The Arab spring is in full "BLAST" agian

while some might find the above amusing of sorts, we dont, the last thing simcountry needs is so called anti islamic stuff here! (alex keep it to yourself please, the same goes for anyone else)

are you accusing me of being racist? if you are you are incorrect

See this free speech thing I don't understand. How come when someone is verbally harassed about sexual orientation they get in trouble for it, yet people can defend this as free speech? The latter and topic of this discussion had the intended results come true. An act to breed hate and will result in murder is innocent under the prospect of free speech? Telling someone you will shoot them is a crime, and that is punishable but indirectly placing the cards isn't? There is no freedom with this kind of free speech!

I'll defend anything except slander/libel as free speech.

Anything.

Doesn't mean I'm against using said free speech as evidence of conspiracy to commit murder or any crime for that matter.

Of course, I don't think it should be a crime to hate anyone for any reason or to spread what we honestly believe about anyone or anything to others. Killing someone and hating someone are not the same thing.

P.S. Death to all who oppose freedom! Death to the thought police!

I think you guys are confused.

You can't be the catalyst of a reaction and claim to have no relation to it.

In fact removing the catalyst seems a very sensible solution to preventing the reaction. How else do you fight fire without removing the fuel, oxygen or heat? A million analogies can be thought of here.

Incitement to riot or murder (use a wide definition of riot here) is most certainly a crime in our society and so it should be, it's a moral crime and should be thought of as such race wide.

Freedom of speech...pah, you throw that phrase around so much that it is in danger of becoming meaningless.

Isn't this situation slander?

I dont know if you can slander someone 'post morte' can you?

Even if you can, the reputation you are slandering must have some tangible reason d'etre surely. Personally I dont rate religious belief as tangible.

Drew: in reference to a previous post, Jesus has already been portrayed as being a homosexual running around the countryside with his 12 homosexual partners. Yes, I find this misrepresentation utterly offensive, but I did not go out and start collecting scalps.
I suppose now the question could be asked, Am I enlightened by what I peceive to be the teachings of the Christ, and am being a forgiving person, or am I showing my lack of true deep belief by not going out and lifting some hair?

You are not being incited to do so Mac, there is the difference.

Consider; if the Pope were to vehemently call for revenge against some blasphemy, do you think the worlds Catholics would ignore him?

maclean i find people to be all to easily offended....i feel like im one of the few people on this planet who excuse my platitudal immaturity gets their panties in a bunch over stupid shit i honestly dont give a fuck anymore when people are offended like crafty has said it has lost all meaning to me because people use it to much

The question of religion and faith comes down to two inescapable conclusions:

1. Everything has purpose, what we do will "echo in eternity", and we are fully responsible for our actions.

or

2. Everything is fundamentally absurd, we drift aimlessly through space, on a planet that is by chance, holding onto a dwarf star in the outermost region in an insignificant galaxy. A planet a mere 9 billion years old, indifferent to our fate.

I don't know which is more terrifying, but it's one of the two, and NOBODY knows for sure except for the dead. Those two people who just died this very second somewhere in the world, they know right now...

Haha, what a ridiculously narrow understanding of things!

I don't remember who said this, but "When confronted with two alternatives, take a third option."

Anyway, I'm not much for debating right now... but consider both your statements, then consider the fact that those are not mutually exclusive statements.

P.S. Thou shalt not suffer the censor to live!

Is it possible that you may be defining religion in an incorrect way? For example many say religion is 'Catholic', 'Islam', 'Baptist', 'Hindu' etc... When in reality all religion is is a set of beliefs or way of doing things. A person is religious even when they are not part of an organized religion.

Extremists in any sense is a bad thing. Many times those extremists (including those who claim to be Christian) give others who try to practice a common set of values or beliefs (ie... religion) a bad reputation. For example if somebody was part of a religion that prohibited the consumption of beef, and you saw that person who claimed adherence to that religion eating a triple cheeseburger at Wendy's... what would you think? Obviously you'd think that he cant be a member of that religion. His actions obviously prove otherwise!

The same is true for all organized religions. No doubt there are Islamists that do not follow the actual beliefs and values that true Islam does. Just as there are many many who claim Christianity but do not follow the actual beliefs and values of true Christianity. Obviosuly there can be a whole other discussion on just what true Christianity is... as can be said for other religions or 'set of beliefs'!

