their side.

      I'm all for the UN: the only way to tamp down the effects of this kind of stunt is the fact that the other nations of the world are there to remind each other not to escalate. The UN does all sorts of other good as well. But it's not an unmitigated good, and days like this are one reason.

    5. Re:What the fuck is the point of the UN? by Xest · · Score: 1

      "But it's not an unmitigated good, and days like this are one reason."

      Yes, I think that's where my analogy with government is probably most prominent- I think few but the most fringe of whackos think we should do away with government altogether, but that doesn't of course mean we should mindlessly accept everything government does, and on the contrary, the majority of laws coming out of at least Western governments nowadays seem to be to the distaste of the populace so they must be watched carefully- the UN is the same, let it exist, accept that it's an important institution to facilitate international coordination, but keep an eye on it to ensure it doesn't overstep the mark.

    6. Re:What the fuck is the point of the UN? by Alsee · · Score: 1

      Think of Saudi as that annoying representative in your government that cries think of the children, and comes up with ideas that frankly scare the shit out of you, but are thankfully so insane, that they don't actually ever get passed.

      I was with you up until that "don't actually ever get passed" part. They generally do pass.

      -

      --
      - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
    7. Re:What the fuck is the point of the UN? by Xest · · Score: 1

      What, things like SOPA? PIPA?

    8. Re:What the fuck is the point of the UN? by Alsee · · Score: 1

      I was making a joke, but pretty much yeah, things like SOPA/PIPA. Congress *would* have passed it, just like it has passed a pile of other unbelievable crap. It's not only a notable exception but a famous exception because of the massive internet uprising managing to stop it for once.

      -

      --
      - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
    9. Re:What the fuck is the point of the UN? by Xest · · Score: 1

      The point is that whilst a lot of bad stuff passes, it is, at the end of the day, relatively moderate.

      A lot of it gets blown out of proportion too, for example, in the UK since RIPA was passed a lot has been made about the clause about how you can go to jail if you don't hand over your password, however as someone who has actually read the law as is written directly from the government's related website, I've noted many a time here that whilst it's true you can go to jail if you refuse to hand over your password, the law explicitly states that for this to happen the burden is on the police to prove beyond all reasonable doubt that you actually know the password in the first place.

      To me that's not too bad, you can still use the "Sorry, I don't know the password excuse" and it's then upto the police to somehow prove that you do know it, which is no easy task. If the law did give the police the freedom to just chuck people in jail who genuinely didn't know a password as many Slashdot comentators etc. claim then I'd agree, things have gotten way out of hand, but that's not the case. I still don't like RIPA, especially the way some public authorities used it beyond it's intended purpose, but ultimately it's not as sinister as was made out and even those bits where it was abused i.e. by local authorities, it's now been reigned in by changes in law

      I think a lot more laws are cancelled or the worst clauses mitigated to the point of being no big deal than many people on Slashdot would believe, or at least, have others believe. There are some exceptions - the digital economy act in the UK being the obvious one, but they're so rare, and as I say, this sort of thing doesn't really apply to the UN anyway where the agencies that matter require unanimity for the simple fact that the UN would lose public and hence governmental support if it meant nations were getting things pushed on them against their will by it like this proposed idea by the Saudis.

    10. Re:What the fuck is the point of the UN? by Rakarra · · Score: 1

      I assume they're also aware of how much animosity this stunt creates outside of their friends and neighbors, though.

      It's the usual "us against them" argument that lets those governments deflect blame and distract from their very real problems. The people don't take it out on them as much if they can just blame Israel (somehow) and the US's support for all their ills.

  17. Saudis legislating morality ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    is like hillbillies giving out cooking tips for haute cuisine.

  18. I think he forgot by slashmydots · · Score: 0

    He must have forgotten that the US invented the internet, not Saudi Arabia.

    1. Re:I think he forgot by ciderbrew · · Score: 2

      They only want to censor Tim Berners-Lee's(UK) bit of the internet. I blame Tommy Flowers(UK) for starting this all. Charles Babbage(UK) wouldn't have let this happen. ;)

    2. Re:I think he forgot by DigiShaman · · Score: 1

      Doesn't matter. It's like someone harping they invented fire and we should heed their authority. The internet is pretty much ubiquitous in all the modern cities of the world now. Is those Saudi's want to censor the Internet, they can censor their own segment or break away like Iran wants to do and form their own national Intranet. Better yet, they can continue to pound sand.

      --
      Life is not for the lazy.
  19. The internet dies by a 1000 cuts by 1_brown_mouse · · Score: 1

    A little here, a little there. Soon enough you have to show you have paid your media and news tax and registered your RealID before being allowed online.

    1. Re:The internet dies by a 1000 cuts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Then people buy some kind of device that runs over phone lines and MOdulates and DEModulates the sound into digital information so that they can connect to various servers around the world which are not governed by anyone (at that point paying for a 3hr phone call will probably be cheaper than paying for overages on a broadband connection anyway) and as everyone leaves the internet we see these servers start to have connections between them so on and so forth until everyone (other than politicians) realizes that censorship still doesn't work for more than five minuets.

  20. How about no by theurge14 · · Score: 1

    Time to grow up or GTFO, as they would say on the Internet.

    1. Re:How about no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      nope.

      it's TITS or GTFO

  21. Fair's Fair by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Policing public discussion and providing measures to deal with content that crosses the line is a good thing if implemented reasonably. I see no problem with it if the Saudi Wahabist terrorist dictatorship is treated in the same way and held to account for its arrogance, greed, and abuse of human rights. Fair's fair, as they say.

  22. what they should do is by FudRucker · · Score: 4, Insightful

    they should do their own censoring and leave the rest of the world's internets alone, china did it, what nations should do is change their system to a nationwide LAN (sortof), and when connecting to websites served from IP address of other nations it should go through a filter if that is what they want to do, if i want to look at naked women eating barbecue pork while holding poker chips with her twat that is my business and should not be of any concern of some religious zealots in some other nation

    --
    Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
    1. Re:what they should do is by Rob+the+Bold · · Score: 2

      they should do their own censoring and leave the rest of the world's internets alone . . .

      Exactly. Since that which threatens "public order" varies so widely by culture and country, attempting to find a global solution is pointless. As messy and difficult as it can be, censoring that which is perceived to be dangerous to a particular government is that particular government's problem, not everyone else's.

      --
      I am not a crackpot.
    2. Re:what they should do is by just_another_sean · · Score: 1

      if i want to look at naked women eating barbecue pork while holding poker chips with her twat

      Care to share a link with the rest of us?

      --
      Creationist Textbook Stickers Declared Unconstitutional by CowboyNeal
    3. Re:what they should do is by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ...if i want to look at naked women eating barbecue pork while holding poker chips with her twat...

      Link please?

    4. Re:what they should do is by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      link?

  23. I've said it before I'll say it again by killmenow · · Score: 0

    Saudi Arabia can go fuck itself.

    You have NO RIGHT to NOT be offended.

  24. A Modest Proposal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sure, we wouldn't want any "expression" which clearly disregards public order'". That's bad, after all. So let's start with, oh say, censoring out *any* discussion of Islam, Mohammed or the Koran. After all, popular opinion is that they are all terrorists and you can't disregard public order much more than using terrorist tactics, right?

    Of course, so much of terrorism is fueled by the oil industry. You know, let's kick anything to do with that off the Internet as well. Not just discussion of oil, but any of their business transactions or automated traffic from their software. If they need to route signals from one refinery to the next, let them build an entirely new infrastructure rather than using the Internet. We need to cut down on influences which disregard the public order.

    Say, aren't there links between terrorist groups and the Saudi royalty? Off the Internet for them, then! Might make it a bit hard to get at their bank accounts in Switzerland though. Well, its all for the benefit of public order.

    What's that? You don't like those suggestions? Oh, I see, you only want to censor things YOU don't like. That's not really about public order then, is it though? It's about maintaining your control. Well, let us reconsider this in light of this new information. We'll get back to you.

    [Sadly, the answer in a few years will be, "Sure, great idea! We can use it in our own countries too!" because the governments of the West who currently control the Internet are becoming as increasingly corrupt and misguided as to their purpose as the tyrannies in the East]

    1. Re:A modest proposal by 6031769 · · Score: 1

      Amen!
       
      ... oh, wait.

      --
      Burns: We're building a casino!
      McAllister: Arrr. Give me 5 minutes.
  25. is there a right not to be offended? by mbaGeek · · Score: 1

    something about history repeating itself probably applies ...

    “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

    --
    It ain't what they call you. It's what you answer to. http://mylyceum.us/
    1. Re:is there a right not to be offended? by Robert+Zenz · · Score: 1

      something about history repeating itself probably applies ...

      I first thought about the "dictation" of the catholic church...not really looking forward to new dark ages...

    2. Re:is there a right not to be offended? by Scarred+Intellect · · Score: 1

      https://www.google.com/search?q=%E2%80%9CI+disapprove+of+what+you+say%2C+but+I+will+defend+to+the+death+your+right+to+say+it.%E2%80%9D&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

      In case you aren't aware; that isn't actually a Voltaire quote. It's perhaps something he would have said had he thought of it, and he certainly seems to have held that particular belief (a good one, methinks).

  26. Disregarding public order by jdavidb · · Score: 1

    address "freedom of expression" which clearly disregards public order

    As a fellow religionist, let me give you my opinion about that: fuck that. Public order means somebody controlling somebody else, and I don't believe in it. Public order can go screw itself.

  27. we need decentralized internet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    neither governments or corporations can be trusted and are the enemies of individual freedom

    any organization that is large enough will eventually become corrupt at the top levels

    either the individuals who "earned" their positions will commit corrupt actions to retain and profit from their power and influence, or inherently corrupt individuals will seek out the existing positions of power and influence

    the technology is there for a decentralized, peer to peer internet
    https://github.com/Byzantium/Byzantium/wiki
    (and other mesh initiatives)

    be part of a solution, find an old laptop, plug it in, run a node, maybe update it every 6 months

    when the normals start seeing more and more restrictions on the "public" internet they will start to look for alternatives and by then either we have an infrastructure in place which can easily accept them, or it will be too late

  28. Self restraint by Xacid · · Score: 1

    How about international collaboration on having some self restraint and not causing others physical harm to others any time something in the world doesn't go your way?

    1. Re:Self restraint by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We already have that. It's called war.

    2. Re:Self restraint by Bobakitoo · · Score: 2

      How about international collaboration on having some self restraint and not causing others physical harm to others any time something in the world doesn't go your way?

      You can't debate or find compromise with peoples that believe there is only one true God and that anyone not sharing that faith is wrong and unworthy of life. The only appropriate response to Saudi Arabia is to fuck off.

  29. Hey Saudi Arabia... by BMOC · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Welcome to the 21st century. Want to be a part of it? ...then grow the frack up.

    --
    I swear they give me mod points to shut me up.
    1. Re:Hey Saudi Arabia... by Tom · · Score: 2

      Hello, USA.

      Welcome to the 21st century. Want to be a part of it? ...then grow up. Accept evolution. Stop considering yourself the world police. Learn some basic geography. Stop being assholes. Oh, an don't tell others to grow up when you're stuck in the middle ages yourself.

      --
      Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
    2. Re:Hey Saudi Arabia... by BMOC · · Score: 0

      I wonder if you realize how awesome the US is in that it protects your speech... hrm...

      --
      I swear they give me mod points to shut me up.
    3. Re:Hey Saudi Arabia... by Tom · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Are you really this retarded you primitive chauvinist(*) asshole?

      My free speech is not protected by the US, it is protected by the constitution of my country. That attitude is exactly the kind of crap that the world has come to expect of you, and apparently rightfully so. For all I care, you could be swallowed up by Yosemite tomorrow, and my free speech would still be under the very same protection as it is today.

      This arrogance is sickening to me, and I live in a western country that actually does have a reason to thank the US for a couple things. Now imagine how sickening it must be to someone living in a country where the US is responsible for bombing the shit out of the civilian population and little else. If you can't understand why they hate you - I can. If instead of liberating my country back in WW2 you had been killing a bunch of my friends and family for the past years, I definitely would, too.

      (*) in the original sense, before feminism abducted the word

      --
      Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
    4. Re:Hey Saudi Arabia... by BMOC · · Score: 0

      Do you live in Europe? If so, remember the cold war and your low military budgets post WW2? I thought you might.

      You're asking for arrogance. You post something bashing a country and you expect those who love the country not to respond? You must be about as childish as anyone I've seen. You trolled this entire thread. Nothing about this thread had anything to do with the United States, but your misplaced hatred of a country you probably know a lot less about than you think you do just forced you to say something bad about them. You need to look at yourself and ask yourself just how much you actually hate anything, because you'll probably be surprised at how little you find wrong once you get past the blinders of hatred you've put on.

      --
      I swear they give me mod points to shut me up.
  30. God fail by Jawnn · · Score: 2

    If your deity needs intercession by mortals to prevent others from speaking against him, he is probably not what you are thinking he is. So there's that, but the real thing I want to say, to anyone who would presume to limit my speech on religious grounds is "Piss off!". Seriously. Get a fucking clue and realize that your spiritual path is yours, and yours alone, to walk. The rest of us don't have to join you. Get it?

    1. Re:God fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Get a fucking clue and realize that your spiritual path is yours, and yours alone, to walk. The rest of us don't have to join you. Get it?

      Except that Islam is not about spirituality. It is a hateful cult that being slowly conquering the world by deception and violence since 7th century. When a muslim talk about Islam been a religion of peace they talk about the islamic peace, which is closer to pax romana then what we usually think peace mean. To the muslim, there will be peace when everyone is either converted or put to death*. This is what a 'religion of peace' mean in the context of Islam.

      * Will all know that this Islamic peace will never happen because muslim fight each other all the time anyway. They are just sick fucks from the medieval time.

    2. Re:God fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When believe in god isn't enough to coerce people, they use belief in government to coerce them.

    3. Re:God fail by Jawnn · · Score: 1

      Except that Islam is not about spirituality. It is a hateful cult that being slowly conquering the world by deception and violence since 7th century. When a muslim talk about Islam been a religion of peace they talk about the islamic peace, which is closer to pax romana then what we usually think peace mean. To the muslim, there will be peace when everyone is either converted or put to death*. This is what a 'religion of peace' mean in the context of Islam.

      * Will all know that this Islamic peace will never happen because muslim fight each other all the time anyway. They are just sick fucks from the medieval time.

      They very same thing may be said about Christianity, if it's printed collections of "the true and unerring word of god" may be used as evidence. Likely, religious scholars with a breadth greater than mine can offer similar statements about other religions. So how about we "get a fucking clue" and stop singling out Islam, m'kay? Either that, or recognize that it's the criminals, not the religion, that are the problem here.

    4. Re:God fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They very same thing may be said about Christianity, if it's printed collections of "the true and unerring word of god" may be used as evidence. Likely, religious scholars with a breadth greater than mine can offer similar statements about other religions. So how about we "get a fucking clue" and stop singling out Islam, m'kay? Either that, or recognize that it's the criminals, not the religion, that are the problem here.

      Oh no. I forgot again to add the famous INB4 line. Yes. It is applicable to Christianism and Judaism. Yes. All monotheist cult are evil. When these cult become a problem, I will criticize them as much.

      How about you stop being a Islam apologist because other cults also do bad thing? And try to stay on topic ass-hole. The subject of this tread is Islam.

  31. Barking up the wrong tree by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Censorship isn't about "protecting the people" (who are to be censored). Censorship is about expanding the business of government through both spending and power over the people (which will be leveraged to justify yet even more spending). In other words, censorship is merely one of 1000 gimmicks the ruling class uses to get rich. It's nothing but a cheap smokescreen for the real objective.

  32. Good luck with that. by MachineShedFred · · Score: 2

    - The Constitution of the United States says that any treaty to which the United States shall be beholden must be ratified by two-thirds of the US Senate.
    - The First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, and prohibits the Congress from passing legislation limiting expression.
    - Every single Senator took an oath to uphold the Constitution upon taking office.

    Any vote by the US Senate to ratify such UN action would be a direct violation of the Constitution which they swore to uphold. At the very least, I can't imagine that there are 67 senators looking to retire at the end of the term in which this treaty would be voted on for ratification; to say nothing of the Supreme Court throwing it out like a 105mph fast ball...

    Hey, if this thing gets passed in other countries, maybe the US will become the best place to host Internet content...

    --
    Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
    1. Re:Good luck with that. by alexo · · Score: 2

      Any vote by the US Senate to ratify such UN action would be a direct violation of the Constitution which they swore to uphold.

      So?

  33. Religion as trolling by Quakeulf · · Score: 2

    Judging from the comments and reactions it is clearly obvious that religious nutjobs are pioneers of trolling.

    1. Re:Religion as trolling by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You insensitive clod!

      I attend the Church of Goatse. Don't call me a nutjob.

  34. Don't watch it by Big+Hairy+Ian · · Score: 2
    and it wont offend you. Essentially you waived all rights to be outraged when you clicked the link and pressed play on the video.

    Ah hell go burn some books if it makes you happy

    --

    Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.

  35. Censorship by GeekWithAKnife · · Score: 1


    The reasons for censorship are irrelevant.

    Eventually there will be more and more censorship of the internet, it's already happening and cannot be stopped.

    In truth that battle for "internet freedom" is a pointless fight. Like all censorship it will never be absolute, it will always fail.

    People will always find ways around censorship. If I cannot speak my mind on your site, I will go elsewhere.

    Of course I would argue that if you cannot bear to read thoughts which go completely against your beliefs it should not be me that has to make a change. If we were neighbors, which on the internet we might as well be because distance becomes less relevant for the purposes of communication, would I have to be considerate? of course. Would you have to respect my rights? you bet.

    To my Saudi Arabia neighbors I can only say that if you don't like the neighborhood, move away. No one is forcing you to use the internet, facebook etc.

    --
    A 'singular oddity' is an event that cannot be explained and only happens when you are alone.
  36. Re:Saudi douches, internet censorship in 1 easy st by Dunbal · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yeah or create your own separate network for the caliphate. You can call it camelnet.

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  37. Hmm? by gustapfo · · Score: 1

    Isn't disregarding of public order just what we need?

    The problem seems to be like they say this "Freedom of Expression".
    People or countries should certainly not be allowed to propose such stupid things as Internet Censorship.

  38. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by siddesu · · Score: 1, Troll

    Two things. First, you're over-exaggerating it a bit, it is unlikely that any drastic anti-freedom legislation will be passed in the west based on the wishes of Saudi Arabia in the next decade or two. Or more, if you freedom-lovers choose to lead instead of whine.

    Second, there is only one country in the world that has, throughout its history, used its military power and political influence consistently to try to export its ideas of morality and law to the world, and it ain't no abode of Muslin desperation, it is the U-S-of-A.

    Moreover, the US rationale for this was always the perception of the superior morality of the American way, not some logical, scientific argument. Why are you complaining when other countries notice what yours does, and try to do the same?

  39. Let's not and say we did. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How about we not follow the lead of a country that routinely executes people publicly in horrific ways.

  40. This is why USA control of the internet is best by cryfreedomlove · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I'm no flag waver. I'm still a hippy who is hated at first sight by many of my fellow Americans but I trust this country's respect for freedom of speech more than I trust the UN to gain international consensus to respect freedom of speech.

  41. Headed by 4chan and anonymous... by mekkab · · Score: 4, Funny

    the Global Internet Censorship Body will ensure equal unrest and humiliation for all.

    --
    In the future, I would want to not be isolated from my friends in the Space Station.
    1. Re:Headed by 4chan and anonymous... by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      Well yeah, Mad Max would be better than Saudi Arabia's (per)version of 'public order'... Why do we let our governments remain so blind to the real threats against us? Is it because they see freedom as even a bigger threat to their own power?

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    2. Re:Headed by 4chan and anonymous... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bless you :D *wipes tear of joy*

  42. Yes! We need to contain freedom expression! by erroneus · · Score: 1

    Let's start with the freedom to kill and destroy in response to insulting or otherwise uncomfortable information being published. This is a form of expression which seriously needs to be addressed.

  43. Now that is worth fighting for. by Ryokos_boytoy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Invading Iraq for oil, did not support
    Invading Afghanistan to build pipeline, did not support
    Nuking Saudi Arabia for stifling freedom of speech, Let me press the button.

    They need to turn off the computer if they are offended but growing the fuck up would be even better.

    --


    If you don't say anything, you won't be called on to repeat it. -- Calvin Coolidge
    1. Re:Now that is worth fighting for. by Scarred+Intellect · · Score: 1

      Invading Afghanistan to build pipeline

      Cite? I don't doubt nor support your claim, but it sounds like it'd be interesting to read about.

    2. Re:Now that is worth fighting for. by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      Invading Afghanistan to build pipeline, did not support

      What the Taliban was doing was far worse than even what Saudi Arabi is impotently trying to do.

      They blew up multi-thousand year old religious artifacts/temples/giant statues whose presence offended them. That persisted even after other countries offered to pay for the privilege of airlifting them out. (Clearly they are valuable enough culturally to offer to move a 100m high statue 100's of miles.)

      And, in what can only be seen as a desire to ease into something unimaginably horrible or a total lack of history, started forcing religious minorities to wear yellow badges.

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
    3. Re:Now that is worth fighting for. by cpotoso · · Score: 1

      Mod parent up. These same people who cry wolf when somebody attacks their retrograde, corrupt and immoral religion (yes, yes, yes, it is immoral) have no problem calling for the death to the infidels. We should all go and burn them all because of this offense to our non-religion or different religion.

    4. Re:Now that is worth fighting for. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Do you support the killing of innocents for this cause? Because that is what "nuking" will result in -- the murder of people who did absolutely no wrong and only want to live their lives in peace. It doesn't even have to be nuclear war. The fact that the US government has quotas on civilian deaths says it all. (You didn't even know that, did you?)

      These issues are exactly why, although I am agnostic with respect to religion, I *sincerely* hope there is not only a god, but a heaven and a hell. People who initiate aggression against other human beings deserve to rot in hell for eternity, no matter what part of the world they come from or where they committed their injustice.

    5. Re:Now that is worth fighting for. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've never been a proponent of the war over there.
      But I've always said, turning that god forsaken sand pit into glass as far as the eye can see can only be a good thing.

