Pakistanis Rally to Support Death Penalty for Blasphemy

WorldJanuary 2011 • Views: 23,595

A reminder that in some parts of the world, “theocracy” is not just the fervent desire of fanatics — it’s the dominant paradigm: Pakistanis Rally in Support of Blasphemy Law.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A crippling strike by Islamist parties brought Pakistan to a standstill on Friday as thousands of people took to the streets, and forced businesses to close, to head off any change in the country’s blasphemy law, which rights groups say has been used to persecute minorities, especially Christians.

The law was introduced in the 1980s under the military dictatorship of Gen. Mohammad Zia ul-Haq as part of a policy of promoting Islam to unite this deeply fractious society. Many attempts to revise the law have since been thwarted by the strong opposition of religious forces, which continue to gather strength.

In fiery speeches across all major cities and towns, religious leaders warned the government on Friday against altering the law, which carries a mandatory death sentence for anyone convicted of insulting Islam. …

“I call it a natural result of religious extremism that is on the rise in Pakistani society,” said Mehdi Hasan, the chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, an independent rights group, while commenting on the strike.

“The liberal and democratic forces in the country have retreated so much that it has created an ideological vacuum that is now being filled by the religious extremists,” Dr. Hasan said.

(h/t Gus 802.)

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149 comments

brookly red Sat, Jan 1, 2011 1:58:19pm

to head off any change in the country’s blasphemy law…

I get a bad feeling when they talk like that…

Political Atheist Sat, Jan 1, 2011 1:59:08pm

So Islam is so weak it can not withstand a few unbelievers? How foolish a thing to think. Islam will do just fine without the death penalty for any violation.

Slumbering Behemoth Stinks Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:01:57pm

re: #2 Rightwingconspirator

As it is with any hard core theocratic fundamentalist. No dissent from the One True Religion^TM will be tolerated.

Gus Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:03:44pm

A harsh reminder of the stark realities of the outside world and those that live in cultures dominated by ancient and brutal standards.

Thanks for the h/t Charles.

Charles Johnson Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:04:38pm

It’s not only Islamic countries that have blasphemy laws: Ireland’s Ridiculous Blasphemy Law Goes Into Effect.

No death penalty, but it wasn’t that long ago that Christian societies were executing people for blasphemy.

(I Stand By What I Said Whatever It Was) Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:04:55pm

Note that the strike went ahead despite government officials declaring there would be no abolishment of the death penalty.

brookly red Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:05:13pm

/now if we could just convince them that North Korea is insulting Islam…

it could work.

Kragar Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:08:14pm

Fundamentalists are dicks.

BishopX Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:10:20pm

re: #7 brookly red

Well Pakistani papers are already making up diplomatic cables to support their ideology. I don’t see why we shouldn’t either.

Gus Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:10:23pm

Some context:

Pakistani Christian Asia Bibi ‘has price on her head’

Ashiq Masih has the look of a hunted man - gaunt, anxious and exhausted.

Though he is guilty of nothing, this Pakistani labourer is on the run - with his five children.

His wife, Asia Bibi, has been sentenced to death for blaspheming against Islam. That is enough to make the entire family a target.

They stay hidden by day, so we met them after dark.

Mr Masih told us they move constantly, trying to stay one step ahead of the anonymous callers who have been menacing them.

“I ask who they are, but they refuse to tell me,” he said.

“They say ‘we’ll deal with you if we get our hands on you’. Now everyone knows about us, so I am hiding my kids here and there. I don’t allow them to go out. Anyone can harm them,” he added.

Ashiq Masih says his daughters still cry for their mother and ask if she will be home in time for Christmas.

He insists that Asia Bibi is innocent and will be freed, but he worries about what will happen next.

“When she comes out, how she can live safely?” he asks.

“No one will let her live. The mullahs are saying they will kill her when she comes out.”

Continues.

Political Atheist Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:10:36pm

We still have to struggle to hold off the dark agers. Some still celebrate the year 1111 I guess.

brookly red Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:12:07pm

re: #6 000G

Note that the strike went ahead despite government officials declaring there would be no abolishment of the death penalty.

/oh great, fundamentalist unions…

RealityDig Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:14:45pm

One more single reminder that although our own government and political system seems at times to be backwards and faulty to the core, we still enjoy freedoms that others around the world are dying for to this very day.

It also reminds us that we should use those very freedoms to help others reach the same goals and ideals.

brookly red Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:15:16pm

re: #10 Gus 802

Some context:

Pakistani Christian Asia Bibi ‘has price on her head’

am I a bad person for not buying anything that says made in Pakistan?

Slumbering Behemoth Stinks Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:15:35pm

re: #8 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

There was a time when a comment like that would get you eleventy billion down dings.

Sometimes, change is good.

(I Stand By What I Said Whatever It Was) Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:15:43pm

re: #12 brookly red

/oh great, fundamentalist unions…

Heh, when I saw the pictures my first thought was “tea party”.

Gus Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:16:07pm

re: #14 brookly red

am I a bad person for not buying anything that says made in Pakistan?

No. Why would it be?

Slumbering Behemoth Stinks Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:16:25pm

re: #13 goldwriting

Imperialist!
/:P

Gus Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:17:11pm

re: #18 Slumbering Behemoth

Imperialist!
/:P

Stop reading my mind! I was just thinking about that link from yesterday.

brookly red Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:17:48pm

re: #16 000G

Heh, when I saw the pictures my first thought was “tea party”.

well minus the women & old white people, yeah I guess…

Slumbering Behemoth Stinks Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:18:10pm

re: #19 Gus 802

The home movie of the Bloviating Jackass in urban captivity?

(I Stand By What I Said Whatever It Was) Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:18:15pm

re: #5 Charles

It’s not only Islamic countries that have blasphemy laws

Pretty good overview of blasphemy laws worldwide.

(I Stand By What I Said Whatever It Was) Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:18:56pm

re: #20 brookly red

well minus the women & old white people, yeah I guess…

I think I am just fundamentally unfond of huge crowds of people.

