# Protesters storm US embasy...in Cairo??

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesters-storm-us-embasy-in-cairo/634420>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [September 11, 2012, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesters-storm-us-embasy-in-cairo/634420 "2012-09-11T18:53:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesters-storm-us-embasy-in-cairo/634420/1 "2012-09-11T18:53:35Z")

</div>

😕 Woah…this is a wtf moment. Why the hell are protesters [storming our embassy in Cairo](http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/11/world/meast/egpyt-us-embassy-protests/index.html?hpt=hp_t1)? What movie are they talking about (obviously the folks at CNN have no idea)?? I mean, I can see why the average Egyptian would be no fan of the US, since we were a factor in propping up the previous regime, but why the hell are they storming our embassy now and tearing up the flag over some film that even they seem uncertain about (assuming CNN’s questions to the folks there were pertinent)?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesters-storm-us-embasy-in-cairo/634420/2 "2012-09-11T19:27:18Z")

</div>

My guess is that the crowds believe that the USA is propping up the military (a not unreasonable assumption).  
I think we should lodge a stern protest.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesters-storm-us-embasy-in-cairo/634420/3 "2012-09-11T19:32:33Z")

</div>

Al Jazeera has slightly more detail on the film:

> [@](#):
>
> Nearly 3,000 demonstrators, most of them Islamist supporters of the Salafist movement or football fans, gathered on Tuesday at the embassy in protest over an amateur film deemed offensive to the Prophet Muhammad which was produced by expatriate members of Egypt’s Christian minority resident in the US.

Sounds like something that might not have seen much if any distribution in the US but which has been passed around as an OUTRAGE in Egypt.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesters-storm-us-embasy-in-cairo/634420/4 "2012-09-11T20:08:27Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> Islamist supporters of the Salafist movement or football fan

Heh. Hooligan Islamists. Anyway, you give them $2bn / year. Just remember that you can’t buy love.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesters-storm-us-embasy-in-cairo/634420/5 "2012-09-11T20:33:29Z")

</div>

> [@ralph124c](#):
>
> My guess is that the crowds believe that the USA is propping up the military (a not unreasonable assumption).  
> I think we should lodge a stern protest.

With which side?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesters-storm-us-embasy-in-cairo/634420/6 "2012-09-11T21:42:14Z")

</div>

Gotta love this:

> [@](#):
>
> Mohammed al-Zawahiri – the brother of al Qaeda’s leader Ayman al-Zawahiri – added that “we called for the peaceful protest joined by different Islamic factions including the Islamic Jihad, Hazem Abu Ismael movement.”
> 
> “We were surprised to see the big numbers show up including the soccer Ultra fans,” he said. “I just want to say, how would the Americans feel if films insulting leading Christian figures like the pope or historical figures like Abraham Lincoln were produced?”

[Um…](http://kurtodrome.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/vhunter1.jpg)

[…yeah.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43IyLrTXY7g#t=0m57s)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesters-storm-us-embasy-in-cairo/634420/7 "2012-09-11T22:19:45Z")

</div>

> [@Rune](#):
>
> Heh. Hooligan Islamists. Anyway, you give them $2bn / year. Just remember that you can’t buy love.

$1.2 billion, and it’s not to buy love. It’s to get them to recognize the State of Israel.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesters-storm-us-embasy-in-cairo/634420/8 "2012-09-11T22:28:25Z")

</div>

> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#):
>
> $1.2 billion, and it’s not to buy love. It’s to get them to recognize the State of Israel.

Didn’t they already do that? Or do you have to pay them every year for them to re-recognize it? Like an automatically renewing subscription. Can’t be a terrible sincere recognition. Or perhaps you feel you have to pay them so they do cause too much trouble. But that sounds awfully close to tribute, and that can’t be true because I know you spend millions on defence and not a single cent on tribute, and $1.2 bn / year on tribute is more than a cent. Anyway, I’m sure there are plenty of poor Americans that would like a bit of those billions. They might even recognise Israel for it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesters-storm-us-embasy-in-cairo/634420/9 "2012-09-11T22:31:11Z")

</div>

There’s also a Pit thread about this (primarily focused on the traditional “we’re sorry someone offended Muslims and religious tolerance is important” apology). But I have to say- if there was a large protest and the worst thing that happened is a flag being torn down and/or burned, that’s much closer to an appropriate response than riots, looting, mass arson, shooting, and bombs, all of which has happened before under similar circumstances. But at some point I’d like to see deliberate provocations of Muslims met with the really appropriate responses- yawns and humor.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesters-storm-us-embasy-in-cairo/634420/10 "2012-09-11T22:34:35Z")

</div>

> [@Rune](#):
>
> Didn’t they already do that? Or do you have to pay them every year for them to re-recognize it? Like an automatically renewing subscription. Can’t be a terrible sincere recognition. Or perhaps you feel you have to pay them so they do cause too much trouble. But that sounds awfully close to tribute, and that can’t be true because I know you spend millions on defence and not a single cent on tribute, and $1.2 bn / year on tribute is more than a cent. Anyway, I’m sure there are plenty of poor Americans that would like a bit of those billions. They might even recognise Israel for it.