    6. Re:Now that is worth fighting for. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Saudi funded islamic schools are main reason for extermism in the world. Afghanistan and Pakistan turned into shitholes thanks to Saudi arabia vulunteers and funding for long years. The future will be alot better without them for the middle easy and the whole world.

  44. Dictatorships: New Name; Same Game by hutsell · · Score: 2

    Saudi Arabia has stated that there is a 'crying need for international collaboration to address "freedom of expression" which clearly disregards public order.'

    There is a "crying need for international collaboration" to address the livid intolerance exhibited by the Monarchists (we've been there before -- self-absorbed, lazy and inbred) pissed that 6 billion people aren't under their thumb.

    --
    Yesterday's Weirdness is Tomorrow's Reason Why
  45. Dear Saudi Arabia: by OldSport · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Fuck you, and your religion too.

    Your pal,

    OldSport

    1. Re:Dear Saudi Arabia: by terjeber · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Nah, let's support this. Then use it to ban all Muslim writings. They disturb public order!

    2. Re:Dear Saudi Arabia: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nah, let's support this. Then use it to ban all Muslim writings. They disturb public order!

      Make that all religious writing and I'll fully support this idea.

    3. Re:Dear Saudi Arabia: by Tom · · Score: 1

      You wish. But you can be sure that it will be worded in such a way that it can only be used for their purposes.

      --
      Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
  46. But wait by Charliemopps · · Score: 3, Insightful

    To which the United States replied: "But if we don't let them say what they want on the internet, how is the NSA supposed to spy on everything they do?!?"

  47. A modest proposal by MrLint · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In response to Saudi Arabia, I would recommended that all religious people and all religion content be removed from the internet. Reactionary, close minded ideology is clearly incompatible with this fast paced open medium. I'll be better for all of us if we take a bold step and separate them.

  48. And now we all see why "THE VIDEO" by aicrules · · Score: 0

    And now we all can see why "THE VIDEO" was relentlessly trotted out as the cause of the violence. I guarantee you that if you track down who it was in every administration who pushed the idea that "THE VIDEO" was the cause of the violence when they knew better, you'd have yourself a collection of Sharia plants. People whose goal it is for Sharia law to be the law of the world and who have infiltrated all major governments of the world at various levels.

    1. Re:And now we all see why "THE VIDEO" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's only fair though - people whose goal it is for Democratic law to be the law of the world have infiltrated all major governments of the world at various levels too - and have generally been more successful at it.

      There was a time when people whose goal it was to have Divine Right to be the law of the world had done the same thing. Now they've mostly been converted into believing that Democracy itself is a Divine Right.

  49. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by dskoll · · Score: 5, Informative

    Second, there is only one country in the world that has, throughout its history, used its military power and political influence consistently to try to export its ideas of morality and law to the world, and it ain't no abode of Muslin desperation, it is the U-S-of-A.

    Oh, really? So what was this all about?

  50. Internet content regulation by partyguerrilla · · Score: 2

    How is this even theoretically possible? Oh you crazy arabs, the RIAA would've done it like a decade ago.

  51. How about not burning and killing instead? by jopet · · Score: 1

    How about not going an burning down houses of innocent people, how about not going and killing and hurting innocent people because somebody made a drawing or a video about some stupid old fairy tale?
    If there is something that would be good censoring then it is the utter nonsense the comes from an islamist dictatorship.

  52. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Second, there is only one country in the world that has, throughout its history, used its military power and political influence consistently to try to export its ideas of morality and law to the world, and it ain't no abode of Muslin desperation, it is the U-S-of-A.

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Go read some history books! What a crock!

  53. well I am offended by amoeba1911 · · Score: 1

    I am offended that they are requesting global Internet censorship. I demand that their request for global Internet censorship be censored because it deeply offends me. If we censor everything that anyone is offended by then we might as well not have Internet because somewhere there's someone who is offended by something.

  54. Dear Saudi Arabia by MarkGriz · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Take your censorship and go f*ck yourself with it.

    Sincerely,

    The Free World

    p.s. we can still buy your oil, right?

    --
    Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder.
    1. Re:Dear Saudi Arabia by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 1

      we should end the charade and just TAKE their damned oil.

      they've shown us they don't want to live in the modern age. fine! no modern conveniences for you. that means all that oil you guys have, you don't need it. we'll be by in the morning to come pick it up. thanks.

      seriously, what a mixed message. they love the past so much but they won't give up the current modern day things that the west brought to THEM.

      "get a brain, morans!"

      --

      --
      "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
    2. Re:Dear Saudi Arabia by cpghost · · Score: 1

      I couldn't agree more. But we're actively helping Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar & Co. to establish similarly minded (islamist) regimes in Libya, Syria et al. (yes, we do, despite talks to the contrary). So let's not be too arrogant here. We're sleeping with dogs for quite some time, we shouldn't complain of the fleas now.

      --
      cpghost at Cordula's Web.
    3. Re:Dear Saudi Arabia by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No let's just take it, let's have a real honest to God bona fide 100% proof War For Oil and liberate some pussies :D (unless the gays want some manslaves the assholes will be killed).

      Let's live up to some of the shit they claim about us! Let's be EBUL heretics!

  55. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by dkleinsc · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The world will be dominated by Islamic idiots because the rest of the world will do nothing but appease them.

    Are you arguing that what non-Muslims should do is commit genocide against Muslims? If you're not, could you explain how invading Iraq and Afghanistan and applying economic sanctions to Iran, Syria, and the Gaza Strip constitute "appeasing"?

    --
    I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
  56. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Chrisq · · Score: 2

    It's going to happen some day. The world will be dominated by Islamic idiots because the rest of the world will do nothing but appease them.

    One little tragic baby step at a time.

    Absolutely. They wand a censorship board that will say "kill the non-believers wherever you find them" is a valid religious sentiment, but "Sharia Law is incompatible with human rights" will be banned.

  57. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Desler · · Score: 2

    Second, there is only one country in the world that has, throughout its history, used its military power and political influence consistently to try to export its ideas of morality and law to the world, and it ain't no abode of Muslin desperation, it is the U-S-of-A.

    What a load of bullshit. There have been plenty of empires that have done this throughout the last 3000+ years. Plenty of them pushed their laws and their cultures on their conquered territories.

  58. The USA is already a global censorship body by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Linking to DeCSS? Censored.
    Internet Gambling? Censored.
    Wikileaks? Censored.
    Under-18s porn? (Not illegal everywhere) Censored.

    1. Re:The USA is already a global censorship body by Desler · · Score: 1

      I see DeCSS code linked on a Wikipedia server hosted in the US. I can get to Wikileaks just fine in the US as well. Internet gambling for real money was a dumb to ban but it's hardly censored since anyone who wants to do it can still do so. Kiddie porn? Boohoo.

    2. Re:The USA is already a global censorship body by thomasw_lrd · · Score: 1

      There is also a big difference between the US banning it, and a Muslim nation banning it. In the US, if you get caught, you might be arrested, have a court trial, probably pay a fine, maybe some jail time (but probably not for anything other than kiddie porn).

      In a Muslim country, they will just come, you will be arrested, definitely spend time in prison, and possibly even killed.

      The US has some stupid laws and some stupid bans, but for most of them you don't really have to fear that you will get in serious trouble for it.

    3. Re:The USA is already a global censorship body by Golddess · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Kiddie porn? Boohoo.

      AC didn't say kiddie porn, AC said under-18 porn. Presumably they mean something like 17 years old rather than 7 years old.

      Not that I agree that it is a bad thing. A line should be drawn somewhere, and age 18 seems as good a place as any. Just pointing out that under-18 porn does not necessarily constitute kiddie porn.

      --
      "I'm not sure I like the fugnutish tone you used in your post!" -RogL (608926)-
    4. Re:The USA is already a global censorship body by IgnoramusMaximus · · Score: 1

      Not that I agree that it is a bad thing. A line should be drawn somewhere, and age 18 seems as good a place as any.

      18?!! What, are you a pervert?! Its 80 that's reasonable and not a second younger.

      Everyone knows people one second younger then 80 cannot make reasoned decisions as to sex (or anything else for that matter). Proof? Why, just look at the daily Google news around the globe! QED.

      Anyone who thinks otherwise is a sick pedophile who is only arguing otherwise so he can have sex with immature people to ruin their young, innocent lives. Are you a sick pedophile? Are you? Are you? Yes? Yes?!

    5. Re:The USA is already a global censorship body by poity · · Score: 1

      Wikileaks isn't censored. Try its many mirrors here: http://wikileaks.info/

      Internet Gambling is probably one where I agree with you somewhat, but it was a business decision (preventing money laundering for other crimes), not a ideological decision. See the many cities and states where various forms of gambling is legal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling_in_the_United_States

      DeCSS isn't censored (although COMPANIES, not the US government, have tried to censor it) http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/openlaw/DVD/DeCSS

      Under 18 porn may be offensive to some, but it's mainly banned out of a sense of humanity and empathy for its victims, there is no commonality between it and banning cartoons (cartoons are not abducted or abused)

      Why do you tell lies and half-truths? Is it because you think telling lies will help get your point across? Well it doesn't.
      Whoever modded you up needs his privilege reexamined

      --
      your thin skin doesn't make me a troll
    6. Re:The USA is already a global censorship body by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      in the US, under 18 is kiddy porn period. doesnt matter if they are 17 years 364 days and 23 hours old. as long as they are below the age limit that is the law.

  59. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Second, there is only one country in the world that has, throughout its history, used its military power and political influence consistently to try to export its ideas of morality and law to the world, and it ain't no abode of Muslin desperation, it is the U-S-of-A.

    Have you forgotten the Mongolians? What about the European Colonization period? Or the creation and expansion of the Chinese empire? Or the subjigation of the neighboring tribes by the Incas? What about the Aztecs and their demanded subservience of the tribes around them? Egypt certainly never crushed Kush.... and hell, Assyria played very nice.

    What, this wasnt "the world?". Back then "the world" was limited by technology.

    Stop being so naive.

  60. thank god I am an atheist by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    under this law such reporting would not exist either http://wownot.com/saudi-arabian-women-win-the-right-to-bear-children/ mohamed hates satire as much as he hates fags, women and infidels .. and he loves child brides

  61. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Desler · · Score: 5, Funny

    Those are things called "facts". They are just inconvenient things that get in the way of unsubstantiated rants.

  62. Should support this by terjeber · · Score: 2

    We really should support it. There is nothing at the moment that creates more public disturbance than the Qur'an. We support Saudi Arabia in this and instantly work on banning this book all over the world. Then we can start on the Bible and other religious texts.

    The sad thing is that these morons don't understand the words that are coming out of their own mouths.

    1. Re:Should support this by error_logic · · Score: 1

      Ban something and the information contained therein suddenly becomes more attractive due to perceived scarcity. It's human nature.

    2. Re:Should support this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I like the way you think.

    3. Re:Should support this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thats because they havent realized that the words arent coming out of their mouths!

    4. Re:Should support this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As much as I want to support this, I can't.
      Banning biblical text will lead down a slippery slope to banning other books that I may want to read.
      How ironic.

  63. Either a troll or the biggest moron here today... by MikeRT · · Score: 1

    Second, there is only one country in the world that has, throughout its history, used its military power and political influence consistently to try to export its ideas of morality and law to the world, and it ain't no abode of Muslin desperation, it is the U-S-of-A.

    Right, because every empire from Egypt, to Greece, Rome, Carthage, Persia, China, Japan, the Aztecs and Mayans, Britain, the various Caliphates, the Ottoman Empire and the Soviet Union had no consistent history of aggressive expansion that pushed their ideas, laws and morality on others. Truly, the United States' efforts to remake the world in its image are just unprecedented. Look Solomon, there is something new under the sun after all!...

    Moreover, the US rationale for this was always the perception of the superior morality of the American way, not some logical, scientific argument.

    And your rationale for anything you said is as close to the reality of human history as saying that dinosaurs died out because the Og the Caveman and his Merry Men rode around on their flying unicorns and gunned them down for sport.

  64. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Desler · · Score: 1

    Not to mention that most of what is now the Muslim world become so through exportation of Islam through conquering.

  65. This sounds like their swan song by zuki · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Along the tortuous path of life, certain things irreversibly change over time. Accelerating the path to freedom from the mental shackles of organized, dogmatic religion would appear to be one of the direct consequences of inter-networked people freely and finally comparing notes between different brands of those good old 'All-powerful-being / be very scared / you should feel guilty, you unworthy scum' methods of mind control that have been in place for hundreds of years.

    This happens to exactly be one of the first telltale signs of their unwilling abdication, as their hateful 'religion of peace' disintegrates in the face of a collective, planet-wide yawn. A day to celebrate!!

    Good riddance.

    Practical suggestion: close yourself off from the rest of the world instead. Miss you we will not.

    Good luck, don't let the door hit you on the way out, and thanks for all the (fossilized) fish oil!

  66. What if Galileo Never Got Out? by retroworks · · Score: 1

    In hindsight, the track record of religious censorship leads me to think that backwards people shouldn't be leading the rest of us.

    --
    Gently reply
    1. Re:What if Galileo Never Got Out? by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 1

      remember that the next time a republican spouts off how 'faith based america' is the one true america that they are 'shooting' for.

      --

      --
      "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
  67. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by maz2331 · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Or use a simpler solution - just unplug the Saudis from the global net.

  68. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Only country. Clearly the crusades or tamerlane did not exist at all. Seriously have you ever had a course in world history? Your non-facts make for a good sound bite I guess.

  69. If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by walterbyrd · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Then why are Muslims also attacking in so many other countries? There are Muslim terrorist attacks, all over the world, every day, and it's been going on like that for decades. Muslims are actively attacking not only Jews, and Christians, but Hindus, Buddhists, and of course, other Muslims.

    How could this all be due to US mid-east policy?

    1. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Desler · · Score: 5, Insightful

      How could this all be due to US mid-east policy?

      Because it has to be! They were just peace-loving innocents until the big bad United States came along. Never mind that they've been fighting amongst themselves and with those same groups you mentioned for hundreds of years before the US ever existed.

    2. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by cayenne8 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Because it has to be! They were just peace-loving innocents until the big bad United States came along. Never mind that they've been fighting amongst themselves and with those same groups you mentioned for hundreds of years before the US ever existed.

      You know..if we could just become energy independent....we could just then pull out of the whole middle east and let those fuckers blow themselves up and be done with them.

      I'd love to quit giving them so much money....

      I think we need to drill our asses off locally, build more refineries to keep us going while we explore all other forms of energy.

      The US needs to make energy independence our new "going to the Moon" quest.....

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    3. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by CohibaVancouver · · Score: 2

      You know..if we could just become energy independent....we could just then pull out of the whole middle east and let those f*ckers blow themselves up and be done with them.

      Energy independence is very important for many reasons, but it won't have any effect on the middle east. If the west stopped buying Saudi oil China would just step in and buy whatever is available. The Saudis would still have as much cash as ever to fund gullible Taliban morons.

    4. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Conspiracy_Of_Doves · · Score: 3, Interesting

      What we need to do is develop renewable energy sources to the point where they are truly viable, and spread them around the world so everyone can easily use them.

    5. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by mrops · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Having lived in India as well as Saudi Arabia and then moving to the west as a Muslim, I can answer that. And answer that is all I will do, it is not a justification for the actions in any way or form.

      The answer is short, education. There is a huge populace of uneducated muslim's in the world, probably the highest percentage of the 3 major religons in the world. With education comes tolerance and understanding that so many lack. Since the 1960s, Saudi Arabia started preaching its brand of wahabism to a lot of muslims, not only at home but abroad. This gave you the likes of Taliban and extremist Islam was born. Afghans were know for revenge long before Islamist Islam took roots with Saudi Sponsored madarsas to drive away Russians (I will let you guess who thought it was a good idea to drive away Russians in this manner). All these uneducated fighters were given a cause to fight in the name of the religion.

      Living in Saudi Arabia, one thing that is quite apparent is that they are very strict in terms of what they intepret Islam. Their religious police would come out at us with sticks if we dared play soccer during prayer time. This brand of Islam was exported with oil money to a lot of places and you get terrorism.

      Not only that, a few corrupt indviduals will go murder innocent non-muslims in the name of Islam. The same breed of uneducated non-muslims would then go kill muslims and decades of enimosity lasts between societies and cultures. You get into a feedback look of hate and suffering exploding to sad events like 911.

      IMO, this generation of terrorist cannot be enlightened, the focus must be to bring the new generation up with education and tolerance. Taliban know this full well and you get 14 year old girls shot, only if the west would realise this too.

    6. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by cifey · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Unfortunately the republicans interpretation is "suck out all of our domestic reserves so we run out first".

      --
      Hello Cruel World
    7. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by tibit · · Score: 1

      Sure. But then they'd be China's problem, not ours.

      --
      A successful API design takes a mixture of software design and pedagogy.
    8. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Interesting, but present influential corporate interests are against things like energy independence. You'll need to get out and murder some oppressors if you want to escape their usage of oil to inflict hydraulic despotism.

    9. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by DiamondGeezer · · Score: 1

      Well said.

      --
      Tubby or not tubby. Fat is the question
    10. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The problem is it was okay to hate the Soviets but it isnt okay to hate Muslims.

    11. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The sooner the oil is pumped out of "other" countries, the better it is for the super powers. It is hard to fight a war without oil.

      So, even if the US could be completely self dependent this second, it wouldn't happen until the super powers have drained most of the rest of the world dry. There are many rumors of the US and China having huge untapped drilling sites (where reports say there is NO oil, but independents, leaked reports, and/or obvious signs of oil are completely ignored or hushed up, I'm bettering Russia does as well but I haven't heard of a physical location yet).

    12. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Only a few more centuries before they become respectable institutionalized child fuckers. Religion is for idiots like you, so religion will by definition always be dangerous. For example, you are actively promoting this religion by dissing the problems as a temporary state of development. This is a plain lie, so you are actively promoting violence. The notion that everyone non muslim may die a horrible death, the whores and pigs, is part of islam. As long as we don't recognize the inherent hatred of this dangerous religion, we are in danger.

    13. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by couchslug · · Score: 4, Funny

      "How could this all be due to US mid-east policy?"

      Because _everything_ was and is and will be due to US mideast policy.

      Example:
      The Mughal conquest of India in the 1500s was anticipating future US involvement in Afghanistan so they invaded India anticipating eventually being beaten back into modern Pakistan from which they could still support Taliban forces. Before US policy there was the celestial promise of US policy, and after US policy there will be permanent blowback.

      --
      "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
    14. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by RabidReindeer · · Score: 1

      I think we need to drill our asses off locally, build more refineries to keep us going while we explore all other forms of energy.

      Problem is, while we've no shortage of people pushing to drill our asses off locally, they're usually also vehemently opposed to exploring all other forms of energy. If we ran off something besides oil, they'd have no traction.

      If the Arabs want to build any sort of credibility, though, they need to stop treating the Prophet like some sort of God. You know darned good and well they wouldn't riot like that if a film was made mocking you or me. Or for that matter, even Jesus, who is (according to some) just one step lower on the Islamic order of prophets.

    15. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We just need to expand on switch-grass bio-crude - make grass-clipping collection centers - mow your lawn, send it in to the refinery.

      http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080204094459.htm

      http://www.licella.com.au/end-products/bio-crude-oil.html

      http://www.bteinc.net/bco.php

      We have enough bio-waste from grass clippings alone to fuel our entire nation. Add in crop residue and we can export it - without drilling anywhere.

      Of course, anyplace that has large quantities of bio-mass, can make their own, limiting export destinations, so don't expect it to be a high dollar value commodity.

      I'd expect to see gas prices drop to around a buck a gallon with mass conversion.

    16. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by TFAFalcon · · Score: 1

      China wouldn't have a problem with them. Do you think they'd freak out if terrorists blew up a few of their office buildings? They'd chalk it up to cost of doing business and export a few million more rifles to the governments of the region, unlike the US which started a decade of wars.

    17. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How could this all be due to US mid-east policy?

      Because the US has not kicked their asses severely enough to make them truly respect and fear us...
      It's time to face the truth... the power of overwhelming force is the only thing they truly fear, and the only things they respect are things they fear.

    18. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And then if only we could convince Americans to buy overpriced domestic oil instead of buying oil on the open market...
      And then if only we could ignore the WTO's protests against the tariffs that would be necessary to encourage domestic oil consumption...

      Face it. Becoming "energy independent" is a red herring, and letting the middle east 'blow themselves up' would cause global oil prices to skyrocket, resulting in the export of any domestic oil since even domestic producers will simply sell to the highest bidder. There is no way that Americans can enjoy cheap oil if the middle east falls apart.

    19. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      IMO, this generation of terrorist cannot be enlightened, the focus must be to bring the new generation up with education and tolerance. Taliban know this full well and you get 14 year old girls shot, only if the west would realise this too.

      Look buddy, "the west" realizes that education and tolerance and development are key to ending the petty religious BS; However, if we smarten up the public they'll want to manage their local resources much better. Those who rule "the west" are happy to keep "the east" dumb as rocks so we can keep making off with your resources like bandits. The corrupt bastards at the top of the chain who sell out their own people by keeping export prices low are only able to stay in power with a largely uneducated populous.

    20. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is an honest answer. One thing that is missing is that you cannot question this religion, and blind obedience is what most do. That is also the gang mentality. If you are in, you must agree with everything and go against the gang. The Salmon Rushdies of the world will attest to that.

    21. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      No, China would just march their 1 million troops into each country and wipe them out. then take the land and expand China's border and policy. in the end it would fuck everyone over,

    22. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Pseudonym+Authority · · Score: 1

      Well at the very least it will be China's problem. Fuck it, they can have the giant, backwards, money-sink if we don't don't have to deal with them.

    23. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I meant do not go against (or speak against) the gang

    24. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by CohibaVancouver · · Score: 3, Interesting

      But then they'd be China's problem, not ours.

      ?!?!?

      False logic. They'd use the money they get from selling oil to the Chinese to fund attacks on Western targets. They wouldn't attack China - As others have said, the Chinese don't cower and start groping grannies at airport checkpoints when they're attacked the way North Americans do, so there's little propaganda value in attacking China.

