motorfirebox said:
interesting. my personal feeling on the matter (which i'm quite certain everyone is dying to know!) is that, while i recognize the act is intended to be offensive to certain sectors, i don't personally find it offensive. similarly, i don't find it offensive when someone burns the flag, or rips apart a bible. i think it's probably unwise to perform these acts in situations where the people you're trying to offend are heavily-armed and notoriously violent; and it's quite offensive to me to perform these acts in situations where those heavily-armed people are likely to respond by killing people who chose to serve their country with you. but that's all context--the act itself is more likely to elicit an "oh, brother" eyeroll from me than anything else.

hk85 said:

So, I am your liberator, but I take your favorite teddy bear and fill it full of lead.
Get over it, right?

Rude_Ruca said:

Have ya ever READ the Koran? Not exactly "accurate" to use the whole teddy bear analogy. Just saying is all....

hk85 said:

Right, if I'm in a position of power I can fuck whatever shit up I like. I get it now, thanks.

baudot said:
Isn't sending the offending soldier home from Iraq something of a reward? Seems like that aspect of the discipline is sending the wrong message.

Rude_Ruca said:
Additionally, Islam is not a RACE, it is a religion

Rude_Ruca said:

OK, OBVIOUSLY that is not what I am saying here. What I am saying, in a way, is that by using that kind of kid glove approach and/or thinking, I believe we are underestimating the intentions of.....oh, fuck it, never MIND! We will not be able to see eye to eye on this because, unfortunately, you believe this is a frat boy "position of power" conflict, when clearly it is an entire community of people that cannot separate their religious text from society and government and really, no matter how hard our military works, this corner of the world will never quite be liberated! Think about how liberated everyone in America felt when you could no longer teach the theory of creationism in public schools, and in turn Darwinism became an instant curriculum staple. What about women who could go into an abortion clinic and actually have an abortion without the threat of dying from internal bleeding or some other serious infection?....I mean, really, just think about it...And, before you go using the "America is trying to push it's Judeo-Christian principals on everyone", just think about how separated our society has actually become from them.

If they took film of it and posted it on YouTube? I'd see that as incitement intended to cause violence; I'd like to see that prosecuted.

If (as seems likely for SSgt Sniper) they stole it? Bust them for theft (or looting), and for incitement intended to cause violence

Rude_Ruca said:

OK, OBVIOUSLY that is not what I am saying here. What I am saying, in a way, is that by using that kind of kid glove approach and/or thinking, I believe we are underestimating the intentions of.....oh, fuck it, never MIND! We will not be able to see eye to eye on this because, unfortunately, you believe this is a frat boy "position of power" conflict, when clearly it is an entire community of people that cannot separate their religious text from society and government and really, no matter how hard our military works, this corner of the world will never quite be liberated! Think about how liberated everyone in America felt when you could no longer teach the theory of creationism in public schools, and in turn Darwinism became an instant curriculum staple. What about women who could go into an abortion clinic and actually have an abortion without the threat of dying from internal bleeding or some other serious infection?....I mean, really, just think about it...And, before you go using the "America is trying to push it's Judeo-Christian principals on everyone", just think about how separated our society has actually become from them.

LSlice said:
SockPuppet Says:

I see. So would you extend the same standard to people who engaged in other forms of iconoclasty? What about if someone posted a video with a big crossed out red crescent? Where do you draw the line between what constitutes incitment to violence?

OhSoOrdinary said:

To an extent, it is. But a soldier like that is a liability. You can't keep them in theatre as a punishment. It's only putting other soldiers at risk. That SSG will get court martialed. He'll get punished then.

I don't know if you've ever spoken to a devout Muslim, but they identify themselves first as Muslim, then by ethnicity. So offending their religion is much more offensive than offending their ethinicity or nationality.

Also, you seem to be under the impression that the Middle East wants to be like America or Western society. They don't.

Rude_Ruca said:

No, but to believe that they will ever TRULY be 100% liberated is a bit off kilter. They not only don't want to be "Americanized" they don't want to have to be modernized (to an extent) OR liberated. Clearly you have proven me correct here by emphasizing their priorities (ok, Muslim, THEN nationality. Sorry, the modern world doesn't work that way and I am sorry for THEM that they feel so...confined...)They want to be tied down to the ancient, blood stained history that the Koran has given them. Additionally- and NO sockpuppet, I WILL NOT provide a link, thank you- MOST if not all Islamic nations want to operate solely under Sharia Law. Talk about the dog going back to it's own vomit....

SockPuppet said:

And that's you on Ignore. If you don't want to be taken seriously, that's fine with me.

Rude_Ruca said:

So that's your solution? Ignore me because I would not provide a freakin' link to a well known fact about Islamic nations and Sharia Law. How....how mature of you, sockpuppet....