Happy Ramadan!

I'm surrounded by assholes

France’s Burqa Ban Begins

France’s controversial ban on full-face veils went into effect which makes the public wearing of burqas and niqabs subject to a fine of 150 euros ($217) and a Good French Citizenship course. And you thought Americans were nuts? Individuals charged with forcing women to wear full-face veils could receive a much larger fine and maybe even jail time.

A leaflet informing police how to implement the law said it did not apply to private homes, hotel rooms, private office spaces, car interiors, and mosques, and that officers could not remove a veil by force, but would only be allowed to warn law breakers that they could be brought to a police station. Perhaps a stern letter?

According to reports, despite being home to Western Europe’s largest Muslim minority, France has only about 2,000 women who wear full-face veils on a regular basis, and critics believe President Nicolas Sarkozy is “play[ing] up the Muslim question because he is an unpopular president in need of an easy vote-winner.” Well, he could also bomb Libya -- oh, hold on...

In related news, 59 people participating in a banned protest to protest the ban were arrested on Saturday by French police.

Before you get too silly about it, remember that American women wear veils too. They're called Revlon and Cover Girl.

One Religious Nut Incites Other Nuts to Start Killing

Protests Over Koran Burning Spread In Afghanistan, With 9 Dead In Kandahar

KABUL — Violent protests over the burning of a Koran spread to the heart of Taliban country Saturday, as clashes between demonstrators and Afghan police in Kandahar left at least nine people dead and more than 90 injured, according to Afghan officials.

The clashes marked the second consecutive day that mobs thronged the streets of major Afghan cities to protest the burning of Islam’s holy book last month by a Florida pastor. On Friday, a mob attacked a U.N. compound in the normally placid northern city of Mazar-e Sharif and killed seven U.N. employees: four Nepalese guards and three European staff members.

The Koran burning also prompted more peaceful demonstrations in the capital, Kabul, in the western city of Herat and in the northern province of Takhar.

Read more

The book burning was just an excuse to start the Spring Cycle of violence by the Taliban and their supporters. Expect more killings and protests in the next few days.

I'd like to see the pastor from Florida, Terry Jones, personally apologize to everyone he's offended. I'll even buy his plane fare to Afghanistan. I'd also like to say that when General Petraeus said that this is exactly what would happen... and then it did.

'Hold Islam accountable': U.S. pastor defiant after his Koran-burning publicity stunt led to two UN staff being beheaded and five others murdered -- Daily Mail

Afghan Rioting Spreads Over Quran Burning -- Wall Street Journal

Protests Over Koran Burning Reach Kandahar -- New York Times

Afghan Violence Spreads Over Terry Jones' Quran Burning - ABC News

Blasphemer Dies

Pakistani Christian Sentenced for ‘Blasphemy’ Dies in Prison

A Christian serving a life sentence in Karachi Central Jail on accusations that he had sent text messages blaspheming the prophet of Islam died today amid suspicions that he was murdered. Qamar David’s life had been threatened since he and a Muslim, Munawar Ahmad, were accused of sending derogatory text messages about Muhammad in June 2006, said David’s former lawyer, Pervaiz Chaudhry.

Read More...

It saddens me that a fellow Blasphemer has died. In this case, for what he believed in - in my case, what I don't.

Texting is a bad idea, folks. Bad idea.

No, wait, are they serious?

UK Muslim cleric Anjem Choudary has called on Muslims to “rise to implement the Shari’ah in America,” starting with a planned demonstration in front of the White House.

Choudary’s “call for revolution” was being organized by Shariah4America, a group calling for the “Islamic demolition of the Statue of Liberty” and a remodeling of the White House into a “White Masjid.”

According to the group’s website, the Statue of Liberty “elevates the command of man over the command of God” and public veneration of the statue amounts to idol worship strictly prohibited by Islam.

