General Discussion

Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)

147. The law, which is made by people, stops them. That means people stop them.

Mon Oct 13, 2014, 09:41 AM

Oct 2014

People also prevent bad rulers or they passively allow such things. 'The law' is not a happenstance but an intentional device created to stop violent extremes from holding power. 'The law' very often has to use force to stop them. That means people force them to stop, using the authority of the law as invested in them by other people.
You make it sound like we dug up 'the law' in a hole somewhere by accident and like some talisman of wonder, it protects us from the bad guys without any human effort or intent. That is utter bullshit.

Much of this discussion is in fact about the laws they have which demand mistreatment of minorities and of women. Those laws are also creations of people, devices made for the benefit of those in power. Their anti gay laws are crafted by them, enforced by them, preserved and nurtured by them. Those abuses are intentional actions by free human beings.

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Muslims are no Different, or why Bill Maher’s blood libel is Bigotry [View all] shaayecanaan Oct 2014 OP

Maher is one of those instances where people often confuse wit with wisdom Scootaloo Oct 2014 #1

Aptly put. n/t X_Digger Oct 2014 #2

"faith" seems to be very shaky these days Skittles Oct 2014 #176

Maher contra Greenwald on Muslims shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #3

That was incredibly well done by Greenwald. LawDeeDah Oct 2014 #4

To be fair hardcover Oct 2014 #6

I do remember some reference Bush and the gang made on this god thing. LawDeeDah Oct 2014 #7

Not saying he didn't but I remember him constantly saying Islam is a great religion. hardcover Oct 2014 #10

Absolute bullshit shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #41

All of those Christian sects are located in the ME, not Europe riderinthestorm Oct 2014 #49

Thats the whole point shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #50

which Muslim group in Europe has been slaughtered? nt riderinthestorm Oct 2014 #60

re shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #64

Vlad Tepes is a national hero in Romania, because he defeated the Turks. baldguy Oct 2014 #68

That is not completely true. hrmjustin Oct 2014 #84

Tell that to the Christians of the Middle East. hrmjustin Oct 2014 #81

No, that's bollocks Prophet 451 Oct 2014 #52

True. Like "Jewish" and "Talmud". riqster Oct 2014 #79

Maybe more like Judaism and Talmud? merrily Oct 2014 #129

Fair point. Thanks. riqster Oct 2014 #133

You're welcome! merrily Oct 2014 #134

Sharia is Islamic moral and religious law. merrily Oct 2014 #128

Yeah, it was discussed here Babel_17 Oct 2014 #86

One of W's and his cabinet's jen63 Oct 2014 #117

He did mention oil. Listen again 2:14. And he didn't say that we invaded Iraq because Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #8

So, the poster who accused Greenwald of being short on facts was short on facts. merrily Oct 2014 #127

Did you miss this....? Turborama Oct 2014 #18

He said a general said that BuelahWitch Oct 2014 #26

Ah yes. riqster Oct 2014 #80

How did we make out on the oil? merrily Oct 2014 #126

Islam is a bigoted, conservative religion... MellowDem Oct 2014 #5

Christianity is, for the most part a bigoted conservative religion. Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #9

Agree wholeheartedly, all the Abrahamic religions are... MellowDem Oct 2014 #11

There don't really need to be Scootaloo Oct 2014 #17

Brilliant truth. Thanks. closeupready Oct 2014 #21

I'll Dissent ProfessorGAC Oct 2014 #94

In the face of so many ignorant remarks on this topic, closeupready Oct 2014 #96

It's Still An Opinion ProfessorGAC Oct 2014 #97

Sorry, what question are you referring to? closeupready Oct 2014 #98

I won't argue Christianity is fucked up... MellowDem Oct 2014 #24

And now we're under the thumbs of five rightwing Catholic males on the Supreme Court. Arugula Latte Oct 2014 #108

The GOP is full of wannabe theocrats. CJCRANE Oct 2014 #19

Yes, it is. LawDeeDah Oct 2014 #12

I was raised as a Baptist FrodosPet Oct 2014 #42

Only because the law stops them Prophet 451 Oct 2014 #55

However you can leave Christianity and not get your head chopped off.. EX500rider Oct 2014 #33

No, you can leave Islam and do that Prophet 451 Oct 2014 #56

This message was self-deleted by its author Cayenne Oct 2014 #62

+1(nt) shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #65

There is a problem with the religions themselves. RedCappedBandit Oct 2014 #73

True Prophet 451 Oct 2014 #89

And what does that make Muslims, in your view? Terrible, regressive, fucked-up bigots. Scootaloo Oct 2014 #15

If you think conservatism is fucked up and bigoted... MellowDem Oct 2014 #22

not all stupid people are Consevatives... VanillaRhapsody Oct 2014 #31

Do you feel the same way about anti-Semitism? shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #39

Isn't Semite an ethnicity? MellowDem Oct 2014 #43

Anti-Semitism generally means anti-Jewish sentiment (nt) shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #54