Gus Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:19:31pm

re: #21 Slumbering Behemoth

The home movie of the Bloviating Jackass in urban captivity?

This:

[Link: littlegreenfootballs.com…]

prairiefire Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:22:20pm

Ugh, this is awful. A battle for the hearts and minds, indeed.

brookly red Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:23:22pm

re: #25 prairiefire

Ugh, this is awful. A battle for the hearts and minds, indeed.

in the end the stomachs always win…

Alexzander Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:24:32pm

For me one of the saddest parts is that many Pakastanis (like many Iranians) are quite progressive, yet they are not represented by their governments (or they are drowned out by fanaticism.)

Slumbering Behemoth Stinks Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:25:32pm

re: #24 Gus 802

Oh, that one. What a bunch of naive dumb asses.

At first I thought you might be talking about the video of the dude who’s so full of himself that he can’t understand that other people live on this planet as well.

Kragar Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:26:24pm

Speaking of Fundamentalists,

American Family Association Promotes Extreme “Personhood Amendment” in Mississippi

After efforts to amend the Colorado constitution to give constitutional rights to embryos and fetuses badly failed in November, advocates of so-called “Personhood Amendments” are now hoping that Mississippi voters will back a similar amendment in 2011. The Colorado proposal, called Amendment 62, “would have banned abortion, many forms of birth control and embryonic stem cell research in the state.” Mississippi activists were able to put a similar measure on the ballot in 2011 to coincide with the gubernatorial election.

Back in 2008, the American Life League began pushing “Personhood Amendments” to become an integral part of the anti-choice movement; however, many Religious Right groups traditionally resisted “Personhood Amendments” because of their radical nature and tremendous unpopularity. Anti-choice groups in Colorado such as National Right to Life, Americans United for Life, Colorado Citizens for Life, and the Colorado Eagle Forum refused to support the “Personhood Amendment.”

Personhood USA, the leading organization behind such measures, likened President Obama to the “Angel of Death,” and activists in Colorado compared pro-choice laws with Nazism.

Now, “Personhood Amendment” proponents will try their luck in Mississippi, which already has strict anti-choice laws, and they are receiving significant publicity and support from a leading Religious Right group: the American Family Association, which is based in Mississippi.

Gus Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:26:47pm

re: #27 Alexzander

For me one of the saddest parts is that many Pakastanis (like many Iranians) are quite progressive, yet they are not represented by their governments (or they are drowned out by fanaticism.)

It’s a totalitarianism thing.

Walter L. Newton Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:29:03pm

It’s almost ironically humous watching the delicate waltz between the “barbaric” religions and the “enlightened” religions. The fundamentalist among Islam are the “dark agers” while the god believing evolutionist are the stable and sane among modern society.

So, the jostle and maneuver goes on between competing believers, while in the meantime, the really big picture, the gorilla in the room, is ignored.

“Who is this God guy, anyway.”

People will accept the irrational mystical thinking that is the foundation of religion as long as the outcome comports with their personal limitations. “I believe in god, but none of that beheading stuff for my religion, those other people are barbaric” while all the time it’s just a formula of the same faulty thinking, only at various degrees of acceptability.

Rational and cultured religionist all boil down and shake out with the rest of the chaff. It’s amazing what one can be convinced of without any scientific proof, while all the time claiming to be rational scientific creatures.

Slumbering Behemoth Stinks Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:29:25pm

re: #30 Gus 802

Too bad we can’t spread our human rights values to the rest of the world. American Imperialism has failed.
/

earth56 Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:29:35pm

I have always rated the freedom of any country by how much humor is allowed towards anything or anyone.

The problem with the Muslim world is just that and it needs to catch up with the rest of us.

How can she weight the same as the duck?

…

Walter L. Newton Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:29:54pm

re: #28 Slumbering Behemoth

Oh, that one. What a bunch of naive dumb asses.

At first I thought you might be talking about the video of the dude who’s so full of himself that he can’t understand that other people live on this planet as well.

Barrett Brown?

brookly red Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:30:59pm

re: #32 Slumbering Behemoth

Too bad we can’t spread our human rights values to the rest of the world. American Imperialism has failed.
/

but we still have MTV…

Slumbering Behemoth Stinks Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:32:02pm

re: #34 Walter L. Newton

Shhh! It’s just like that character Beetlejuice, if you say his name three times, he’ll appear.
/

Slumbering Behemoth Stinks Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:33:34pm

re: #35 brookly red

but we still have MTV…

Who is this “we” you speak of? Got a mouse in your pocket?
/

I don’t have cable or satellite, so no MTV for me. It’s a good thing.

brookly red Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:35:12pm

re: #36 Slumbering Behemoth

Shhh! It’s just like that character Beetlejuice, if you say his name three times, he’ll appear.
/

Pamela Anderson,
Pamela Anderson,
Pamela Anderson,

see, that BS don’t work…

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:36:22pm

re: #29 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

“American Life League” There’s a new one of these things every day!

There should be a random fundamentalist psycho generator, with a lookup library full of keywords like “family” “life “christian” “action”,
“concerned”, and so forth, and also some really upper crust old-boy-network megapreacher names

brookly red Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:36:33pm

re: #37 Slumbering Behemoth

Who is this “we” you speak of? Got a mouse in your pocket?
/

I don’t have cable or satellite, so no MTV for me. It’s a good thing.

I have no TV, I meant we as a country… we do more “damage” with rock videos then we ever could with missiles.

Slumbering Behemoth Stinks Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:37:21pm

re: #38 brookly red

I don’t much care for her. She’s not my “cup ‘o tea”.

On that note, I am out. Happy New Year y’all!

earth56 Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:37:23pm

re: #40 brookly red

Music is meant to be listened and not watched

Political Atheist Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:37:49pm

re: #31 Walter L. Newton

It’s amazing what one can be convinced of without any scientific proof, while all the time claiming to be rational scientific creatures.

Until one considers scientific proof is far better suited to matters of science than faith. Hence the distinct term. If one accepts the absence of evidence as evidence for absence, I’m not sure that’s solid logic. Human culture enjoys many aspects that science has no bearing on.

