Waiting4oblivion Parliament Options

[Wolfie]

The Rues as stated in the last thread:

Right, a few rules before we start this time. No flaming. No intolerance of anybody else's viewpoint. No deciding you don't like the topic, and trying to tell people what they can discuss. This goes for everybody from now on.

Other than that, enjoy your discussion

[Neela]

I was going to post about this topic the other day.. but to be honest I don't even know how to even approach this one.

On one hand..
Yes the image is insulting to those of Islamic Faith.
Do I feel that those newspapers went about this in the wrong way? Yes!

On the other hand...
Lots of people do things that purposely insult other people, individuals and whole groups. Does that mean you have the right to go out and starting rioting and killing and making irrational demands to those that have no control over the people that made the offense. Absolutely NO! I agree that Islamic countries, if they feel offended, should carry out boycotts and protest against those people that actually offended them. But to start blowing things up and burning buildings(buildings not even owned by the offenders) is the epitome of barbarism. People aren't going to stop thinking about Islam as a terrorist faith until those that proclaim to be the faithful stop acting like it.

So I am on the fence as to how to feel about this. Both sides are at fault and are taking it too far IMO.

Maybe its just my frustration talking, but I am starting to believe that there really is no hope for peace in the Middle East. There are just too many people there(certainly not all of them) that don't want peace. To many immature, for lack of a better word, mentalities that still don't realize you just can't hate and kill everyone that disagrees with your point of view.

[stargelman]

Maybe its just my frustration talking, but I am starting to believe that there really is no hope for peace in the Middle East.  There are just too many people there(certainly not all of them) that don't want peace.  To many immature, for lack of a better word, mentalities that still don't realize you just can't hate and kill everyone that disagrees with your point of view.

That's an oversimplification.

Do you think those people are really raving over this because they're so deeply offended because of one singular incident? You have to remember most of these people have nothing. They don't have any wealth, they don't see any future for themselves. What they see is the West, us, invading one country after another in the area, trying to tell everyone there what to do or think. First Iraq, soon probably Iran, and now this?

The fun part is this caricature has been around for several months without anyone noticing. The publishers of that newspaper noticed that and called several radical organizations for statements. These organizations then sent word to the middle east about this and did some serious agitizing there. As I read the story, it took a lot of doing to get the situation to where it is now, both on the part of the newspaper as well as certain organizations that managed to use this situation to their benefit.

But the common people on the street? They're just pissed off because they think everyone here seems to hate and belittle them. They're being manipulated and agitated.