"If your god commanded the death of homosexuals, promoted slavery and ordered genocide," merrily Oct 2014 #131

He certainly ordered the death penalty for homosexuals shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #141

Are you speaking of the Koran or the Bible? merrily Oct 2014 #149

actually in the old testament it does. However it is not followed by the Judeo-Christians today still_one Oct 2014 #177

In which book and chapter of the Old Testament does God command humans to kill homosexuals? merrily Oct 2014 #182

Definitely in Leviticus. 20:13. still_one Oct 2014 #183

That is NOT a command to humans to kill homosexuals or to kill anyone. merrily Oct 2014 #184

You do not know what you are talking about. That is the old testament, in the first 5 books of still_one Oct 2014 #186

If it were "very clear, you would have been able to provide language I could interpret merrily Oct 2014 #189

Which part of "they shall be put to death don't you understand"? still_one Oct 2014 #190

By whom? When the bible says people shall burn in hell, does it mean that some human is supposed merrily Oct 2014 #191

Ignorance is bliss, huh still_one Oct 2014 #192

This message was self-deleted by its author still_one Oct 2014 #187

Okay. I did some additional checking. merrily Oct 2014 #152

Are there any religions that aren't? DanTex Oct 2014 #29

Buddhism? (nt) Nye Bevan Oct 2014 #32

Even they have a history of discimination gollygee Oct 2014 #72

Not sure if those in Sri Lanka would agree with your assessment still_one Oct 2014 #178

Look, if you're condemning all Abrahamic religions equally... Prophet 451 Oct 2014 #53

The god of Abraham, and of Isacc and of Ishmael...... Bluenorthwest Oct 2014 #87

OK, that's a fair question Prophet 451 Oct 2014 #88

Bill Maher has spent far more time condemning Christianity than Islam. Shoulders of Giants Oct 2014 #153

"Islam is a terribly regressive, fucked up, misogynistic religion" Rhinodawg Oct 2014 #63

That article is worth reading all the way through. Blue_In_AK Oct 2014 #13

+1,000 Scuba Oct 2014 #20

Does 'trying to live our lives' include giving children to men for marriage? randome Oct 2014 #28

Again, you are cherry-picking the extremist countries Blue_In_AK Oct 2014 #30

Actually no...laws against leaving Islam in 23 Islamic countries. EX500rider Oct 2014 #34

A couple of centuries ago... Prophet 451 Oct 2014 #58

All you keep doing is pointing leftynyc Oct 2014 #66

You're missing the point Prophet 451 Oct 2014 #71

But it IS illegal leftynyc Oct 2014 #78

No, you are Prophet 451 Oct 2014 #90

Sigh leftynyc Oct 2014 #95

No, they did not change Prophet 451 Oct 2014 #100

Seriously? leftynyc Oct 2014 #101

The country that is most notorious for criminalising homosexuality... shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #38

I'd say they were neck & neck with Iran. EX500rider Oct 2014 #45

EXACTLY! Prophet 451 Oct 2014 #59

Notorious for it being leftynyc Oct 2014 #67

You still want to claim its different? shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #69

Quite a few Muslim countries leftynyc Oct 2014 #70

look at the map shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #74

Getting snippy because someone leftynyc Oct 2014 #77

I called you on your own bullshit statement shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #109

No idea why you're quoting "exceedingly rare" leftynyc Oct 2014 #137

Probably because you used the word "rare" shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #138

Keep ignoring the reality leftynyc Oct 2014 #139

You keep ignoring it yourself shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #140

This is becoming surreal leftynyc Oct 2014 #146

As your link makes clear its not known whether they were executed for being gay. shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #150

Your continued deflection leftynyc Oct 2014 #158

Uganda did not impose a death penalty. There are 10 countries that have death penalty for gay people Bluenorthwest Oct 2014 #82

I would say most middle eastern countries also fit in that category also still_one Oct 2014 #188

there is much in CHRISTIAN culture that is abhorrent and should rightfully be condemned Prophet 451 Oct 2014 #57

This put Maher's bigotry in context: Bad Thoughts Oct 2014 #37

I don't have a problem with Muslims. I have a problem with Islam, as I have a problem NYC Liberal Oct 2014 #14

Equal opportunity disdain is fair n/t Prophet 451 Oct 2014 #61

Blood libel is an actual thing. Bonobo Oct 2014 #16

I caught that little tidbit too NightWatcher Oct 2014 #23

+1 hifiguy Oct 2014 #25

Fair enough shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #40

And once again leftynyc Oct 2014 #160

Sam Harris on Bill Maher.. Rhinodawg Oct 2014 #163

Maher's great get the red out Oct 2014 #27

I'm with affleck on this. Maher is a dipshit who needs to be pounded when he is an ass roguevalley Oct 2014 #35

K&R. Maher has been a bigot for a long time..nothing new in this area. n/t Jefferson23 Oct 2014 #36