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:38:20pm

re: #42 earth56

Music is meant to be listened and not watched

art is meant to be experienced

Youtube Video

brookly red Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:38:43pm

re: #42 earth56

Music is meant to be listened and not watched

never did acid? huh?

freetoken Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:39:17pm

Speaking of theocracy desiring fanatics, up in Alaska Mr. Joe Miller still believes his delusion:

Miller ending legal battle, conceding Senate race

Republican Joe Miller on Friday ended his legal fight over Alaska’s U.S. Senate seat, conceding the race to his bitter rival, incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

Miller’s decision, announced at a news conference in Anchorage, came one day after the state certified Murkowski as the winner.

Miller had the option of appealing a federal judge’s ruling or formally contesting the election results. He believes he is right about the law but thinks it is “very unlikely” an appeals court would side with him. He said he had to accept “practical realities.”

Three courts ruled against Miller, who argued the state’s handling of the election and vote count for Murkowski, who ran as a write-in candidate, was not in line with the law.

Miller had not called Murkowski to congratulate her, said his spokesman, Randy DeSoto. To say that she’d won it fair and square, DeSoto said, “is not in his thinking.”

Miller insisted none of these things had anything to do with the campaign and instead were being used by his opponents to distract attention from the issues of the race.

[…]

He truly believes he rightfully won. If he had a good case he could have appealed the federal judge’s ruling. I suspect Miller’s supporters will now wag about how his election was stolen by “liberal” judges.

Walter L. Newton Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:40:01pm

re: #43 Rightwingconspirator

Until one considers scientific proof is far better suited to matters of science than faith. Hence the distinct term. If one accepts the absence of evidence as evidence for absence, I’m not sure that’s solid logic. Human culture enjoys many aspects that science has no bearing on.

You can spin it any way you want… what ever makes you feel good… I don’t care… in my little world… a belief in god is not much different than a belief in a god who want you to behead a non-believer.

They all float down there.

PhillyPretzel Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:40:53pm

Here is an opening to a chapter from At All Costs by David Weber.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Reverend Sullivan.” Robert Telmachi, Archbishop of Manticore, walked across his spacious, sunlit office to shake hands as the bald, fierce-nosed visitor was ushered into it.

“This is an honor,” Telmachi continued. “And, if I may say so, a meeting I’ve hoped for for quite some time.”

“Thank you, Archbishop.” The head of the Church of Humanity Unchained shook the offered hand firmly. “I, too, have looked forward to meeting you. Monsignor Davidson has been most satisfactory as your representative on Grayson, but given the intimacy of our two star nations’ political relationship …”

He smiled, and Telmachi nodded with a smile of his own.

“Precisely,” he said, escorting his guest towards an inviting conversational nook arranged in the office’s huge, floor-to-ceiling bay window. “Of course,” he continued, his smile broadening as they sat, “I don’t have quite as much authority in the Star Kingdom’s spiritual matters as you do in the Protectorate’s.”

“You might be surprised,” Sullivan said wryly. “Our doctrine of the Test makes for a certain spiritual obstreperousness.”

“But obstreperousness can be a good thing, as long as you learn to pay attention to its causes,” Telmachi replied. “We found that out the hard way in my own Church. In fact, I believe we’d begun discovering it well before your own ancestors departed for Grayson.”

“As did we, with those lunatics on Masada,” Sullivan said more grimly.

“Every Faith has its moments of lunacy, Reverend.” Telmachi shook his head sadly. “The Inquisition, the Islamic terrorist movement, the New Athens Jihad, your own Faithful… . Extremism is no one’s monopoly when faith turns to fanaticism.”

“But no one faith has a monopoly on resisting fanaticism, either,” Sullivan replied. “A point certain of my own predecessors have had difficulty remembering on Grayson, given Father Church’s monopoly—” he reused the word deliberately “—on spiritual authority there.”

“Perhaps,” Telmachi said. “Yet I think no one could accuse you or Reverend Hanks of that. I’ve deeply admired the way both of you have grappled with the huge changes your society has faced in the wake of your alliance with the Star Kingdom.”

“You mean, in the wake of our having been exposed to an entire galaxy of dangerous, if not downright heretical, notions about radical things like women’s rights,” Sullivan corrected with an easy chuckle.

“Well, of course I did. But I’m far too diplomatic to ever say so.”

Let us hope that something like this can happen in our time.

earth56 Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:40:55pm

re: #45 brookly red

My mind is like a video machine and does not need any enhancers.

Groovy !

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:41:29pm

I mean, these dumb kids and their dumb rock videos

what do they think they’re doing

Youtube Video

Oh whoops, never mind

Walter L. Newton Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:44:33pm

re: #47 Walter L. Newton

You can spin it any way you want… what ever makes you feel good… I don’t care… in my little world… a belief in god is not much different than a belief in a god who want you to behead a non-believer.

They all float down there.

And realize, I’m talking about the foundational belief, the concept of god/religion/faith. What man does with that basic faulty faith, that’s where the larger problem sets in.

But, you have to cut off the head of the snake to kill the snake., ergo, I go tot he genesis of the problem.

earth56 Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:46:16pm

re: #44 WindUpBird

I don’t know ? Are You Experienced ?

Political Atheist Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:48:56pm

re: #51 Walter L. Newton

It’s all spin in the end. And we all hew to what makes us
comfortable with our own conclusions. Nature of the topic. Past that it’s then all about how much contempt we allow ourselves for those who believe otherwise than ourselves. Or refrain from.
Right there we get back on topic of freedom of religion which is really freedom of beliefs, to not assume religious belief.

Walter L. Newton Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:52:46pm

And now I have to go back to sleep, got to work overnight tonight. I was napping, woke up, saw this silly god talk and felt obliged to annoy for a while.

Back to bed… may see you all before work later.

Fat Bastard Vegetarian Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:53:04pm

re: #37 Slumbering Behemoth

I don’t have cable or satellite, so no MTV for me. It’s a good thing.

