Hell, when Jerry Falwell died, the left had a field day. If we had done that when some prominent Islamic leader passed, I can only imagine the outrage.

You're asking people to contain themselves from expressing themselves. In other words you want them to give up the freedom of expression. Why? Because you fear that those would be allies would turn towards the enemy with open arms? Funny, I would think that if they embraced the beliefs of those who would do us harm would mean they had intentions of doing it already and were really only looking for an excuse to join them. How can we depend on a group of people as allies if at the drop of a hat they would join the enemy just because someone said something they didn't like? Are you trying to say Muslims are not smart enough to know the difference between right and wrong? And please don't give me that "I never said that" story.

no their smart enough but they just don't care

you don't have to care if all you have to do is die in a holy war

So it has NOTHING to do with their foreign policy, other than it makes international news.

That is part of Foreign policy. If i am , as you say, clueless you think the majority of Muslims are not?

Thanks for the lesson and great guess.

That is part of Foreign policy. If i am , as you say, clueless you think the majority of Muslims are not?

So when we breath, and the papers pick it up, we have to quake in our boots because we just made foreign policy?

An extreme example, perhaps.  But take your view to a conclusion, and that is what you are saying.

But you are right in one respect.  Those clowns buring flags and bodies in effigy are clueless.  Otherwise, why would they have demanded the death of the Pope who was teaching a course in theology and quoting a Middle ages cleric?  Instead of denouncing the originator of the statement, they wanted to kill the messenger.  Wouldn't you call that clueless?  And would not then we have to rewrite history so as not to offend their tender sensibilities?

Who are you to say he doesn't merit the honor.

I've never seen you express sensitivity to the Christians these awards offend, TA. Have you once advocated for censoring the Da Vinci Code out of fear that Christian hate groups will act out, and that moderate Christians will support them in their anger?

First, I never advocated censoring Rushdie or anyone else for that matter. You are responding to a non-existent issue.

Second, i get offended with some of what is written about Jesus as well as any of God's prophets in general. I didnt write about it because we are not at war with Christian or Jewish people but we are at war with Muslim people. Officials are supposed to measure their actions in a way that serves their countries' interests not hinder it. Censoring Rushdie was never an issue, honoring him was the issue. I have no idea why people are bringing the censoring issue up. i didnt like what he said, but that doesnt mean i asked for censoring him.

In fact i really get upset when most Christians and Jews do not condemn what is sometimes written about Jesus or Moses. These Nobel Figures are icons for many people and whoever insults them insults their people. That doesnt mean that the people get violent or censor the writers, artists,... etc. but they should condemn such insults more consistently.

I believe that you are only excusing those who would be offended and not expecting from them what you expect from England, or us for that matter.

I am not excusing them, i am saying we should recognize how they feel and use it to our advantage.

And you are ABSOLUTELY correct. I am expecting more from England and USA, shouldnt i?. i thinke we all should.

No, we are at war with people whose faith happens to be predominantly Muslim. There is a difference.

So when we breath, and the papers pick it up, we have to quake in our boots because we just made foreign policy?An extreme example, perhaps. But take your view to a conclusion, and that is what you are saying.

Extremes of any kind are not a good idea no matter what. and "WE" are not officials. what "WE" say does not have the same impact as when it is said by the Queen of UK or the President of the USA. Does it?

Everything has its limits, even freedom of speech. that is the supreme court's ruling. and it makes sense. nothing is absolute in this world. so dont take anything to its extreme limits no matter what. This usually leads to disasters. Believe it or not, that is what these criminal terrorists did with Islam. let's not take things, even little things, to extremes. it is a slippery slope.

That's pretty obvious, at least for some of us but as you can see I have to ask cause it does not seem so obvious to some people, like TA.

Of course you are. Instead of expecting them to act like adults and ignore the beliefs of a single man, you expect them to retaliate just because they were offended. What they need to do is grow up and realize that their religion is not supreme and that there will always be those who don't like it. I don't think that raising hell every time someone says something bad about their religion is the best way to deal with the problem.



So then tell me why do you not expect as much from them? Is it because you fear them? Is it because they are more willing to do what our leaders refuse to? Is it because they are willing to fight for survival while we keep sending our soldiers to their deaths because we fear hitting the wrong ones?

I expect them to be mature, I expect them to understand that they are not absolute, that there will be those who will not like how they do things, I expect them to just turn around and ignoreunless their lives were being threatened. But if saying something bad about their religion or prophets is cause for death and destruction then I expect them expect the same retailation from us.

And there you hit it again. The Queen is not the PM, and therefore has no say in the foreign policy of that country. No more than you nor I. It has been many years since the Monarchy ruled by decree.

Some information on the decision to knight Sir Salman can be found here:

WWW Link

On a personal note I saw the Queen being driven past my office at lunch today, but the thought of jumping in front of the car to protest the award never entered my head, for the obvious reason that Sir Salman's knighthood was well deserved. And I was hungry.

So then tell me why do you not expect as much from them?

you expect more from people who are more educated, more free, more powerful,...etc.

That is why.