Religion

struggle4progress

(125,742 posts)

64. Celebrating the right to be an idiot

Fri May 29, 2015, 10:33 AM

May 2015

... While it's considered an insult to draw images of the Islamic prophet, I would certainly defend Ritzheimer's right to do so if he was really making a stand for free speech. But this isn't about free speech. It's about provoking an attack and, of course, promoting Ritzheimer. There's a lot that could be said about this guy's methods. But Usama Shami, speaking to Dana, already said it best, noting that he respects the protesters' right to free speech. "Everybody has a right to be a bigot. Everybody has a right to be a racist. Everybody has a right to be an idiot."

http://www.azcentral.com/story/laurieroberts/2015/05/28/anti-muslim-rally-draw-muhammad-contest/28090203/

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Phoenix Atheist Will Host “Draw Muhammad” Event Tonight Just Outside Local Mosque [View all] rug May 2015 OP

Why does it matter why? Kalidurga May 2015 #1

Well, for one thing, there's free spech, and then, there's being a dick, as Hemant put it. rug May 2015 #2

So what if he is being a dick? Kalidurga May 2015 #24

It gets better. rug May 2015 #32

nothing Kalidurga May 2015 #48

Being a dick isn't against the law either. n/t Jamastiene May 2015 #28

Neither is being a bigot. rug May 2015 #33

Luckily, free speech phil89 May 2015 #3

He must be a faitheist. rug May 2015 #4

The egomaniac is Jon Ritzheimer. cbayer May 2015 #11

I don't think he's saying... MellowDem May 2015 #13

What kind of mosque? HassleCat May 2015 #5

It's the Islamic Community Center of Phoenix. rug May 2015 #6

Such a sane, rational comment from Shami dixiegrrrrl May 2015 #7

As I suspected HassleCat May 2015 #8

Considering he believes in an imaginary friend boomer55 May 2015 #30

Making a diagbosis over the internet is more of a stretch. rug May 2015 #34

No diagbosis was made. Warren Stupidity May 2015 #49

I"ll take the guy with the imaginary friend over the guy without one in this scenario anyway. cbayer May 2015 #51

What would you call a person who believes in imaginary beings and does what those Warren Stupidity May 2015 #55

Outside the context of religion that's a pretty fair assessment I doubt too many would argue with Major Nikon May 2015 #97

Why do you suspect that? boomer55 May 2015 #70

Because she wants you to think that she has some authority here that you should be in awe of. Warren Stupidity May 2015 #72

Because I didn't think you would answer the question…. and you didn't. cbayer May 2015 #74

It is funny... MellowDem May 2015 #14

Islam is not an explicitly bigoted religion. There are people who are cbayer May 2015 #15

The Koran and Hadiths... MellowDem May 2015 #16

Yes, they can be interpreted differently cbayer May 2015 #17

The texts matter a great deal... MellowDem May 2015 #18

No, the texts are used and interpreted by the faithful. cbayer May 2015 #19

The texts do really matter... MellowDem May 2015 #20

You put way too much importance on the texts and not nearly cbayer May 2015 #21

I think we should have a "Draw Geller" day.nt okasha May 2015 #25

With skinheads for security. rug May 2015 #35

That's not very nice. AtheistCrusader May 2015 #98

Ok. AtheistCrusader May 2015 #99

would love to see yours. cbayer May 2015 #102

Holy shit that's dark. AtheistCrusader May 2015 #103

Post it when you finish it! cbayer May 2015 #105

Did you draw that yourself? AtheistCrusader May 2015 #109

No, I found it with the google. cbayer May 2015 #110

When evaluating a belief system... MellowDem May 2015 #40

"I'm not evaluting individuals here..." Leontius May 2015 #68

Democratic Underground? MellowDem May 2015 #73

So, hate speech is OK as long as it's not acted upon? Yorktown May 2015 #100

You're arguing about the importance of the Koran Rob H. May 2015 #22

So what? I'm arguing about the writings in a text being less important cbayer May 2015 #50

You still do not understand Yorktown May 2015 #54

I don't think you are correct in your assertion. MADem May 2015 #53

I don't demand they act fundamentalist... MellowDem May 2015 #57

Yes, that is what you are doing. You are insisting that they follow their religion the way YOU want MADem May 2015 #66

Bullshit... MellowDem May 2015 #67

The faithful? Faithful to what if not the texts? Yorktown May 2015 #41

Typical crazed muslin, as compared to the sane and rational Christian who is planning this. arcane1 May 2015 #27

Actally, Ritzheimer is a self-declared atheist. rug May 2015 #36

Darn, my sarcasm was poorly calibrated arcane1 May 2015 #37

Yeah, I really hate that "seen one (fill in the blank), seen 'em all" types. cbayer May 2015 #10