No phone? No lights? No motorcars? Not a single luxury?

CuriousLurker Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:53:45pm

This news doesn’t surprise me at all as the Pakistani leadership—like that of Saudi Arabia—has pandered to fundamentalists to help keep them in power, though the Saudis have been doing it for much longer. The GOP would do well to take heed to how ugly things can get when one goes that route.

The thing that annoys me to no end is that these regimes receive our support. I realize there’s a practical reason for that, but it chafes nonetheless.

freetoken Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:59:06pm

re: #56 CuriousLurker

Pakistan does not appear to be a country with a great deal of inherent stability. Though not in the headlines anymore, they are still dealing with the aftermath of the massive flooding from earlier in 2010. It does not seem to be a nation that can reconstruct/reintegrate itself very well.

You compared the leaders’ use of religion with SA - I’ve read where the KSA has imported many Pakistanis to work manual labor.

Alexzander Sat, Jan 1, 2011 2:59:52pm

re: #30 Gus 802

It’s a totalitarianism thing.

Absolutely. An Iranian friend of mine who recently visited his family in Iran said that a lot of the individuals who protested after the last election are essentially spiritually broken by its failure to cause change. There is a lot of resignation to a totalitarian reality in these countries.

CuriousLurker Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:05:29pm

re: #57 freetoken

Pakistan does not appear to be a country with a great deal of inherent stability. Though not in the headlines anymore, they are still dealing with the aftermath of the massive flooding from earlier in 2010. It does not seem to be a nation that can reconstruct/reintegrate itself very well.

You compared the leaders’ use of religion with SA - I’ve read where the KSA has imported many Pakistanis to work manual labor.

I agree. From what I’ve read Pakistan has a lot of internal problems.

Re the KSA, yeah, they don’t do manual labor themselves, so they’ve got (and have pretty much always had) people from all over—Yemen, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Egypt, etc.—doing their manual labor, housekeeping, etc. I don’t know about now, but in the past many of the people who built up their infrastructure and taught in their universities & such, were also from other countries.

CuriousLurker Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:07:00pm

re: #58 Alexzander

Absolutely. An Iranian friend of mine who recently visited his family in Iran said that a lot of the individuals who protested after the last election are essentially spiritually broken by its failure to cause change. There is a lot of resignation to a totalitarian reality in these countries.

That’s unfortunate. And sad.

(I Stand By What I Said Whatever It Was) Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:08:08pm

re: #58 Alexzander

Absolutely. An Iranian friend of mine who recently visited his family in Iran said that a lot of the individuals who protested after the last election are essentially spiritually broken by its failure to cause change. There is a lot of resignation to a totalitarian reality in these countries.

The only hope, I guess, is that totalitarian states are not very good at maintaining a stable, sustained economy for long. Too bad the Western hemisphere is so reliant on fossil fuels, the lifeline of dictatorships in the countries that have these natural ressources. Otherwise the whole Middle East might have been transformed already.

CuriousLurker Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:08:42pm

Taxi’s here. Gotta run…BBL.

albusteve Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:12:04pm

a nuclear power, hostile to India, whom we give billions in aid….nothing wrong there….there is no stopping fundamentalism except at the point of a gun

Eclectic Infidel Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:21:52pm

re: #29 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Speaking of Fundamentalists…Personhood USA, the leading organization behind such measures, likened President Obama to the “Angel of Death,” and activists in Colorado compared pro-choice laws with Nazism.

My friend’s parents are former Greek Orthodox turned rabid fundamentalist Christian. In their world, Jesus would watch Glenn Beck religiously and Obama is the … “Black Satan.”

The Middle East has their crazy people, and we have ours.

Gus Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:31:11pm

Rambling thoughts:

It is impossible to perform a human evolutionary experiment in which we oberseve the social and cultural development of human beings evolving under a non-religious model.

The capacity for murder (sometimes under the name of any dogmatic belief) long predates the invention of religion.

One cannot say “a belief in Communist dogma is no different than a belief in Communist dogma that wants you to execute the anti-Communist.”

Cultural and technological development of particular societies have a greater influence on people than the mere belief in mythologies.

Bombs away!

Killgore Trout Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:33:51pm

John Ridley’s Top 7 ‘Nontroversies’ Of 2010
We’ve been scooped!

Killgore Trout Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:36:24pm

Freeloading socialists nervous about Republican congress….
US Science Threatened By Budget Crisis

Alan Leshner, CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, told the AFP news agency that the spending cuts could translate into a five to ten percent cut in research and development in the science sector for fiscal years 2011 and 2012.
“One big fear is that one version of the Republican agenda suggested bringing funding back to 2008 levels and that for science would be catastrophic,” said Leshner. “These kinds of budget cuts work against the ultimate national goals of restoring the US economy and its international prowess.”

Nearly all “competitor countries, including India, China and Korea, are increasing investments in science and engineering research, development, and education,” he added. “US funding looks like it could be heading the opposite direction.”

That trend concerns scientists who want to encourage younger people to enter the field of science, and who want to maintain a cutting edge in science and engineering which fuel economic growth, Leshner told AFP.

Charles Johnson Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:39:35pm

re: #66 Killgore Trout

John Ridley’s Top 7 ‘Nontroversies’ Of 2010
We’ve been scooped!

Why, that bastard! I’ll sue!

Actually, no I won’t. The Shrieking Harpy’s Ground Zero Islamic Supremacist Mega-Mosque Attack is almost certainly going to be my lead nontroversy too.

But his list is pretty weak. Misses plenty of hilarious stuff.

Kronocide Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:41:02pm

re: #68 Charles

Breitbart/Sherrod has to be up there too.

Varek Raith Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:41:20pm

Missile Defense Logo is Muslim!
Death Panels!
Gay People In Showers!

researchok Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:45:29pm

re: #65 Gus 802

Rambling thoughts:

Bombs away!

I like

Gus Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:46:12pm

re: #71 researchok

I like

Thanks.

Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:46:15pm

Iraqi fundies also on the rise.