“This has forced sincere Muslims to develop realistic plans that will aid in the removal of the Statue of Liberty. “Due to the scale of the task at hand, it is highly likely that rigorous safety checks will need to be employed before the demolition of the Statue of Liberty can commence; thus as a temporary measure, it is proposed that a large burkha is used to cover the statue, thereby shielding this horrendous eye sore from public view as well as sending a strong message to its French creators,” the site reads.

Now, I'm having a little trouble with all this -- First off, here's the trouble, I don't know where the gag starts or ends. The Islam site looks made up. Like a completely made up gag for use by Christians to bash Islam.... Or perhaps race baiters and folks who need news to keep talking about it. After all, I first found this because someone pointed me to it via Glen Beck's "The Blaze" -- which forced me to do a double take on that too, as I thought it was a poor Onion rip-off.

So now one has to ask the obvious question, who's crazier?

Sunday Comics - The Week in Review

Finish line. Another week in the history books. The roller-coaster of the drama in Egypt has come to a conclusion - and the three hundred souls that helped make it happen. Social media was a tool, an interment in organizing - not necessarily creating - a revolution. And in Egypt's case it was as effective as a blade or a bullet. In Iran - not so much.
It's also telling that in Iran, as they're celebrating their revolution, and cheering on Egypt - they're suppressing the Green movement and hanging the opposition.
And go he did. The military performed a soft coup d'e'tat. The oil sucking world is concerned what's going to happen next. The West, and America love democracy -- but only if it's to their own benefit. If you're a democracy and elect theocracy into office - that's not good for business. That's why the West is excited for the people of Egypt, but also quaking in their boots that Egypt won't want to play ball.
Which explains, perfectly, the White House's trepidations and confusing messages about Egypt these last couple weeks. A PEW poll discovered that 82% of Egyptians have an unfavorable opinion of the United States. They also want more religion in their government. Factbox: Egyptians want more Islam in politics: poll.

Switching gears, Mr. Obama crossed the street to try to mend fences with the Chamber of Commerce. It went over like a lead balloon.
But the US is on the road to recovery, right? There's nothing to fear... oh, Inflation.
Meantime, make sure you get out to the store this weekend to buy your sweetie overpriced roses and chocolate that was picked by children... oh, you haven't heard? Now chocolate is the new blood diamond. Eh, just email your SO a picture. That ought to go over well.

And there's a new high watermark for failure out there...
Let's try to meet back here next week, gang. In the meantime, hang in there.

Thought of the week: Why is cargo on a ship, but stuff on a truck is a shipment?

Mosque Attack Thwarted

American Terrorist Tries to Blow Up one of the USA's biggest mosques with 700 Muslims in it

About 700 people were attending a funeral inside the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, the largest mosque in metro Detroit, when Dearborn police arrived to arrest a man in a car in the parking lot.

He had driven to Michigan from California and reportedly was overheard in a bar making threatening comments about Muslims or Arabs. His car was loaded with large, illegal fireworks, police said. Now, Roger Stockham, 63, is jailed on charges that include making a false report or threat of terrorism.

"He's very dangerous," said Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad.

Yes, a car full of M80's. I'm not an expert - but it sounds more like he was going to put on a fireworks display and cause some mayhem - not exactly bring down the building kind of event BUT - let's remember that this is an American intent on blowing up other Americans.

We all need to take a minute to give credit where credit is due, to summarize the modern law-enforcement techniques and agencies that made it possible to catch him:

• Illegal wiretaps
• Naked X-Ray machines
• Waterboarding, "stress positions," and other types of torture
• TSA crotch-grabbing of minors
  
• Color-coded terror alerts
• Internet spying/surveillance/data harvesting
• Racial/ethnic/religious profiling
• Any and all the actions and involvement from the FBI, the DHS, or the TSA and Mega-Plex Homeland Security

Oh, wait. That's the list of things that HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH catching him! This was a crusty old man talking at a bar!

That said, you haven't seen this information, but I wonder that if this was the other way around - a Muslim with a car full of fireworks outside of a mega-church - would the coverage been different? Would that be buried even further?