    25. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The US is to blame for this energy dependence, and not because of it's foreign policy. It's their version of capitalism that ruined everything. I don't have time to get into it, so, for instance, cars, while every country was making lighter, fuel efficient cars for environmental not financial reasons, they keep making gas guzzlers, including the latest example, the SUV's.

    26. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by penglust · · Score: 1

      But then all the Republidumbs will have to admit that Carter was right. kain't let any of them there intelectuls and them anti jesus ideas be on us.

    27. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by penglust · · Score: 1

      Those that rule the west are happy to keep their own people dumb as a box of rocks.

    28. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Maudib · · Score: 3, Insightful

      All Religion==evil.

      All religions eventually devolve into violence and racism. All religious people directly encourage the existence of religion.

    29. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by HPHatecraft · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Shut up, you babies. Energy independence is a joke. Expect to use fossil fuels for the remainder of your time here on the planet. The economics, special interests, are entrenched. There are criticisms for this, Gusher of Lies, but at least it is a starting point. When is the last time you've read a book on the subject? Add some critical thinking into your diet. This thread, which is large parts mindless regurgitation, makes me ill. As far as Muslim bashing, sidestepping the relative merits of various religions, you put everyone into the same Fundamentalist, hard-line bucket. That is also intellectually dishonest, ignorant. There are moderates in every religion as well as extremists. To think that all Muslims, which is what is being implied, are frothing, fanatical killers and contemptible and ridiculous. People are people: they are concerned about putting food on the table, ensuring their children have a better life than they did. That is all. PS Did you know that Indonesia, the 2nd largest Muslim nation in the world, is a Democracy? Bonus: their voter turn outs are ridiculously high. Because they appreciate their right to exercise their democratic rights, unlike a lot of people in the US. Are there governments that are hostile to the US? Of course. But try to make the distinction between the organization and the people and the culture. You're no better than the idiots holding up signs reading "American is the Great Satan".

      Then why are Muslims also attacking in so many other countries? There are Muslim terrorist attacks, all over the world, every day, and it's been going on like that for decades. Muslims are actively attacking not only Jews, and Christians, but Hindus, Buddhists, and of course, other Muslims. How could this all be due to US mid-east policy?

      Is that a rhetorical question? I can see you came with well-researched answers. Not. Here's a starting point: PBS. Now, you can bring facts to the table. That's how debate and argumentation work. Otherwise its just an emotional mess. How are these comments being scored as interesting? What a bunch of ignorant twaddle. disclaimer: ATHEIST

    30. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I believe we got her if she don't jump

    31. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No.

      The US needs to make going to the Moon (and beyond) it's new "going to the Moon" quest. The energy independence will follow.

      It would do well to stop squandering its armaments and sending it's citizens to places like Afghanistan to be shot at while drones kill civilians to get at the mlitias hiding among non-combatants, all so decadent Saudi princes can sit around pontificating about preserving a public order their (and "our") intelligence services have willfully perturbed, and so Chinese factory workers can have their turn at the Pinkerton experience.

      Either nothing or too much was learned from Vietnam or the Soviet adventure in Afghanistan. Really, heads should be rolling by now. Instead we get rope-a-dope vs big bird and more QE.

    32. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Stop regurgitating your stupid stuff. Read this book, in which everything written is true, and regurgitate what it says instead

    33. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by dyingtolive · · Score: 1

      Damn my shakey hands. You're not redundant. Sorry.

      --
      Support the EFF and Creative Commons. The war is coming, and they're supporting you...
    34. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When American colonists rebelled against British rule in 1776, American merchant ships lost Royal Navy protection. With no American Navy for protection, American ships were attacked and their Christian crews enslaved by Muslim pirates operating under the control of the "Dey of Algiers"--an Islamist warlord ruling Algeria.

      In 1786, Jefferson, then the American ambassador to France, and Adams, then the American ambassador to Britain, met in London with Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja, the "Dey of Algiers" ambassador to Britain.

      During the meeting Jefferson and Adams asked the Dey's ambassador why Muslims held so much hostility towards America, a nation with which they had no previous contacts.

      The two future presidents reported that Ambassador Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja had answered that Islam: "was founded on the Laws of their Prophet, that it was written in their Quran, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as Prisoners, and that every Muslim who should be slain in Battle was sure to go to Paradise."

    35. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by CohibaVancouver · · Score: 2

      Well at the very least it will be China's problem

      How it is China's problem if the Saudis use profits from selling oil to the Chinese to fund attacks on the west?

    36. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      " Afghans were know for revenge long before Islamist Islam took roots with Saudi Sponsored madarsas to drive away Russians (I will let you guess who thought it was a good idea to drive away Russians in this manner). All these uneducated fighters were given a cause to fight in the name of the religion."

      We are doing the exact same thing in Syria almost 30 years later. No lesson learned from history. We have refused t call the Saudis out for what they are.

    37. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Buddhism, Hinduism?

      Besides, it is not the fault of the religion itself, just like a gun is not to blame for killing people. They are just tools of the egomaniacal to exert their will to control the world around them. They are just belief systems, and everyone has their own, even if you are non-religious or non-political. It is the exploitation of the fearful and like minded who want simple answers to the world around them that causes problems. This will ALWAYS happen unless humans somehow (genetically) evolve to not have such a strong fight or flight system, which creates the stress->anxiety->fear->anger->irrationality/violence/intolerance that is so easily manipulated by the "leaders" I mention.

    38. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by cyberchondriac · · Score: 0

      Because Democrats and environmentalists stop us from drilling anywhere new on our own land, or even setting up a pipeline from Canada, cause.. I dunno, it might rupture or something? It wasn't republicans who blocked the Keystone pipeline.

      --

      Look back up at my post, now look back down, you're on the Internet. Now look back up. I'm a signature.
    39. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by cyberchondriac · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I agree with you on all but one major point- education. Many of the 9-11 hijackers were well educated. We also have a few college professors in the country who are extremist. So, it seems to be not all that great of a deterrent. I mean, it can't hurt, but I wouldn't put a lot of stock in it either.
      When you're born and raised to adulthood in a certain mindset, specifically of a religious nature, it can be very, very hard to break free.

      --

      Look back up at my post, now look back down, you're on the Internet. Now look back up. I'm a signature.
    40. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Intrepid+imaginaut · · Score: 1

      What, even Buddhism?

    41. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

      IMO, this generation of terrorist cannot be enlightened, the focus must be to bring the new generation up with education and tolerance.

      The trick is to understand that tolerance should not be extended to those who deny it to others. You're absolutely correct in singling out Wahhabism / Salafism as the root of this evil - it's spreading through Muslim world like cancer, it's being aggressively exported and financed by Saudi oil money, and it's setting Muslim societies back by literally hundreds of years in terms of social development. It is possible to take Islam and make a mostly harmless daddy-in-the-sky religion out of it, just like the West did with Christianity. We have good examples of that, too, like Turkey, Azerbaijan, Tatarstan. But if we sit and do nothing, they will also get radicalized and thrown back - indeed, we observe that happening right now. But, so long as Saudis and the like are US allies, they're given a free reign - and don't even get me started about explicitly supporting radical Islamists to use them as proxy soldiers against hostile but secular regimes (like Afghanistan vs the Soviets, or more recently Libya).

    42. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Our US dollar quality is determined by the world-price of oil. If the "Arabs" decide to start dealing oil in another currency, it would be horrible for the US dollar. So horrible that the US would have a great interest in stopping any developed shared version of that idea.

      See, the US dollar is a fiat currency. That means that everyone must agree on it's value, in order for it to have value. If other countries start developing ways around the need for US currency to be fat, then it will get skinny. And since the US dollar has been inflated to the extent that it has, if it's value were to suddenly drop out, I'd say that each dollar of today, would be worth the dollar of, oh say... 40 years ago? I know that may sound like I'm defeating my own argument, but remember that back then there were far less US dollars in circulation. I think the end result wold be that each dollar in your pocket, would be worth about 1/16 of what it is now, maybe less. Hard to swallow the fact that $1,000 US dollars may soon be worth $62.50 (when pronounced "sixty-two-fitty" is really disheartening). Because you know what your home loan will do? I'll give you a hint, it isn't "stay the same". So if your home mortgage was $1,000 a month, guess what it'll be now, that's right $16,000 a month for your shitty little house. And remember how hard it was to get that last raise?
      So yeah, go over there and separate yourselves from those "stupid Arabs". I certainly see everyone's point about how jacked up that religion has become. But oil and religion never mix anyway, so it's irrelevant to the point. The sooner there is one world currency, the sooner the rest of the world will see how much more money the US workers make, and the sooner the real conflict starts.

    43. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "They're poor and uneducated" is the rallying cry for us to "understand" terrorists and work toward fixing the "root" of their problem. Unfortunately, it doesn't pass any attempt at real research into the issue. All of the men involved in the 9/11 attacks had college degrees and came from well-to-do families. Osama bin Laden was highly educated and wealthy. The failed attempt to set off a car bomb in downtown London was perpetrated by Islamic medical doctors. The shooter at Fort Hood, in Texas, was a psychiatrist. This list just brushes the surface. Lack of education may be a problem, but it isn't one suffered by the terrorists.

    44. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No effect on the middle east? O.o As much energy/oil as the US consumes.. if the US was actually energy independent, there would be large effects on global energy markets. You can't see that much demand fall off the table without forcing lots of changes. Oil exporting nations get a couple of choices.. keep running the same infrastructure and face lower prices or reduce production to maintain the price. However, if they do so, they get higher overhead as facilities are run at lower production or close facilities, with attendant restoration costs when those facilities are needed in the future.

      But no matter what they would choose, their bottom lines take a hit. Well.. I guess they could choose to jack up the prices really high, giving more countries the incentive to go independent. That would let them maintain no revenue changes in the transition periods.. although it would cost them virtually all of their revenue afterwards.

      Not that its something they need worry about, since the US policies will get them to energy independence.. about a day after the last barrel of oil is pumped out of the ground.

    45. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Teancum · · Score: 1

      There is this strange scientific principle called the laws of entropy that sort of ultimately prevent proper renewable energy sources, so it is pointless to really single out any particular energy source out. Furthermore, almost all "energy sources" can in theory be synthesized through some sort of industrial process as well with enough effort.

      There is a need for alternative high density energy fuel or storage media of some sort though which can be both portable enough to be useful, restorable or refillable in a reasonable period of time (under a half hour or less... preferably under about 10 minutes), and safe enough that an ordinary citizen with nothing more than a few hours of training can safely use and operate.

      The options available which fit those requirements are very few. You are stuck with either a hydrocarbon fuel of some sort or an electrical storage device. About the only other viable alternative might be a "Mr. Fusion" type portable nuclear power plant (fusion or fission). I don't think very many people would necessarily be happy with millions of radioisotope thermoelectric generators on highways, but it is an alternative which is an established technology already.

      Until a viable alternative is produced which is demonstratively cheaper to operate and meets the needs of ordinary people, we are pretty much stuck with hydrocarbon fuels like gasoline or diesel fuel, with ethanol as a reserve fuel that has a whole bunch of other problems.

    46. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by KZigurs · · Score: 1

      Ain't going to happen. The only viable energy source (nuclear) is being opposed by everybody it seems.

    47. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This might not work because extremists will use poverty that will follow lac of funds and raise an army of fanatics.

      Currently Saudi Arabia is investing lots of money in its economy and building Universities and schools. Saudi society is very slowly changing as well due to technology and some access to information.

      I think we need to believe that educated and well off people will become moderate and promote freedom of speech?

    48. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It depends on what kind of education hijackers received and when they received it.

      I am sure if they were taught and exposed to ideas about morality, philosophy, history and similar subjects they would behave differently?

    49. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by aristotle-dude · · Score: 1

      All Religion==evil.

      All religions eventually devolve into violence and racism. All religious people directly encourage the existence of religion.

      No, I think you have that backwards. All men are evil. Violence and racism has existed since the dawn of time in all human societies even in ones with ideologies that thought as you do and went around killing religious people. The Soviets tried to eliminate religion with violence. You are part of the problem. You are a bigot. You hate what you do not understand. Not all religions are equal.

      Ever heard of the 10 commandments? Thou shall not kill. Thou shall not covet, thou shall not bear false witness (lie). All of those are permissible in a certain religion with millions of followers. They even condone suicide. All of those things are considered a sin in Judaism and Christianity.

      You are blaming all religions for something caused by human nature. You are evil like the rest of us but some of us strive to overcome our natures rather than allowing it to overcome our will.

      --
      Jesus was a compassionate social conservative who called individuals to sin no more.
    50. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by BlackSnake112 · · Score: 1

      Many around the world know that education is key to ridding the world of terrorists of all shapes, colors, and religious beliefs. A major problem is in many cultures education is reserved for the few. The rest are not allowed to be educated. They want it that way so that the uneducated do not know any better. Those in power will go to any length to stop educating the rest of the people.

      It we removed all of the people who would stop education for all, we would run into culture desire for revenge. There is no short term solution. Slowly educating small groups is an easy target for those in power to kill off and they say anyone else who goes to school will also be killed. They enforce their will over the people through fear. Having armed guards for schools does not work either. If those guards are foreign they are seen as crusaders taking over. If they are local people they are seen as traitors. Both are punishable by death according to the terrorists. If we kill all the terrorists the families of the terrorists feel the desire for revenge. That only creates more terrorists.

      If you remove all the humanity from this, they really made quite a system over there. For any action or non action they can make a call to violence. And the uneducated go for it since they do not know any better.

      Personally I want to take the Pope, high ranking Jewish Rabi, and high ranking Muslim Clerics and let them talk, debate over their respective religions. After that dust storm clears hopefully even the uneducated will realize that religion is not why they told to go kill. A few people's need for power is what is really behind most terrorists.

    51. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You conveniently left out the first commandment (Thou shalt not worship any other God before me)...Religions may be fairly innocuous on the surface, but as long as they have that "mutually exclusive" property, they will light the fuse on that human nature and cause an explosion. Religions that don't enforce The Highlander principle have humans that are less evil.

    52. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Maudib · · Score: 1

      I love it when people bring up Hinduism as a counter point. Go research the Partition of India. 500k-1million dead, probably an even split for Hindus and Islamists.

      Buddhism is a philosophy not a religion. There is no faith in a supreme omnipotent being Buddhism.

      Religion is not the sole source of evil. There are many other sources, all man made. Religion is just one of the most obvious examples. An undeniable cause of poverty, racism and war. Sure these things will continue to exist if we get rid of religion or limit the influence of the religious, however there will be much less.

      Eliminating religion won't lead to some great perfect utopia, but its a start.

    53. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Maudib · · Score: 1

      Many men are evil. Religion makes many more men do more evil. If we have less religion, there will still be evil, just much less.

    54. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thank you, this needed to be said.

      Though i'm still hopeful for a nice energy utopia by the time I die. Too Scandanavia! (i'll just ignore the rest of the world)

    55. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by aristotle-dude · · Score: 1

      Many men are evil. Religion makes many more men do more evil. If we have less religion, there will still be evil, just much less.

      "ALL" men (humans) are evil. You are a human being so you are evil too. The nerve of your atheists to go around judging people and thinking that you are better than some others. We are all in the same boat by our natures. If you think that you are pure then you are delusional.

      The Soviet union had less religion and look at how that turned out. If you paint all religions with the same brush then that shows how blind, ignorant and prejudiced you are. You are "prejudging" without looking at the attributes of each religion and what they believe and what they abhor. They are not the same.

      --
      Jesus was a compassionate social conservative who called individuals to sin no more.
    56. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by MysteriousPreacher · · Score: 1

      You think the Middle East would become like some backwater part of Africa or Asia if energy were removed from the equation?

      Sure, if Israel and Jesus were removed from history. This part of the world has been cursed by three major and mutually contradictory revolutions from God. Of these truths, god knows how many splinters came even without considering the variations that arose as the religions spread throughout the world. This isn't about energy.

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      -- Using the preview button since 2005
    57. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by MysteriousPreacher · · Score: 1

      All humans are evil?

      No, you're not trying to overcome evil - you're a misanthrope, with justification pulled out of your arse. Feel free to leave this world when you please. Suicide is a sin, but actually risking your fucking life to do some good is not. Go to Yemem - save some souls. Walk just a metre in your messiah's shoes.

      --
      -- Using the preview button since 2005
    58. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Pseudonym+Authority · · Score: 1

      From what I've seen, they don't have very long attention spans, and will direct their hate elsewhere. When China has to step in to defend Kuwait Prime from Iraq Prime, al-Qaeda Prime will think China is plundering their Holy Land and will attack them instead.

    59. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      . People are people: they are concerned about putting food on the table, ensuring their children have a better life than they did. That is all.

      What a wonderfully simplistic view of the range of human desires.

    60. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We did

      We created something called the "department of energy" and assigned them that task. We gave them more money over the years than we spent on the moon program (DOE got their cash at a more-gradual rate over far more years, where the Apollo program got its cash aver about 12 years)

      DOE did what most federal agencies do... it wasted the money and produced less progress that a business would have done with far less money (because the business would have to answer to investors, whereas government agencies answer to presidents and congresses). Politicians love to create shiny new agencies but they quickly lose interest in overseeing them and are notorious for just handing them money every year and not demanding results.

      If the US really wanted to be energy-independent, we could just use our own oil, gas, coal, hydroelectric, geothermal, uranium, etc... we are sitting on far more energy reserves than Saudi Arabia. If we REALLY want independence, then at the same time as we ramp-up use of our own resources, we outlaw the export of those resources. Some oil or coal company should not be able to dig-up or pump out a resource that belongs to the American people and then sell it to people outside the US to (a) generate private profit from the sale of a public asset (b) deprive the American people of the use of that asset (c) force prices to rise in the US by removing some of the supply from the US

    61. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by chrismcb · · Score: 1

      All religions eventually devolve into violence and racism.

      No it doesn't.
      But some people will, and they'll do it with or without religion.

    62. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's a load of crap

      That's as stupid as saying "all philosophies are equal". Nobody with a brain would equate the belief systems of Ghandi and Hitler, or of Abraham Lincoln with Joseph Mengele... it's the sort of thing a moron who spent too much time smoking dope at college and soaking-up the drivel of some old-sixties-hippie-turned-professor-with-ponytail would mindlessly spout.

      What a person believes matters. The substance of what we believe has a direct impact upon our actions. The fight against slavery in England and in the US was a Christian religious effort. Martin Luther King Jr was a baptist minister and if you actually read his speeches/sermons instead of pretending you respect the man for a day every January you see that his entire argument was based upon Christianity. The American system of higher education and much of our pre-1990's hospital system were rooted in the churches. The basic arguments for individual rights in the US are rooted in the Christian concept that individual is a creation of God who has rights and dignity given him by that God... and as a result the government (created by men) does not have the right to trample. Look at a map of the world and think about what religions and philosophies were prevalent in which locations and what the societies there were like and what they produced.

      Most of the scientific progress and human rights progress in the history of the human race happened in predominantly Christian areas, and Christianity is built upon Judaism. Even where they have become more secular, it is still the case that your odds of living a decent life are highest in Christian or Jewish societies. Disagree? Prove it by moving to some place that's run by cannibals, or move to pakistan, or cambodia... show some confidence in the beliefs you claim to hold.

      The simple fact is that most of the left-wingers in the western world who spout that "all religions are the same and they are all evil" garbage would be perfectly happy to insult a Christian or a Jew but would be terrified to insult a Muslim. No? PROVE IT!... with science. Put up a website with your photo, your name and your work address and put anti-Jesus cartoons on the site. Put up a second, identical, website but with anti-Mohammad cartoons and your home address and leave both online for a year so they can get some traffic. Then tell us if you feel safer at home or at work. Note: use the work address with the Christian site so you do not expose your co-workers to any radical Muslim violence.

      Look at where all the world's most in-human, backward, genocidal evil has generally occurred... it's been under officially godless governments: NAZI Germany (Germany was historically Lutheran, but the NAZI party was not... and NO, Hitler was NOT a Christian), Stalin's Russia, Mao's China, Pol Pot's...fields, etc.

       

    63. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Type44Q · · Score: 1

      There is a huge populace of uneducated muslim's in the world

      Ah ha! Some sort of recursive thing to make us think, eh?

    64. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Maudib · · Score: 1

      All men are born evil eh? K. Sorry I do not share your beliefs in original sin. All men have ability to make choices, some choose to do evil often. Stop trying to put this off on your mythical sky bitch.

    65. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The main problem with that is there are too many "oil men" in office and way too much lobbist money in D.C. to even pique interest in even reducing, let alone, eliminating dependence.

    66. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      CORRECT! Please look up info on the Boxer Rebellion in China at the turn of the last century. The Muslims in China were inciting rebellion then too.

    67. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The point he's trying to make is not with regards to academic education, but religious education. The basic principles of Islam are simple but when it is utilized as a political tool these simple precepts are twisted into something far from their original intention. A whole generation of Muslim grew up learning about Islam from their schools and "Scholars" who were politically motivated to keep the populace obedient by removing critical thinking an analysis from the study of Islam. This is evident by the fact that critical thinking is rarely taught in Saudi schools and is only acquired via a decent university education and/or through parents who foster critical thinking. Islam, as a religion, encourages critical thinking and analysis and is, in fact, a form of worship. However, by utilizing religion as a political tool to justify the monarchy, this critical life skill has been lost. Even when Muslims learn critical thinking, they are taught that it's ok, just not with with regards to religion. With the introduction of the internet and satellite television to the region, this form of religious misinformation is slowly fading and being replaced by a generation that asks deeper questions about their own faith. I echo the gentleman's point: education is the most powerful tool in combating terrorism. Education with regards to the Islamic faith itself.

    68. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by aristotle-dude · · Score: 1

      All men are born evil eh? K. Sorry I do not share your beliefs in original sin. All men have ability to make choices, some choose to do evil often. Stop trying to put this off on your mythical sky bitch.

      I guess you have never seen a toddler before? They can be both laughing and giggling but they can be bitchy, cruel and selfish. They are born that way. We are born with a selfish nature.

      --
      Jesus was a compassionate social conservative who called individuals to sin no more.
    69. Re:If US policy is causing Muslim attacks . . . by jwhitener · · Score: 1

      I keep seeing people point to a specific terrorist and say, "see, he's educated. Must not be education".