Kragar Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:46:51pm

re: #70 Varek Raith

Missile Defense Logo is Muslim!
Death Panels!
Gay People In Showers!

CENSUS WORKERS ARE TEH DEBIL!

researchok Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:47:23pm

re: #72 Gus 802

Thanks.

I’ve got a whole bookshelf on stuff like that.

Makes for great reading.

Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:48:21pm

re: #73 Sergey Romanov

[Link: www.npr.org…]

darthstar Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:50:17pm

Palinstanis feel the same way about blaspheming the good name of St. Sarah.

Gus Sat, Jan 1, 2011 3:55:57pm

re: #77 darthstar

Palinstanis feel the same way about blaspheming the good name of St. Sarah.

/

FTFY

compound idaho Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:00:32pm

re: #67 Killgore Trout

Freeloading socialists nervous about Republican congress…
US Science Threatened By Budget Crisis

I make my living as a consulting scientist. Given what I witnessed during my time within the DOE national lab system, it would not be a catastrophe to return funding to 2008 levels. The waste is unbelievable (well maybe not unbelievable, but bad enough) at the labs and many of the dollars sent on to universities were just wasted.

My biggest complaint is not with funding basic science. That is money well spent. For many reasons industry cannot justify funding basic research. However in some fields, the labs spend too much money just trying to keep up with industry in many areas.

As with many other areas of government spending, we can do sooooo much better. I would recommend returning national lab system back to the Dept of Commerce, where it was before DOE came along.

Eclectic Infidel Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:00:51pm

re: #78 Gus 802

FTFY

I don’t think you fixed it, but I get it. Sort of.

darthstar Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:02:31pm

re: #68 Charles

Why, that bastard! I’ll sue!

Actually, no I won’t. The Shrieking Harpy’s Ground Zero Islamic Supremacist Mega-Mosque Attack is almost certainly going to be my lead nontroversy too.

But his list is pretty weak. Misses plenty of hilarious stuff.

He’s NPR…he has to keep the tone down a little.

darthstar Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:03:56pm

re: #78 Gus 802

FTFY

Okay…they just believe in Second Amendment solutions for ‘taking back’ America…yes, the people who like Palin also like Sharron Angle.

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:03:57pm

Cannibals! [Link: www.nytimes.com…]

Guess the bloom is off the tea party rose

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:05:01pm

re: #82 darthstar

Okay…they just believe in Second Amendment solutions for ‘taking back’ America…yes, the people who like Palin also like Sharron Angle.

Those guys always gloss over the “well regulated” part of that amendment as they hug their well worn copies of the Turner Diaries

darthstar Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:05:17pm

re: #83 WindUpBird

Cannibals! [Link: www.nytimes.com…]

Guess the bloom is off the tea party rose

GOP to Teabaggers: Thank you for being a spectacle for the last two years and giving us enough attention to retake Congress…now kindly go the fuck away.

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:05:43pm

re: #85 darthstar

GOP to Teabaggers: Thank you for being a spectacle for the last two years and giving us enough attention to retake Congress…now kindly go the fuck away.

Oh it’s gonna be an interesting couple of years

maybe they’ll all shave off their beards in fury

prairiefire Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:05:44pm

re: #83 WindUpBird

Cannibals! [Link: www.nytimes.com…]

Guess the bloom is off the tea party rose

This will be interesting. I’m looking forward to the next two years.

Vicious Babushka Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:05:50pm

Happy New Year

reine.de.tout Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:05:54pm

Here’s the first part of a statement from the White House on the bombing in Egypt:

I strongly condemn the separate and outrageous terrorist bombing attacks in Egypt and Nigeria. The attack on a church in Alexandria, Egypt caused 21 reported deaths and dozens of injured from both the Christian and Muslim communities. The perpetrators of this attack were clearly targeting Christian worshipers, and have no respect for human life and dignity.

Here’s the headline at another blog (Gateway Pundit)
SICK. OBAMA IS MAKING UP MUSLIM VICTIMS In Egyptian Terror Attack

The writer quotes only the second sentence from the statement above, then goes on to say:

The attack on a church in Alexandria, Egypt caused 21 reported deaths and dozens of injured from both the Christian and Muslim communities.

Not true.
All 21 of the victims in the attack were Christian. No Muslims died in the attack.
Catholic Online reported:

The explosion, during the first hour of the New Year, left 21 dead, 79 injured and questions about possible involvement of al-Qaida. All but eight of the injured and all the fatalities were Christians from Saints Church, located on the eastern side of the coastal city.

He’s afraid to say Islamic extremism.
Now he’s making up Muslim victims too.

The WH statement acknowledges what appears to be a fact, that is, eight of the injured were not Christians from the Saints Church, so it’s my guess they were Muslims.

Gateway Pundit quotes selectively, then comes up with a completely bogus meaning for the quote.

Gah.

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:06:27pm

re: #89 reine.de.tout

ahahaha gateway pundit! That place is comedy gold

Gus Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:07:06pm

re: #82 darthstar

Okay…they just believe in Second Amendment solutions for ‘taking back’ America…yes, the people who like Palin also like Sharron Angle.

Some but not all. There’s a big difference between extremist rhetoric from the mouths of a few and the de facto hard line rule of a blasphemy law that may result in a death sentence. There are levels of extremism and they are not all equal.

reine.de.tout Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:08:00pm

re: #90 WindUpBird

ahahaha gateway pundit! That place is comedy gold

I would hope his readers would know to click through to the actual WH statement, and the Catholic Online report, then read his piece. It’s just flat out a lie.

reine.de.tout Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:08:50pm

re: #92 reine.de.tout

I would hope his readers would know to click through to the actual WH statement, and the Catholic Online report, then read his piece. It’s just flat out a lie.

Obama is not my most favorite president of all time, that’s a fact.
But sheesh, it is just not necessary to make shit up.

darthstar Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:10:33pm

re: #93 reine.de.tout

Obama is not my most favorite president of all time, that’s a fact.
But sheesh, it is just not necessary to make shit up.

Yes, fortunately, it is necessary for them to make shit up…especially shit like the above.