Blasphemes: Hypocrite of the Week

A Muslim imam who lectures on non-violence and advises the German government on interfaith issues has been arrested in Germany for beating up his wife…

He is alleged to have shouted a verse from the Koran at his wife as he beat her. The line said: 'Good women are obedient. They guard their unseen parts because God has guarded them. 'As for those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them and send them to beds apart and beat them.'

Sheikh Abu Adam? You've just earned Blasphemes:
Hypocrite of the Week!

[Read More]

Oh, and in case you think for a second that I care that he's of one type of religion over the other - I don't. They're all silly stories with men in silly headgear. And if you say one thing on your day job but go home and do the exact opposite - you're winning the Hypocrite of the Week award. It really ought to be the Eliot Spritzer of the week.

In 'Plane' Sight

Iranians Furious After Finding Jewish Symbol Hidden In Plain View

Mock Mood Ahma-diner-jacket... er, Ahmadinejad and his antisemitic cronies are fuming with anger after discovering the Star of David on the roof of Iran Air headquarters at Tehran's airport. The building was originally built by Israeli engineers prior to the the Islamic Revolution. [Source - Gizmodo]

Nobody noticed the Jewish symbol until someone found it in Google Maps. The building—which hosts their national airline at the Mehrabad International Airport—was built by Israeli engineers before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The star has been hidden in plain sight for more than four decades now.

It won't stay there for much longer. According to The Jerusalem Post, Iranian government officials have already ordered its destruction. [Google Maps via Jerusalem Post]

My Dear Persian friends - you should be a TAD more worried about how the entire world is ganging up on you to knock your genitalia into the dirt. The drum beat and justification for the US or the Jews to 'wipe you off the map' is getting louder and stronger.

Would-Be Terrorist's Bully Pulpet

"Brace yourselves, because the war with Muslims has just begun," 31-year-old Faisal Shahzad told a federal judge. "Consider me the first droplet of the blood that will follow."

"We are only Muslims trying to defend our religion, people, homes and land, but if you call us terrorists, then we are proud terrorists and we will keep on terrorizing you until you leave our lands and people at peace."

U.S. District Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum said,"You appear to be someone who was capable of education and I do hope you will spend some of the time in prison thinking carefully about whether the Quran wants you to kill lots of people."

Shahzad responded that the "Quran gives us the right to defend. And that's all I'm doing."

The judge cut him off at one point to ask if he had sworn allegiance to the U.S. when he became a citizen last year.

"I did swear, but I did not mean it," Shahzad said.

In his address to the court, he said Osama bin Laden "will be known as no less than Saladin of the 21st-century crusade" — a reference to the Muslim hero of the Crusades. He also said: "If I'm given 1,000 lives, I will sacrifice them all."

Shahzad smirked when the judge imposed the life sentence. Asked if he had any final words, he said, "I'm happy with the deal that God has given me."

Pope to the Stars

Well, maybe we should have the Catholics and Muslims start the next 'Space Race' to see who can convert the most aliens?

On the plus side, humanity would finally be getting off this rock.

The down side is accidentally sparking off intergalactic war after baptizing an alien that dissolves in water...

Asked if the Pope's astronomer would baptise an alien, he replied “Only if they asked.' Oh, we're learning? Maybe if we hadn't forced all those folks already living in the two American continents, there'd still be a couple of them?

Sigh. And why does the Pope need an Astronomer?

More, and bigger

Massive Arms Deal

60 Billion dollars in arms. It's going to be sold as a 'jobs' bill. Just you wait for it.

It'll give Iranian Mockmood Ahm-a-dina-job more right to keep his nuclear package.

It further destabilizes the Middle East.

But, man, all those great American jobs in the Boeing Company? You just can't put a price tag on that kind of political security, can you?