It’s an annual subscription, and poor Americans don’t have tanks and strike aircraft.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesters-storm-us-embasy-in-cairo/634420/11 "2012-09-11T23:04:54Z")

</div>

> [@Chessic\_Sense](#):
>
> Gotta love this:
> 
> [Um…](http://kurtodrome.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/vhunter1.jpg)
> 
> […yeah.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43IyLrTXY7g#t=0m57s)

On the other hand, _The Last Temptation of Christ_, _Dogma_\*… \*Here in France: _Amen._ (the combination cross/swastika featuring prominently on the movie’s poster couldn’t have helped, admittedly). It’s a bit disingenuous to suggest that our fundies are so much more temperate and less prone to stupid protests than their fundies although, granted, historical figure fundies are few and far between. But just you wait until someone makes a movie shitting all over Reagan ! 🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesters-storm-us-embasy-in-cairo/634420/12 "2012-09-11T23:16:08Z")

</div>

> [@Kobal2](#):
>
> It’s a bit disingenuous to suggest that our fundies are so much more temperate and less prone to stupid protests than their fundies although, granted, historical figure fundies are few and far between. But just you wait until someone makes a movie shitting all over Reagan ! 🙂

I think it’s a bit more disingenuous to say our fundies are the same as theirs. I don’t remember Catholics murdering anyone over _The Life of Brian_ or having such violent reactions to alleged insults against Jesus, the Pope of God.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesters-storm-us-embasy-in-cairo/634420/13 "2012-09-11T23:21:23Z")

</div>

> [@Odesio](#):
>
> I think it’s a bit more disingenuous to say our fundies are the same as theirs. I don’t remember Catholics murdering anyone over _The Life of Brian_ or having such violent reactions to alleged insults against Jesus, the Pope of God.

I am frequently of the opinion that the only reason our fundies are not as violent as theirs is because our government will try to prevent them from doing so and if they succeed will arrest and prosecute them.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesters-storm-us-embasy-in-cairo/634420/14 "2012-09-11T23:27:18Z")

</div>

> [@Odesio](#):
>
> I think it’s a bit more disingenuous to say our fundies are the same as theirs. I don’t remember Catholics murdering anyone over _The Life of Brian_ or having such violent reactions to alleged insults against Jesus, the Pope of God.

Yeah I even had a Catholic Priest [Father Bob from South Melbourne] who used the life of brian as a cautionary tale of following false idols and how we can easily be lead by heard mentality. To be honest it was a really good sermon, Father Bob was always about challenging people to make a stance, his view was it was better if people made a decision to be religious or atheist not be wishy washy. Great man and worth googling even if you are like most of us atheist.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesters-storm-us-embasy-in-cairo/634420/15 "2012-09-11T23:36:50Z")

</div>

> [@Odesio](#):
>
> I think it’s a bit more disingenuous to say our fundies are the same as theirs. I don’t remember Catholics murdering anyone over _The Life of Brian_ or having such violent reactions to alleged insults against Jesus, the Pope of God.

Has anyone been murdered in Cairo ?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesters-storm-us-embasy-in-cairo/634420/16 "2012-09-11T23:40:26Z")

</div>

That statement I’m reading about by the U.S. embassy better be a joke.

"[The U.S. Embassy said that it “condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions.”  
“Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy,” the statement said. “We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.”](http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/11/world/meast/egpyt-us-embassy-protests/index.html)

Please let that be a joke. Hurt religious feelings??

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesters-storm-us-embasy-in-cairo/634420/17 "2012-09-12T00:16:22Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> I think it’s a bit more disingenuous to say our fundies are the same as theirs. I don’t remember Catholics murdering anyone over The Life of Brian or having such violent reactions to alleged insults against Jesus, the Pope of God.

Well, there was that blogger who got hundreds of death threats for stealing a communion wafer.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Linden\_Arden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesters-storm-us-embasy-in-cairo/634420/18 "2012-09-12T00:26:44Z")

</div>

Our fundies are violent too.

Eric Rudolf bombed abortion doctors, Paul Hill and the killer of the doctor in Kansas come to mind first. There are many others.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesters-storm-us-embasy-in-cairo/634420/19 "2012-09-12T00:30:06Z")

</div>

> [@Kobal2](#):
>
> Has anyone been murdered in Cairo ?

You think this is the only incident that falls in the category we’re talking about? You think people haven’t been killed in the past for similar incidents?

But I’ll tell you what. If I were a Coptic Christian in Egypt right now, I’d be planning my exit strategy.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesters-storm-us-embasy-in-cairo/634420/20 "2012-09-12T00:40:59Z")

</div>

> [@Kobal2](#):
>
> Has anyone been murdered in Cairo ?

None in Cairo thus far, [but they have been in Libya](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19562692).

[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protesters-storm-us-embasy-in-cairo/634420.md?page=2)