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:11:32pm

re: #92 reine.de.tout

I would hope his readers would know to click through to the actual WH statement, and the Catholic Online report, then read his piece. It’s just flat out a lie.

I don’t think we can expect hygiene from the readers of gateway pundit, let alone critical thinking and fact-checking :D

albusteve Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:13:08pm

re: #91 Gus 802

Some but not all. There’s a big difference between extremist rhetoric from the mouths of a few and the de facto hard line rule of a blasphemy law that may result in a death sentence. There are levels of extremism and they are not all equal.

piling on is easier than making that distinction….pretty soon there is little difference in rhetoric

Kragar Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:16:46pm

re: #93 reine.de.tout

Obama is not my most favorite president of all time, that’s a fact.
But sheesh, it is just not necessary to make shit up.

A big reason I split from the GOP was I kept saying to myself “Of all the possible approaches you could go in coming up with reasons to be against Obama, you chose these?” birthers, sekret muslim, hates America, etc

Charles Johnson Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:18:55pm

Can anyone recommend a good place to get bank checks online? I ran out of checks, and when I went to reorder with my bank they wanted a ridiculous fee for them.

Gus Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:21:02pm

re: #98 Charles

Can anyone recommend a good place to get bank checks online? I ran out of checks, and when I went to reorder with my bank they wanted a ridiculous fee for them.

Did you try Deluxe direct?

[Link: www.deluxe.com…]

100

PhillyPretzel Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:21:06pm

re: #98 Charles
This is the website for Current. They have some nice designs.

[Link: www.currentcatalog.com…]

101

darthstar Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:22:45pm

re: #98 Charles

Can anyone recommend a good place to get bank checks online? I ran out of checks, and when I went to reorder with my bank they wanted a ridiculous fee for them.

I used these for years: [Link: www.messageproducts.com…]

But they have plenty of other designs:
[Link: www.messageproducts.com…]

102

bratwurst Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:27:33pm

re: #98 Charles

Can anyone recommend a good place to get bank checks online? I ran out of checks, and when I went to reorder with my bank they wanted a ridiculous fee for them.

Can I interest you in something in a Thomas Kinkade?

[Link: www.checksunlimited.com…]

103

Gus Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:27:38pm

Walmart checks!

[Link: www.walmartchecks.com…]

104

Gus Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:28:57pm

Marvel Heroes Checks - 8 Scenes

[Link: www.walmartchecks.com…]

105

PhillyPretzel Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:29:30pm

re: #103 Gus 802
$5.96 is cheap. That is good for security paper.

106

reine.de.tout Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:29:49pm

re: #97 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

A big reason I split from the GOP was I kept saying to myself “Of all the possible approaches you could go in coming up with reasons to be against Obama, you chose these?” birthers, sekret muslim, hates America, etc

Agreed.

107

reine.de.tout Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:30:52pm

re: #103 Gus 802

Walmart checks!

[Link: www.walmartchecks.com…]

Great to know!
I hardly use checks anymore, but the Roi does, and the last time I ordered them it was very expensive, I was appalled.

108

Charles Johnson Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:31:42pm

re: #104 Gus 802

Marvel Heroes Checks - 8 Scenes

[Link: www.walmartchecks.com…]

Thanks for the suggestions all … these Walmart checks are by far the cheapest.

109

Gus Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:33:56pm

re: #108 Charles

Thanks for the suggestions all … these Walmart checks are by far the cheapest.

YW. Saw those Marvel checks and thought those would be something you’d like.

110

darthstar Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:38:23pm

re: #103 Gus 802

Walmart checks!

[Link: www.walmartchecks.com…]

Fuck Wal-Mart.

111

darthstar Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:40:10pm

re: #109 Gus 802

YW. Saw those Marvel checks and thought those would be something you’d like.

Superhero checks? Do you care if Charles ever gets laid again?//

112

compound idaho Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:42:03pm

To all.

I want to brag and not to make light of others troubles.

2010 was one of, if not the best year at the compound. 1) Mrs. Compound still loves me 2) Family is healthy and happy 3) Business was fantastic 4) Ran my first marathon (3:51:37 @ 49yrs old) 4) Got registered at LGF. Not in any particular order. Should I strike post this comment? I think I will

Apparently God does watch out for drunks and fools. I have been told I have both bases covered.

God Bless you all. He/she/it/fate/just plain dumb luck clearly has blessed me.

113

Charles Johnson Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:46:01pm

In fact, it’s amazing how cheap the Walmart checks are. I can get four boxes for the price of one through my bank.

114

BishopX Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:46:12pm

re: #111 darthstar

If he needs to cut a check for that…hes doing it wrong.

115

Gus Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:47:40pm

re: #113 Charles

In fact, it’s amazing how cheap the Walmart checks are. I can get four boxes for the price of one through my bank.

Yikes. That means they went up almost 400 percent. Used to cost me about 15 bucks through my bank.

116

reine.de.tout Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:50:19pm

re: #115 Gus 802

Yikes. That means they went up almost 400 percent. Used to cost me about 15 bucks through my bank.

The last checks I ordered for the Roi were $15 a box. I was amazed to see that WalMart price. I’m a regular Wal-Marter, so I can’t believe it never occurred to me to check WalMart.

117

Charles Johnson Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:52:20pm

But wait, that isn’t counting shipping/handling - more like 3 boxes for the price of 1. Still amazing, though.

A box of duplicates from my bank costs about $28 including shipping. I can get four boxes from Walmart, but shipping adds about $10 to the cost.

118

lawhawk Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:56:59pm

re: #113 Charles

Buying checks from the bank? I’ve used Checks in the Mail, and found them to be pretty cost effective - although I’ve all but stopped writing checks - online banking has made it all but obsolete other than for gifts and those businesses that don’t have online payment setups.

119

FemNaziBitch Sat, Jan 1, 2011 4:59:38pm

Damn those blasfeeemers!

How are you all this fine first day of 2011?