      But it doesn't work that way. What the parent poster was describing is an educated community. That single educated terrorist likely grew up surrounded by extremism. That extremism is allowed to exist, even thrive, in a largely uneducated population. That means that as that single terrorist is receiving their education, they are filtering it through layers of hatred and misinformation that they grew up with. (and it might even be remote eg, via the internet, if that person is staying tied to wherever they came from)

      Basically, most terrorists have been indoctrinated long before they attend college, or likely even high school / middle school.

      Of course there are exceptions if you want to find them, but I'd wager a guess that it is a pretty small number of terrorists who grew up in a moderate household, in a moderate community, and who much later in life embraced an extremist philosophy.

      And I'd go further than the original poster about the factors involved in fostering extremism. Education is big, but so is opportunity, economy, and exposure to a diversity of view points (which doesn't happen until after education, economy, and opportunities improve).

      I would also add that our wars and drone strikes are for sure creating more terrorists, but it is hard to quantify. If we kill 6 terrorists in a village with a drone, and there are 3 kids killed, how many people in surrounding villages, or relatives, have just been pushed from 'somewhat extreme' to 'willing to commit acts of violence against us'? I guess time will tell.

  70. Al Qaida engineered the violence by BenJeremy · · Score: 1

    The movie was a red herring. The protests were entirely the result of al qaida operatives fomenting crowds as cover for actual attacks on American embassies.

    Many said this from day one, and two weeks after the attacks, it was finally acknowledged by the US.

    As for laws prohibiting "offensive speech" - I have some offensive speech for anybody who proposes such nonsense. We live int he 21st century, not the 8th century. Tribal bullshit is tribal bullshit, and was meant to be left in the dark ages, as most of the world has. If your culture is still steeped in such insanity, perhaps it's time to REFORM like the other world religions and grow a thick skin.

  71. Re:one word! - no two words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hell No!

  72. According to the Islamic calendar.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The year is 1433 AH so they're currently in the 15th century.

    Considering the development of Christianity through the ages, they're about spot on for intolerance and cruelty (no one expects the Spanish Inquisition!!!). We're just going to have to put up with it/ignore it if possible and resist all attempts to move social development backwards.

  73. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 4, Insightful

    parent poster seems to forget that the islamic MISSION is to forcibly convert the world. now, later, they don't care: as long as the world gets converted, their book is happy.

    christianity also wants to convert the world and it did it in quite a bloody way in the middle ages. but the moslems also were just as bad, just at different periods of time.

    and today, they are THE WOST in the world when it comes to tolerance. there is no culture that is less tolerant, in fact.

    and there is no perma peace with them. there can't be. until you are one of them, they consider you evil and either convertable or kill-worthy.

    yes, its in their scriptures. those stupid, twisted, madlib sounding scriptures they love so much.

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    --
    "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
  74. And the first thing... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And the first thing we do is to censor the Saudi government. Nothing they post online goes anywhere but the bit-bucket...

  75. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Nemesisghost · · Score: 1

    Second, there is only one country in the world that has, throughout its history, used its military power and political influence consistently to try to export its ideas of morality and law to the world, and it ain't no abode of Muslin desperation, it is the U-S-of-A.

    Actually, like my fellow posters have pointed out the USA is not the only nation to force its values on others. We got the idea for doing so from the nations that were the world powers when we were formed, Spain, England, France. And since then I know of at least 2 others who have done the same thing since then, Nazi Germany & Soviet Russia. While we might be the only nation currently capable of forcing our world view on others, we are not the only group to be doing so. Most terrorist organizations seek to do just that, but by much more violent means.

    I've only pointed out recent history, past couple hundred years. But human history is full of those in power, or those with power, forcing their belief system or way of life on others. Look at the Jewish conquest of Palestine from the Bible, or the Crusades from the Middle ages or the Greek & Roman conquests of ancient Europe. In all of these events, the conquerors force their way of life on the conquered. The USA is just the latest in a long line of doing what everybody else has done.

  76. Muslims really have a reason to be outraged. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Their rulers and spiritual leaders think their citizens/followers are mindless automatons that, when confronted with words, have no choice but to riot. Every time, like a well-conditioned dog. Yes, their leaders publicly compare them to dogs. For some people that's supposed to be a serious insult, I've heard...

  77. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 1

    they're not only the wost, they're the worst too.

    (needs to get me a new keyboard.)

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    "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
  78. I agree there needs to be a few less bodies by cvtan · · Score: 1

    A Global Violence Censorship Body is needed to keep people from being killed because of a stupid MOVIE!!!

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    Sorry, but gray text on gray background is making my eyes bleed.
  79. So what? by bickerdyke · · Score: 4, Interesting

    is there *any* country out there that doesn't censor the net in one way or the other?

    Some for copyright (e.g. Youtube in germany), some for religious reasons (Iran), others call political comments a crime (China), others crush down on gambling sites cause that's a crime there (USA),

    And they all have in common that they are "legal" and "fair" and "justified" as the gouvernment responsible for this or that souverign corner of the world declared it illegal. usually with best intents and in complete contradiction with the laws of that other corner of the world.

    Deal with it. everyone is already censoring the net. And the differences become rather small if you recognize that the biggest difference is your point of view.

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    bickerdyke
    1. Re:So what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You illustrate the difference in this case with your own words. Each country censors based on 'their' own point
      of view. Which, as you point out differs greatly on what each country views as important.

      The difference here is one country wants to impose *their* version of censorship on the others. And quite
      a few of those other countries view that version as a tad fundamentalist.

    2. Re:So what? by Graham+J+-+XVI · · Score: 1

      Those other things shouldn't be censored either. How does one "deal with it" exactly?

    3. Re:So what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm pretty sure the US just prevents local hosting of gambling sites, but does not actually censor gambling sites. There is a difference.

    4. Re:So what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I would censor anyone who wanted to yell "Fire!" in a crowded theater. That does not mean I believe we should allow all censoring. All-or-nothing stances are usually silly. Drinking too much water will kill you, yet we do not want to ban the drinking of water. That may be contradictory, but we do not want to let the exception be the rule.

  80. Valid point by walterbyrd · · Score: 1

    I would not have put it the way you did. But, other than buying oil, what business does the US have in the mid-east? Why are we putting ourselves in the middle of their ancient, perpetual, and non-sensicle squabbles? Why are giving billions in US aid, every year, to countries like Egypt, and Pakistan?

    Please remember: Muslims are not only actively fighting Christians, and Jews. Muslims are also actively fighting: Hindus, Buddhists, and other Muslims, among others.

    1. Re:Valid point by khallow · · Score: 1

      other than buying oil

      No need to look further. With that much economic power in one place over one good that the US is heavily dependent on, the US has business in that place.

  81. Reasonable? by SirDice · · Score: 2

    “Any reasonable person would know that this film would foment violence and, indeed, many innocent persons have died and been injured with this film as a root cause,” the Saudi submission said.

    A reasonable person doesn't watch something if he knows it's going to offend him.

    1. Re:Reasonable? by Graham+J+-+XVI · · Score: 1

      The unreasonable part isn't the watching. It's perfectly reasonable to watch something knowing it might offend you, and indeed sometimes we are exposed to offensive things without foreknowledge.

      The unreasonable part is hurting someone because of an idea.

  82. Or He'll raise you + shove bamboo under your nails by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

    No censorship. However I'm fine with truth in advertising. Let's start by jailing people who claim there is a sky daddy who will hurt you unless you obey and give money to His mortal agents on Earth.

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    (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
  83. saudi arabia by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The wahabi sect that runs saudi arabia are the scum of the earth and should have been revolutionised out of power years ago, why hasn't this happened yet?

    Thanks to the usa and israel! yes israel cause the house of saud is jewish in origen, and they are extremist scum.

  84. Re:We already have a global Internet censorship bo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The rotten and corrupt Domain Name System.
    The Internet cancer.

    Yeah, that doesn't look like propaganda at all ...

  85. All I have to say is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...Fuck Islam, and any country that sides with them! Not to mention fuck our "President" because whether he admits it or not he is a Muslim and a Fascist!

  86. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Desler · · Score: 1

    Or the Muslim conquests of North Africa. There is nothing new or original about conquering others and using that as a method to force your culture, laws, ideas, etc. on others. We've been doing so for the better part of many millenia.

  87. Muhammad can suck a dick! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nobody is ever going to trust Muslims because even the moderate ones spawn extremists and then look the other way. That and the whole "lying for Allah" monkey business means that you know they are going to lie to you whenever it suits them. They are ignorant brainwashed extremists each and every one. Until they can show that they can control the extremists and demonstrate that they are trustworthy I think the world should treat Muslims like Pariahs.

  88. Confusion on The New Covenant by RobertLTux · · Score: 1

    Disregard the instructions given to The Jewish People (and only them). Christians actually have been told to CONVERT everybody not Kill the infidels (and actually we have been told to preach and live The Word while we are waiting for folks to choose to convert).

    funny how when mocking Christians everybody brings up Old Testament "stuff" and never looks at the teachings of Christ Himself.

    and i think if this Global Censor Board happens then Sprint ,Level 3 and friends need to start blackholing any traffic from those nations that run the board.

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    Any person using FTFY or editing my postings agrees to a US$50.00 charge
    1. Re:Confusion on The New Covenant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      funny how when mocking Christians everybody brings up Old Testament "stuff" and never looks at the teachings of Christ Himself.

      Funny how Christians choose to ignore the Old Testament except when it suits their arguments (ie. Leviticus).

    2. Re:Confusion on The New Covenant by jkflying · · Score: 1

      The trouble is, the followers of Jesus don't tend to follow his teachings, but rather those of their church.

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      Help I am stuck in a signature factory!
    3. Re:Confusion on The New Covenant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It always felt like old testatament was childish (Do this or I will smack you) and the new testament was more adult ( Do this and be a good person)

    4. Re:Confusion on The New Covenant by MysteriousPreacher · · Score: 1

      funny how when mocking Christians everybody brings up Old Testament "stuff" and never looks at the teachings of Christ Himself.

      Not "everybody". The Old Testament is low hanging fruit, but perfectly valid for criticism unless one were pretend that the Old Testament is in no way applicable to Christianity - which would be at odds with the writers of the New Testament. Yeah, Christ's teachings were largely barmy and predicated upon the world ending within the lifetimes of his followers. Despite Christianity's biggest and most ignored "great disappointment", each generation assumes themselves to be the last, who should give no thought for tomorrow, yet pension schemes and marriage persist.

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      -- Using the preview button since 2005
    5. Re:Confusion on The New Covenant by MysteriousPreacher · · Score: 1

      The trouble is, the followers of Jesus don't tend to follow his teachings, but rather those of their church.

      In fairness, his teachings are nigh on impossible to follow in their entirety. If they did follow his teachings verbatim, and everyone converted to this approach (including non-Christians), civilisation would collapse as people essentially just sit around waiting for the second coming. The only way it would be in any way sustainable would be if sufficient people remained unconverted, and were willing to support the Christians as they wandered around not taking a care for tomorrow. Also, we'd need to protect them from the people who would exploit the Christian requirement to give away their possessions when asked to do so. Marriage and the raising of families should, based on Paul's teachings, decline - at least if we assume that Paul was indeed representing the wishes of the messiah who appeared to him in a vision. It's not that Christians should be obliged to not marry or have children. Marriage in Paul's view was the lesser of two evils, rather than the high aspiration typically seen today.

      It's pretty difficult to derive a definitive set of teachings, even with an exclusively red letter approach. I think most Christians already have internalised ideas of what they think God wants, which they justify through selective reading, and in some cases, reasoning that is really not supported at all by the teachings and lifestyle of Jesus and his apostles. The historical Jesus, as much as we can determine of him from the gospels, would likely be baffled by modern interpretations of Christianity.

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      -- Using the preview button since 2005
  89. Is this what the riots were about all along? by walterbyrd · · Score: 1

    I am not the first one to suggest this. The idea behind these violent tantrums is to send the message: "just give up a tiny amount of freedomof speech, and we will have peace."

    Problem is, radical Islam can never be appeased. The more you give them, the more the want.

  90. Pakistan suggested the same thing by walterbyrd · · Score: 1

    Pakistan suggested that, in the interest of peace, US freedom of speech should not include speech that is offensive to Muslims.

    Then Pakistan offered up $200K to whack the guy who made the video. A "fatwa" I think they call it.

  91. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by dskoll · · Score: 1, Informative

    Are you arguing that what non-Muslims should do is commit genocide against Muslims?

    No. But we have a duty to point out how evil Islam is. And we have a duty to use all means in our power to prevent the spread of militant Islam. Ideally, that will be through persuasion and non-violent resistance, but if militant Islamists attack us violently then we have no recourse but to respond violently also.

  92. I think they are upset... by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 1

    maybe you blokes out there need to be cheered up.

    how about buying a new dress? that often works for the women-folk around here.

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    "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
  93. Re:Saudi douches, internet censorship in 1 easy st by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can I be a jockey on the camelnet?

  94. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by lorenlal · · Score: 2

    That's kinda the point of conquering territories isn't it?

    Now, it's worth clarifying... I don't like it. I don't think it's right. But us US Americans are far from the only people in even the last 50 years to impose our beliefs on others. Anyone remember a place called Indochina?

    Personally, I'd be a huge fan of stopping the "world's police" line, and adopting a more altruistic approach to the world and its affairs... But let's keep this in perspective... There's always someone who's claiming to "help" people by "telling them how to live."

  95. Re:We already have a global Internet censorship bo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That guy's a freedom hater. Fuck him...

  96. Read this from a Muslim by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 5, Interesting

    http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/09/30/husain-haqqani-muslim-rage-is-about-politics-not-religion.html

    Can't be racist since the author is a Muslim.

    The basic message is simple: The Islamic powers that be see the decline of the Islamic world and instead of catching up by modernizing their world, they seek to keep what control they can by creating theocracies, where the rule is to not question those in charge. It keeps the population dumb and controllable but also backward and unable to matter in the real world.

    A perfect example was shown with Olympics. Saudia Arabia had fielded a female Judoka but insisted she would be allowed to wear a headscarf. Probably the first thing you picture when thinking of Judo is the standard uniform, which has no head covering. It never had, wasn't needed to appease any country ever before. But Saudia Arabia needed to be appeased because else they might withdraw. So the woman was allowed to disregard safety, disregard tradition and wear a piece of kit nobody else was allowed to wear...

    AND LOST

    Immidiatly, she didn't stand a chance! Not even the slightest. She was the worsed to ever take part in the modern olympics.

    She wasn't put into her countries team to win or even to compete, she was put in to be harmless enough to not upset Saudi Arabians while at the same time playing the "the world hates islam" card by hoping she would be barred because of the headscarf. She wasn't and it became clear thar SA biggotted nature simply meant they had no women worthy of competition.

    It is easier to shout loudly "rah rah us" and blame everything on them, then to risk modernizing your country and have the people wonder why this old men are in charge. England works that way, "trust us the 1% conservatives, we will fix your country because you are great, trust us". The USA loves its rousing "We are #1" waving made in China banners.

    And around the world, were the powers that be have made a mess of things, religion is a good card to rally your troops around the leaders in support rather then looking for a handy rope.

    Why do you think backwater North-ireland had religious strife? Because it was managed so well economically? Why do you think the orthodox church is back in power in Russia, because the last time they were in charge, they did so well economically?

    No, but in economic hard times when people can't improve themselves or society, they become susceptible to religious control telling them they are right and everyone else is wrong.

    Because keeping the people stupid is a good way to control people, but when times are hard, people also prefer to be kept stupid. Easy answers are so much easier.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

    1. Re:Read this from a Muslim by AvitarX · · Score: 5, Informative

      Can't be racist since the author is a Muslim.

      Are you aware of what the word racist means? Would you use the phrase "can't be racist since the author is Muslim"? there are multiple races in the Muslim world you know, and much like in the Christian world, there is plenty of hate between them, but speaking out against a religion is never racism.

      --
      Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
    2. Re:Read this from a Muslim by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 1

      Yes I am aware.

      Are you aware what sarcasm means?

      If you read the article and thought the person was white, people would be outraged. But he isn't, so he can say things others can't. And that may not be racism strictly speaking but its wrong.

      --

      MMO Quests are like orgasms:

      You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

    3. Re:Read this from a Muslim by sa1lnr · · Score: 1

      "there are multiple races in the Muslim world you know"

      They're not members of the human race?

    4. Re:Read this from a Muslim by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think the parent posted that just because someone would throw out the 'OMG THEY'RE SAYING STUFF AGAINST ISLAM! OMG RACIST!'. What he meant, not what he said.

    5. Re:Read this from a Muslim by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      While you're correct, it's not uncommon for anyone who speaks against Islam to be accused of racism, either because of idiotic conflation of race and religion, or on the assumption that any white person criticizing anything predominantly associated with brown people must be criticizing it because (some) brown people like it.

      idiots r in ur language killin yr semantics

    6. Re:Read this from a Muslim by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The recent "pussy riot" in Moscow was a protest against orthodox church's support of Putin. It was spun by the media as a protest against the church and protesters got sentenced for 2 years. Because Putin is there to stay.

    7. Re:Read this from a Muslim by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Cheers. Well stated arguements based in logic and common sense. The world, as it seems you also alluded to, no matter what country, is trying to hold on to what power they have left. These are all simple techniques at modernizing old war strategies we are seeing across the board, esp, in some of the modernizing nations who are holding on to what traditional they can. There is something to be said on the opposite side about holding on to tradyion when the rest of the world is willing to toss theirs to the curb, no matter where you come from...but using it as a war tactic...ya well, I think my opinion stands along the same lines as most ppl who have noted their public oppinion and been called racisit. It's not racisim if it is not about race or culture all of you-let me cry about it and see who will back down-nay sayeabout war tactics and polictics. It is about our lives being effected by 1% no matter who the governments are when as the modern world we have been engrained with a false sense of control and pride that we the people pull in which direction we go as a global tribe.

      All you individuals gripping that ppl are racist need to open your eyes and look beyond color and look at facts. I personally don't give a flying IBM processor or an amd if a person is black white or brown. What we should care about is that often racisim isn't about color at all, it IA about battle techniques and political. It comes down to culture and what a mass group of ppl is known for doing or acting like in buisness and political view points. Look at facts and watch how a group treats their own ppl, you will find out just how the rest of the world is going to view them. Negative begets negative Ans you. An not expect anyone to uphold you as a nation or individual with esteem if you can't treat others with respect.

      Kudos for the comment anyhow smallfurry reature

    8. Re:Read this from a Muslim by sipelip · · Score: 1

      what race - who is winning? H. Sapiens is a species.

  97. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Desler · · Score: 1

    Well I was being some what wishy-washy in case someone wanted to point out that X empire was formed through unicorns and bunnies rather than to gain power and subjugate others.

  98. Who will champion the cause of public disorder ? by Jesrad · · Score: 1

    Well, there is a crying need for international cooperation to address "authority" which clearly disregard public disorder and elemental freedoms. Here's a full, working, ready-to-implement global set of recommendations for the task of setting internet content standards:

    Don't.

    --
    Maybe we deserve this world ?
  99. You're leaving some things out here by Nidi62 · · Score: 1

    Second, there is only one country in the world that has, throughout its history, used its military power and political influence consistently to try to export its ideas of morality and law to the world, and it ain't no abode of Muslin desperation, it is the U-S-of-A.

    You could argue right now that, except for a period of reconstruction following World War II, Germany has done the same regionally since the 1930s. Hitler during WWII, Germany in the EU and ETC. The only reason it didn't happen in WWII was because they were stopped. Same goes for Japan. If they hadn't been stopped by the US, Aussies, New Zealanders, Chinese, British, and even some of the Pacific Islanders, they would have spread throughout the Pacific, and probably pretty deep within Asia.

    And, while it hasn't been an historical trend, Saudi Arabia has been trying to use their economic and religious influence to spread their ideas across the world. They have funded Wahhabi mosques and madrassas(not the OMG terrorist! kind, the real meaning of madrassa, ie. religious school) everywhere from the US to the Philippines. They just haven't really had the means to do so until relatively recently. And THAT is the reason why you can only give the US as an example: no one else has had the means and ability to do it until now; not because they lacked the desire to do so. Those that did, were stopped.

    --
    The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
  100. These ain't real protests by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 2

    It has been well known that this stuff is dial-a-riot type protests, the numbers are relatively tiny and to many cases of so called "spontanous" protests about stuff that either was released decades earlier or so obscure it could never have been heard of by the protestors unless someone went to the trouble of telling them.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

  101. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Luckyo · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You forget that most judaism-sourced religions have conversion as a core belief. Christianity's conversion drive has butchered tens if not hundreds of millions at this point, not a small feat considering much less effective weaponry hundreds of years ago when that mess really got going.

    Big religions are a tool for control of the masses. So is conquest. Is it really so surprising that they go hand in hand even today?

  102. Why does it need to be worldwide? by slapout · · Score: 1

    If Saudi Arabia wants to censor the internet, why can't they just do in their own country?

    If everything that offended someone was removed from the internet, there would be nothing on the internet.

    --
    Coder's Stone: The programming language quick ref for iPad
  103. only human by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Do they not realize the internet and content standards are mutually exclusive?

  104. You can pry my internet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    From my cold dead hands. And I'm as psychotically radically left as they come but I'm not giving the internet to Saudi Arabia. I'll join a dark net first.

  105. The guards at auswitch were just living day by day, so was the baker delivering their bread. So were their families.

    All that evil needs to triumph, is for good men to do nothing.

    And Muslims do nothing. Many support through donations questionably charities and claim to be innocent because they don't know were the money goes because they don't ask.

    Where does innocence end?

    I never kept slaves, neither did any of my family, so all blacks in the world should just shut up about slavery because I just want live my live.

    In Harlem the guardian angels appeared who said "no, we can't keep blaming others for our troubles, it is black people suffering from black crime, so WE blacks need to do something about it."

    I know the popular opinion is to cry over the bomb victims of Dresden en Horishima but I wonder how many of those killed cheered their mass murdering sons and patted them on their backs and told them to kill a few more lesser races. I don't believe in innocence through inaction. When your tribe misbehaves, you leave that tribe or fix that tribe or get treated the same as the rest of your tribe. Three choices. Pick one.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

  106. FYI by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    For all of you in the Middle East, I want to be very clear.

