Danish embassy in Beirut torched

[ECH1969]

Demonstrators have set fire to the Danish embassy building in Lebanon as part of continuing protests against the publication by European newspapers of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

Lebanese security forces earlier fired tear gas at the crowd of about 20,000 marching towards the Danish embassy.

Aljazeera's correspondent in Beirut, Abbas Nasir, reported that Lebanese police retreated in the face of the crowd. The police fired heavily in the air to disperse protesters who nevertheless continued to advance towards the Danish embassy.

Policemen fired tear gas in an unsuccessful bid to prevent demonstrators from assembling in front of the building, Nasir said. Some 2000 army troops and riot police were deployed around the embassy building in the district of Ashrafieh, close to Beirut's commercial district.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/A04B9CE5-1DD0-4267-B3F6-F38F25F40148.htm

[Behind the Aegis]

1. Sick!

Kudos, though, to the police for trying to maintain order!

[tocqueville]

2. don't you see that all this is a show ?

if you want to demonstrate in Syria without the approval of Hassad you are in the best case shot without being tortured first. If there are torchings in Beiruth, it's because the power in charge has an agenda. And the police is part of the game...

[ECH1969]

3. Even 2,000 troops can't do much against a huge crowd of 20,000

There is a limit to what clubs and tear gas can do against motivated angry people. Opening fire works, but it causes more problems then it solves.

[EFerrari]

4. I wonder how many people were actually involved.

We know the reporting of crowd size is generally politicized.

[ECH1969]

5. This article from Al Jazeera's correspondent in Beirut

Who is reporting on the events live.

[leftchick]

17. It is hard to tell. Here are photos....

Protestors wave black and green Islamic flags in front of the burning building housing the Danish mission during a protest against publication of caricatures of Islam's revered prophet in European newspapers, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006. Demonstrators protesting caricatures of Islam's prophet set fire Sunday to a building housing the Danish mission in Beirut. Security forces shot tear gas into the crowd and fired their weapons in the air in a desperate attempt to stop the onslaught. Casualties, fires and damage of public property were reported in the violence, which came a day after protesters in neighboring Syria torched the Danish and Norwegian embassies in Damascus. (AP Photo)

[EFerrari]

70. Regardless, this is a tinderbox, and it seems to me that

one or more idiot politicians have the arrogance to try to manipulate the flame.

[leftchick]

75. I agree

This has fanned flames for a reason. I am sure rummy and cheney are thrilled.

[EFerrari]

77. They are the Big Time tag team. I hope I live long enough

to see them reap their reward.

:nuke:

[tocqueville]

78. in Syria they shoot first, discuss later

unless Hassad agreed

[Behind the Aegis]

6. I think that is a little "out there."

To think this is some grand scheme implies that multiple governments are involved, including those not on 'good' terms. I don't trust everything I see or hear, but sometimes, a cigar is just a cigar.

[UL_Approved]

9. I made a huge post about this subject

Here is the link to a subject I finished posting recently:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2439892&mesg_id=2440015

[Kagemusha]

36. You obviously didn't get the news - Syria pulled out of Lebabon

Syria doesn't have 20,000 troops (or police) in Lebanon to keep order. Bush didn't want them there.

Not that, well, that's a good argument re: the embassy burnings in Syria itself but, this is Lebanon.

[Igel]

46. Hizbullah.

Distinguishing between it and Syria on the ground can be difficult at times. They seem to be on the same page in many respects; it's an easy mistake, having Assad gain fundie support by allowing them to diss some uppity dhimmis versus having Hizbullah play to its fundie base by organizing the dissing of some uppity dhimmis.

[Kagemusha]

Hizbullah runs the south.

The embassy's in Beirut.

I don't think they'd ever think of letting Hizbullah provide embassy protection..

[KDLarsen]

7. I take responsibility!

Apparently, according to some DU'ers, this is perfectly acceptable since I'm Danish - and every single Dane spends at LEAST 3 hours every day mocking the Prophet Mohammed :sarcasm:

Just pre-empting some apologists here.

