I'm surprsed no one has mentioned this yet.

A German opera house has cancelled some Mozart operas out of fear that the some of the scenes in the opera might insult Muslims. From the story:

"Berlin's Deutsche Oper said on Monday it had pulled performances of the opera, which features a scene depicting the severed heads of the Prophet Mohammad, Buddha and Jesus, after police warned it could pose an "incalculable" security risk."

And of course the security risk isn't from Buddhists or Christians....the scene above was added by the director and is not included in the original.

I'm gettnig more and more concerned with the hypocrisy of many people. In an effort to not insult Islam because of potential violcen, they will curb freedom of expression and freedom of the arts. But when it comes to insulting Christianity or any other religion (which won't result in beheadings and flag-burning), then there's no problem to express those freedoms.  And when there are protests the usual response is "freedom of expression." Ironic, isn't it?

Iraq War may be breeding more terrorists, but actions like this are only enboldening them. The more fear they can create in people, the more control they have to make changes in the West.

It's good that Merkel and others in the German govt are calling this what it is - stupid.  

Jordan .

I had this already to post yesterday but then the delivery men arrived with my new dining room table.  As they took it out of the box, we saw the top was damaged and it had to be returned to the store.  I'm expecting a replacement today.  Otherwise I'd have posted the story under the heading of Drip-Drip-Drip -- aka Another Nail in the Coffin of European Secular Humanism.

Susan 

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

As much as this news sucks, it does feel good to be reminded that there are still places in the world where people can become outraged by the cancellation of an opera...

Late night rant. Edited.

Don't beat about the bush John, say what you really feel!

Wolfgang was so divisive! 

Susan 

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

This anti free expression, anti free speech theme is not just in Germany...

You had better hide if you are critical of Islam in France! Unbelievable.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/35c04734-4fb2-11db-9d85-0000779e2340.html

"His article, describing the Koran as “a book of incredible violence”, sparked death threats against Mr Redeker, and fuelled fears of rising tensions between supporters of free speech in secular western societies and their resident Muslim populations."

Quote from Susan above:  "Otherwise I'd have posted the story under the heading of Drip-Drip-Drip -- aka Another Nail in the Coffin of European Secular Humanism."

Redeker's boss Gilles de Robien, education minister, seems to think Redeker should be muzzled too. "“...a public employee should be prudent and moderate in all circumstances.”

Drip- drip- drip indeed. 

"watch out for my cousin.."

John, you redneck muttibumser! :-)

Teheran is full of people who want to stop this 'fundamentalism' as well, any real change is slow and probably needs to come from within.
Don't you nuke what is the most powerful weapon, not even on a late night rant.

But in the meantime, the Iranians mullahs have a sizable Methadone/Heroin business going on the side to keep those young whippersnapper changelings from getting too feisty.  Like their parents were back in the 1970s.  Danger! 

Susan 

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

Geez, another late night rant!

There's always 1001 Arabian Nights, too, John! 

Hey, I went back and read the edit expecting to see you had added Mecca.  Nope!  Talk about moderate Jews!

Susan 

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

I just want to say that I am a liberal and very tolerant of others beliefs. But I have said in another post that there are some very bad ideas out there- like killing in the name of your religion (or lack of it -for all you commies out there). I agree with John, we have put up with way too much from Islamic Fascist Fundamentalists. I sometimes get in trouble with my other liberal friends for calling Islamists Fascists but what else do you call it? They preach killing, that Jews are decended from apes (but not Muslims), they still believe slavery is acceptable and don't get me started on female genital mutilation! It's all sickening.

I feel like nuking 'em til they glow but realize that MTV and Nike running shoes are better weapons against Tehran than Fat Man and Little Boy II.  

To use a phrase I would often hear from the left when they made questionable statements and were called on it -

I'm sure he was "just joking" and wouldn't really want to "nuke" them.  

But maybe it is time the world start realizing that understanding and appeasement isn't the answer to individuals who won't offer the same because of their interpretation of their style of religion.

(I stressed and bolded those words for you, Andrew -- in case you read this. I'm not lumping the whole religion in.) 