    In the United States, the absolute highest law in the land is the US Constitution, and of that Constitution the highest law is the 1st Amendment. That is as important to Americans as the Koran is to muslims.

    The 1st Amendment of the US Constitution is what gives American's the freedom of speech and freedom of religion, and several other freedoms. Every single law made, MUST not conflict with the US Constitution, if it does, then only the constitution is valid, and the law passed is invalid, even International law. It would be like a religious ruling that Muhammed was not really a prophet, when the Koran clearly indicates otherwise. Which would you follow that Fatwa or the Koran?

    In the US, no politician can make or sign or negotiate any treaty, or any agreement, because they are obligated by oath under the letter and spirit of the law, to support and defend the US constitution. Any such agreements or treaties they enter into is not valid in the United States, and those politicians would be committing an act of insurrection and Treason against the American people; As a result those politicians should, could, and would be removed from their office by military force and thrown in prison for the rest of their lives, if they are lucky.

    No treaty will ban any kind of speech in the United States, in any way shape or form.

  107. So... by Graham+J+-+XVI · · Score: 1

    Saudi Arabia is a lot like the entertainment industry. Neat!

  108. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by dywolf · · Score: 1

    Second, there is only one country in the world that has, throughout its history, used its military power and political influence consistently to try to export its ideas of morality and law to the world, and it ain't no abode of Muslin desperation, it is the U-S-of-A.

    Spain
    France
    England
    Portugal
    Italy
    Roman Empire
    Byzantine Empire
    Persia
    Ottoman Empire
    China
    Russia
    I know I missed a few...hundred... others. Pretty much nukes your 2nd and 3rd points.

    --
    The guy who said the election was rigged won the presidency with the second-most votes.
  109. Re:Public order be damned!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As an Ex-muslim I say mod parent up.

    Anonymous because I don't want to be beheaded.

  110. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by SuperMooCow · · Score: 1

    Correction: empire X was formed through Invisible Pink Unicorns and bunnies.

  111. More BS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Islam extremists can burn bibles, flags, insult us and do whatever they want and expect no consequences. The leader of one small church here talks about burning a koran, and we are threatened with a holy war. Seems kinda wrong to me.

    Its about time we start using neutron bombs on these sand niggers that want to fuck with the U.S.A! After the first few bombings the crap stops, or we just take all of the terrorist bastards out, along with all of their supporters.

    Peace through better weapons technology!

  112. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by korgitser · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Grow up. No war has ever been fought on the reasons of morality. There are only three reasons for a war: power, resources and land. Which, of course, are pretty much the same as long as you keep your shit together somewhat.
    Morality in a war is never more than a popular justification. The US Civil War? Not about the slaves, but it did use the promised freedom of slaves as a way to use them behind enemy lines. The invasion of Iraq? Not about freedom or democracy, but about keeping the dollar as the currency of oil trade. I dare you to find one that was really about morality.

    --
    FCKGW 09F9 42
  113. The real problem is Belief. Not Religion. by DiscountBorg(TM) · · Score: 2

    Yes, and the common ground here isn't religion. Religion is a symptom of the real problem.

    It desn't matter whether you are a Taliban shooting a little girl, or a member of the Red Army killing doctors and teachers--you know, those dangerous edjoomacated people--or a brainwashed 19th-early 20th century expansionist nationalist.

    Humans tend to.. not question their beliefs. We become emotionally attached to them. We place way too much value on them. Our beliefs are tribal--We tend to believe what we believe to fit in with our peer groups (when's the last time you were at an outing and someone spewed crap and the rest of the group went along?). We discourage critical thinking, and encourage anti-intellectualism, and encourage far, far too much Authenticity (thinking from the gut) at the expense of reason. It's easy for us to kill. All it takes is a sociopath or narcissist in a position of power to motivate us to do it. Sometimes, not even that much. Our beliefs trump the lives of others. Our beliefs trump the rights of others to live their lives in peace. The problem is humans are arrogant. Religion has nothing to do with it.

    --
    "The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." George Bernard Shaw
  114. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You forget that pretty much on the whole, the ideas of morality and laws espoused by the West ARE superior to those of the Islamic Caliphate.

    That is, unless you agree with burning little girls to death because they are not appropriately covered. Or maybe you are down with shooting a 14 year old girl because she had the temerity to advocate for education of females?

    Perhaps you think your wife needs a beating every now and then just to keep her in line. And of course should she appear in public with another man, then by all means, shoot/stab/scald/burn her to death. That will teach her. But for minor infractions of Sharia, you can simply throw acid in her face or cut her ear off.

    And then, anytime someone insults your religion I bet you think it's perfectly fine to riot and kill. (Most often you kill each other, but we'll consider that a bonus).

    Sure, the West is not perfect. Far from it. In fact we've been giant assholes in the past and can still be assholes. But what we aspire to to be through the laws and institutions we currently in place is superior to what the Islamofacists would have the world be.

  115. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by fitteschleiker · · Score: 1

    Non-militant Islam is subterfuge Islam.

  116. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The US government exports its own influence and power. Plenty of US citizens wish that we would focus more energy on demonstrating US values instead, but the relationship between citizen and government has been damaged. I'd claim money influence and the military industrial complex, you can come up with your own take on things. If we were exporting our values, we'd see education, women's rights, freedom of speech, democracy, ond equal treatment under the law blended with a certain sense of personal responsibilty and individualism all over the place.

    At best, your argument shows that we should take it as a given that the Saudi claims about morality are similarly just a ruse by a government that is merely using "morality" as an excuse to increase it's power. Either way, the response should still be "no."

  117. Free speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Which part of free speech do the Saudi's not understand? If they want censorship, then they can invent their own Internet.

  118. Idea: Desensitization of Extremist Muslims by GameboyRMH · · Score: 1

    The more enlightened countries of the world should pool their resources to build a secret satellite that can project huge images on the moon, and will run Muslim-offensive material directed at the more backwards parts of the world until the extremists have all been desensitized to offense towards their religion. We'll start with simple, non-offensive stick-figures labelled "The Prophet Mohammed" just flashed once a week, and move onto stuff like this running all night long until the riots stop:

    http://www.theonion.com/articles/no-one-murdered-because-of-this-image,29553/

    With no single place to focus their rage, they'll distribute their riots to various western embassies and should be easier to manage.

    --
    "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
    1. Re:Idea: Desensitization of Extremist Muslims by GameboyRMH · · Score: 1

      I should note that the above link is NSFW.

      --
      "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  119. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by siddesu · · Score: 1

    You can't be serious comparing tribal conquests to the policies of nation state.

  120. What do you do with soldiers by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 2

    Are soldiers to blame for acting out the orders of the leaders? The idea in the west with REAL soldiers is that any western soldier has the duty to question his superiors if they order him to do something that is against higher laws. This is at least what I was told when I was drafted, it is in the dutch soldier manual.

    So... what about mobs? Is the mob incited by a leader responsible for their actions?

    What about a payed mob? Many arab protest are of the dial-a-riot variaty, there is nothing spontaneous about them. They are organized by leaders who decide NOW is the moment to take offense and find something to take offense at. Protests have been held over decades old material OR material so obscure it is unlike to have been found by accident by the protesters.

    But lets go further. Where does reponsibility end when it comes time for collective punishment.

    It is very PC to cry over the poor victims of Dresden and Hiroschima. Countless innocent children died who weren't even old enough to know the world outside their garden let alone know the politics of the world. But how many of the women who burned and died had cheered their troops? Had hugged their mass murdering sons?

    Part of the crew of the Titanic accepted a reward/bribe for rescuing passengers, this was an outrageous thing to do and over of the mothers of the crew slew the door shut in her sons face when he came home and refused to ever speak with him. How many mothers of SS soldiers, Japanse child raping infantry and Islam terrorists have done the same? The father of the muslim who killed 3 French soldiers and 2 jewish kids, didn't even apologize but instead sued the french state for killing his son.

    I am not reponsible for the actions of others, in my eyes, goes only so far. If you go to the same church as someone who does something you disagree with, you have to take action, either leave that church or bar that person but you can't just shrug your shoulders and claim the others actions shouldn't reflect on you.

    Many talk about the hate of Muslims in the west but so far, Muslims deaths at the hands of white westerners is a fraction of westerners killed by muslims.

    Terrorism is not isolated to Muslims but in other parts of the world, what has happened is that the people part of the terrorist group started to protest, held marches to condemn the violence to show they were not supporting it. Often at great danger to themselves.

    There have only tiny handful of muslims who publicly showed on their own accord in front of their own people, that the terrorists were not acting in their name.

    Plenty hold that every US citizen deserved the 9/11 attack becsuse of US actions. None of these people believe that ALL Muslims deserve the Iraq/Afghan war for Muslims terrorist actions.

    Ultimately these people are racists. White people are responsible for the action of their society. Muslims are not responsible for the actions of their society.

    I don't think that attitude is right.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

    1. Re:What do you do with soldiers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Every member of a mob is responsible for their own actions or what they facilitated. The leader bears much of the blame, but without compliance by the mob that leader is nothing but an attempted rabble rouser. Soldiers have their own issues there - protesting an order in the field is likely to get one shot whether or not the argument is correct. Still doesn't excuse them if they participated in the action, but then soldiers often don't know the larger picture and how things add up.

      You are aware, I hope, that there are actual shades of gray here, yes? "But how many of the women who burned and died had cheered their troops? Had hugged their mass murdering sons?"

      What about the flight crews that dropped the nuclear bombs, should they be hugged? How can you assert all of the soldiers of any organization should be shunned? There are patriots in every group - those who actually are fighting to defend themselves. The Pearl Harbor attack didn't come out of nowhere (politcal and economic pressures exerted against the Japanese played a factor), yet it's often used as an example of underhanded ruthlessness. There are those who fight simply because they are loyal to their own and, as far as they know, are the wronged persons responding to others actions. Soldiers have to be judged individually, lest people fall into stereotypes which only worsen the situation.

      As the expression goes - the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

    2. Re:What do you do with soldiers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm sorry.

      Many talk about the hate of Muslims in the west but so far, Muslims deaths at the hands of white westerners is a fraction of westerners killed by muslims.

      WHAT

      I can't even.

      I mean, you were doing so well up until that point. (Well, relatively speaking)

      Let's start with the (roughly) 100 000 - 200 000 children killed as a direct result of the Iraq sanctions (which, incidentally, Madeleine Albright considered "worth it"). A hundred thousand kids. Can you quote any similar number of westerners killed by muslims? With a straight face? Granted that those were not only muslims, they were christians and other religions as well. They only had the misfortune of living in Iraq when there were a number of dumbfucks deciding that they should be deprived of food and medicine.

    3. Re:What do you do with soldiers by infinitelink · · Score: 1
      This is not meant as an insult, but a question of honest curiosity. What is with your writing? A statement begins well enough, then becomes ungrammatical in several places. e.g.

      this was an outrageous thing to do and over of the mothers of the crew slew the door shut in her sons face

      The "and over of the mothers of the crew" doesn't make sense, neither does "slew" (you mean "slammed", right?); I had a similar question for

      I am not reponsible for the actions of others, in my eyes, goes only so far.

      until I realized that your punctuation is incorrect (throughout) and that you simply lack quotes around "I am...others", but

      Terrorism is not isolated to Muslims but in other parts of the world, what has happened is that the people part of the terrorist group started to protest

      also makes no sense.

      There are other issues, but I will leave it to these few for now: again, not meaning to insult, just curious: I am working on materials for helping foreigners learn and use English, so I ask these sort of things. If you need more clarification about the problems, let me know (sometimes people realize what they are when notified there is a problem, so I don't waste time to explain all of them initially).

      --
      Intelligent idiots are we. | Evil men do not understand justice.
  121. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by interval1066 · · Score: 1

    there is only one country in the world that has, throughout its history, used its military power and political influence consistently to try to export its ideas of morality and law to the world, and it ain't no abode of Muslin desperation, it is the U-S-of-A.

    Ha ha ha... that's a good one.

    --
    Python: 'And then suddenly you have a language which says "we're all stuck with whatever the whiniest coder wants".'
  122. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by dkleinsc · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What about non-militant Islam, is that evil? These aren't the "death to America" types, but the much more common "I want to go to work, come home to my family, and help raise the best and brightest kids I can, and maybe I stop by Friday prayers at the mosque" types.

    For reference, here are the 5 fundamental practices of Islam:
    1. Regular personal declaration in belief in monotheism, and that Mohammed is the messenger of that 1 god. This conceptually would be like a Christian reciting the Nicene Creed.
    2. Praying 5 times a day. Totally harmless for anyone who's not doing this.
    3. Giving at least 2.5% of ones income as charity towards the less fortunate. This seems positively virtuous.
    4. Fasting, particularly during Ramadan, if practical (exceptions are made for children, pregnant women, etc). Again, harmless to anyone who isn't fasting.
    5. A pilgrimage to Mecca. This could potentially support the Saudi government, but it's also basically harmless to anyone who isn't doing it, and often quite moving to those who do (Malcolm X is a great example - his experiences led him to stop hating white people due to their race).

    And I should point out, for the record, that I'm not Muslim myself, but I've noticed that those who think that Islam is completely evil often know very little about what Muslims actually believe and how they practice their faith.

    --
    I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
  123. Re:what they should do is - And they do! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I have been to Saudi Arabia. The government does
    quite actively block "offensive" websites. I find
    government filtering much more offensive than
    any dreck that an open internet has shown me.

  124. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by scsirob · · Score: 2

    No, he is not over-exaggerating. It is an ongoing process, and we see the results every day. Killing because of a silly drawing, a stupid picture, you name it. Rules and exceptions put in place just for Muslims. It makes me sick to the stomach to see what we let these people get away with.

    I'm in The Netherlands where there's a natural level of tolerance. But tolerance is not unidirectional and it is not unlimited. Muslims are stretching the boundaries and people are not going to take it much longer. The economic crisis takes a front seat today, but intolerance based on Islam beliefs is a strong second.

    --
    To Terminate, or not to Terminate, that's the question - SCSIROB
  125. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Captain.Abrecan · · Score: 0

    I wonder if it has anything to do with the politically correct phenomenon. Seems people are a lot less willing to tell others to 'shove-it' these days. I mean really, my opinion is that it is all simple. As soon as anyone wants something that creates less freedom just because they were offended or something, you tell them no. Said and done right?

  126. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ahahahahahaha.. You sir, are retarded. Only one? Hmmm.... Do you know from who's loins we spring? United Kingdom sound familiar? Perhaps you should spend about...2 or.... 3 seconds on Wikipedia and see if you can find a decade in the last two centuries where the UK was NOT at war. *SPOILER* You won't. */SPOILER*

    When it comes to war fighting we are the toddlers playing over in the sandbox compared to half of Europe, and the Middle East for that matter.

  127. Re:Yes! We need to contain freedom expression! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So all these others wanting no curtailment of freedom of expression are FOR rioting, killing and destruction of property? And the US Constitution PROTECTS this freedom of expression?

    Interesting.

  128. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by siddesu · · Score: 1

    You cannot get people out to fight your wars on this kind of agenda, buddy. If you could, there'd be no need for Tonkin incidents or hidden WMDs. You need a powerful ideology and extraordinary circumstances to rally a population to support a war.

  129. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    When American colonists rebelled against British rule in 1776, American merchant ships lost Royal Navy protection. With no American Navy for protection, American ships were attacked and their Christian crews enslaved by Muslim pirates operating under the control of the "Dey of Algiers"--an Islamist warlord ruling Algeria.
    In 1786, Jefferson, then the American ambassador to France, and Adams, then the American ambassador to Britain, met in London with Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja, the "Dey of Algiers" ambassador to Britain.
    During the meeting Jefferson and Adams asked the Dey's ambassador why Muslims held so much hostility towards America, a nation with which they had no previous contacts. The two future presidents reported that Ambassador Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja had answered that Islam: "was founded on the Laws of their Prophet, that it was written in their Quran, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as Prisoners, and that every Muslim who should be slain in Battle was sure to go to Paradise."

  130. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by scamper_22 · · Score: 2

    Several points

    1. He's not over-exaggerating. With the exception of the United States, many Western countries already have something similar. Canada for example already has human rights tribunals which seek to censure offensive material. Muslim groups are powerful and blasphemy is still a big deal in Muslim communities.

    2. Why is he complaining? Because he prefers the American way to the Saudi Arabia way. What kind of world would you rather live in? That ruled by the Saudis or the Americans? Is this concept so difficult for you to understand?

    No shit... the bigger power makes the laws. Wooo... what a revelation. That has been the case for thousands upon thousands of years. And other powers come in and try to push their ideas.

    Does that mean, the average person/country shouldn't try and join sides with the power they most prefer or that they consider more moral or more just or best way of life?

    Logical and Scientific arguments have no meaning in morality or ways of life. That is all value judgment.
    Go ahead... give me a logical and scientific argument why the Nazi way of life should be opposed?

    You can't do it without appealing to morality. Life is sacred... that's morality. Freedom is good... that's morality. We should treat people equally... that's morality. We should treat people well... that's morality. We should have peace... that's morality.

    Like it or not, everything starts from morality and values. You can't reach a decision without morality and values. Science and logic only come in to play once you have morality and values.

    So yeah... people take sides and push their vision of the world. Welcome to life and history. The only thing that matters and the only thing that ever matters is which side wins and what they want to do with the world.

    So take 5 years and live in Saudi Arabia as a regular person.
    Now, take 5 years and live in the United States as a regular person.

    Then come back and let me know which society you'd rather have lead the world.

  131. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Marksolo · · Score: 1

    You forgot that you have to be the right kind of muslim or they will also consider you evil and kill-worthy.

  132. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Vermonter · · Score: 1

    Hundreds of millions? Can you cite me some sources for those numbers, because I call BS.

  133. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nah.. We will just nuke them all before that happens..

  134. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by couchslug · · Score: 1

    Modern man should reject religion and should be comfortable despising all of it and those who promote its lies.

    No Religionists have any evidence for their Deities, which makes the contention that such exist insane. Superstition exists to enslave man to other men, therefore all Superstitionists are evil. It's a framework for enslaving youth to their elders, forever. No, I don't give a fuck about the "nice social club" aspects used to affirm and seduce fresh victims.

    I gently suggest that when someone tries to sell you a God, you require PROOF (and not using the constructs of their Superstition). Mystery isn't proof. Spiritual experience can be duplicated using drugs and therefore can be written of as anything but stimulation of pleasure centers.

    The people in a position to work best against religion are its victims, the youth of the world. All you need to is stop supporting it, or if you face punishment, support it badly and in a manner to deter others from joining.

    To those who disagree, I demand you prove your Imaginary Friend is real. Do it now or fuck off. There is no reason to respect your contention that X exists when you cannot support that with proof.

    --
    "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
  135. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by tompaulco · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Christianity's conversion drive has butchered tens if not hundreds of millions at this point, not a small feat considering much less effective weaponry hundreds of years ago when that mess really got going.
    The difference being that that was a long time ago, and Christianity today acknowledges that that was wrong and does not engage in those practices. While some of the more extreme Muslims still openly practice those techniques and have not recanted them.
    Unfortunately, we live in a society that thinks that you should be held to account for the sins of people who died before your grandfather was born, perpetrated on someone else whose living relatives are also half a dozen generations removed from the sin. And yet, we also live in a society where you are not responsible for your own current sins because everything is somebody else's fault. Amazing.,

    --
    If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
  136. The problem is free speech by quietwalker · · Score: 1

    This is pretty straightforward.

    In the US, free speech means you can say anything you want, except very certain things, under certain situations (like "Fire!" or "There's a bomb in the school," or "Why yes, I am a police officer."). In effect, it's using blacklisting to target specific things. Without explicit ruling to the contrary, you are free to speak what you'd like - thus, "Free Speech".

    In the entire rest of the world, speech is rigidly controlled. The default assumption is you are not allowed to say anything at all, unless the government has specifically allowed it. For example, you're not allowed to talk badly about the king, or government, or public workers, or even say some things that might indicate racism or bigotry - this is true even in western governments (check out the laws in England, France, Germany, for example). In some cases, you're not allowed to say something that would have a negative impact on someone's reputation, even if it's provable truth! They don't always prosecute, but they almost always have the option to do so. So, they're denying all by default, and using a white list to allow certain 'free' statements. In these cases, "free speech" refers in part to the few things you're explicitly allowed to discuss, and to the socially protected 'right' to not be offended by random speech. T

    The entire rest of the world doesn't get the US's interpretation, and the US, by and large, doesn't get the rest of the world.

    So when the rest of the world sees someone producing a muslim hate film, and we say, "well, it's legal," to them, that's the same as saying, "Our government went out of it's way to explicitly, specifically endorse this message." They don't understand the difference, or even the value of the US's version. There's all sorts of funny quotes from world leaders visiting the US and asking the president or other high up why we allow protestors in front of the white house/etc, when we could just have them locked up and/or disappeared.

  137. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by aNonnyMouseCowered · · Score: 1

    Don't forget the Soviet Union before Gorbachev. Surely the Iron Curtain was a Soviet invention? If not, how do you explain the speed at which the Iron Curtain fell once Gorbachev made it clear to the East Germans and other Eastern Bloc countries that he wouldn't bail them out when their people start rebelling?

  138. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by marcello_dl · · Score: 1

    Hmmm, but "the world" always fight back fiercely against things it doesn't like. If muslims are tolerated and can settle into western countries and so on, then they are considered useful.

    IMHO the last centuries have been mostly about the depletion of any system competing with the raw power of money. Even nationalistic movements and intolerant application of religions is meant to ultimately make people sick of it all.

    And it's happening now. The sons of muslim immigrants are more enslaved by the western media than the natives, which have often begun to see through the bluff.

    --
    ---- MISSING MISCELLANEOUS DATA SEGMENT --- [sigdash] trolololol
  139. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Luckyo · · Score: 0

    Reason is time. Christianity started violent purges first when it took over Roman Empire. It then proceeded into violent conquest of the Europe over next millenium or so. At the same time we had violent raids known as crusades, dark ages and its religious purges such as spanish inquisition and witchhunts, struggle for feudal control often motivated by religious interests. It kicked gear up with prostestant-catholic split and massive amounts of both civil and military strife it caused.
    Outside Europe there was the colonial angle with brutal conquest and enslavement that came with it, driven by duet of religious and economic reasons (educate the heathens to teachings of Christ and get resources and labour cheap). We still have brutal christianity vs different kind of christianity and islam vs christianity and local beliefs vs both of above as one of the main sources of strife, poverty and war around Africa as a relic of colonial age.