Maher hates all religion. hrmjustin Oct 2014 #44

I hate all religion, and so does Maher, but... Ampersand Unicode Oct 2014 #46

History would beg to disagree shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #47

sorry, couldnt fit them all on the one page shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #48

Ridiculously deceptive numbers oberliner Oct 2014 #103

that has to be the most pathetic objection that you have ever made nt shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #115

Interesting that I don't see number of Muslims killed by Muslims in that assessment, nor do I see still_one Oct 2014 #179

read it again shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #180

Only because the law stops them Prophet 451 Oct 2014 #51

The law, which is made by people, stops them. That means people stop them. Bluenorthwest Oct 2014 #147

Maher made himself a right-wing GOD with his anti-Islamic comments. Paladin Oct 2014 #75

There is a problem with Islamic fundamentalism in the world today RedCappedBandit Oct 2014 #76

You got it - It's shame that lots of people can't see this. GoneOffShore Oct 2014 #83

The key word is "fundamentalism" Prophet 451 Oct 2014 #91

I agree and disagree. RedCappedBandit Oct 2014 #93

OK, we have a constructive dialogue here Prophet 451 Oct 2014 #99

All good points worth bringing in to the discussion! RedCappedBandit Oct 2014 #106

Yes, and its the responsibility of liberals here to contest the views of bigots like Maher (nt) shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #124

You're wrong and so is Cole. GoneOffShore Oct 2014 #85

Brilliant (nt) shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #107

So, I was going to craft a completely reasoned, cited and rational response to your OP GoneOffShore Oct 2014 #110

I am sure that it would have been a devastating response shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #116

Bet you didn't watch the Christopher Hitchens video either. GoneOffShore Oct 2014 #118

I had heard it before shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #119

+1. I discovered anecdotally from my thread "how many muslims do you know" closeupready Oct 2014 #120

Islam, more than any other religion at this time, GoneOffShore Oct 2014 #121

Wow. Even moderate Muslims ? Rhinodawg Oct 2014 #125

Look at the Pew poll. GoneOffShore Oct 2014 #130

So no-one's actually responsible for all those hangings of gay people? sibelian Oct 2014 #143

The imperialistic foreign policy of the US government and the incredibly powerful corporations... YoungDemCA Oct 2014 #92

Before you use the term "Blood Libel" please check what it is intaglio Oct 2014 #102

The usual crap from Juan Cole oberliner Oct 2014 #104

^This^ GoneOffShore Oct 2014 #111

and the usual pro forma response from you shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #114

Pro forma junk begets pro forma rebuttal. sibelian Oct 2014 #144

Juan Cole Rex Oct 2014 #105

And ^this^ GoneOffShore Oct 2014 #112

Bil has a blind spot for Holy Israel Principled Peter Oct 2014 #113

This is just a nasty, and unreasoning big of character assassiantion. True Blue Door Oct 2014 #122

Over 92% of Christian churches in America are racially segregated, whereas less than shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #123

Is he hoping to change Muslims with this tactic? If not, what is his objective? merrily Oct 2014 #132

I wish fellow progressives would stop.. Matrosov Oct 2014 #135

Off the top of my head shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #136

This all just junk. sibelian Oct 2014 #145

That's fine... shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #151

Here's what Islam does to gay people: sibelian Oct 2014 #161

Was it REALLY necessary implying he's a "racist"? Really? Rhinodawg Oct 2014 #162

Was it necessary to imply I'm a homophobe? shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #164

2014 Nevernose Oct 2014 #154

There is no Christian organization today that is pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into JCMach1 Oct 2014 #142

Nope, no different than any other group that uses a religion as excuse to harm and pillage others Bluenorthwest Oct 2014 #148

Purists/radicals/fanatics. moondust Oct 2014 #155

re shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #156

Holy wars and tribal conflicts? moondust Oct 2014 #157

Syntax and grammar? shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #159

Off the top of your head, moondust Oct 2014 #167

Yes, Srebrenica was really just a picnic in the park shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #168

Again no mention of Christians. moondust Oct 2014 #169

Yes, perhaps the Serbs were Buddhists or Zoroastrians shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #171

Correct me if I an wrong, Rhinodawg Oct 2014 #173

Bill Maher’s horrible excuse: Why his defense of Islamophobia just doesn’t make any sense shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #165

Blah,Blah,Blah Rhinodawg Oct 2014 #170

And now the racists finally expose themselves... shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #172

A lot of people do believe that... Rhinodawg Oct 2014 #174

Rhinodawg was on top of the Eurabia thing as soon as they arrived at DU.. Violet_Crumble Oct 2014 #175

Thanks for the heads up shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #181

This message was self-deleted by its author Jefferson23 Oct 2014 #166

Again, "blood libel" is an actual thing, not a vague thing, a real actual thing. Bonobo Oct 2014 #185

Yes, it is. Behind the Aegis Oct 2014 #193

You made the exact same statement upthread... shaayecanaan Oct 2014 #194

I mistakenly thought this was a new OP. nt Bonobo Oct 2014 #195