# I gots a bad feeling about the Pope's funeral. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 5, 2005, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-gots-a-bad-feeling-about-the-popes-funeral/297871 "2005-04-05T17:25:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-gots-a-bad-feeling-about-the-popes-funeral/297871/21 "2005-04-05T22:20:08Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Well, unless the West’s religions are all wrong. For all we know God will strike the security forces collectively blind at the right moment to permit an Aum Shinrikyo agent to slip through. If it is Allah’s will to rid the world of this Christian Scourge Band Name! then he will do it by a mighty and powerful tsunami! ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-gots-a-bad-feeling-about-the-popes-funeral/297871/22 "2005-04-05T22:37:03Z")
Has Al-Queda ever launched a strike on an explicitly christian site or event? Their MO seems to be against financial or gov’t centers located in countries they don’t like, not against christian symbols/figures/etc. I don’t think they are looking to get yet more enemies on thier case anyway. Also the Vatican under JPII was against the Iraq war. Of course Al Queda isn’t known for being reasonable, but if they have assets in Rome, I think they’d use them to hit the Italien gov’t, who were big supporters of the Iraq war at least till recently, rather then a religious ceremony held for a leader that they don’t seem to have any special problem with. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-gots-a-bad-feeling-about-the-popes-funeral/297871/23 "2005-04-05T22:44:22Z")
> [@Malodorous](#): > > Has Al-Queda ever launched a strike on an explicitly christian site or event? I thought one of their attacks in Riyadh was against Christians, but maybe it was just foreigners. The funeral would be a target, but almost any major political event is and they’ve never hit one of those either. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-gots-a-bad-feeling-about-the-popes-funeral/297871/24 "2005-04-05T23:00:58Z")
let’s see. We have President Bush. We have the Pope’s funeral. We have an area of the world that is near the highest concentration of Islamicists. All three will converge on one day. Yeah, I’m guessing there is going to be a _shitload_ of US military in the area. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-gots-a-bad-feeling-about-the-popes-funeral/297871/25 "2005-04-05T23:18:03Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > let’s see. We have President Bush. We have the Pope’s funeral. We have an area of the world that is near the highest concentration of Islamicists. All three will converge on one day. They’re going to have the Pope’s funeral in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malaysia, or Indonesia? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-gots-a-bad-feeling-about-the-popes-funeral/297871/26 "2005-04-05T23:58:07Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > They’re going to have the Pope’s funeral in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malaysia, or Indonesia? :eek: You do realize ‘near’ is a relative term. In the context I used it I was referring to the proximity of Muslim nations to Italy. But maybe the need to crack wise was just to much to handle? I understand. I’ve done it as well. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2005, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-gots-a-bad-feeling-about-the-popes-funeral/297871/27 "2005-04-06T00:55:41Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > You do realize ‘near’ is a relative term. On the scale of the solar system, the moon is pressing down on my head, too. ---
**Author:** ![Merhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Merhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merhouse)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2005, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-gots-a-bad-feeling-about-the-popes-funeral/297871/28 "2005-04-06T01:06:12Z")
> [@Stranger On A Train](#): > > I’m sure Bypass Dick is secure in a non-disclosed location. I hope that inspires you to some degree of confidence. :dubious: > > Stranger I must admit, this was my immediate thought as soon as I read the OP. Now **you** should be very scared 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Good\_Egg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Good\_Egg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Good_Egg)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2005, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-gots-a-bad-feeling-about-the-popes-funeral/297871/29 "2005-04-06T01:28:15Z")
Isn’t there a solar eclipse Friday? Theres a sign for sure. No, I’m serious. Now I’m going to be glued to the tube then. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2005, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-gots-a-bad-feeling-about-the-popes-funeral/297871/30 "2005-04-06T01:51:44Z")
