<http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FhaUVmYBXD0>
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Israel and America are NOT bullies.
The World hangs in the balance.
Jim,
Your alertness to this news is commendable! In the West we value life and speech, even of the humblest person. Paradoxically for many, we also extend these values to our enemies. Anyone can love their friendly neighbor. It's our valuing the lives of those who's speech offends us, that differentiates the civilized man from the savage.
Sad that a disgruntled and hateful Egyptian, (an unusually misguided Coptic Christian living at this time in Los Angeles), dubbed crude anti-Islamic blasphemies over what the actors had been told was a humorous historical short movie. Worse, he posted it online, (claiming he was Jewish). Had this piece of trash been made against Christians or Gays, who would have made a stir, as it was so prejudiced, inarticulate and childish. Still, in the Muslim world this was considered an American product and riots swept from state to state, with major loss of life and properly!
The American Ambassador to Libya, (there to rebuild health facilities), get's assassinated, but not by these riots! In fact, the complex assassination plot was hatched, no doubt, way before the trashy video ever appeared. The murders were executed through a carefully orchestrated missile attack to flush out the Americans, followed by a coordinated and merciless assassination ambush on the expected escape routes! This was no reaction of a rioting crowd of protesters, but the savage behavior hateful terrorists on the anniversary of 9/11.
It's very comforting that masses of shocked and angry and amazingly brazen and brave Libyans forced the well armed militant from their bases. Moreover, the Libyan government immediately registered its deep-felt offense and sadness for our murdered embassy staff and officers. In other places, however, protection of embassy staff is not considered an obligation. More important to them is to be seen siding with the small proportion of the population taking to the streets with anti-US venom. What's ironic is the Obama has bent over so far backwards to support the "Arab Spring" movement, that he has hardly any ability to stand up for our own culture. In the process, he's abandoned loyal allies, astonished our military partners and infuriated long time suppliers of oil to the West! For all this, the U.S. is still demonized in the streets, except, thankfully in Libya! So this is, perhaps a time for a reality check for everyone. Where's the humanity in all this, I ask?
There's justifiable anger against the ill-made hate movie. But should it be enough to set fire to everything within a mob's reach? An Afghani Mulla burnt a holy Qu'ran as part of framing a young Christian peasant garbage collector girl and driving out these Christian pests. There were riots against the girl and she was rescued from mobs. However, when the truth came out and the priest was arrested, there were no riots for desecrating the holy Muslim writings.
Selective outrage!
In the same vein, which societies are pouring into the streets in support of defenseless Syrians civilians? Daily, these unarmed families are shelled from tanks and artillery and bombed and machine-gunned from the air!
Again selective outrage!
At the moment, the Syrians obviously don't warrant urgent attention either from the masses that riot or the "progressives" from Western nations. Where are those who constantly march in protest in London, Paris or New york with students, churchmen, workers movements, unions and a spectrum of those who regularly protest against the economies of the West, their "Imperialism" or "biased" Middle East Policies? Well these particular Sunnis, unlike the Iraqi Kurds or the Kuwaitis are obviously not worthy of that much empathy and outrage either inside the Arab world or in the West. Yes, some aid is given and even small arms. But why has there not been a "no fly zone" to protect civilians? We can't just have impotent UN mediators spend airplane miles, going in and out of Damascus for pointless discussions, that simply allow more time for slaughter of the innocents!
Until we value all God given life, we don't have a chance at peace. That is the state of things. But, that does not mean we should capitulate. On the contrary, we should explain ourselves, be generous, listen to concerns but keep our options open.
Asher