    On home front in the West religion has been slowly ousted from power, however many leaders in the West still quote divine powers as source of their military inspiration.

    In general, the argument is that while early purges were fairly inefficient due to small population and numbers, fact that these went on for almost two millenia now means that numbers simply cannot be any lower then ones mentioned above. This is why islam's demonization typically focuses on recent history only. Christianity still holds the podium of the most violent and bloody religion and will do so for a while unless some sort of large scale religious war occurs that will cause WW2-levels of losses in short period of time. Which isn't impossible per se due to exploded population numbers and weapon efficiency but extremely unlikely.

  140. Here's an idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hey, Saudi Arabia. Asalaam alaykum.

    Don't take it from an agnostic, atheist, Christian, Jew, Hindu, Jain, Bhuddist or any other religion. Give the Aga Khan a call. Take it from a fellow follower of Islam. The Ismaili Muslims have figured out how to drag themselves into the 21st century, you would do well to get some tips from them. It's about time your clerics learned about 2012 rather than clinging desperately to 1012.

    In the meantime if you want censorship - UNPLUG THE CABLE. That should give you a satisfactory level of censorship. Run your own, internal 'internet'. If that's too extreme even for you, install and manage your own firewall! Don't expect us to censor things that are perfectly moral, ethical and legal in OUR culture just because they offend YOURS.

  141. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    People who aren't doing the oppressing will always complain about the ones doing the oppressing. People all over the world are idiots, just sometimes idiots who have more power or fear than others.

  142. Fuckem! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Saudi crown prince "Peace be Upon him" and Can blow me!

  143. Leviticus. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/cruelty/short.html

    1. Re:Leviticus. by hargrand · · Score: 1

      Leviticus is the law God commended for the Jews, not for Christians; it may have defined what sin is, but the punishment system it established was abandoned through the Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. The only temporal punishment proposed in the New Testament applies to members of the Church who are unrepentant in some sin in their lives. They are to be banned from future fellowship until they do repent. Not killed, not tortured, but treated in love and welcomed back when / if they repent.

    2. Re:Leviticus. by uninformedLuddite · · Score: 1

      Does that mean the laws and rules found in places like Leviticus are still valid for the Jews? Am i even allowed to ask?

      --
      The new right fascists are bilingual. They speak English and Bullshit.
    3. Re:Leviticus. by hargrand · · Score: 1

      I'm not Jewish, and I expect if you were to ask representatives from different Jewish faith communities, you would get different answers. For me, if they were to be logically consistent in rejecting Jesus as the Messiah, it seems they should still be practicing what is written in Leviticus. The only exception which could be argued though regards the sacrificial system. Under the Levitical Law, sacrifices were to be performed at the Tabernacle or, later, the Temple. Since the Temple's destruction in 70AD, there has been no place to actually perform the sacrifices, and those sacrifices were stopped around that time.

  144. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Christian conversion is not forced. It's through sharing of beliefs and values. No where in any of the literature (scripture) of Christianity is there any kind of "you must convert or kill everyone" quote.

    Yes the *people* who were in charge of Christianity have done this for their own greedy and evil purposes, but the religion itself is not that way.

  145. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Desler · · Score: 1

    Lane copout is lame. Fine, just look at the PRC and their conquests to for e their social ideals onto other countries.

  146. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You mean like reading further in the sentence, "throughout its history"? That kinda reading?

  147. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Any excuse to piss on the US eh?

    Seriously though, the only reason the muslims haven't done anything like that is because they're too fucking backwards to get a civilization that can create enough technology for them to begin world domination.

    They haven't been anything but a joke in at least 1000 years.

    Go back to your dhimmitude pussy.

  148. Re:We already have a global Internet censorship bo by BanHammor · · Score: 1

    Oookay, so you lose all sorts of credibility for linking to the second link, because it is just mindless bashing of 4chan, not linked at all with censorship.

  149. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by TFAFalcon · · Score: 1

    Sure Christianity acknowledges that it was wrong, but that doesn't stop them from still killing people - just look at Northern Ireland or Bosnia.

    What has changed isn't so much the religion, as the societies where it's dominant. They figured out that ruling the world is hard and scaled back. Of course that left a power vacuum in the areas they used to control, which was filled by all sorts of extremists, many of them still supported by christian governments. And if those extremists managed to amass a lot of power and money, they started to export their ideas to other similar cultures.

  150. Re:Public order be damned!!! by Nrrqshrr · · Score: 4, Funny

    As an Ex-muslim I say mod parent up because I want to be beheaded.

  151. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Vermonter · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So your proof is "because it has to be"? The Spanish inquisition was about 150,000 people, at most (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Inquisition#Death_tolls). The Salem witch trials were 19 (http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/asal_de.htm). By all means, give me the rest of the numbers that add up to 99.849981 million. Now, do we get to count atheistic communism in this comparison? Because Stalin (20 million), Hitler (50 Million) and Mao (70 million) (http://necrometrics.com/20c5m.htm) killed or were responsible for the deaths of quite a large number of people... and in about 2.5% of the time of Christianity.

  152. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by dskoll · · Score: 0

    What about non-militant Islam, is that evil?

    Yes. In the same way that a usually-benign bacteria can suddenly flare up and cause flesh-eating diseas, so-called non-militant religions can flare up into bouts of fundamentalism.

    ..but I've noticed that those who think that Islam is completely evil often know very little about what Muslims actually believe and how they practice their faith.

    I am an atheist. This is what Islam says about me. So tell me again... who are the ones promoting hatred and violence?

  153. 2 words for Saudi Arabia: by cpotoso · · Score: 1

    FUCK YOU!

  154. good time to mention the Freenet Project by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    https://freenetproject.org/

  155. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just go blow off the dust from your high school world history book that you never read and look at the facts for yourself.

  156. Stupid Saudis by benjfowler · · Score: 1

    They need a reality check. If those Wahhabi bastards think we're going to let them have anything of the kind, they are sadly, sadly mistaken.

    This is a symptom of a far bigger problem -- the Saudis, with their oil money have been spreading their evil Wahhabi poison -- and the accompanying ignorance and fanaticism -- around the world for decades.

    We need to kneecap them. Find ways to make oil worthless, and it'll crush the Saudi powers-that-be economically. Without money as a crutch to bribe/subjugate their people, they'll be swept away.

    "Set America Free", while being a think-tank run by conservatives, have pretty much the right idea. Get off fossil fuel oil for transport, introduce fuel choice, develop alternatives, and then we can crush the Saudi oil despots and set the world free.

    http://www.setamericafree.org/

  157. sensitive much? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I say to all those who would riot in the streets of their own city over a video that was made half a world away by someone of no consequence, "Grow a pair!"

  158. Ban the religion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A religion that requires, for example, human sacrifice would not be permitted in most civilised nations, primarily because a sort of "right to life" would naturally outweigh the appropriate interpretation of "right to religion". If Islam requires censorship then it too will simply not be tolerated by any civilised nation; a watered down form of Islam which doesn't attack the basic rights of non-believers may take its place.

    The question is, are there any civilised nations?

  159. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by geekanarchy · · Score: 3, Interesting

    There were any number of horrific experiments performed on Jews in the name of science during World War II; the USSR, with state enforced atheism, murdered millions of its own people and shipped uncounted more off to die in Siberia. Does that imply that science and atheists are evil? No, that would be a silly argument. Violent people will use anything they have at their disposal to justify themselves, but we need to remember that it's the people who are doing the evil, not the concepts they purport to support.

  160. I agree by khallow · · Score: 1

    Saudi Arabia has stated that there is a 'crying need for international collaboration to address "freedom of expression" which clearly disregards public order.'

    I quite agree. So let's address this "crying need" by determining the best way to remove the Saud family from its undeserved nest in Saudi Arabia. So what sort of groups are looking to replace the Saud family with a democracy (which is the sort of government I favor)? Googling around, I see these guys. Anyone have some insight into this issue?

  161. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is not the full story.

    1) Muslims are to let the unbeliever know about prophet Mohammad's teachings. If they repeatedly ignore, the unbeliever is worthy to be killed.

    3) The giving is done to the Mosque, not directly to the needy.

    4) Fasting was supposed to be for understanding the hardships of the poor, and food to be given to the poor. But "fasting" is practiced as reversal of eating thru the night and not eating during the day.

  162. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by poity · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Good point, but I've also noticed that many who are comfortable bashing religion and certain devotees, or are silent when others bash them (often times the target is Christianity or Christians), become agitated and assume a protective role when the same is done to Islam. Not a Christian (or even religious) myself

    --
    your thin skin doesn't make me a troll
  163. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by TFAFalcon · · Score: 1

    And during this time the US was still importing large numbers of (black) slaves. And the church was OK with it, since the blacks didn't have a soul (or was that the Indians?). The only difference is that the Muslims were more prone to making speeches.

  164. Hitler used Religion. Argument fail. by DiscountBorg(TM) · · Score: 1

    Hitler: “Along with the fight for a purer morality we have taken upon ourselves the struggle against the decomposition of our religion. We have therefore taken up the struggle against the Godless movement, and not just with a few theoretical declarations; we have stamped it out. And above all we have dragged the priests out of the lowlands of the political party struggle and have brought them back into the church.” Documente Zer Kirchenpolitik

    Also The Taiping rebellion alone killed as many as World War I, and that was a long time ago. You're not factoring in the countless destruction of cultures around the world deemed Satanic by the puritanical invading Christian armies either. Lastly Hitler was also not a Communist, the communists were his enemies, he attacked the communists, and where do you think the concept of the Third Reich came from? The First Reich was the Holy Roman empire.

    --
    "The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." George Bernard Shaw
  165. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by TigerPlish · · Score: 1

    Oh, Really?

    Two things. First, you're over-exaggerating it a bit, it is unlikely that any drastic anti-freedom legislation will be passed in the west based on the wishes of Saudi Arabia in the next decade or two. Or more, if you freedom-lovers choose to lead instead of whine.

    The more extremist muslims want exactly that, a muslim world. Try it. I will personally grab a rifle and oppose such an effort. It's no different than Germany, 1934. If only more people had opposed that. And as for us stopping whining and lead? That contradicts your following point!

    Second, there is only one country in the world that has, throughout its history, used its military power and political influence consistently to try to export its ideas of morality and law to the world, and it ain't no abode of Muslin desperation, it is the U-S-of-A.

    What a load of succotash. UK spread by arms. France spread by arms. Spain. Rome. Japan. China. Russia. Portugal. They all were empires and invaders at one time, some until very recently. Everywhere they went they left some of their morals and laws behind -- including the US. Our legal system is modeled on our past masters, the Brits. How do we spread? We buy our land, not take it at the tip of a sword. We spread by having motherfucking Kodak, Camel, Coke and McDonald's in Bumfuck, Egypt, and in the smallest of shops in the deep of Africa. (Ok, so Kodak's gone, but the point remains.)

    Moreover, the US rationale for this was always the perception of the superior morality of the American way, not some logical, scientific argument. Why are you complaining when other countries notice what yours does, and try to do the same?

    *sigh*. Just like the aforementioned Brits, Romans, Spaniards, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese -- all were convinced that they were better than the peoples they were taking over.

    Oh shit, did I just defend the USA? Oh well. It could be worse. I could be living in a Muslim-ran country where I'd be shot just for being. For expressing my thought, which is there is no God, neither Mohammed nor Jesus are his prophets, and no amount of institutional brainwashing nor intimidation at the tip of a sword or muzzle of gun will change my mind.

    Sitting down and doing bong rips with a deity, that may convince me. "Hey, Jesus, you gonna hit that or just hold it and philosophize?"

    --
    The "Civilized World" jumped the shark ca. 1973.
  166. BURQA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I've searched this /. story over and over and there's still no mention of the greatest Islamic censorship of all. WTF is with you nerds?

  167. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by TFAFalcon · · Score: 2

    But the response hurts more non-militant Muslims then it does extremists. And those hurt or those whose families are killed are much more likely to become extremists - from helpless rage if nothing else.

    Just look at how much hate 9/11 created in the US. Now imagine if your countrymen were killed nearly every day, just for living their lives in the 'wrong' country. Would you support the guys doing the killing, or would you join anyone that was trying to push them out. And if your new organization had a few crazies in charge, would you really care? Or would you accept them as the 'lesser' evil?

  168. Because of media bias selection by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you look up the FBI statistic there was far more christian terrorism attack in the US last year than mulsim. You will hard pressed to find that in the national press, say CNN level. OTOH any muslim terrorist attack is reported with analysis and thickly reported. The reality is that if you look at western country, the local are much more dangerous than external muslim jihadist. 9/11 was a fluke, not a rule.

    1. Re:Because of media bias selection by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Citation, please.

    2. Re:Because of media bias selection by Teancum · · Score: 1

      While I do know of "christian" terrorist groups like the Irish Republican Army, this is utter bullshit to say there are "far more christian terrorism attacks in the US last year than muslim"

      Actually, I would even be curious what even is considered a terrorist attack at all. American cities are not being routinely bombed by religious extremist groups of any kind. That there are some domestic "gangs" or "thugs" as it may be termed who in years past might be called "mafia" or "organized crime", that is hardly the definition of a "terrorist group". I would even go so far as to define a terrorist group, as opposed to a criminal gang (that rarely has any religious affiliation of any kind), as a group explicitly sponsored and supported by a nation-state of some kind. Some communist groups fit that description in the recent past, but they haven't been active in America for decades, at least in terms of "terrorist activities".

      Supposedly there have been some "terrorist plots" that have been uncovered, but most of what gets reported is an overreaction by local law enforcement to either a slightly insane person or the very rare cases of some actual fanatics doing something stupid. Timothy McVeigh was an example of somebody who was definitely missing something upstairs and not a real terrorist threat (although clearly a danger to society).

  169. Libya < Muslim World by andersh · · Score: 1

    The violence in Libya was indeed pre-planned, that's not evidence that the violence across the Muslim world was!? You're taking that incident too far.

    I fully support the freedom of expression, and I have no interest in Saudi Arabia's suggestion. You however have to give credit where credit is due. That silly movie created a spontaneous reaction across the Muslim world which is far more than simply Libya!

  170. Religious problems will continue by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The problem with religion is that it in itself should be treated just the same way an allergy or sickness is being treated. In this case I do believe the best way to treat it would be with small and constant doses of allergen injection. You do the same with an allergy. At first you are at the stage of trying to avoid your allergen, and guess what, your allergy gets worse and worse. Then when you start to treat you problem you are injecting yourself (or be injected) by small measured doses of your allergen and thus teaching your body that the allergen is not something to be afraid of.

    The same could be done with each and every religion. Keep a gentle pressure with mocking, once that gentle dose of mocking is accepted increase the mocking. If we are not going to do that we will see the problems with fundamentalist religions getting worse and worse.

  171. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You have morphed arguing against censorship into wanting to commit genocide against those who are for censorship. When you have to make mental leaps like that, know that there is something very wrong with something you hold dear. Please, please, think about that.

    - Anonymous for self preservation reasons

  172. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by niko9 · · Score: 1

    I wonder how many Slashotters who are against this measure --even though free speech can cause death and serious injury-- are still for draconian gun control in this or any other country.

    Think abuot that...

  173. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Um, #4 actually has some significant negative externalities. Take the damage to your employer when your productivity drops because you haven't had food nor drink since before sunrise.

  174. Better, Not Best by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    As a European I don't exactly trust the US to manage the Internet either. The raids and police actions against "free speech" on .com domains is proof enough. The UN would be a really bad choice, but the US is only slightly better.

    I would much prefer an independent, neutral entity without religious or political affiliations. Where is the representative from the Neutral Planet when you need him?!

  175. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Christianity today acknowledges that that was wrong"

    On the surface perhaps, but beneath it? Do you think Afghanistan and Iran would have been invaded had they been christian nations? Perhaps you've somehow overlooked the millions of American "Christians" who think we should just nuke the middle east flat? I also can't help but feel that if those nations were primarily christian we would be a bit more squeamish about the "misbehavior" of our soldiers and contractors over there.

  176. Re:Hitler used Religion. Argument fail. by Vermonter · · Score: 1

    Sorry, Hitler was socialist, not communist. But despite all of that, anyone who kills in the name of Christ is not a Christian, as Christ, when asked what the greatest commandment was, said "Love the Lord thy God, and love thy neighbor as thyself". Christ also said anyone who hated another person was guilty of murder, and to "bless those that persecute you". Look, I am in no way defending nor denying what people did in the name of Christianity. People have done horrible, terrible things in the name of all sorts of things. However, as I said, Christianity is a "do not murder" religion. (Wrongly) killing in the name of Christianity does not make Christianity a bad thing. It makes the killer a bad person.

  177. Being that guy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I suppose it's too late to say "Screw you guys, I'm taking my internet and going home" now. Oh Well.

  178. How to fix this, in Four Easy Steps. by TigerPlish · · Score: 1

    1. Take the leash off Israel.

    2. Let them and the Arabs sort things out the way nature intended to. I'm sure it'll go nuclear about 20 minutes into it. If not, various nations can Profit by selling arms to both sides . The French and the Germans and the US love such deals. Win for the economy! War is Great! (Don't believe me? War lifted the world out of the 30's depression. Even the losers made off like bandits.)

    3. Spend the next 30 years rebuilding the area, ensure good schooling for all, you know, all that jazz that happened after WWII. Maybe then the whole Middle East can make things other than war and hatred and intolerance. Things they can sell and service, and therefore have a somewhat-educated people that's not hell-bent on burning the world.

    4. Profit! Buy the stuff they make (if it's worth a damn), and sell them stuff!

    And in a perfect world,

    5. The world finally wakes the fuck up and loses all its religions, now that the huge religiously-fuelled battle with hundreds of thousands or even millions of lives lost wasn't just filmed and televised, it was tweeted and facebooked realtime. The horror show to end all horror shows.

    I'm not trying to be funny or cavalier. I'm sick and tired of all this religion-based bickering. It brings nothing but war and suffering, directly or indirectly.

    --
    The "Civilized World" jumped the shark ca. 1973.
  179. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hitler was a good man some of the time - he loved his dogs.

    I don't think anyone is saying all Muslims are bad, all of the time, but we're all saying the religion of Islam sucks. There is gentility in the Koran, but it doesn't make up for all of the directives to do murder, and engage in cruelty.

    We're also saying Islamic governments are tyrannical, torturous and murderous.

  180. I would rather kill every towel head by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    On the planet than have them tell me one word what to say or not say.

  181. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Exactly - most of the Islamic faith are probably some of the nicest people around. The extremists though tend to be of a different nature entirely and not representative of the actual faith. It's much like the rabid religious right here in America vs your normal, god-fearing christian...

  182. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So... end of the day, you think Sharia and a worldwide caliphate is OK?

    Please understand that the so-called religious aspects - the peaceful and seemingly innocuous aspects you seem to admire - to Islam are artificial and secondary window-dressing to the fundamental goals of Islam, which are entirely political in nature. Its goals are simple: Worldwide domination, by any means necessary. Islam is fundamentally totalitarian and much closer to National Socialism or Leninism than merely a religion that seeks peace through its relationship to the supernatural, as a guiding moral force within one's life. It is at war with the West and has been for thousands of years.

    Mohammed was not a peaceful prophet - he was a mass-murderer, a despot, and a pedophile. He was fundamentally anti-Semitic, referring to Jews as monkeys, ergo it is no wonder that 99.999% of the Arab world has been at war with Israel since the 1948. The mere existence of Israel in the Middle East is a slap in the face to Islam, no matter that it is their ancient homeland and has been since long, long before Islam even existed.

    Yes, there are plenty of peaceful Muslims who want very ordinary lives and have nothing to do with terrorism and have peace-preaching Imams but, as the saying goes, "Most Muslims are not terrorists, but nearly all terrorists are Muslims." Post-9/11 studies were done of European Muslims and fully two-thirds confessed they "understood" 9/11. In other words, two-thirds were sympathetic to the supposed reasons behind the 9/11 attacks. Two-thirds. That's just insane.

    There is something fundamental to Islam that breeds terrorism, a scriptural mandate that you either submit to Allah, the Quran, and Mohammed's teaching - which, by the way, has no interpretation - or else be killed as an infidel. Many, many, many Muslims and Imams and Ayatollahs hold very sincerely to this fundamental strain of belief and that is why Winston Churchill quite rightly referred to Islam as the most retrograde force in the world.

    Islam is incompatible with Western thought, democracy, and it represents a true intellectual nightmare. It oppresses women and treats them as fourth-class citizens, threatens immediately to kill or commit acts of violence against anyone who disagrees with it and Mohammed (and it follows through with these threats quite frequently), and is incompatible with free thought and expression. Many Muslims may choose not to see this but that does not avoid the reality that this is what Sharia brings.

  183. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Would you accept the word of the son of Hamas that the ladder of Islam ends in Jihad, and you cannot see the top from the bottom?

  184. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    When we had the only nukes we could have went on a real crusade thats how.

  185. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by dkleinsc · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So tell me again... who are the ones promoting hatred and violence?

    That's easy - anyone who believes that people who believe differently than they do are fundamentally and typically irredeemably evil. Which is where Islamic nutjobs (e.g. Al Qaida) and Christian nutjobs (e.g. Xe, formerly Blackwater) and atheist nutjobs (e.g. the Soviets) all are much more similar than they'd like to admit.

    --
    I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
  186. Re:Public order be damned!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    you forgot to include the camel he rode in on!

  187. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Synerg1y · · Score: 1

    so why do these people your referring to respond so easily to intimidation and control, could it be that they support militant islam if only because they are of the same religion? These beliefs sound great on paper, but the muslim world has shown time and time again that they're exactly that: paper.

  188. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Oops Hitler was Christian. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_views_of_Adolf_Hitlert (More) perverted and fucked up christianity, but christian none-the-less. Many of his actions against the jews were in the name of god.
    Mao and Stalin killed most people for political reasons, not because they weren't atheist.

    Atheism has no agenda, it is simply without theism. Babies are atheists until they have their minds poisoned. Won't you think of the children?