120

Charles Johnson Sat, Jan 1, 2011 5:00:46pm

re: #118 lawhawk

Buying checks from the bank? I’ve used Checks in the Mail, and found them to be pretty cost effective - although I’ve all but stopped writing checks - online banking has made it all but obsolete other than for gifts and those businesses that don’t have online payment setups.

Yeah, I don’t write many checks any more myself, but I still have a few things that need to do it the old-fashioned way. That’s why I was surprised when I saw how much the bank charged. It’s been a long time since I ordered!

121

FemNaziBitch Sat, Jan 1, 2011 5:01:08pm

I use so few checks, that I just get them from the bank. A box lasts for years.

122

Dark_Falcon Sat, Jan 1, 2011 5:01:14pm

re: #89 reine.de.tout

Here’s the first part of a statement from the White House on the bombing in Egypt:

Here’s the headline at another blog (Gateway Pundit)
SICK. OBAMA IS MAKING UP MUSLIM VICTIMS In Egyptian Terror Attack

The writer quotes only the second sentence from the statement above, then goes on to say:

He’s afraid to say Islamic extremism.
Now he’s making up Muslim victims too.

The WH statement acknowledges what appears to be a fact, that is, eight of the injured were not Christians from the Saints Church, so it’s my guess they were Muslims.

Gateway Pundit quotes selectively, then comes up with a completely bogus meaning for the quote.

Gah.

Typical. The next thing will be Rodan AKA Daedalus AKA Dorkus using your post to say that you, Reine, “Worship Islam”. It’s what happens when Haters decide they want to hate. No fact can stop them.

123

albusteve Sat, Jan 1, 2011 5:01:48pm

re: #119 ggt

Damn those blasfeeemers!

How are you all this fine first day of 2011?

cold, bitter cold in New Mexico….breaking records all over the state…it was -20 last night in Taos and snow all over the place….fridgid

124

FemNaziBitch Sat, Jan 1, 2011 5:04:42pm

re: #123 albusteve

cold, bitter cold in New Mexico…breaking records all over the state…it was -20 last night in Taos and snow all over the place…fridgid

Wow, we had heat wave in Chicagland. Today it rained and the wind blew. Temperature steadily got colder. I have a feeling all that rain will be ice by morning.

125

Kragar Sat, Jan 1, 2011 5:05:08pm

re: #120 Charles

Yeah, I don’t write many checks any more myself, but I still have a few things that need to do it the old-fashioned way. That’s why I was surprised when I saw how much the bank charged. It’s been a long time since I ordered!

Only this I use them for routinely is rent. Its either a check or pay a $25 dollar “convenience charge” using the property manager’s website.

126

FemNaziBitch Sat, Jan 1, 2011 5:05:34pm

re: #123 albusteve

cold, bitter cold in New Mexico…breaking records all over the state…it was -20 last night in Taos and snow all over the place…fridgid

What elevation is Taos?

127

Dark_Falcon Sat, Jan 1, 2011 5:07:11pm

re: #124 ggt

Wow, we had heat wave in Chicagland. Today it rained and the wind blew. Temperature steadily got colder. I have a feeling all that rain will be ice by morning.

Thankfully, most of the rain is in the ground now. It’s very cold tonight. But one thing the rain did do was to melt away the snow.

128

FemNaziBitch Sat, Jan 1, 2011 5:07:37pm

re: #127 Dark_Falcon

Thankfully, most of the rain is in the ground now. It’s very cold tonight. But one thing the rain did do was to melt away the snow.

the snow was MUCH prettier.

129

Fat Bastard Vegetarian Sat, Jan 1, 2011 5:08:44pm

Good call, Pitt.

130

FemNaziBitch Sat, Jan 1, 2011 5:11:12pm

I am going to go play on Photoshop.

bbl.

131

Dark_Falcon Sat, Jan 1, 2011 5:12:28pm

re: #128 ggt

the snow was MUCH prettier.

Yes, but its easier and quicker for me to get to buses and trains with it gone. Some of the sidewalks weren’t well cleared this time, so I’m glad to see the snow gone.

132

jamesfirecat Sat, Jan 1, 2011 5:13:08pm

Hey everybody, I want to wish all my fellow Lizards a happy new year.

I’d stay longer say more but I recently found Batman Arkham Asylum on Steam for 75% off or only $7.50 which promptly moved it into the category of “this is a Christmas gift, I give to myself” having heard almost nothing but good stuff about it.

I just recently managed to beat it on normal and am now going back to play it again on hard.

There is only one instantly obvious flaw with this game, and it makes me feel sad for the person involved in it.

Tom Kane, I’ve never directly heard of you before, evidently your a famous actor who has done plenty of other stuff… but you’re no Bob Hastings.

You’re no Bob Hastings in a cast with Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, and Arleen Sorkin… you stick out like a sore thumb as THE ONE GUY who was not part of Batman the Animated Series cast you sad sorry bastard…

So aside from the issue of Police Chief Gordon not sounding like my childhood self remembers him sounding, it’s an astoundingly fun game which should offer something to everyone and make you experience a Nostalgiagasam if you grew up watching Batman the Animated Series and the other shows in the DC continuity that followed it (Superman, Batman Beyond, Justice League…)

133

Dark_Falcon Sat, Jan 1, 2011 5:16:24pm

re: #132 jamesfirecat

Hey everybody, I want to wish all my fellow Lizards a happy new year.

I’d stay longer say more but I recently found Batman Arkham Asylum on Steam for 75% off or only $7.50 which promptly moved it into the category of “this is a Christmas gift, I give to myself” having heard almost nothing but good stuff about it.

I just recently managed to beat it on normal and am now going back to play it again on hard.

There is only one instantly obvious flaw with this game, and it makes me feel sad for the person involved in it.

Tom Kane, I’ve never directly heard of you before, evidently your a famous actor who has done plenty of other stuff… but you’re no Bob Hastings.