[sweetheart]

11. Yea!

You elected this right wing nutty government, one that even
threatens the sacred "Bevar Christiania". What snake crawled
up their ass and died. Are they just too smug and bored with
life in such a beautiful rich country. ;-)

You dane! You did it!! You cartoonist you!! You newspaper
publisher! What were you thinking! ;-)

[Cobalt Violet]

32. Apologists who keep insisting this is a "peaceful religion"?

Or apologist who don't think Danes should have the right to draw cartoons that may offend religious nut-jobs?



I'm sorry I'm only half way through my 1st cup of coffee. And as a Norsk-American I must be guilty too.

[corporate_mike]

79. look at these picture and judge for yourself

[Hardrada]

83. Another one of us of Norse descent!

If ONLY the world would listen to us!!

[CottonBear]

48. What is the public sentiment in Denmark RE: the cartoons?

Are there many Muslims in Denmark? You only have 4 million people in Denmark (if I'm correct). How many are immigrants? Was the newspaper which ran the cartoons a national paper or a local paper?

[IndianaGreen]

56. No, this is not acceptable, neither the cartoons nor the violence

and the hypocritical American response is also not acceptable. The US is attempting to exploit the burning of the Danish embassy in Damascus, while ignoring the burning of the Danish consulate in Beirut, to fuel its anti-Syrian campaign.

This is a lose-lose situation for the West.

[gonzo8]

8. Over a few cartoons? What a bunch of savages.

Have you guys seen these cartoons? They are the most mild, inocuous political cartoons I have ever seen. I cannot believe the U.S. state department is criticizing the newspaper that published these photos.

In the 1970s, Nazis who were denied a permit to parade through Skokie, Illinois brought a first amendment case all the way to the supreme court and won. This issue has nothing to do with whether the content of the cartoon is offensive. Undoubtedly a Nazi parade was offensive to the people of Skokie, just as a few cartoons of Mohamed with a bomb on his head instead of a turban apparently are to Muslims. In a free society, however, people should have the right to freely criticize and even mock each others' beliefs, ideas or religions, even if some people are offended in the process.

Only complete savages would react to some relatively mild cartoons by going completely apeshit and rioting in the streets.

[ktlyon]

14. just so it isn't "Piss Christ"

American Art if you missed it

[gonzo8]

18. I remember the controversy well....

But nobody rioted in the streets!

[ktlyon]

19. so rioting in the streets is the standard?

I guess that is why have George, we weren't mad enough to riot in the streets.

[gonzo8]

23. I agree that having an election stolen...

may actually be something demonstrating, or even rioting, about!

I have no issue, by the way, with Muslim's boycotting Danish butter or demonstrating in front of an embassy (although I do think it is pretty childish).

Calling for the cartoonists to be beheaded and torching an embassy is, however, a bit different.

[Cobalt Violet]

31. But this is a "peaceful" religion.

:sarcasm: :puke:

[smirkymonkey]

53. Yeah - If I hear that one more time I think I will

:puke:

I'm sorry, but this is systemic - it's not a "handful" of whack jobs - it's the culture.

[ktlyon]

35. I abhor violence and do not support the destruction of property

I just think we should not be so "in your face" about things. It is hard to understand other people when you are applying cultural standards across cultures. Until one really understands where other cultures draw the lines it is impossible to know how far one can go to make a point. These cartoons, to me, are not funny, they do not speak to a bigger truth and really have no purpose, that I can see other than inflaming people which they seem to have done.
In our country outrageous behavior is almost the norm, so to expect Americans to riot in the streets over even a stolen election is a bit much to hold out for. The people of Lebanon have been in a state of limbo, so to speak, for along time and under the present circumstances for some to go ballistic is some what understandable. The area is a time bomb waiting to explode and I think it is about time we started a dialog and spent some time try to hear and understand what they are saying, feeling and thinking. Compassion and respect is what is called for not demeaning cartoons or name calling or stereotyping. When people are pushed to the end of their rope anything can happen. Maybe it is time to take a couple steps back, a deep breath and reach a helping hand out to our Islamic brothers and sisters.

[Darth_Kitten]

45. There is no excuse for rioting and destruction......

over the printing of a simple cartoon.

No, I don't want to be held emotional hostage from people who seem all too willing to blame the entire West for whatever they see as some kind of affront to either themselves or their religion. I can have all the compassion and understanding for people who have geniune grievances over long standing problems, but I draw the line at opening up "dialogs" or sitting at some phony CNN town meeting in order to hear the rantings of certain individuals who clearly have it in for every citizen from any western nation. NO!!!!
Burning the danish flag over a CARTOON? GROW UP people, I say!