  189. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Go ahead... give me a logical and scientific argument why the Nazi way of life should be opposed?

    Okay, here goes.
    By creating a "master race" as the Nazis wanted to do they were limiting the gene pool in which diversity would grow. This in turn would cause the "Master Race" to become more susceptible to diseases and illness. It would eventually lead to a mass extinction of the Nazi party.

    Now we Opposed them for moral reasons too. but there is a logical and scientific point as to why the Nazi way of life would not work.

    Cheers!

  190. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by dkleinsc · · Score: 2

    No, I wouldn't:
    1. Most Muslims are not members of Hamas.
    2. The leaders of Hamas aren't widely considered to be religious authorities, only political authorities in a certain area of the world (this would be the equivalent of treating, say, John F Kennedy, as a leading authority on Catholicism).
    3. The leaders of Hamas have a clear motive that has nothing to do with religion for convincing people that jihad, as envisioned by Hamas, is the ultimate in religious devotion.

    --
    I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
  191. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Maybe it's not the Islam ... It's the people.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19908409

  192. Re:Hitler used Religion. Argument fail. by DiscountBorg(TM) · · Score: 1

    I've read the Bible so I remember those things, and I agree with the quote "I like your Christ, I don't like your Christians." Problem is, it's hard for others to tell what a Christian is or isn't, when many who've loudly professed Christianity didn't put up again their swords back into their places.

    --
    "The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." George Bernard Shaw
  193. fuck all religion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    it's all shit

  194. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Interesting, seeing as how Judaism itself does not have conversion as a core belief. Certainly anybody is allowed to convert, but you're only supposed to convert unobservant Jews to observant ones. There's nothing saying to convert non-Jews to observant Jews, so that's one thing they didn't inherit from Judaism.

    dom

  195. Saudi Arabia is new world Trolling Champ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just by looking at the responses on this site (where people are supposedly more thoughtful/intellectual and less reactive/emotional, yet have overwhelmingly taken the rant-bait), I have to conclude that they are the new Global Trolling Champs!

    Congrats to the Saudi's!

  196. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by dkleinsc · · Score: 1

    Sir / ma'am, I hereby invoke Godwin's Law. You have lost the argument.

    --
    I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
  197. Wrong by ThatsNotPudding · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You know..if we could just become energy independent....we could just then pull out of the whole middle east and let those fuckers blow themselves up and be done with them.

    Except there's Israel. We'll never be free of their over-large influence (and I'd say co-opting) of US politics. Sorry about the Holocast, and you're better than your neighbors, but that doesn't justify your willful and active meddling in US policies foreign and domestic.

    If there was no religion of any sort, present day would be like living in Star Trek.

  198. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm not a Muslim either, and hats off to you for learning about it. Stupidity is always conquered with knowledge. You seem to be on the right side of what's necessary. Hats off, sir/ma'am.

  199. They want to cling to power by kawabago · · Score: 1

    Internet censorship isn't about Religion, it's about keeping power by controlling what people can know. Just like China.

  200. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's called "divide-and-conquer", or xenophobia. It's an effective tool of control, because it relies on generalization, equivocation, and stereotypes drawn from ambiguous definitions, and FUD from any number of real or percieved threats, to pit against one another people who otherwise would have had no particular quarrel, if at all.

    We all could stand to take a step back every so often and make sure it isn't being applied to us, and if so, to determine if we've fallen for it in any way. .

    There is a special circle of Hell reserved for those who purposefully employ this technique to manipulate and control others. It can even be convened temporaly, too.

  201. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wilhelm Reich argues that fascism is a religion in some ways, you should read “Mass psychology of fascism” some day, it’s quite interesting.

  202. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Reverand+Dave · · Score: 1

    I don't necessarily thing Islam (and I did know all this about Islam) is evil as much as ALL religion is evil. If we, as a species are to progress, we kind of have to wipe out all of this ridiculous bullshit from our culture.

    --
    I got here through a series of tubes
  203. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Please explain how the Iraq conflict benefited the US? The US didn't get billions of barrels of cheap oil. If anything, the price skyrocketed and hurt the US even more. As far as I can tell, the US didn't gain a single thing WRT Afghanistan/Iraq.

  204. Internet censorship by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No worries, because this will never come to pass. The free thinking world would require that any such law would ban anti-israel hate on the internet, since it clearly fits the definition of "freedom of expression which clearly disregards public order", and muslim hate mongers like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad *who ironically enough was born jewish* would never allow for their preferred form of vile hate to be restricted.

  205. it would almost be as bad... by publiclurker · · Score: 2

    as being ruled by those christian nutjobs that currently stick their noses into everything, but without the hypocrisy.

  206. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by jonadab · · Score: 1

    > What about non-militant Islam, is that evil?

    There's evil and then there's evil and then there's evil.

    On the one hand, all false religions (and false secular philosophies, for that matter) are evil, because they teach fallacy as truth, and that's bad. So yes, in that sense, non-militant Islam is still evil, after a fashion... or at least wrong. (Is there a difference between wrong and evil? Perhaps a difference of degree, with a fuzzy line between them? Really I think they're basically the same phenomenon.)

    But that's not even remotely the same category of evil as the militant stuff that seeks to connect religion with the state and force conversion on pain of death. We call that "Sharia law" in the case of Islam, but the Roman Catholic state church in medieval Europe also qualifies, as does any human government that executes people for declining the official state-sanctioned religion. This sort of thing is much more evil, much more outright _wicked_, than merely propagating falsehood to people who are willing to listen.

    If God himself comes tangibly to Earth and sets up a divine government in person, one that is not run by men but directly by God himself, fine. He, being God, would have the right to do that and, presumably, would also have the ability to do it in a just and right way. Men, manifestly, don't, and every time it's ever been tried, however well intentioned at first, the results have consistently been horrific in the long term. Evil.

    --
    Cut that out, or I will ship you to Norilsk in a box.
  207. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by ewanm89 · · Score: 1

    More recently you can go all the way up to the British Empire, who's laws and political systems US law is based on.

  208. Re:Either a troll or the biggest moron here today. by ewanm89 · · Score: 1

    Most of that "own image" isn't even from the US, most of that has deep British roots.

  209. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

    Mass convertions were not what Inquisition and witch trials were about. You should instead go and look at the various articles on Wikipedia, the names of which start with "Christianization of ...". I don't think it'll add up to hundreds of millions even so, despite what OP says, but in proportion to the total world population, and considering the less efficient means of genocide at their disposal at the time, it's still an impressive death toll.

    Oh, and "atheistic communism"? Please. Communism is its own ideology, and parallels religions in some way, but atheism is not a core and necessary part of it. And Hitler was certainly not a communist, and most likely not an atheist.

  210. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Jonner · · Score: 1

    It's going to happen some day. The world will be dominated by Islamic idiots because the rest of the world will do nothing but appease them.

    One little tragic baby step at a time.

    I doubt the Saudis are deluded enough to think this proposal will go anywhere. In the extremely unlikely event that something were accomplished in the UN, it would be ignored by everyone who isn't already interested in censorship of this kind.

  211. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by rroman · · Score: 1

    2. Praying 5 times a day. Totally harmless for anyone who's not doing this. What ? This brainwashing is totally harmless for anyone else ? Are you serious ? These people are because of this middle-age policy almost always fanatic. In Christianity, there are many people who say they are christian, but because they don't attend church too often they can think of themselves without any fanaticism. On the other hand, majority of people, who attend church regularly they are morons, who demonize homosexuals, preach against abortions and other retarded stuff. Brainwashing is simply NOT harmless for everybody else... at least not in democracy.

  212. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

    Nevertheless, there are certainly ideologies that proliferate evil, and people who are ensnared by them will inevitably do evil. And, yes, fundamentalist Islam (as well as Christianity) are two such ideologies.

  213. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Quila · · Score: 1

    Muslims not in power = benign
    Muslims in power = dangerous

    Take prayer for example. Great if Muslims aren't in power. But if they are, I wouldn't suggest trying to do anything during the time the Muslims are praying. Or the declaration of belief. Minority Muslims are fine with you not declaring that belief, and will accept you as their friend and neighbor. Majority Muslims may just kill you for that, especially if you used to believe, but no longer do.

  214. Re:Public order be damned!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In response to this every website should put up a picture of muhammad rimming a pig.

  215. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by dskoll · · Score: 1

    anyone who believes that people who believe differently than they do are fundamentally and typically irredeemably evil

    That describes Islam perfectly. Please note: I am NOT saying Muslims are evil. I've mentioned that several times. Muslims are people just like any other people: A few very good, most basically good, and a small number rotten.

    I'm talking about Islam, the religion and philosophy. I contend that Islam itself is fundamentally bad and I've show quotes from the Quran to support my point of view.

  216. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Logical/Scientific reason why the Nazi way of life should be opposed:

    Because it's counter-productive. The Nazis killed approximately 12 million people in six short years, conquered most of Europe disrupting society and trade, and in general made a gigantic nuisance of themselves. Allowing such an organization and set of practices to exist is highly disruptive to world peace and efficient operations. Consequently, the Nazi way of life should be not just opposed, but crushed with great vigor, producing a peaceful Europe and a greatly improved world economy. Other benefits include the broader exchange of ideas, increased religious and social tolerance, etc.

    See? Not that hard.

     

  217. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They are not idiots, because they are slowly winning. They take the long view, are willing to outlast and wear down western leaders who don't see past the next election, can talk circles around most western leaders in debates, and lead hundreds of millions of people. Do not make the fatal mistake of equating evil with stupidity. The two are not at all the same. Yes, I know, there are lots of stupid people who commit evil. However, there are lots of very smart, very well educated people who also commit even greater evil.

  218. No. What we need: by nilbog · · Score: 1

    No, what we need is a international collaboration to address public disorder which clearly disregards "freedom of expression."

    --
    or else!
  219. Bad lessons by Mike+Van+Pelt · · Score: 1

    So, the people who are supporting this think it's a good idea to set a precedent that the way to outlaw people offending you is to go on a bloody berserk rampage killing random uninvolved people whenever you are offended?

    Even if it were made illegal to offend Wahabiists, and that miraculously caused them to become peaceful, is this really a precedent anyone wants to set? Do we really want the Scientologists to pick up on that lesson?

  220. Re:Public order be damned!!! by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I would vote to nuke them -- I mean quite literally nuke them, with a pound of bacon on board just to make the fallout more interesting -- before agreeing to some censorship policy they endorse.

    Let's get the hell away from dependence on oil, and let these people go straight to the Hell they so firmly believe in, and so richly deserve.

  221. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Different AC here, and I agree that the grandparent AC's analogy is weak. However, Godwin's Law does not say that mentioning Hitler means you lose the argument, nor would it be correct if it did.

  222. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 1

    "What about non-militant Islam, is that evil?"

    Yes. Because this is where your argument falls apart:

    Where are the "non-militants" when the militants are practicing their terrorism? Are they preventing it? No. Are they speaking out against it? (For the most part): no. Are they taking political stands against it? No.

    Tacit endorsement of militarism is militarism. They can't weasel out of it. If they want to be non-militant, they can work to prevent militarism. If they don't, (and for the most part, they don't), the best answer is "Fuck you". And I don't mean that in a good way.

  223. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 1

    "... and I've show quotes from the Quran to support my point of view."

    You can do that equally with the Christian bible. There are terrible, terrible things in it, including incitements to rape and murder. Means nothing.

    It's not what you believe, so much as what you do with that belief. I don't give a damn if you believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster; if you commit murder in its name you are a murderer.

  224. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    2. Praying 5 times a day. Totally harmless for anyone who's not doing this.

    When I lived in Saudi Arabia, all stores and services were shut down at prayer time. Very annoying, and sometimes not harmless at all.

    4. Fasting, particularly during Ramadan, if practical (exceptions are made for children, pregnant women, etc). Again, harmless to anyone who isn't fasting.

    Except that if anyone catches you eating or drinking anything in public during Ramadan, even by accident, very nasty things can happen. My mate and I once forgot it was Ramadan, and bought cans of coke from a street machine. People descended on us from all directions. It was scary.

  225. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    But we have a duty to point out how evil INTOLERANCE is. And we have a duty to use all means in our power to prevent the spread of militant INTOLERANCE.

    FTFY

  226. Saudi Arabi interview by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Saudi Arabia: The issue is the jackass that posted this video and his ability to posts these types of videos
    Rationality: Not those who would murder other people over such a video?
    Saudi Arabia: Nope. U rly need to get a leash on ur interwebz, yo.

  227. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Second, there is only one country in the world that has, throughout its history, used its military power and political influence consistently to try to export its ideas of morality and law to the world, and it ain't no abode of Muslin desperation, it is the U-S-of-A.

    Quite possibly the dumbest and most naive post ever made on Slashdot. Congratulations, you're officially retarded.

  228. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Somehow you forgotten one of the most basics islamic beliefs: Women are second class citizens, completely subjugated to theirs husbands ... Is that good and virtuous?

  229. Just say 'no' by Roger+W+Moore · · Score: 1

    I would vote to nuke them -- I mean quite literally nuke them, with a pound of bacon on board just to make the fallout more interesting -- before agreeing to some censorship policy they endorse.

    I would agree that it is completely unacceptable to agree to such censorship but somehow saying "no" seems to be a far better option than killing millions of innocent civilians and releasing large clouds of highly dangerous radioactive material into the environment - not to mention bringing the entire world far closer to the spectre of nuclear armageddon. I know it sounds a bit boring and doesn't have the same Hollywood appeal as a nuclear holocaust would but somehow judging a population based on the actions of its government doesn't seem to be a wise thing for an American - or for that matter anyone - to suggest.

    1. Re:Just say 'no' by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 1

      "I would agree that it is completely unacceptable to agree to such censorship but somehow saying "no" seems to be a far better option than killing millions of innocent civilians and releasing large clouds of highly dangerous radioactive material into the environment..."

      Well... I meant if it somehow bizarrely came down to a choice between the two. Which I admit is about as likely as the sun not coming up yesterday.

    2. Re:Just say 'no' by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 1

      Okay?

      I should have preceded it with "Given the choice..." but I felt that was pretty solidly implied by what I wrote.

  230. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Good point.

    Oh wait.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crusades

  231. Re:Yes! We need to contain freedom expression! by erroneus · · Score: 1

    Yeah... there's a touch of sarcasm and stuff like that in there. I was actually being critical of the people who respond to insults with murder. I am also being critical of those who would seek to condone instead of condemn the behavior by seeking to blame freedom of expression... especially religious expression.

    "We need plasphemy laws!!" Fuck you Jews/Christians/Muslims and all the rest. We do need blasphemy laws... laws that PROTECT THE RIGHT TO BLASPHEME!!! Your beliefs are yours. Keep them to yourself and your groups. Leave everyone else out of it. You have NO RIGHT to government protect or special government treatment.

  232. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You forgot killing anyone who disagrees with them...

    They are NOT totally harmless.

    These... people... are not compatable with all the others on the planet. Their religion is crazy and dangerous.

    As is anyone who says we should tolerate the muslims at this point.

  233. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by rastoboy29 · · Score: 1

    Oh don't be a fool.

  234. Re:Public order be damned!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And fuck the Saudis, and anybody else who wants control! And fuckity fuck fuck fuck their goddamn perverted mohamed!

    I'm a lover of Muhammed. Seriously. His ass is so tight, and when he dresses up like a western cheerleader in that little crop top and flyaway skirt, and shakes his supposedly divinely blessed (but definitely divine, if you know what I mean), it just gets my blood pumping. It could have been the setting (I met him in prison, as many do), but, man, Muhammed is a great lay!

    Of course, after ass-fucking him a few times, I realized he was no more than a mortal man, and so I renounced Islam. How can you worship the word of a guy who prances around the cell in women's lingerie shimmying to Katy Perry?

    Being an apostate is much more fun! And "getting stoned" has a whole new meaning now.

  235. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 2

    For reference, here are the 5 fundamental practices of Islam:

    For reference, here is the 6th fundamental practice of Islam: http://islamqa.info/en/ref/82120

    Praise be to Allaah.

    It is part of Allaah’s complete blessing upon us and the perfection of this great religion, that Islam organizes all aspects of our lives. There is nothing good but it has shown it to us, and there is nothing bad but it has warned us against it.

    And Muslim (2020) narrated from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “No one among you should eat with his left hand or drink with it, for the shaytaan eats with his left hand and drinks with it.”

    Allaah has warned us against disobeying the commands of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

    “And let those who oppose the Messenger’s (Muhammad’s) commandment (i.e. his Sunnah __ legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements) (among the sects) beware, lest some Fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, earthquakes, killing, overpowered by a tyrant) should befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them”

    . . . or like, a Fitnah of getting your Embassy stormed by Muslims . . .

    So all this talk about if it was the film or Al Qaeda who caused the riot is probably irrelevant: The Muslim folks killed Chris Stevens, because he was left-handed.

    --
    Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  236. Re:Saudi douches, internet censorship in 1 easy st by Dunbal · · Score: 1

    How many oil wells does your daddy own?

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  237. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by strikethree · · Score: 1

    I have nothing to add to the conversation but I do have some info for you...

    Blackwater became Xe and changed yet again to Academi which is their current name. (Can't let them hide through shady practices).

    --
    "Someone needs to talk to the tree of liberty about its ghoulish drinking problem." by ohnocitizen
  238. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Luckyo · · Score: 1

    I like how you chose to quote one part of the text, going from "tens if not hundreds" to "OMG he said hundreds!" and folks who can't read more then one liners chime in en masse.

  239. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fuck the Saudis, fuck Islam, and fuck anyone who tries to limit freedom of speech or freeedom of expression on the Internet. I'd rather put up with spam and goatse all day long every day until I die rather than have the sort of "order" these fucking assholes want. Many of these are the same people who would throw acid in the faces of young girls because they dare to want to go to school to learn to read a write! Them, them, fuck them, sideways with a rusty chainsaw infected with AIDS.

  240. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Luckyo · · Score: 1

    Hence, "judaism-sourced religions". It's a rather funny distinction too, as judaism's dogma was in fact about "one nationality above others" while both christianity and islam accepted the "people who believe in god over others" as a dogma hence allowing for conversion. It essentially shows just how powerful of a control tool judaism was that with just a few modifications it allowed for ideological unification of entire continents.

  241. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Tom · · Score: 2

    People always quote these three assholes and attribute them to atheism. And nothing could be further from the truth and everyone who modded parent up should go crawl in a corner.

    First, Hitler was a christian. Some other Nazis toyed with pagan ideas and more nonsense, but none of them had an explicitly atheist agenda.

    Second, Stalin exploited religion, even though he was an atheist himself. And while atheism was a part of communist dogma, there was very little explicitly anti-religious prosecution in communist russia. On the contrary, even Stalin himself maintained close ties with the orthodox church, and while its power was greatly reduced, it was never abolished.

    If anyone of these can be accused of anti-religious actions, it is Mao, who indeed had religious sites ransacked during the cultural revolution. But again, to the best of my knowledge, there were no explicit anti-religious death camps or anything like that.

    You, sir, are a fraud and a liar, a demagoge and manipulator. First, you attribute the total death count of world events to one person, and then to one feature (in one case, a falsely alleged feature) of their personality. That's like saying that Bill Gates is as rich as he is because he has a nose. Nevermind that lots of other people with noses aren't that rich, nor is it a general feature of people with noses to be rich - uh, sorry, lots of atheists never killed anyone, nor is it a general feature of atheism to kill people.

    Your argument is entirely fraudulent in every step. You fail to establish causation, you don't even try. Your entire argument boils down to "look, here is three evil people, here is something they had in common, therefore that thing is really, really evil". Oh yes, and all that is graciously ignoring that you are dead wrong on one of them.

    I despise cheap rhetorics like this. I hate it when it is false-to-facts.

    --
    Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
  242. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    These 5 pillars completely take out of context, 900 years of history, and the entirety of the hate-filled scripture, and the tribal traditions of racial and sexist bigotry. Yes, it's true that the judeo-christian scripture has a lot of pretty unacceptable stuff in it, but there are strong traditions and sects that specifically rule-out taking that text literally. (while - scriptural-inerrancy is on the rise in the past two decades, overall, it has been in decline, as an ideology, within both judaism and christianity).

    There are sects within islam, which do not take scripture fully literally, (like sufism). But for the rest; they've been exceedingly vulnerable to militant branches coming in and radicalizing the mainstream sects.

    I know quite a few muslims myself, and I don't personally know any of the "kill anyone who insults mohommad" types. But this tendency towards radicalism is pretty frightening to a committed infidel like myself. And if you only look at those 5 pillars of faith, it's an extremely nearsighted, and willfully ignorant view of the whole picture. The 5 pillars don't happen in a vaccum.

  243. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by downhole · · Score: 2

    I'm somewhat sympathetic to that point of view, but if the sane Muslims want to be seen as the majority, they need to be seen to be cracking down on their extremists rather than shielding them. When at attack like 9/11 happens and the first thing out of the mouths of every major Muslim spokesperson is "Don't you dare even think about profiling Arabs/Mulims!" then people are going to look at all of them a lot more suspiciously. Why isn't the first and only thing out of their mouths after a major attack "God damn those murderous maniacs for attacking my country!"

    I'm sure somebody will point out a few quotes from spokespeople saying just that. The trouble is, they never seem to be the majority or to have the loudest voices. Better fix that, or that global war between Islam and nonbelievers that the extremists are hoping for might just happen someday, and I don't think the results will be what they expect.

    --
    I don't reply to ACs
  244. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Tom · · Score: 1

    For reference, here are the 5 fundamental practices of Islam:

    That's like quoting the 10 commandments and saying "that's christianity". You are missing vital parts of the whole picture, and you are missing the fact that religions are cultural phenomena that go beyond the written word and into practices, rituals and the like.

    --
    Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
  245. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    bullseye!

  246. GOD win Re:God fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    As a believer I fully support the parent post.

