Re: Debbie Schlussel and the Atheists=Radical Islamists comment.
I have seen some rational commentary (need I say, not by her) that Europe (which is much more secular than the U.S.) is hosting an increasingly radical and powerful Islamist element, and that part of the cause is that the general tolerance and lack of interest in religion there offers no strong opposition to immigrants who import strong, even rabid, Islamic beliefs. I can see how that might make sense to a degree. I’m betting it’s a LOT more complicated than that one element, but it makes sense that this could be a contributing factor.
Schlussel seems to have taken this and run all the way to Idiotville with it. Secular Europe has rising Islamist power. Therefore secularism in a society leads to Islamicism. Therefore individual atheists are going to become Islamist militants. Therefore an atheist is pretty much an Islamist militant. I’m not even going to try to unpack all the logical fallacies in that “argument.” But if you were wondering where she came up with it, I believe that is the source.
My understanding has been that the problem in Europe is due to a long history of ghettoization of muslims, whereas the muslim experience in America has been characterized by greater opportunities. Thus, European muslims are radicalizing where American muslims are hopeful about their futures.
Well, yeah. You shoulda gotten that memo. I totally mailed it. It’s probably at your house right now.
All the way? She’s been ensconced there with a monitoring anklet and her car keys taken away for years.
olivesmarch4th: It sounds like you wound up with all the good family members. I’ve always wondered where they went to. Congratulations to you and to them.
Dio’s response was informative, and more or less answered my question. Your response, on the other hand, was not informative and did not answer my question.
Wow. You really do just need to shut the hell up! All of your problems are created in your own little head. I grew up in Tampa. There’s no mob of fanatical Christians running around shunning your atheism. Fuck! Stop being so damned smug.
I dont believe in Jesus or any God. It’s never been a big deal, no one has ever looked at me differently or oppressed my beliefs or any of the other bullshit you’re saying. But I also dont feel the need to run around screaming “I’m an atheist! Stop oppressing me! I’m grand! I’m different!”
Just fucking get over yourself. No one gives a shit that you’re an atheist. Certainly no one in Tampa. You’re not living in the bible belt or fucking Utah for christs sake.
I get a good laugh at religious towns like here in Georgia where there is actually a “FAITH” section of the Newspaper. But I dont feel discriminated against because of it. I dont feel the need to remind everyone that I don’t share their beliefs. The same way I dont go around bragging that my favorite color is blue, and mentioning to everyone how much I like blue. And then feeling banished from a society the majority of which is more likeing to yellow.
Who the fuck cares?!
I’ll say it again. Shut the fuck up, Auntbeast. You’re not being discriminated against, and nobody gives a shit what your beliefs are. They dont care if you’re agnostic, atheist, or whatever. The only person who thinks it is an issue is YOU. So. Shut. Up.
It’s not an issue at all in Tampa. I have no idea where that poster is coming from. If he/she is having those types of arguments with friends, then maybe it’s time for new friends?
If I made friends with all Jehovah’s Witnesses, and then later bitched that none of them shared my beliefs… whose fault is that? That poster should tell the friends to stop sending her stupid emails. End of story.
If you keep accepting the emails and not saying anything to the friend. But you get all upset and butt hurt about it. Fuck, that’s your fault. Tell your friend to fuck off. Get a new friend if she doesn’t listen. Don’t preach about how the whole world is against you! :rolleyes:
I would have rather seen Dawkins rip some brand new assholes in the original panel, but I’m glad to see that CNN is feeling enough heat (apparently) to actually give an atheist a say about this story.
Likewise, your commment to me was uninformed and random. Tdn asked for a Readers Digest version of the videos. I gave him what he asked for. He thanked me. Then, you swooped in…
You did, however (and I don’t blame you for this), neglect to mention the 2nd part of the 2nd video. I watched it last night, and I was appalled at the incredible vortex of stoopid.
One thing stuck out in the maelstrom of idiocity, and that was the greeting card comment. Imagine if I said that, say, blacks should just shut up and that if they only had greeting cards they would stop whining. How offensive would that be? I hope that woman gets her ass handed to her tonight.
BTW, who were those three? Am I supposed to know who they are? I don’t watch CNN normally.
Neither whites nor Christians are a minority, and I think overweight people are discriminated against.
Are those the best examples you could find, though? That CNN spot is so over-the-top; how could you not react to it? Kind of like asking the black people in the audience for that Michael Richards act not to complain about it.
Be that as it may, it doesn’t mean that people who are white or people who are Christian cannot be persecuted (the original term used by Johnny Angel, or discriminated against, your term). For one thing, a person may be white or Christian (or both) and still be a part of some persecuted minority. Like poor white Appalachian trash snake handlers. Their poverty puts them in a persecuted class. But aside from the excluded middle fallacy, it is also possible to persecute a majority class. Power-greedy lawmakers or business tycoons, for example, may abuse the entire general populace in which the vast majority of people have no jurisprudential doctorate.
I’m kind of annoyed that they’re paring down the Dawkins interview (no doubt so they can edit Zahn into the best light possible and get rid of any overly embarrassing points scored by Dawkins), but I’m slightly heartened by addition of Chris Hitchens to a panel discussion. Even though he’ll still be outnumbered, Hitch is NEVER outmatched and has no tolerance for fools. This could be entertaining.