:( JM sunday morning say.

[Igel]

47. So do you think the US press should engage in self-censorship?

Should the Muslim press?

When they (IMHO) denigrate Christ as part of their doctrine, do they get a pass?

When DUers say nasty things about Robertson's god and jesus, should the government shut DU?

NPR had a nifty thing about the Iranian press today. Apparently after having reformist presses shut, many realized they had been abusing their right to report the good, positive things about the government, and the proper thing to do is to make sure reporting is sensitive and accurately situates the small, few negative things in a context. (One that surely can only be classed as exculpatory: the refuge of demogogues--yes, we have problems, but *in context* it's clear that they all result from our vile, loathsome enemies.) If that doesn't make you want to puke ....

Perhaps the Danish and US press should do likewise: full page articles on the glories of Islam and the absolute virtuousness of anybody that might hurt us ... and if some Xian churches are bombed, properly situate it in whatever context renders the bombings good, just, honorable acts by an offended victim.

[AngryAmish]

57. dhimmi

[Hoping4Change]

63. Yes in fact that is the standard. Its is the basis of civil society.

[Jackpine Radical]

39. Mapplethorpe.

All that happened was a buncha fundies got their undies in a bundie & agitated to cut NEA funding. Somehow, a funding cut in federal grants to the arts just isn't the same thing as a burning embassy.

[Yupster]

61. Think of Jerry-Falwell versus Larry Flynt

Flynt published a cartoon about Falwell having sex with his mother, Falwell sued and Flynt won. (The People versus Larry Flynt)

They both moved on with their lives, Falwell's religious beliefs survived as did Flynt's smut, and nothing got burned down.

[allemand]

24. Bill Clinton described the cartoons as "appalling".

I can understand the outrage. Of course, I don't think that the violence is justified, but the anger is genuine. Juan Cole offers this interesting explanation:

Of course people are upset when their sacred figures are attacked! But the hurt is magnified many times when the party doing the injuring is first-world, and the injured have a long history of being ruled, oppressed and marginalized. Moreover, most Muslims live in societies with strong traditions of state censorship, so they often assume that if something appears in the press, the government allowed it to do so and is therefore culpable.

Westerners cannot feel the pain of Muslims in this instance. First, Westerners mostly live in secular societies where religious sentiments have themselves been marginalized. Second, the Muslims honor Moses and Jesus, so there is no symmetry between Christian attacks on Muhammad and Muslim critiques of the West. No Muslim cartoonist would ever lampoon the Jewish and Christian holy figures in sacred history, since Muslims believe in them, too, even if they see them all as human prophets. Third, Westerners have the security of being the first world, with their culture coded as "universal," and widely respected and imitated. Cultures like that of the Muslims in the global South receive far less respect. Finally, societies in the global South are less policed and have less security than in Western Europe or North America, allowing greater space to violent vigilateism, which would just be stopped if it were tried in the industrialized democracies. (Even wearing a t-shirt with the wrong message can get you arrested over here.)
(...)

Thus, it is insupportable to say that the Nazi ideology was right and to praise Hitler. In Germany if one took that sort of thing too far one would be breaking the law. Even in France, Bernard Lewis was fined for playing down the Armenian holocaust. It is insupportable to say that slavery was right, and if you proclaimed that in the wrong urban neighborhoods, you could count on a violent response.
(...)

But you don't have to look far for other issues that would exercise Westerners just as much as attacks on Muhammad do Muslims. In secular societies, a keen concern with race often underlies ideas of social hierarchy. Thus, any act that might bring into question the superiority of so-called white people in their own territory can provoke demonstrations and even violence such as lynchings. consider the recent Australian race riots, which were in part about keeping the world ordered with whites on top.

http://www.juancole.com/2006/02/muslim-protests-against-anti-muhammad.html

[kurth]

30. People, drink more Carlsberg and Tuborg!

Don't forget Danish cheeses, and Danish porn actresses.

[Gelliebeans]

81. I actually got an email

from some of my parents friends,(they are Danes) asking us to buy Danish cheese, beer and cookies :)They said some groups are boycotting products from there.