Jordan .

"It is little wonder muslims are so paranoid about the west"

and vice-versa. 

Jordan .

Therefore we preserve our dignity by not stooping to such levels. Easy.

You might want to enjoy some 'the man who sold the world' (Bowie) with reading Kahlil Gibran, try the first song of that marvellous album .. Neff meister ;-)

If you want to see the moderate among the Muslims you got to get out of your sound proof studio and just walk among them.
They are everywhere, and they are not so much moderate, but just a little less Muslim.
It's like the taste of a coffee au lait v.s. a good morning America ..
That is an essential difference.

The problem I have with this view of the 'euwige Moslim' is that it brings no solution at all.
It's bashing and being angry, and that's mainly it.
Take Europe for instance, should we put them on trains and export them, make camps or form ghettos ?

I am the last not to admit there a serious problems between them Muslims and the rest of us, but where are the solutions ??
Just pointing out how wrong everything is, is soooo 1954 you know, too easy.
Now, what should we do ?

OK, back to my not so soundproof studio...

Theres some funny stuff mixed with serious stuff in this thread. I'm from Australia. I'm assuming most of the folk writing here are from the US of A. In Australia this week this week we remembered the more than 90 Australians who were killed in the Bali Bombings a couple of years back.

You know, I have observed that the paranoia about Islam is not as strong here as it seems to be in the US. That is the despite the fact that Australia's closest neighbour is an Islamic (albeit democratic) nation, Indonesia. Moreover, Indonesia has the highest population density in the world and Australia must have the lowest. It is despite the fact that the spiritual leader of Extremist's element in Indonesia, Jemiah Islamiah (excuse the spelling), has been set free after free after a neglible term behind bars after being convicted in connection to the Bali Bombings.

You might wonder whether Ausie cousins are being a little complacent then. Then again you must concede that Australia has made a contribution at every juncture to the fight against terrorism and more than just at the level of military service. When the tsumani hit South East Asia, the most significant contribution to the relief effort came from the USA, to be sure. However, the largest financial contribution of any country, including the USA, came from Australia. Of course, there are many reasons the Australian Government decided to fork out the dosh - the disaster happened in our region for one. The primary reason the Government decided on making such a substantial contribution - that is, apart from the humanitarian reason - was because it took the terrorist threat seriously enough to realise that in the disaster there was a potential for terrorist to get a foot up in the regions effected. Along with the USA and Brits, Australia's response has to the terrorist threat has been maximal. So it's not complacency that you'll find here and its not that we're a longer way from harm.

I tend to think the lower level of paranoia about Islam - which is probably not a fair word in so far as it might be mis-read to suggest the threat of terrorism is unreal - its real - whether Islam is a threat is a moot point - is due to the fact that the country is still resolutely holding on to its pre-Sept 11 way of life. Australian generally prefer to practical than mental in their approach to problems - admitedly sometimes to a fault.

In conclusion - sorry, I've gone on and on - America will always be a bigger target but Australia (who was there in Vietnam - 'all the way with LBJ' our Prime Minister said at the time) is just as, possibly more, vulnerable to terrorist attack. All Australian's seem to know this, the vast majority of Australian's took what happened on Sept 11 personally. All the same, any paranoia there might be here about Islam has not caused us to stop distinguishing Islam and Terrorism - for what that distinction is worth. That may be why the level of paranoia about Islam here is lower and our alertness to Terrorist risk is high.

Beauty is momentary in the mind -
The fitful tracing of a portal;
But in the flesh it is immortal.
The body dies; the body's beauty lives.
So evenings die, in their green going,
A wave, interminably flowing.
So gardens die, their meek breath scenting
the cowl of winter, done repenting.
So maidens die, to the auroral
Celebration of a maiden's choral.
Susanna's music touched the bawdy strings
Of those white elders; but, escaping,
Left only Death's ironic scraping.
Now in its immortality, it plays
On the clear viol of her memory,
And makes a constant sacrement of praise.

('Peter Quince at the Clavier' by Wallace Stevens)