Sunday Comics: Week in Review

So Da' Mayor, Richie Daley decided to hang it up. This created a tad of a vacuum in Chicago.
Meantime, in Florida, an obvious troll was obviously trolling -- and he was trolling the other troll in NY who is building a mosque.... but he's building it without funding. And when Donald Trump offered to purchase the spot, for 25% more he was turned down. Also, when the Iman said he can't move it because there'd be violence -- yeah, that's a threat. I'm from Chicago. I know a threat when I hear it. "Who's to say what will happen? You know kids like to t'row bricks. Dey can get carried away. I'm just sayin'."

But in the meantime... here's some funny cartoons.
Even General Petraeus couldn't talk sense into this joker.
One could only hope:

It's becoming more and more apparent that the Democrats are going to lose the House in November. Maybe they shouldn't be raising taxes and expanding the government during the worst economic crisis (they helped create)? Just a thought...

A toll taker asked me if I'd be supporting my incumbent Democrat. I said, "If I'm working that day, your guy will be too." The moron said, "Polls open early- October 12..." "Uh, NO. You don't get it."
Excuse me Cap'n Stimulus...
Follow up to the end of combat operations in Iraq...
The American Sacrifice has been great...
Good news for Heavy Drinkers -- you live longer? Well, I guess that's a matter of opinion how good that news is...
And finally -
Yes. They're both whores.

Well, that was last week. Hope we stay open long enough to make it to next.

Remember

For all of our problems, and our animosities toward each other in the USA, it should be remembered that we can organize and create amazing things, when motivated. We can build steel towers that defy wind and gravity by having the load bearing walls that stretch higher than any other tower on the planet. Two of them. And combined, contain more office space than all of downtown Miami in a two block radius on a small island in New York harbor. We, as Americans, can and have built massive structures such as the Hoover Dam, and interlocking Interstate Highway System and even put twelve men on the moon and brought them back. Those are examples of our government projects that work. Together, Americans can accomplish the impossible, or even the improbable. When they come together for common good, for our society, for our goofy consumer based, wasteful, capitalist lifestyle - Americans have done some amazing things.

There are others on the globe that hate us - some in other Western countries, and others in places that can only dream of our wealth, prosperity and waistlines. Whether it's because we flaunt it, are rude on vacation, or have carried out wars and assassinations to make sure we carry on. America has a bi-polar disease. We flaunt liberty and human rights while we have the largest prison population per capita than anyone else in the world. We expect human rights to not be ignored, but barely care when we hear our cheep toasters come from children working in deplorable conditions. And sure, the eight trips to Target in a week in the Lincoln MKX to pick up plastic bins that are on sale is silly and unsustainable. And we've done a lot of 'interesting' moves along the way to ensure the liberty of a lot of jack-asses. But that's our deal. We've done things to keep our silly lifestyle unmolested from foreign forces who would make us change our ways. But when you threaten us, we'll over react. Just ask Japan.

There are volumes of books about 9/11. How it happened, did it happen, who really did it... I'm not a conspiracy theory kind of guy. It was there, it was a symbol, and the bad guys wanted to send a message to America to cut it out. Twice. Once in February 26, the other on September 11th. They proved that they don't understand us, about as well as we don't understand them. Rather than getting into a geo-political discussion of the events leading up to and after 9/11... let's just remember that day. Remember everyone who died, and what you were doing, and how you felt when you saw the towers fall, and the walls of the Pentagon breached, and the smoldering crater in Pennsylvania.

I will. And when I see an airplane flying, I remember when I didn't see airplanes flying. As flawed as we are, I know I hit the lucky sperm club lottery to be who I am, where I am, when I am. I'm proud to be an American.

Ahmadinejad Nails It

[screencap: @m_ahmadinejad.]

EDIT: Yes, I'm painfully aware that Mock Mood doesn't have a Twitter account... but I'm also painfully aware that the fake Tweet is also correct.

Compare and Contrast

Let's compare and contrast the 'Draw Muhammad Day' that the internet staged back in May, and the new 'Burn the Qur'an Day' coming up on September 11th.