You’re no Bob Hastings in a cast with Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, and Arleen Sorkin… you stick out like a sore thumb as THE ONE GUY who was not part of Batman the Animated Series cast you sad sorry bastard…

So aside from the issue of Police Chief Gordon not sounding like my childhood self remembers him sounding, it’s an astoundingly fun game which should offer something to everyone and make you experience a Nostalgiagasam if you grew up watching Batman the Animated Series and the other shows in the DC continuity that followed it (Superman, Batman Beyond, Justice League…)

Have fun gaming, James. Talk to you soon.

134

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Sat, Jan 1, 2011 5:16:51pm

re: #121 ggt

I use so few checks, that I just get them from the bank. A box lasts for years.

I’m still on checks from 6 years ago, yes

135

albusteve Sat, Jan 1, 2011 5:20:00pm

re: #126 ggt

What elevation is Taos?

72-7400ft I’d guess

136

Fat Bastard Vegetarian Sat, Jan 1, 2011 5:24:32pm

re: #126 ggt

What elevation is Taos?

The Taos of Steve?

137

albusteve Sat, Jan 1, 2011 5:29:03pm

re: #136 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

The Taos of Steve?

personally I wouldn’t give you 2 cents for the place, but it is historic and scenic, altho beyond pretense, like so many other small western towns….but Taos is really apart in other ways….the real asses are on up in CO….it’s bad up there

138

compound idaho Sat, Jan 1, 2011 5:30:18pm

Taos? Al’s run!

139

nines09 Sat, Jan 1, 2011 5:35:32pm

Well,ya gotta stand for something./ Looks like the prevailing wisdom in Pakistan says “Kill the Infidel. You wouldn’t happen to be an Infidel, would you?”
By the way, Happy New Years, one and all.

140

aagcobb Sat, Jan 1, 2011 6:02:48pm

Anyone who thinks we don’t need to be vigilant against the rise of this kind of religious fanaticism in the US, just remember that Newt Gingrich thinks that we should use Saudi Arabia as the standard for religious tolerance here.

141

SanFranciscoZionist Sat, Jan 1, 2011 6:11:25pm

re: #2 Rightwingconspirator

So Islam is so weak it can not withstand a few unbelievers? How foolish a thing to think. Islam will do just fine without the death penalty for any violation.

This kind of thing is a desperate attempt to ward off not unbelief, but modernity and freedom of thought, by getting increasingly more irrational and dogmatic.

These guys are fighting the Englightenment, tooth and nail.

142

SanFranciscoZionist Sat, Jan 1, 2011 6:12:50pm

re: #5 Charles

It’s not only Islamic countries that have blasphemy laws: Ireland’s Ridiculous Blasphemy Law Goes Into Effect.

No death penalty, but it wasn’t that long ago that Christian societies were executing people for blasphemy.

Which is a good reminder of how much can be accomplished, even when the outlook is bleak.

143

SanFranciscoZionist Sat, Jan 1, 2011 6:13:08pm

re: #7 brookly red

/now if we could just convince them that North Korea is insulting Islam…

it could work.

They’re fanatics, not stupid.

144

SanFranciscoZionist Sat, Jan 1, 2011 6:19:04pm

re: #84 WindUpBird

Those guys always gloss over the “well regulated” part of that amendment as they hug their well worn copies of the Turner Diaries

I assume if the founding fathers had meant to say “Each and every citizen should be armed to the teeth at all times, with massive firepower, just in case the government does something he does not like,” they would have said that.

145

CuriousLurker Sat, Jan 1, 2011 6:36:47pm

re: #141 SanFranciscoZionist

This kind of thing is a desperate attempt to ward off not unbelief, but modernity and freedom of thought, by getting increasingly more irrational and dogmatic.

These guys are fighting the Englightenment, tooth and nail.

And loss of power & influence.

The thing is, they seem to have completely overlooked the parts about being a good example. If, in their supposed piety, they were models of tolerance, compassion, mercy, forbearance, forgiveness, etc.—things which are emphasized over & over in Islam in addition to the harsher stuff, believe it or not—then they wouldn’t need to be fighting enlightenment… they’d be the very embodiment of it. And their countrymen would respect them & follow their advice out of love, not fear.

146

lostlakehiker Sat, Jan 1, 2011 7:17:51pm

re: #31 Walter L. Newton

It’s almost ironically humous watching the delicate waltz between the “barbaric” religions and the “enlightened” religions. The fundamentalist among Islam are the “dark agers” while the god believing evolutionist are the stable and sane among modern society.

So, the jostle and maneuver goes on between competing believers, while in the meantime, the really big picture, the gorilla in the room, is ignored.

“Who is this God guy, anyway.”

People will accept the irrational mystical thinking that is the foundation of religion as long as the outcome comports with their personal limitations. “I believe in god, but none of that beheading stuff for my religion, those other people are barbaric” while all the time it’s just a formula of the same faulty thinking, only at various degrees of acceptability.

Rational and cultured religionist all boil down and shake out with the rest of the chaff. It’s amazing what one can be convinced of without any scientific proof, while all the time claiming to be rational scientific creatures.

You can’t lipstick this pig into equivalence. It’s been a long time since Christians used accusations of witchcraft to kill young widows who stood to inherit. And Salem was ashamed of it once the excitement died down.

By contrast, the use of accusations of blasphemy as a way to settle scores is an entrenched feature of Pakistani law, and is vehemently supported by a large fraction of the populace.

147

ProBosniaLiberal Sat, Jan 1, 2011 11:06:01pm

re: #145 CuriousLurker

I think much of the problem with Pakistan has to do with the fact it was cobbled together from various ethnicities, with many jostling for power. (Ethnicty map below may show the point to an extent) Along with the fact that some bizarre from of Relgious Nationalism (?) caused the Hindu and Muslim communities to force each other out of their respective areas, resulting in a very unstable situation in both, both moreso in Pakistan.

Image: Biggest_Group_by_Region.jpg

148

aagcobb Sun, Jan 2, 2011 7:23:29am

re: #146 lostlakehiker

No, christians are persecuting “witches” now.

149

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Sun, Jan 2, 2011 11:55:01am

re: #148 aagcobb