Contributors

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

An Awful Reminder

Yesterday, the ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, was killed along with 3 other members of the US staff during an assault on the US Consulate in Bemghazi, Libya. Apparently, there was some sort of assault on the compound and, as Ambassador Stevens was trying to get people out of the building, he was killed from automatic weapon fire. The attacks here (and the violent protest in Egypt) was the result of a short documentary film made with the support of preacher Terry Jones, the man who wanted to burn Korans as a protest awhile back.

This terrible tragedy should serve as a reminder of how the forces of religious extremism can fly quickly out of control in an instant. This is particularly true in the modern age where a YouTube video can be seen as representative of an entire nation.

Further, this event is illustrative of just how far we have to go in that part of the world. Arab spring may be in bloom but there are clearly some who do not understand what it truly means to have freedom of speech. It's going to take a long time...perhaps an entire generation...for them to understand the concept of disagreeing with someone vehemently and yet still be willing to die for their right to say it.

5 comments:

GuardDuck said...

The attacks here (and the violent protest in Egypt) was the result of a short documentary film

clearly some who do not understand what it truly means to have freedom of speech


Pick one.

Chairman Meow said...

No, I fear the Arab Spring has Sprung. As some commenters here warned, "green shoots" may be a desirable plant, or it could be kudzu, poison oak, or worse. I fear we've gotten "worse".

juris imprudent said...

This is particularly true in the modern age where a YouTube video can be seen as representative of an entire nation.

Only to really fucking stupid people.

Anonymous said...

Harry Reid knows a guy that says Obama killed the Ambassador. I demand an investigation.

juris "bully weasel" imprudent said...

I mean, really. You constantly harp on now frightening right-wing fundie Christians are, and you excuse the barbaric behavior of Muslim whackos.

That is fucking pathetic.