[Hardrada]

84. Muslims wouldn't be buying Danish beer anyway

so no real boycott there. Danish cookies available in Target Stores etc. around Xmas time. Sometimes we buy them.

[Kagemusha]

37. Imams spread word that there's much worse cartoons.

Ones the Danes didn't publish but I bet you a lot of these people don't know that, and from the descriptions, they were pretty damn bad. And the West largely doesn't know about that. Which suits Muslim firebrands just fine - let the West bitch and cry that it's just meaningless cartoons. Makes us look guiltier.

At any rate, it's manufactured outrage.

[KDLarsen]

44. The BBC made that mistake too..

.. when they displayed one (I think it was the one showing Mohammad as a pedophile), and claimed that it was among those that Jyllands-Posten printed.

[Igel]

49. Yes. They riot because

they believe a lie, and want to believe a lie.

And because the extremist religious leaders that they don't want to offend believe lying is virtuous.

And their moderate religious leaders can't bring themselves to tell the truth.

And their governments don't dare actually say the truth because that might direct some of the rage at them.

I hate being lied to. If I find I'm lied to--and I draw a distinction between error and falsehood--I'm pissed.

Personally, I think the chief imams of the mosques in the three main "holy sites" should issue an abject apology on behalf of the ummah, and rebuke both the religious leaders that encouraged it, and the fools that participated in it. (Now how's *that* for reverse arrogance?) But that's not gonna happen.

[IndianaGreen]

58. You just described Christianity in America!

they believe a lie, and want to believe a lie.

And because the extremist religious leaders that they don't want to offend believe lying is virtuous.

And their moderate religious leaders can't bring themselves to tell the truth.

And their governments don't dare actually say the truth because that might direct some of the rage at them.


This can apply to Christianity in America. The moderate Christian leaders can't bring themselves to tell the truth about their extremist brethren.

[Hoping4Change]

60. So you are saying that if there is an unpublished cartoon somewhere

that Muslims find offensive they and it gets brought to their attention they have a right to go ballistic. This is absolutely nuts.

[Kagemusha]

62. Yes. It is nuts. ...By design.

And knowing that it is so is not going to help any of us reading this on a message board do a damned thing about the problem. Kinda depressing.

[Roaming]

55. I agree 100% /nt

[sweetheart]

10. I'm almost inspired to become a cartoonist

Just so i can name all the characters "muhammed" and "the prophet" so
some muslim peoples will get better used to the scary fear of free thought.
If your religion is real, then live it. Its a good thing that americans
don't have their flag burning laws yet, or the american cartoon burning will
be used to burn the hamas embassy. And since it hasn't an embassy, then
by eye-for-an-eye thinking, burning some homes perhaps.

[UL_Approved]

12. If you want HIGHLY offensive cartoons...

You can check this site out:

http://www.jesusandmo.net

Be warned, this is HIGHLY :nuke: critical and disrespectful. Do NOT enter if you are at all offendable.

Check out the previous comics, since they are the ones with real bite.

[gonzo8]

13. Look at what the Catholics have to put up with....

and this is only from 1998. I don't see those folks rioting in the streets. And what about the movie "The Last Temptation of Christ." That was pretty offensive stuff to those of the Catholic persuasion. They picketed a few movie theaters, but generally conducted themselves like adults. And how about Life of Brian, by Monty Python? That may have offended a few, should we have banned that?

I can't understand why there are so many apologists for this outrageous, fanatical reaction to a few cartoons. Anybody who freaks out this much over a few cartoons should be medicated or jailed.

So some naughty Danes made some nasty cartoons about Mohamed? Well boo freaking hoo. You don't have to read them! Just because something may be offensive to somebodies religious sensibilities is hardly a reason not to publish them. These clowns should grow up.

"September 22
New York, NY – Previews opened for "Corpus Christi." The play depicted Jesus as a sexual hedonist who indulges in sex with his apostles, including a long-running affair with Jesus. He performed a homosexual wedding of two of his apostles, and physically assaulted a priest who challenged him. He ranted, "F*ck your mother, F*ck your father, F*ck God." There was a clear obsession with the male sex organ, and the audience was treated to piped in sounds of urination during a bathroom scene. The Virgin Mary was portrayed as an alcoholic, and Joseph as an abusive husband. And recitation of the Hail Mary, as well as derogatory references to priests and nuns and to Boys Town, made clear that the Catholic Church was a particular target of this assault on traditional Judeo-Christian moral teachings."

http://www.catholicleague.org/1998report/artists98.htm

[ktlyon]

16. I think that is a good reason.

"Just because something may be offensive to somebodies religious sensibilities is hardly a reason not to publish them"
I think that is reason not to publish.