First off, let's review Draw Muhammad Day. This 'event' was an attempt by a some folks on the internet who felt they needed to stand up for the freedom of speech - because of the death threats against the South Park creators Matt and Trey, death threats to cartoonists in Holland, and the arrest of a cartoonist in Denmark.[1] were getting out of hand. The community was standing up for the freedom of speech, in defiance of Islamic sensitivity that threatened death. It was 'our' decision that no one should ever be restricted in what they can say... no matter how insensitive, crass or rude it is. Even blasphemous . (shameless self promotion)

Predictably, the 'Draw' day, did not create a peaceful environment for both parties to pause and reflect upon their ways... nay, instead there was a blowback that tried to get participating websites censored for their blasphemous transgressions. Most notably Facebook. The public responded by using their right and showed a restriction of rights for sensitivity to offense of others was not going to stand. People do not have the right to not be offended - at least, not in the West. And not on this issue.

'Burn a Qur'an Day', on the surface, appears to be nothing more than some racists in Florida getting out the message that they hate Islam. Deeper down, it's a huge publicity stunt. A stunt-fund raiser. Sure beats Sally's Car Wash suggestion. One can imagine that impressionable Christian extremists might feel that burning a Qur'an is the same as standing up to extremist islam-o-terrorism? Nothing like a good book burning to show that an idea, right gang? What these folks in Florida are broadcasting is that Islam, and apparently Holy Books that are not their own, are not welcome in their neighborhood. I'll even say that they might be trying to say that Islam isn't welcome in their country or even on the entire planet. Apparently Jesus didn't teach anything about loving your neighbor? Well, not in their church anyway. And they didn't pass their eight grade Constitution tests, either. The right they are using to express this opinion during this event, the first amendment to the Constitution, is the exact same right that guarantees the right of the Islamic population in the U.S.A. to practice their religious expression in their country as well. Which is similar, but not equal to the 'Draw Muhammad Day.'

Both are hypocritical, maybe even ironic. But, the two events are entirely different and in some ways opposite of each other in terms of expressing freedoms. For instance, it is ridiculous for people of Muslim faith to expect people not of Muslim faith to abide by rules of their religion. They can avoid pork, wine, and be misogynistic to their women all they want - I guess - and that's their deal. But if they even suggest, by force of death, that I can't have bacon? Well, in the immortal words of Bugs Bunny, "Of course you know, 'dis means war!" Let's make a deal - I'll leave you alone in your pursuit of happiness, as long as you provide me the same courtesy.

However, I'm not so crass as to burn their Holy Book in a church parking lot on September 11th.

“That was mere foreplay. Where they have burned books, they will end in burning human beings.” (German: “Das war Vorspiel nur. Dort, wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man am Ende auch Menschen.”)
~ Heinrich Heine, Almansor (1821)

Def Slam

While the "Ground Zero Mosque" site is two blocks away from Ground Zero, rap mogul Russell Simmons' apartment is across the street. This week he put various religious symbols in his windows to support religious freedom.

Now everyone near Ground Zero can see towering symbols of all the world's wonderful religions: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and, what is that - Hippie? Either way, wouldn't it be nice if this just all went away?

The Week In Review - Sunday Comics

We made it through another week. I'm not quite sure how. Anyhow, here's where we wrap up crap we covered, and stuff we didn't get to with some cartoons.

First off, China's GDP just beat out Japan. Welcome to #2, China, how did you do it? Was it your complete disregard to the environment, human rights, or...
Mr. Obama stepped in the WTC/Mosque-it's-a-local-issue-but-it's-not-and-it's a prayer-center-troll-bait-not-a-mosque debate. At least he was clear, and stuck with his original statement.
Or, another way to look at it, Mr. Obama became John Kerry for the issue.

Wrangle continues to plague the Democrats... but compared to some other Democrats, he's a rank Amateur. And he's had 40 years of practice!

Oh, it's not all Charlie's fault.
Meantime, the oil spill is over - except for the invisible layer that's being detected. How does that work, again?
But that's nothing compared to Fredie and Franny...
Why cap it now?