Re: the Pope calling for a holy war: (Example)
I think in this day and age, his pronouncements would mostly fall on deaf ears, IMO. In the past, this was not so, of course (crusades, persecution of Jews and "heretics", etc.) I understand what you are saying, Crafty, I just don't think any leader of any (in this example) Christian sect has the clout to stir their followers to the extremes that would match the radical muslims that are constantly reacting to the smallest provocation all the time. And don't anybody tell me about Jim Jones or the Heaven's Gate bunch-- they were cults, and come under a seperate psychological evaluation.
I guess what is really getting my knickers in a knot is that appeasement has been tried before, with predictably grim results, but few if any seem to remember or care.
Alex, I agree, people are too easily offended. There is a time and place for taking offense, and defending one's beliefs and one's honor, but really, start cutting throats because someone 8000 miles away says that your prophet may not be everything he is cracked up to be? Some insecurity showing with this behavior, possibly... To paraphrase the Bard of Avon, "Methinks they doth protest too much"

"Haha, what a ridiculously narrow understanding of things!"

Sounds like extremist talk. In addition, if you could only come up with a third one, that only makes the number of your options slightly more.
You win.

Sorry Maclean I took a bit to answer your question. But I do like Alex's response to that. But I will follow it up, cuz thats what I do, last word addict boom.

This is good to because it goes into the extremist conversation. So should these people being easily offended, is extemism wrong? Ummm... well it depends. It comes down to this, why are we all here. People can answer this in a smaller less relevant way saying I like to play SC so I do what I like. This doesn't answer the question but convolutes the question. It shifts our values into personal valuessocietal values, short term valueslong term values. In other words as amenities are present options are presented. How closely one follows their religious beliefs begins to errode with dreams and aspirations and progress and prospects.

So after all that, what do you live for? If you live 99.8% to uphold the values of your religion, then they didn't do anything wrong, they stayed within the action of their values. I question any religious person who sees the actions of this situation as wrong to question their religious committment, should they react the same?

Now an another note, people should practice their values, but be ready to deal with the societal implications (laws, diplomatic reactions, etc). And as a nation we should not allow people to be religiously persecuted, and religious politicians should never make any notion or policy to benefit religion. But that is another topic entirely.

After i hear that they killed are Ambassador
and trying to take are embassys
Go to Arabchat.com
see people takeing about the death of the usa and how bad we Are and how to kill us or something
use a translated but cant kept up
Attempt to troll, don't know Arabic
say "A pig fucked Mohammed on the ass"
Banned
Get IP Address put on FBI's watchlist
=(

Wasn't it an Arab, in the US, who initially made the video?

What in the world?!!!!!!!!! Ewwwwww the stuff I read in posts.

I figure if there's anything worth killing each other over, it's differences in core values.

Nothing is worth killing over

WOW fellow simcountry(ism). I actually read every post and many of you have valid reaction, and some are well thought out responses. My intent wasn't meant to encourage any racism, sexism, or any other verb followed with "ISM". My comment was broad and didn't have a specific target unless you count "Radical(s)".

I also notice allot comments with the word Kill. Yes we can be politically correct when using the word "Kill". To kill something is to end life, but if I am not mistaken that isn't against the "The TEN COMMANDMENTS". I believe that the 5th or 6th COMMANDMENT is They shall not "murder".

Yes the use of a word or interpretation can be damaging or misleading. MAN is the sinner, the evil presence who in most given chances seeks POWER. May that power be intended for better or the worse for mankind is still determined.

The real question is; What is the agenda of the person, group with "Power"?

there are some 2 billion catholics in the world if the pope called to wage a holy war im sure it wouldnt fall on deaf ears....it would probably be a similar result of what happens to islamic extremists they are a very small demographic themselves

btw religion is wrong

Khome: sorry, but you err. It is worth killing, if necessary, to preserve your family and your life, and by extension, your country, if it is being threatened. I am not a warmonger, but heaven have mercy on whoever threatens me or mine, because I will be fresh out.
And as Patton said, "It's not about dying for your country, it's about making the other bastard die for his".
Alex: that is a pretty broad statement; i ask if you will explain further.