Respect for other people is never bad.
Clearly some people take their religion more seriously than others. Maybe we can learn a lesson here, well maybe not. Flame away.

edited for clarity

[gonzo8]

20. That is exactly the point...

"Respect for other people is never bad."

Where is the respect of these bufoons for the readers of the newspaper to enjoy some controversial cartoons? Where is their respect for the vast majority of Danes who have nothing to do with the controversy? Where is the respect for the rights of others to freely express their opinions in a manner that doesn't hurt anyone, or who may have a different point of view about the nature of Islam and how it is being used to further a radical agenda?

Having seen the cartoons, I can't believe you are seriously claiming the newspaper is the one that has failed to respect somebody else's point of view.

[ktlyon]

38. see my post #35 in this thread

walk a mile in their shoes if you can
Thanks

[fun n serious]

59. Hello, I'm new and....

I'm just learning how to reply and post so bare with me.

I think this proves that many Muslims are intolerant to others opinions and this is why they can not live in a democratic country. Muslims want their religion inbedded in their laws and we should leave them and their countries alone and allow them to live how they want. They don't understand our ways and want no part of it so lets not force them.

I can't in my wildest imagination understand why a cartoon would cause so much violence to break out. Was it disrespectful? YES. So what? If you are a person of faith, and you believe this was a horrible offense to God.... Why not leave the punishment to God?

[Jackpine Radical]

40. A reason not to publish is not synonymous with a reason to censor.

There are a lot of things I don't do out of respect for others, but that doesn't mean I should be forbidden to do these things.

Popular and inoffensive speech never needs to be protected.

[Igel]

50. Where is the shame for making possible illustrators of

a book on Islam for non-Muslims feel intimidated, and chilling free, responsible, and respectful speech in the name of medieval religious dogma they wanted to enforce on non-Muslims?

It was completely lacking. The extremists won the day, and the moderates in the Muslim community decided to spend their time mostly wanking off, or giving tacit support for the extremists.

In retrospect, the Muslims in Denmark could have had a reasonable book, with respectful drawings of Muhammed; or the cartoons, showing that at least some Danes rejected the implicit threats and innuendo that caused them to fear and refuse to work on the project.

Instead, they made the wrong choice, and they got both. And so they piss a hissy fit.

And instead of drawing the right lesson--tolerance is more than a word, a virtual virtue attributed to Allah and his adherents--they screwed it up.

Context is a bitch.

[Hoping4Change]

68. So what of Moon, his Unification Church and the Washington TImes

which he owes? He says he is the new Christ. Does that mean therefore that non Moonies take his beliefs at face value and not criticize this extremely dangerous demagogue? Because he purports to be akin to god do we treat him with kit gloves? Are his outlandish claims to be exempt from satire because satire might offend his followers?

[ktlyon]

15. that is one difference, you warned us

we can choose not to go there
In your face is another matter.

[Yupster]

65. Sweetheart your first sentence is right on

The whole world needs to be printing all kinds of pictures of Mohammed.

Pretty soon the demonstrators will get used to it and see their religion and prophet will survive just fine even with a cartoon every now and again.

Knuckling under to such bullying is a bad move in my opinion.

[Paulie]

21. I'm begining to wonder if the Danes are the US by proxy

The Danes are not going to be bombing countries. So going after them allows for a release of all the anger and resentment that has been built up over the last couple of decades against the US.

The US and The West are generally synonymous....

[rodeodance]

22. yesterday it was torching in syria (of Danish and Norway emb.)--see here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2085845

[UL_Approved]

27. Are you saying this is a hoax?

From what I understand, embassies in BOTH countries were torched.

If not, then the MSM made a ENORMOUS typographical error.

Fact check please.

[rodeodance]

29. please explain--what are you talking about?