    The all-powerful, all-knowing, eternal, GOD that exists despite and beyond all human puny logic, puerile rationality, or drab stupidity doesn't give a shit about:
    - non-belief and proselytizing (you'll know soon enough anyway)
    - punishment (that's a human thing unworthy of GOD. GOD is not a sadist)
    - sin (the concept of sin is an unneeded over-complication in addition to being mostly about politics. No one needs "sin" to differ right from wrong, those who can't make out the differences won't care either way)
    - sexual preferences (all too human)
    - muddled abstract concepts like love (marriage) or friendship (again this is just human distractions)
    - whatever wrong and insane evil etc. is done to you or me (GOD is not a caricature of your mum)
    - being adulated and praised (GOD is not some tacky superhero for us to cheer on)
    - theology (making even less sense out of ideas embellished by human fancy beyond recognition)
    - politics (again: GOD is not a sadist)

    The human condition is likely fluff, with our lives also fluff, and if so then no matter how gruesome or nice your existence is it is only to set default states for what comes after: we do not matter yet. We are being randomized, and it ought to be fucking obvious.

    GOD is both the source and more than everything we know of and most religious people don't get it in the slightest and don't grasp any of the consequences.

    And fuck islam and all other manipulative non-voluntary political ideologies. Hell fuck most of humanity since we're all assholes anyway but then again a lot of us at least try to be civil or even kind about it (and that's fucking awesome, well done to you).

    1. Re:GOD win Re:God fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Please somebody translate that into arabic, urdu, farsi, malay, indonesian etc. and spread it everywhere.

  247. Re:Public order be damned!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It needs to be SFW if you want it to go viral. Just hang a sign on a teddy bear saying that the bear's name is Muhammad (or have one bear for every variation of the spelling because apparently no one can agree on how it's supposed to be spelled when it's translated from Arabic). It's cute and blasphemous!

    Oh, and just to be fair, also include a devil bear, a Jesus bear, a Moses bear, a David bear, a Buddha bear, a Ghandi bear, a Joseph Smith bear, an L. Rob Hubbard bear, a Confucius bear, a Laozi bear, a Nanak Dev bear, and whatever other bears named after religious leaders you want. Put a sign in the back saying, "Whosoever believes death should come to those who posted or created this image, should just kill yourself because humanity would be better off without you."

  248. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hitler wasn't an atheist, he was a Christian.

  249. Appeasement of Islam/Muslims by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    While those acts themselves weren't appeasing, every other policy adapted in the West - whether it was about profiling Muslims regarding any terror activities, pandering to their wishes which later became demands, and so on, by BOTH the Left and the Right, has been appeasement. Whether it was the issue of the mosque at ground zero, repeated apologies by the US military over the mistreatment of Qurans, allowing Muslim women to get photos taken in their burqhas, having footbasins in MN airports or UMI for Muslims to do their wudu, the Brits making sure that tombstones face Mecca while commodes don't, giving halal meals to everybody regardless of whether or not they are Muslims just to pander to them, providing Muslim criminals choice Islamic gourmets, to name just a few, definitely constitutes appeasement by Western society at large. Something that renders irrelevant all the Jihadi campaigns against America - Osama's dream to see Islam dominate the West is coming true without his minions having to do anything.

    And it is in that context that the above story should be taken. Having seen how, despite a string of terror attacks, the West has grown more, not less accommodating of Muslims/Islam, the Muslims are escalating their thuggery and their demands. A Danish and French paper publish cartoons of Mohammed - Muslims react in rage to demonstrate that they are not fanatical (which is what the cartoons were illustrating). An American blogger creates an 'Everybody draw Mohammed Day' on Facebook, and is subjected to death threats, and is finally forced to go into hiding. This is not happening in Riyadh or Teheran or Islamabad - it's happening in the US!!! Somebody makes a movie about Mohammed, and is sent to jail. And while some Mohammedans are only too happy to claim credit for it, others are still livid and want to go out and burn Western embassies, since the entire West must be complicit in all this, right? And then the 50 odd members of the OIC, which is today the largest bloc in the UN, push an agenda of making blasphemy against Islam illegal worldwide (lets face it - Islamic claims about Christianity or Judaism won't fall under that, and nor should that even exist as a law), and not much resistance is shown by non-Muslim members of the UN. So you have Interpol issuing a warrant for a Saudi blogger, while now,the OIC wants to censor the Internet, since that's where the biggest opposition to both Islam and Muslims - individual opposition - is demonstrated.

    Therefore, the GP is right - either the world will be dominated by Islam, or we'll be in a world war. Unlike all previous wars, the enemy - Muslims - are well behind our frontlines, so a mere 'nuke Mecca' strategy just wouldn't do. What is needed is a wholesale deportation of all Muslims to the 50 odd countries that constitute dar ul Islam, while all non-Muslims from there should be welcomed out. Once that is done, just quarantine them - make it illegal for Muslims to live outside their empire, which is big enough as it is, stretching from Senegal to Brunei, and then we don't need to bother about Muslims. Let them make their own internet, or marry 6 year olds, or stone rape victims for adultery, or whatever. But at least, we won't need to live with it - and our societies will be a lot better off for it.

  250. Thinking about how to frame this in Slashdot terms by zuki · · Score: 1

    Maybe we should reword this and describe this situation in tech terms.

    Those wah-wah-bytes are really butthurt because they are very much like the classic monopolist telcos, some patent trolls, the **IAAs or anyone else who wants to continue to operate by steamrolling their competition, buying the laws to do this if necessary.

    They have been historically accustomed to doing whatever they wanted, and are ready to go to any length to protect that monopoly. Just like the telco suing a town for giving its residents free wi-fi. Not so, you need to go through us...

    And the wah-wah-bytes in question are certainly not ready to share these sophisticated mind control networks that took hundreds of years to build and maintain.

    Why should anyone else have the right to be heard?

    What's next after that, they're going to have to share the last mile of their brainwashing wires to let competing and unlicensed carriers deliver services over what they've built? Imagine! Suddenly having to allow others to freely voice their opinions, and for those opinions to be broadcast and heard without any control... that's just unheard of!

    We should also takes these comments with a grain of salt, it's a show purely being put out for the home crowd to notice. The dudes saying this certainly aren't dumb enough to actually believe that it would work, but since Pakistan's prime minister clamored for the same thing the other day, they don't want to be less devout than the guy down the street and feel obligated to raise the stakes a bit higher on the BUPD scale (blind unconditional prophetic devotion).

    But truly, once framed in corporate terms, all of it seems very far from outlandish. Quite the contrary, actually.... very practical and coherent.

  251. Re:Hitler used Religion. Argument fail. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It would be nice if you applied this same sort of reasoning to atheism, which you so obviously despise and attribute to evil.

  252. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Many muslims will ask you not to appease Saudi Arabia before any thing, and to ban their islamic schools worldwide. Things will be a lot better after that!

  253. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Vermonter · · Score: 1

    Hitler... a Christian? Really? The same guy who said he intended "to stamp out Christianity root and branch."? I suggest looking at sources besides blatantly anti-christian, pro-atheism sites such as "nobeliefs.com". For example, http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1699/was-hitler-a-christian or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_views_of_Adolf_Hitler Stalin exploited religion. How about that... exploitation to further his goals. This does nothing to disprove what I claimed. The same with Mao. They were mass murderers who did not ascribe to any religion. If Mao had been a follower of a religion, I imagine you would pin that on his religion. Lastly, my original point still stands undisputed. The OP made the claim that Christianity has killed hundreds of millions of people, and then failed to back up those numbers. I got him started by listing about 150,019 deaths. I am waiting for citations for the remaining 99+ million.

  254. I demand a call for ... by Skapare · · Score: 1

    ... elimination of stupid people in the Middle East.

    If it insults Islam, then don't watch it. Problem solved. The infidels won't care.

    As for the First Amendment in the USA, it will stay. The Second Amendment protects it. If you don't like that, then try some economic sanctions.

    --
    now we need to go OSS in diesel cars
    1. Re:I demand a call for ... by DirtyLiar · · Score: 1

      ... elimination of stupid people in the Middle East.

      Why stop there? Idiots infest every country.

      --

      THINK! It's patriotic

  255. Re:Public order be damned!!! by couchslug · · Score: 2

    If you are a Linux user you can still boot headless.

    --
    "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
  256. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by couchslug · · Score: 1

    All religion is evil because it is a tool to exalt men over other men that they may rule them.

    All religion is evil because it substitutes dogma for the search for truth.

    All religion is evil because there is zero evidence for /Deity.

    Islam is evil because, IN PRACTICE, it creates theocratic oppressive societies. I don't give a shit about the THEORETICAL "fundamental practices". Reality trumps theory.

    I defy you to name an Islamist society as free as the secular societies in Western Europe. Do it now or fuck off.

    --
    "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
  257. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by kermidge · · Score: 1

    Morality and the like are used as PR to sell a war to populace; this doesn't negate the reasons korgitser gave.

  258. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by lorenlal · · Score: 1

    I, for one, would welcome our bunnicular overlords... cute cute overlords and their invisible pink horned pony sentinels.

  259. Re:Energy independence by Ralph+Spoilsport · · Score: 1

    Don't worry about it. It will happen naturally. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Export_Land_Model

    --
    Shoes for Industry. Shoes for the Dead.
  260. Re:The real problem is Belief. Not Religion. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Like you hinted on as well: the group mentality.

  261. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hitler no.

  262. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You "creeping sharia" nutjobs are insane. Do you honestly think that non-Muslims are going to accept such a radical change in their lifestyle?

  263. Re:Public order be damned!!! by Rakarra · · Score: 1

    In this day and age, a cartoon about someone having sex with a pig would probably be considered more SFW than "insults to Muhammad."

  264. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Rakarra · · Score: 1

    Moreover, the US rationale for this was always the perception of the superior morality of the American way, not some logical, scientific argument. Why are you complaining when other countries notice what yours does, and try to do the same?

    Because the US's morality system is far superior?

  265. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by blade8086 · · Score: 1

    And if the core tenets of believing in the FSM is that you *should* murder people for pasta sauce meatballs, it's no problem for the beliver as long as he/she doesn't do it? I believe in their right to believe that as well, but I wouldn't
    wish it for them, would you?

    And no - you cannot do this with the christian bible. the christian bible is specifically the new testament, which outlines the method and means with which to properly interpret those incitements you speak of. Find me the passage in the gospels or the epistles where Jesus commands his disciples or a disciple commmands other christians to rape and murder, and that following the mosaic law to the letter is the 'correct path', rather than 'righteous application' of the spirit of the law.

    Incorrect application of the old testament yes, but this very clearly is *not* provided for *at all* in the concrete texts
    of the new testament.

    The islamic holy book proscribes these types of things directly, and was directly penned by muhammed, who himself is absolutely, consistently, without fail, honored as the 'final prophet of god' in islam.

    just because they are religions, does not mean they are theologically the same.

    I do agree that many many muslims are far better people than I.

    It does not mean that their faith is not founded on clearly and directly defined abhorrent theological falsehoods.

    people != theology.

  266. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The ones you perceive to be promoting hatred and violence are probably the ones your media portrays as promoting hatred and violence

  267. America without free speech is not America by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Back to the 7th century?
    Like hell.

  268. I think everyone knows.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Everyone knows by now that the murder of the ambassador was not caused by the video. It was Obama's policy that cause them. It was all planed out in advance, and it was known it was going to happen, the ambassador asked for more help, but was denied it by Obama. Besides, why did this one video make them mad, and not the other 10 million anti-Muslim videos on the net?

  269. subject by Legion303 · · Score: 1

    I have a better idea. Why don't you eat a big bowl of fucking dicks, Saudi Arabia?

  270. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 1

    "And no - you cannot do this with the christian bible. the christian bible is specifically the new testament,"

    Wrong from the outset... no more argument needed.

  271. Re:Public order be damned!!! by zoloto · · Score: 1

    Honestly. Truly. And absolutely 100% seriously. I would stand between you and them. No one should suffer for the decisions they make religiously and using their freedom of speech.

  272. Too narrow. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Correct, but overly narrow.

    All human social structures and attendant value systems eventually devolve into violence and bigotry. It's part of human evolution, specifically group selection. We intrinsically see people who believe the same things we do as good and decent and people who are different from us as not quite people. Murder is wrong; war is justified. We're hard-working; they're just greedy parasites. Etc. We're tribal creatures. Pack animals.

    Religion is just the most historically common system of values shared by large groups of people. In the short time that atheism has had a chance to be a majority value system in parts of the world in the 20th century, it's already given us bad apples like the Soviet Union and the Khmer Rouge. Banishing religion is no cure for violence and bigotry. Just the rhetoric in this thread reveals how much bigotry such a sentiment holds in and of itself.

    It's not religion that's the problem. It's humanity. Hell, just look at how much anger and hate erupts over even more frivolous divisions like favorite sports teams or brands of products.

  273. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Your ignorance is on bold display here:

    The US Civil War? Not about the slaves, but it did use the promised freedom of slaves as a way to use them behind enemy lines

    There were two main political parties in the US... the Whigs and the Democrats. More territories were about to be converted into states and the Democrats wanted those new states to be states where slavery was legal; that in-turn would mean those states would send representatives to Washington who supported slavery. The Whigs were "moderates"... they cared about money matters but just did not want to get involved in "morals"; they did not wish to oppose the Democrats on the whole slavery thing. Many northern Christians did, in fact, care and they formed a new crazy right-wing religious extremist party called the "Republican Party" to oppose the new states being slave states.

    Those average God-fearing northern voters who opposed slavery abandoned the Whigs and went with the new Republican party and, as a result, the Republican candidate (a funny looking guy with a thin scratchy voice named Abraham Lincoln, who had a track-record of being opposed to slavery) won the Presidency. As a result, the south feared that Lincoln would interfere in their slave ownership (either directly, or over the long-run... by having all new states be non-slavery states) so they launched the civil war under the slogan "State's Rights"... but the ONLY "state's right" they cared about was the so-called "right" of rich Democrats to own black people.

    Yes, you are correct that Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation during the war as a tactic... and, yes, it is even true that a war-weary Lincoln once said that if he could preserve the Union by signing it he would, but that if he could preserve the Union by not signing it he'd do that too... but the plain historical facts are that (a) Lincoln opposed slavery and the Democrats were so convinced of his opposition to it that they divided the nation over it (b) Lincoln did indeed free the slaves (c) the Democrats started the war in order to keep the "right" to own black people.

    I know, some lefty will be upset I associated Democrats with slavery... But I refuse to tip-toe around historical facts where evil is concerned... EVERY slave owner in American history was a Democrat and after they lost the civil war it was Democrats who started the KKK (which used to call for death for both blacks AND Republicans)

    You need to take a little time to study the Lincoln-Douglas debates...

  274. And this is precisely why... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The world is best served by the internet being under US control. The US is the home of the 1st Amendment (to the US Constitution) and the US has a two-century-plus long track record of defending speech of all sorts, even when that speech is very offensive to the most deeply-held religious beliefs of the majority of its citizens.

    Until another country can demonstrate the same dedication to the "free speech" and "freedom of religion" (which is essentially a freedom of belief and thought) principles, people of the world should oppose the transfer of the authority away from the US. Other militarily powerful nations like China and Russia have a demonstrated disdain for that freedom. Every Muslim nation has demonstrated its hatred for these basic freedoms... to the degree that any Muslim nation that takes its faith seriously will kill people for simply abandoning the religion (as that one particular religion demands). Most European nations and Canada have already demonstrated a desperate desire to appease Muslims and a willingness to suppress freedoms to do that.

  275. Nobody takes religidiot regimes seriously anyway by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No one sane would ever seriously consider passing any legislation that the Saudi Arabian junta wants. Why can't our governments show some backbone, and publically ridicule these religious fascist regimes. It is the plans for internet censorship and monitoring in the west, that are far more worrying, since they could actually be forced upon us, by the various levels of corporate totalitarian regimes that govern some western countries.
    There is no excuse for allowing the mental molestation that is practiced by the organised religion of these regimes. If you don't oppose, your appease.
    Remember, sending children to be indoctrinated by a religion, is just another form of child molestation. Sick, and very twisted.

  276. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Tom · · Score: 1

    Even the links you provide don't support your own position. At best, it is uncertain whether or not Hitler was privately a devout believer or not. However, just like Stalin with the orthodox church, Hitler extensively dealt with the church and even gave it additional privileges that it did not have before.

    They were mass murderers who did not ascribe to any religion

    Yes, and they also had noses. Two of them had a beard. They wore socks. You still fail to establish even the flimsiest excuse for a causal connection. And you still think that an individual can change world history all on his own. Every historian I know would cringe at the thought, because you are ignoring the entire context that made people like these possible. Hitler born in a different time or a different place wouldn't have gone anywhere. He is not the sole or even primary causation of WW2 or the related events, he is just a convenient focus point, one participant in a vast network.

    If Mao had been a follower of a religion, I imagine you would pin that on his religion.

    That is another assumption with no evidence whatsoever.

    The OP made the claim that Christianity has killed hundreds of millions of people, and then failed to back up those numbers. I got him started by listing about 150,019 deaths. I am waiting for citations for the remaining 99+ million.

    That's an argument you have with the OP. Your argument with me is your claim that atheism is responsible for millions of deaths, and you have no provided even a shred of evidence.

    If you attribute every death that occured in the widest possible sense in relation to the three names you mentioned to atheism, then you need to accept the same kind of argument for the counterpoint, meaning every death that occured in the remote vicinity of a ruler with a christian belief can be attributed to the christian faith. In that case, you will find hundreds of millions an understatement.

    So, you are refusing a claim made by the OP, but then turn around and use an even weaker line of reasoning for your own agenda. That is the point that I am not willing to accept.

    --
    Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
  277. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's funny, that's exactly my worry, only regards Christian idiots.

  278. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by lsatenstein · · Score: 1

    It's going to happen some day. The world will be dominated by Islamic idiots because the rest of the world will do nothing but appease them.

    One little tragic baby step at a time.

    =======
    If this happens, it will not only be the Muslims, but the political parties currently in power in every country on every continent.

    I think it is already happening in Australia.

    --
    Leslie Satenstein Montreal Quebec Canada
  279. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Those who HAVE studied Islam in depth, like me, know it to be , unfortunately, a deeply disturbing and violent book.. containing warped versions of islamic practices that existed in peaceful forms long before Mohamad, who did NOT invent islam, incidentally.It is full of inhuman dictates that need to be carries d out on the penalty if death,(which is why there are so many different proscribed forms of death to be carried out), full of absurdities on how to deal with a situation of a 9 year old "deflowered" wife, or that the disciples of Jesus sent an imposter in his place to be tortured and hung on the cross, while the real Jesus happily skipped out of town to heaven, and is still on his way there and back! Read it for yourself, it's all there.. Although most muslims (like people everywhere else in the world) are decent people who likely skip over the disturbing parts, there's plenty of fodder in there for hate.. also.. It is NOT a "religion of Peace, in any way..

  280. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    PS I meant to say "Those who have studied Islam AND THE KORAN in depth,,

  281. I think by NewYork · · Score: 1

    Politics/patriotism/democracy/religion/corporations are Ponzi/Pyramid schemes.

  282. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The issue is that the non militant muslims (and this is the vast majority) do not stop the militant ones. We had (and have still) militant christians. Or people that call themselves so. Groups like the KKK. The rest of the community stopped them from their actions.

    When the Muslim community does this as a matter of course, they will be folded into the greater community.

    You don't see Buddhist bashing, do you?

  283. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by dbjh · · Score: 1

    If he is wrong, please explain. Now it is just your yes against his no. You are claiming something without proof -- you do not even provide an argument. Instead of saying you can do that equally with the christian bible, please do it. *That* would actually be an argument.

  284. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by uninformedLuddite · · Score: 1

    I bet you're a liberal who thinks that Jihad means personal struggle too. At least that's what you tell your nerdy liberal friends when you sit around drinking wine wanking on about how great all this tolerance is.

    --
    The new right fascists are bilingual. They speak English and Bullshit.
  285. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by uninformedLuddite · · Score: 1

    It won't be a global war. It will be in your neighbourhood in a decade or so.

    --
    The new right fascists are bilingual. They speak English and Bullshit.
  286. Censorship is for cowards by DirtyLiar · · Score: 1

    If you are afraid that your ideas can't stand on their own without being crushed by different ideas, there is always a "crying need" for censorship.

    Those who believe, "The Truth will Out", and are interested in the truth, don't need censorship.

    --

    THINK! It's patriotic

  287. Re:Public order be damned!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Still alive? Just checking to see how long it will take.

  288. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by siddesu · · Score: 1

    No, they are not only simple PR tools, they live a life on their own and can effectively influence politics.

    For example, St. R. Reagan introduced the fundamental Christian right into the US mainstream politics. This seemed like a good idea to win one election, but it has come to bite the US in the ass badly, as their influence and morality are now a much stronger factor that is shaping US policies.

    In China, xenophobic rhetoric was seen as a useful tool to create outlet for the dissatisfaction from the system, but now that the government is having trouble controlling the "nationalist" feelings of the crowd, they aren't so happy about it.

    Not everything that happens is as simple and linear as a bash script, although it does seem so at times if you look at it the slashdot user way: reading the simplified Wikipedia version and in retrospect.

  289. wtPf? by Randym · · Score: 1
    The country is looking ahead to the World Telecommunication/Information and Communication Technology Policy Forum, or WTPF.

    Does anyone else see some kind of irony here? W. T. Policy F.???

    --
    DNA is a Turing machine. You, however, being dynamic and emergent, are not.
  290. Global Body? Yes. Censorship? No. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Arabs need to be taught that they do not have a right to not be offended. Also, when they are offended they do not have a right to go berserk in the streets. We need a Global Body that will kick there asses hard when they do that. Their fucked up religion needs a Global Body to provide some discipline.

    To this end, they should be offended as often as possible in the hope that they might learn to understand that most of the world does not want their thought control.

  291. Re:One More Baby Step to Global Sharia Law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "atheistic communism in this comparison? Because Stalin (20 million), Hitler (50 Million)"

    1) Hitler was a Catholic, the slogan of the SS was "Gott mit uns" If you can explain to me why atheists would march around with "God is with us" on their belt buckles you win the internet.
    2) Hitler wasn't a communist, and hated communists
    3) Atheism has nothing to do with communism. There are plenty of Christian and Islamic communists.

  292. Bad Example by Dreen · · Score: 1

    I googled around after that judo player - she was the first woman from SA to ever compete in the Olympics, girls arent even allowed to PE classes in SA. Thats probably why she was crap too, but it looks like her appearance on the mat was political but for the reasons of gender equality.