Dang, if there isn’t going to be an [eclipse.](http://sify.com/news/othernews/fullstory.php?id=13710752) Visible mostly in New Zealand. But, I wonder if any kind of radar jamming can happen so that something sinister and bad will occur. Hey, let me write out my DaVinci Code meets JFK-Grassy Knoll theory, m’kay? Where is Donald Sutherland when we need him to advance the plot along in a timely fashion? ---
**Author:** ![Good\_Egg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Good\_Egg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Good_Egg)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2005, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-gots-a-bad-feeling-about-the-popes-funeral/297871/31 "2005-04-06T03:19:06Z")
🆒 ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2005, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-gots-a-bad-feeling-about-the-popes-funeral/297871/32 "2005-04-06T03:59:08Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > Ever since I heard Bush was going to be attending the Pope’s funeral on Friday, the first president to do so, all my brain has been thinking about is: Al Queda…and a plot to wipe out loads of dignitaries and whatnot. > > It’s not that I don’t have faith in Italian Military, but…If I were a Evil Overlord, Friday would be a day to do some major damages to the Evil Christian Front (even if they are Papists.) 🙂 > > Just thought I would share my train of thoughts. The WTC was one thing, but attacking and defacing the Pope’s funeral? I’m not worried. Even AQ isn’t that stupid. ---
**Author:** ![WeRSauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f19dbf/32.png) [@WeRSauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WeRSauron)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2005, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-gots-a-bad-feeling-about-the-popes-funeral/297871/33 "2005-04-06T04:53:22Z")
I think the response from Muslims themselves would be such that Muslim terrorists would refrain from targetting the Holy Father’s funeral. The Pope was a friend of Muslims and a tireless campaigner for world peace, almost always opposing any armed initiatives against Muslim nations. I remember a number of Muslims praising the Vatican for siding with Muslims on various moral issues (birth-control, abortion, war, etc.). If AQ did something on Friday, I think lots of Muslims would be very, very upset. But then, militants of all types have their own process of reasoning. For their sake, I hope they don’t do anything. The world’s reaction would not be pretty. WRS ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2005, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-gots-a-bad-feeling-about-the-popes-funeral/297871/34 "2005-04-06T06:22:10Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > The WTC was one thing, but attacking and defacing the Pope’s funeral? I’m not worried. Even AQ isn’t that stupid. True enough. [Two billion Christians](http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html) raining fire and brimstone (and a couple two three missles as well) against 1.3 billion Muslims, possibly with a mind to target Mecca and Medina in retaliation, just doesn’t seem like fair odds. :shudder: ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2005, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-gots-a-bad-feeling-about-the-popes-funeral/297871/35 "2005-04-06T12:15:48Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > Yeah, I’m guessing there is going to be a _shitload_ of US military in the area. Hell, even with the other three issues aside, it’ my understanding that there’s a pretty significant protective force around the president pretty much whenever. Add in other world leaders and the significance of the event and I’m guessing a metal detector would be beeping like it was sending Morse code. ---
**Author:** ![UnwrittenNocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6de8d8/32.png) [@UnwrittenNocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnwrittenNocturne)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2005, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-gots-a-bad-feeling-about-the-popes-funeral/297871/36 "2005-04-06T12:48:54Z")
While I have often daydreamed about a large number of the world’s ‘leaders’ being in one place… I cannot see any organisation going after the Pope’s funeral. He was stridently anti the war in Iraq and not anti-Islam. It would prove counterproductive ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2005, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-gots-a-bad-feeling-about-the-popes-funeral/297871/37 "2005-04-06T12:59:02Z")
Is Jodie Foster going to be there? If not, no worries. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2005, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-gots-a-bad-feeling-about-the-popes-funeral/297871/38 "2005-04-06T14:08:41Z")
Shhhh, you guys! Stop giving them ideas! Besides, they’ve obviously planted someone on the inside, who’s been cleverly posing as a cardinal for _years_. When he’s elected Pope, we’ll have to do what he says! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-gots-a-bad-feeling-about-the-popes-funeral/297871.md?page=1)