[UL_Approved]

42. What was the message of your post I first responded to? n/t

[Igel]

51. FWIW, the other poster

misread your post. I took your post as ambiguous, but decided it was saying "yesterday X, today Y, it's spread".

The other way is to read it as 'yesterday "the" report said the embassy in Syria today; today "the" report has it in Lebanon. One report, two sets of facts, must be fake.'

It's so hard to keep up with the polemic here and keeping the interpretations of all the various (decontextualized) posting styles straight.

[rodeodance]

25. here are some goggle headlines including Reuters

http://news.google.com/nwshp?hl=en&tab=wn&q=

Beirut Muslims set fire to Danish Embassy
Ireland Online - 41 minutes ago

Thousands of Muslims rioted in Beirut today, setting fire to the Danish Embassy, burning Danish flags and lobbing stones at a Maronite church to show their anger over caricatures of Islam’s Prophet Mohammed. ...

Lebanese torch Danish consulate over cartoons Reuters

Protesters set embassy fires in Syria Newsday

[rodeodance]

26. Denmark PM says gov. can not apologize on behalf of press.

From Ireland Online above post:

.....Denmark’s Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said he personally disapproves of the caricatures and any attacks on religion – but has insisted he cannot apologise on behalf of his country’s independent press.

Media in several European nations and New Zealand recently have reprinted the controversial cartoons, calling it an expression of freedom of the press.

But many Muslims said the cartoons lampooning Muhammad were degrading - particularly to adherents of a religion that forbids the publication of images of Muhammad for fear they could lead to idolatry.

[rodeodance]

28. a Sunni cleric says (Reuters)

http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-02-05T112316Z_01_L05623526_RTRUKOC_0_US-RELIGION-CARTOONS-LEBANON.xml

Lebanese torch Danish consulate over cartoons

Sun Feb 5, 2006 6:23 AM ET167

.......

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora condemned the use of violence in the protests.

"This has nothing to do with Islam at all," he told Future television. "Destabilizing security and vandalism give a wrong image of Islam. Prophet Mohammad cannot be defended this way."

He said the protesters also attacked cars and shops in the area.

Mohammad Rashid Qabani, Lebanon's top Sunni Muslim cleric, urged restraint.

"We don't want the expression of our condemnation (of the cartoons) to be used by some to portray a distorted image of Islam," he said. "Today is a big test for us. Let our expression of condemnation be according to the values of Islam."

[Igel]

52. I always wonder if there's more to what they say.

By which I mean literally: What verbiage was chopped out to yield the quotes.

I continue to wait to hear that violence is wrong, destruction of property is wrong, threatening and oppressing people is wrong. Immoral. A sin. Contrary to Allah's dicta. Vile.

By which I don't mean hearing that one or more has said, "Doing that is no better than what the Crusaders and Jews do."

Instead I keep hearing from the top clerics, "Let's not do this ... it makes us and our religion look bad."

It's not about the victims. It's not about the damage. It's not about violence.

It's only ever about them. The rest of the world ...?

[laheina]

33. Violence Spreads Over Muhammad Caricatures

Violence Spreads Over Muhammad Caricatures By ZEINA KARAM, Associated Press Writer
3 minutes ago

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060205/ap_on_re_mi_ea/prophet_drawings;_ylt=AvZJeE5jXCh.Eab.pdlnRf.s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b3JuZGZhBHNlYwM3MjE-

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Thousands of Muslims rampaged Sunday in Beirut, setting fire to the Danish Embassy, burning Danish flags and lobbing stones at a Maronite Catholic church as violent protests spread over caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.

ADVERTISEMENT

Troops fired bullets into the air and used tear gas and water cannons to push the crowds back after a small group of Islamic extremists tried to break through the security barrier outside the embassy.

Demonstrators attacked policemen with stones and set fire to several fire engines, witnesses said. Black smoke was seen billowing from the area. Security officials said at least 18 people were injured, including policemen, fire fighters and protesters. Witnesses saw at least 10 people taken away by ambulance.

A security official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press, said staff at the Danish Embassy had been evacuated two days ago.

