US Forces Drop "Buddy Christ" Photo in Sadr City after Raid!

[leftchick]

WTH? What in the world is the point of this?



A man displays an image of the character known as Buddy Christ which local residents claim was left by the US forces after an early-morning raid by Iraqi forces and their US advisers in Baghdad's Sadr City, Saturday, Oct. 1, 2006. Buddy Christ is a religious icon created in the film titled 'Dogma' in an effort to revitalize the Catholic church. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Edit to add what else happened on the raids....

:(



Hassan al-Mousawi holds a bloodied pillow on the spot where two of his relatives, a woman and her daughter, were killed during early-morning raid by Iraqi forces and their US advisers in Baghdad's Sadr City, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2006. Raid was meant to capture a person suspected of being involved in the kidnapping and murder of Iraqi civilians, the military said. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

link...http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ss/1479/im:/061001/481/736754c88462423d8e8a68f8a7af8a17

[havocmom]

1. They want the locals to know it's the New Crusade

bushco wants guaranteed profits for generations.

[xchrom]

2. truth is stranger than fiction.

[mdmc]

4. do you think that it is true?

weird, wild stuff my friend.

[xchrom]

17. if soldiers left that -- then that is pretty strange.

a satiric image of christ left by soldiers{were they believers?} in our war of ''liberation.

irvine{train spotting} welsh would have a hard time writting that.

[Joanne98]

3. The evangelicals are attacking everyone everywhere.

[Wickerman]

5. Just a reminder this IS a religious war

Jesus Exxon-Mobil Christ.

[zanne]

6. Is there a link? nt

[leftchick]

12. here you go....

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ss/1479/im:/061001/481/6da2e39801154d5fa274d87eae35abcb

[a la izquierda]

7. Nice...

I have to say while I like that photo and love the movie, I'm not shocked in the slightest. Especially when we have things like Jesus Camps.
Way to go religious right! Hijacking democracy here and abroad.

[originalpckelly]

8. Is that like "buddy lee"?

OMG! That is the weirdest looking Jesus I have ever seen. Weirdos.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

16. You need to see the movie "Dogma." Buddy Christ was supposed

to replace the crucifix in an effort to bolster Catholic Church membership (The Cardinal was played by George Carlin).

[RiDuvessa]

9. Could be an accident.

Is it possible that this was something carried by a soldier that he accidentally dropped? It doesn't necessarily mean anything. Honestly, if someone was trying to make a religious point, I'm pretty sure they would choose something else other then "Buddy Christ"

[Aviation Pro]

19. I can see an observant Catholic/Christian carrying a bible....

...into combat as a totem, but an image such as "Buddy Christ" I'm having a hard time believing. This may be the work of some enterprising Iraqi who is looking to stir the population up.

Then again I might be wrong.

[HockeyMom]

28. Not a Catholic

More likely to carry rosary beads or a medal than a Bible. In 12 years of Catholic school, we hardly ever read the Bible, let alone carry one around.

[RiDuvessa]

34. That's why I have a hard time believing it was left on purpose.

It's not exactly a respectful image.

[mdmc]

10. Number 1! We're number 1!

#1!

Great find LeftChick. Its all about the hearts and minds.

[Pharaoh]

11. and Buddy Christ

is giving the thumbs up, which in Iraq is like giving someone the finger, that's the symbolism someone is trying to portray........

[VeggieTart]

13. Hello, it's from the film "Dogma"

That was in the original post. You have to go see Kevin Smith's "Dogma" to truly appreciate the Buddy Christ. And see George Carlin playing a cardinal.

[Pharaoh]

15. Yes I saw it, It's hilarious

[Canuckistanian]

27. Yes, the "thumbs up" gesture is very offensive

Like our middle finger salute, or the "OK" thumb and finger sign is offensive in Brazil.

Or this, in Italy:

[Karenina]

33. Muslims revere Christ

as a prophet making this parody picture all the more offensive...

[Zodiak]

31. Bingo!!

I;m glad you said it because of you did not, I would. '

The picture is supposed to convey the image that Christ is flipping the finger to the Iraqis as his "representatives" kill their relatives.

It is a sick image, and if an American soldier left it behind, he should be court-martialled.

[Tanuki]

14. * has allowed proselytizing in Iraq since day 1

APRIL 27, 2003

PROSELYTIZING

The White House says it won't interfere with proselytizing
by Christian aid groups in Iraq. The Council on American-
Islamic Relations has objected that some Christian groups
plan to use aid deliveries to evangelize Muslims. Southern
Baptists are reportedly stamping food packages with the
message, "Grace and truth were realized through Jesus
Christ." The White House says government programs
aren't allowed to proselytize, but private groups can.





http://www.the-garret.com/middleeast01-04.htm

[Cooley Hurd]

18. If a fundie soldier left it on purpose, why use "Buddy Christ?"

Wouldn't they want to use a picture of the Caucasian Christ?


Buddy Christ is a parody...:shrug:

[blogslut]

21. yep

I can't see American fundies pimping Buddy Christ. Clueless psyops dudes that have never seen "Dogma" maybe...

[leftchick]

26. there is always the chance

that they didn't get it? They most likely are freeper fundies doing this.

[Sinti]

20. Whether we dropped it, or an Iraqi "dropped" it, it'll probably do a good

job of stirring up the hornet's nest after the raid. The picture itself would suggest to me that the Christians are having a good laugh at the Muslims here, kind of like Jesus giving them the finger. JMHO

[ewagner]

22. I'd want more information

it seems to strange to be true....

I can think of two completely different messages that it might be trying to spread if it is true but I think I need more context...

[Swede]

23. Here's the poster,warning of graphic language.

[Igel]

24. Strange.

A Dogma allusion isn't what I'd think most religious GIs would make. Perhaps one of the less religious ones would, but then it's more tongue-in-cheek; nobody expects Iraqis to be aware of other cultures.

On the other hand, I'm not going to rule out that it wasn't left by a GI, but found somewhere and either embarrassing to the owner of the property, or suitable for expressing what must be true (even if the facts on the ground don't provide the necessary evidence).

Jury's out.

But it's still strange.

[lpbk2713]

25. It's an adolescent pissing contest.

Message --- "Our icon is better than your icon".

[cannonfire]

29. I THINK I know the intended message

Here's what I wrote on my blog:

Our president still insists, when pressed, that he intends no harm toward Islam per se; his anger, we are told, is directed only toward "Islamofascists." But for his troops, literal and metaphorical, religious hatred is the only motivating force left. One doesn't have to surf many right-wing sites to find the sort of anti-Islamic propaganda that would have been unthinkable even four years ago.

"Buddy Christ" was originally intended to parody Christianity, or at least that sector of Christianity which would transform Jesus into a cloying, commercialized corporate icon. Iraqis, who have a limited knowledge of American popular culture, must have felt pretty confused to see what they would consider an insulting image of Jesus. I'm rather more familiar with American popular culture, and even I am bewildered.

Perhaps the troops wanted to convey the message that a vengeful Jesus smirks in callous triumph at all enemies of Bush, including the woman and child killed as "collateral damage"...? If so, one wonders how these "Christian" sickos plan to explain themselves at the seat of Judgment. Even the Crusaders managed to treat both Islam and their own faith with greater dignity.

[blogslut]

32. Welcome to DU

cannonfire has an awesome blog. :)

[Sydnie]

30. The "thumbs up" sign there means "fuck you"

so, they are leaving a smiling picture of christ basically giving them the middle finger. Your diplomatic tax dollars at work. :mad:

[Rocknrule]

35. It means "My God has a bigger dick than your God"