Once again, this isn't about free speech, this is about being an asshole. cbayer May 2015 #9

It's a shame that this clown gets interviewed on TV. Jim__ May 2015 #12

Oh Lord another idiot! hrmjustin May 2015 #23

I wonder if he's one of those "10 Commandments are the foundation of our legal system" idiots. arcane1 May 2015 #26

Somehow I doubt that. rug May 2015 #38

I don't know how I breezed right past that in the freakin' HEADLINE arcane1 May 2015 #39

Easy paycheck and notoriety from the RW fool crowd. blm May 2015 #29

I say he should demonstrate the courage of his convictions and have it in MECCA. Vincardog May 2015 #31

Why's that? Goblinmonger May 2015 #65

He would be surrounded by Muslims instead of Baptists. Who better to judge the contest? Vincardog May 2015 #69

This makes no sense. Why would an atheist care one way or the other ladjf May 2015 #42

Because of its potential danger to democracy? Yorktown May 2015 #46

I don't buy that reasoning. To me, it seems ladjf May 2015 #58

That particular event, yes. Yorktown May 2015 #63

If he's an atheist troll, it's a sure way to find victims. immoderate May 2015 #52

He's a hateful bigot. It has nothing to do with his atheism, imo. cbayer May 2015 #56

Yours is the most likely explanation. ladjf May 2015 #59

Thanks ladjf! cbayer May 2015 #60

Well at least you have a boat. I am boatless. ladjf May 2015 #61

I wish for you one day to have one of those things or cbayer May 2015 #62

I've already had them all. But, ladjf May 2015 #71

Ritzheimer appears to be an unsavory character. Yorktown May 2015 #43

Notice he is not doing this in Salt Lake City VanillaRhapsody May 2015 #76

I have my doubts about the bikers even showing up. okasha May 2015 #44

Nitwits all imagine themselves as edgy and witty struggle4progress May 2015 #45

I actually agree with rug on this edhopper May 2015 #47

Celebrating the right to be an idiot struggle4progress May 2015 #64

Protest heated but peaceful at Phoenix mosque cbayer May 2015 #75

Today's Daily Mail has many photos struggle4progress May 2015 #82

I think he lost this. He did not get the reaction he craved. cbayer May 2015 #84

Sure, because hating on people for making depictions of Muhammad is not at all like being a dick Major Nikon May 2015 #77

Oh, not, that would be very dickish indeed. cbayer May 2015 #78

I'm sure it did Major Nikon May 2015 #79

Well, if there was a negative response, it didn't get any press. cbayer May 2015 #80

He is a Charlie Hebdo Major Nikon May 2015 #81

Charlie Hedbo has content. It's political satire that pushes the edges. cbayer May 2015 #83

The content in question is religious satire Major Nikon May 2015 #85

Ok, feel free to put them in the same category. cbayer May 2015 #86

How many Charlie Hebdo cartoons have you seen? Major Nikon May 2015 #87

I've seen a lot of them, why? cbayer May 2015 #88

The link works fine on my end Major Nikon May 2015 #89

Why would bigotry filter it on my end? cbayer May 2015 #90

I've already told you what I think Major Nikon May 2015 #91

I agree with the title at your last link - Charlie Hebdo is heroic and racist. cbayer May 2015 #92

You do realize you just contradicted yourself, yes? Major Nikon May 2015 #93

No, I did not. I said that I did not think CH was pursuing a bigoted agenda cbayer May 2015 #94

So CH is a racist, but not a bigot Major Nikon May 2015 #95

You are so adept at pouncing on the message while never really showing your hand. cbayer May 2015 #96

I've only ever seen CH throw racism back in the faces of actual racists. AtheistCrusader May 2015 #104

Whether one finds their work racist or not is a matter of opinion, but cbayer May 2015 #106

This person is a very sick pos, he is a nothing. Thinkingabout May 2015 #101

well, this event happened and nobody shot anybody. Warren Stupidity May 2015 #107

Which side are you on, warren? rug May 2015 #108

Case in point. Warren Stupidity May 2015 #111

Ah, a non-answer. rug May 2015 #112

Knowing some surahs teach hate of the unbelievers, which side would you have been on? Yorktown May 2015 #113

In terms of this demonstration, absolutely I oppose the armed assholes stalking this mosque. rug Jun 2015 #114

I oppose both Yorktown Jun 2015 #115

The demonstrastors opposing the assholes were both Musllim and non-Muslim. rug Jun 2015 #116

Non muslims in the counter demonstration were useful idiots (Lenin's terms) Yorktown Jun 2015 #117

Why, I believe you jjust answered which side you're on. rug Jun 2015 #118

Jon Ritzheimer will not be hosting any more Ammosexual events anytime soon. stone space Mar 2016 #119

Not for 10 - 20. rug Mar 2016 #120