<snip>

[Strong Atheist]

34. The "religion of peace" strikes again. nt.

[Julius Civitatus]

73. Indeed

:eyes:

[Darth_Kitten]

41. Gee, when I don't like something in a newspaper........

I write a letter to the editor. :sarcasm:

My sympathies to the Danish people. :hug:

[Name removed]

43. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[IndianaGreen]

54. Why doesn't the US condemn the Lebanese government as it did Syria's?

Yesterday the US government condemned Syria for failing to protect the Danish embassy in Damascus when an angry mob torch it. DUers that support the US government's Middle East policies joined it in condemnation of Syria.

Let's hear them condemn the Lebanese government for the same infraction!

(chirp, chirp)

[Kagemusha]

64. Because Syria's not there anymore.

And I point this out not to be cute, but to explain how this works...

[Behind the Aegis]

85. Did you miss this line?

"Lebanese security forces earlier fired tear gas at the crowd of about 20,000 marching towards the Danish embassy."

In all of the articles I read about the incidents in Syria, only one made a passing mention that a few police were on hand.

[mitchum]

66. Religion, not cartoons, leads to insanity and violence

[dailykoff]

67. And on a big TV day, too.

So convenient for the Bushco propaganda machine. Just another lucky break I guess.

[rayofreason]

69. Good news/Bad news

Good news -

A Jordanian paper published the cartoons and one editor said "What brings more prejudice against Islam, these caricatures or pictures of a hostage-taker slashing the throat of his victim in front of the cameras or a suicide bomber who blows himself up during a wedding ceremony in Amman?"

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,1889584,00.html


Bad news -

The editors have been arrested.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/DCE98CAC-D1A7-44C8-AE71-3AABE1F62670.htm

[bling bling]

72. Thanks for posting that.

It's a good reminder of how precious our freedoms are (such as freedom of speech) and how incredibly important it is for us to protect those freedoms. I'm very much concerned about the direction our own government is heading in terms of mixing politics with religion. Violence, discrimination, and/or loss of freedom is all but certain for us if we continue to elect people who are going to lead and legislate in such a way that threatens to blur the line between church and state. Anyone who doesn't believe that hasn't paid enough attention to history's lessons.

When it's used as a tool to govern a nation, religion will always inhibit freedom. It's simply the way it is.

[corporate_mike]

71. I support Denmark

[Julius Civitatus]

74. Rioters trash a Catholic church in Beirut

According to CNN, after they set the Danish embassy ablaze, the rioters trashed a Catholic church in Beirut.

They sure show some respect for other religions, right?

Ahhhh, the "religion of peace." Right!

:eyes:

[Diresu]

76. Is there any place on the entire Earth....

Is there any place on the Earth that Islam is not at war? Russia, India, Israel, all across Asia and Africa and now Europe, I can't think of a single place where Muslims are existing peacefully with their neighbors. Am I missing something here?

--Diresu

[Left Below]

80. What about the highly offensive Mel Gibson snuff movie?

With the glorified violence?


Check that - Christians loved seeing their man brutalized. I don't get any of these people....

[Judi Lynn]

86. It reinforces their view of themselves as put-upon, martyred, abused

holier-than-thous.

They work up an enormous rage against "the world," not realizing Christian right-wingnuts are themselves ultra-violent, war-mongering, racist xenophobes.

I'm not going to quibble, having been raised among them. Know them intimately. Have sat in churches and heard people come in to work the crowds, telling frightening stories about "commies," and how commies want to kill Christians, even have terrifying artwork showing terrible things happening to Jesus.

One man's name was Kenneth Goff, and he worked the fundamentalist circuit from California through the Midwest. I saw him in both places, doing the same thing, years apart. He claimed to be a redeemed Commie, who had been thrown under a train when he tried to leave his Commie cell, and lost his leg.

Sick bastards. Hostile, hysterical, incapable of reason. Republicans. Only right-wingers can be this stupid.

[IndianaGreen]

82. Fundamentalist Christians are at war with their neighbors

in case you haven't noticed that about that other "religion of peace."

[dailykoff]

88. Apparently there's one thing we're still good at exporting:

mayhem.

[Mizmoon]

87. I liked the cartoons - they were funny and on target

There, I said it.

[truthisfreedom]

89. it takes cartoons to get Muslims riled up? how about 100k dead innocents?

what kind of religion is that?

[occuserpens]

90. Teaching Islam to the Muslims

is exactly what neocons are doing