WikiLeaks Founder was found to be vulnerable to an attack, Farvre DID come back to the Vikings - this week, Blago went down for lying, and so did Roger Clemens. Pakistan continues to tread water as 2 million people and 1/5 of the country is underwater, and still - no one seems to care.

See you next week

"Evangelist" and "Disinformation"

When asked why 18% of Americans believe President Obama is Muslim ...

"... is because we have people who are supposed to be responsible public leaders, like Franklin Graham, who are spreading what seems to me like a sort of disinformation campaign... What Franklin Graham should say: 'Barack Obama says he's a Christian, he's a Christian, end of story."

Prothero also pointed out that Obama prayed with Franklin and his father, America's most famous living evangelist, Rev. Billy Graham, in May but Franklin still repeatedly used the "if" word to answer King's questions Thursday on whether Obama has accepted Christ.

Prothero said:

"Franklin Graham doesn't seem to be interested in focusing on preaching the gospel of -- of Jesus. He wants to be spreading misinformation about the religion of Islam.

... Why are we listening to Franklin Graham?"

Why indeed?

Besides -- and let me be clear -- ALL THIS 'OBAMA IS A MUSLIM' CAME FROM HILLARY CLINTON, not the Republicans! (Link)

To all that is good about scientific theory, we sure have a short attention span. All of this 'Secret Muslim crap came out of Hillary Clinton's Iowa campaign headquarters. Remember when she FIRED her people for doing it, but wouldn't come out and say that Obama wasn't a Muslim? In fact, she said the exact thing this creep Graham was saying. Here's the transcript from 60 Minutes:

CLINTON: Of course not. I mean, that's--you know, there is not basis for that. You know, I take him on the basis of what he says. And, you know, there isn't any reason to doubt that.

KROFT: And you said you'd take Senator Obama at his word that he's not a Muslim.

CLINTON: Right. Right.

KROFT: You don't believe that he's a Muslim or implying? Right.

CLINTON: No. No. Why would I? No, there is nothing to base that on, as far as I know.

KROFT: It's just scurrilous --

CLINTON: Look, I have been the target of so many ridiculous rumors. I have a great deal of sympathy for anybody who gets, you know, smeared with the kind of rumors that go on all the time. [Emphasis added]

Doesn't anyone remember that silly headdress Obama was in when he visited Kenya? They even made a New York Times cover with him on it? That was only two years ago, people?!

Anyhow, it doesn't matter anyway. What does matter is that The USA Today has a section called Faith & Reason...

How does THAT work? Do they also have a Fairy Tales & Logic section in their comic book they call news?

Fringe Wins

Yesterday, on day 576 of his presidency - the Pew Research group decided to publish data that 18% of Americans believe their president is a Muslim.

On the surface - the study almost proves the Trey/Matt postulate that 1/4 of the population is batshiat nuts.

However, in my tiny mind, questions abound...

Why does such a poll take place? Why would they be asking the general population this question? Do we still not know who our President is? Is this because of the Birthers? Is it because he took a stand, then backed away from his stance on the mosque a couple blocks away from the WTC site? Is it because we see Mr. Obama on the golf course rather than a church Pew? Or is because the White House would rather remove the association with Mr. Obama and Rev. Wright? It worked great in Chicago - not so much the rest of the Nation.

So now we have pollsters that have to ask what religion the sitting president follows. Shouldn't we already know that -- that is, if we give a flitting care? Shouldn't that question been figured out before the Iowa Caucasus?

Is this poll more for the newsmakers to make news out of nothing, as most polls are?

Is this just troll bait for the fringe on both sides to kick up the dust - again - for no good reason? Is it a distraction to the equally useless mosque in New York debate? Is it to distract us from the terrible jobs numbers and the complete failure of Keynesian economic policies to help restart the economy's engine?

No matter the intended purpose - the White House stepped in it. They should have kept their mouths shut. They didn't. They now look stupid. Well, more than usual.

Personally, I think he is agnostic and doesn't dare tell anyone. Shhhh.