So much for the Aristotelian folly that contradictions do not exist. This one is physical -- and alive, to boot!
Its unclear from the photo where this took place. One thing to realize is that much of these "protests" have been organized by such paragons of freedom (and Islamic values) as Syria (basically a facist regime). In other words, she may not be excercising her "freedom of expression." That siad there is an irony to using free speech to protest against free speech. Of course for this reason, I would suggest the best approach to "responding" to the non-violent protests is to laud the protestors for excercising their rights (even if we disagree with them). Violent protests are another matter (your right to swing your fist freely ends at the tip of my nose...). Here we should condemn the violence but laud the excercise of free speech.
You know, I thought the same exact thing....
I think the rest of the aristotelian mantra is "if one appears to exist, double-check your premises, you'll find that one (or more) of them is wrong," or something to that effect. In this case, without seeing clearly her definitions of "free speech" and "terrorism," it's difficult to conceive of how she made the logical leap that equates the two. It's quite possible that her definitions are quite different from ours, so again, context is necessary.
That being said, it's possible to have a logically sound argument that isn't the least bit valid.
Strange days when Libertarian Jason and doinkicarus are both agreeing with mwebb!
Indeed 
Too much agreement too much agreement. I suppose I need to change my position.
Cultural context is relevant; even concepts like libery exist in a culturally contextual realm...
Oh this is tiresome. I don't feel like making arguemnt even in jest. This is actually one of my deep issues with certain strains of leftist thought. Everything becomes contextual which soon becomes relative, which soon becomes nihlist. Any horrid act can be justified.
Strange days when Libertarian Jason and doinkicarus are both agreeing with mwebb
Never thought I'd see the day!
To see the image causing all the fuss:
http://lab-frog.blogspot.com/
200...artoonists.html
For readers surprised by the violent reaction some Muslims are displaying in reaction to some cartoons published in Europe newspapers, Frog encourages his readers to study Islamic history. Part of the anger is over the use of an image of Muhammad, which they see as sinful because Muhammad prohibited the worship of idols, including images. However this is at best a small reason as no doubt the cartoonists were not publishing the images for worship but rather to make a political point, which is where the real reason comes in.
One of the sources of religious guidance for Muslims is the behavior of their prophet, and it is well known to Muslims that when poets (the equivalent of the media at the time) ridiculed him, Muhammad sent counter-poets to make fun of the poet making fun of him. If this failed, or if the ridicule had really upset Muhammad, he sent assassins to kill the offending poet. The violence of the Muslims just reflects this behavior of their prophet.
Too many Europeans and Americans try to be “multi-cultural” and “understanding” of other cultures by not bothering to study them and assuming they are all equal. Muhammad was not some type of Arabic Jesus Christ; all into turning the other cheek, having the meek inherit the world, acceptance of suffering, and having only those without sin throwing stones. Muhammad was vastly more realistic and successful during his own life, and much more violent.
Ultimately, no amount of “cultural understanding” or appeasement,without real understanding, will make Muslims less hateful of the West, because it is the very success of the West that is so hateful to Muslims. Muhammad said that the political, economic, and social laws he issued were from God, and that if his followers obeyed them they would be the most powerful and prosperous nation in the world. And for about one thousand years they could claim that this was so. But no longer. From the Muslim point of view this is bizarre. How can nations who follow man-made laws be superior to them when they follow the laws of God? They then turn to conspiracy theories, hatred, and violence.
MWebb said, "Everything becomes contextual which soon becomes relative, which soon becomes nihlist. Any horrid act can be justified."
Which is why the only valid context is reality (the metaphysically given) and how well we come into consonance with it.
As Lab_Frog obliquely points out, ultimate dependence upon force is impotent. Reality contains treasures for the rational and not much for those who prefer force.
I enjoyed your agreement with Libertarian Jason and doinkicarus. Indeed, I agreed with your post, too.
Muhammad was vastly more realistic and successful during his own life...
Christ didn't do too badly for just a three-year ministry.
That photo is actually hilarious!
Positive correlation between religious fundamentalism and irony impairment?
LF:
Your apparent belief that Islam has always and everywhere been a violent unchanging religion simply highlights your lack of study of Islamic history. During the 1000 or so when Islam was ascendent it was a highly open and tolerent society. Indeed it was far easier to be a religious minority in the Medieval Islamic world as compared to Medieval Europe. (This isn't to say it was up to current post-enlightenment standards.
Moreover it is always possible to find negative or violent concepts in any complex series of beleifs. For example, by emphasizing Jesus's overturning the money-lenders tables and perhaps Joshua's genocide in the Book of Joshua one could turn christianity into a particularly violent religion (and note that this has happened many times throughout history).
Much of the current Islamist thought can be traced back to an Egpyitan scholar in the 50's and 60's named Sayeed Qutb (he was killed by Nasser in 67). He had a number of ideas which radically altered centuries of Islamic tradition (including "re-opening the gates if ijitad" or interpretation). The importance of Qutb to modern political islam goes far beyond this post. However, suffice it to say that much modern violence associated with Islam has more to do with current iterpretations by people with a particular political agenda rather than unchanging aspects of Islam. Seeing arguments that violence is Islam is based on some fudamental aspect going back to ancient times provides a strong clue that the writer of such ideas has little understanding of current Islamic thought.
Partly right, but Muhammad was a military leader and much of the early spread of Islam was through the use and threat of conquest. The degree of violence in Islam is much higher than in most other mainstream religions. And Frog still considers Islam to be a relatively open and tolerant religion, just not as open and tolerant as it needs to be to avoid a violent clash with Western civilization. For excample, the demand from some Muslims that Western nations make it against the law to ridicule their beliefs and to behead those who have already done so, obviously will not be meet.
Agian you are equating the demands of a minority of muslims with Islam. There are some christians (think Roy Moore) who believe that their interpreation of christianity is the constitutional basis of this country. yet we do not say that christianity (per se) is incompatible with liberal democracy (although Morre's version may be).
Roy Moore (never heard of him Frogself) demands that foreign nations pass laws against having offending images of Jesus, and that all who have done so should have their heads cut off? No doubt some Christian nut has made some similar demand somewhere, you have to look at numbers and amount of activity, not "this one guy once... therefore everything is equally crap."
The difference is that most Christians would not give passive support to this Roy fella if he did make such claims, while most Muslims quietly agree with the minority of Muslims who are conducting violent protests. Again it is a matter of degree. Don't think like a lawyer, think like an economist.
ACtually Roy (10 Commandments justice) is likely to become governor of Alabama...
Strange days when Libertarian Jason and doinkicarus are both agreeing with mwebb!
There's hope for him, yet!
or perhpas for you...
the real question --> how do you know this is a woman?
The photo is great! Also the comments...thanx for both!
Reg
Chris
My Photocommunity
8ad569 a96fe52693
Very strange but interesting. Toner
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