Tonight I’m outside Pine Grove Pennsylvania, along Interstate 81. I delivered off at the Bronx this morning, picked up a little bit mountaintop Pennsylvania, and currently headed down to Carlisle Pennsylvania, where I will pick up a load for outside Binghamton New York.
Being its Friday, I will probably the running home before too much longer. And that’s a good thing. Truck is working well, everything is fine. Welcome to my world.
[1]
I’m watching with fascination the response to the events down in Garland Texas the other day. I mentioned it yesterday, so perhaps this is overkill, but it seems to me that this is going to be a central issue going forward.
Predictably, the New York Times for its part, self-righteously attacks Pam Geller.
Some of those who draw cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad may earnestly believe that they are striking a blow for freedom of expression, though it is hard to see how that goal is advanced by inflicting deliberate anguish on millions of devout Muslims who have nothing to do with terrorism. As for the Garland event, to pretend that it was motivated by anything other than hate is simply hogwash.
Says Bruce [2] of Q&O…
The Times has yet to answer how “inflicting anguish” on millions of Christians ..
.
(…Piss Christ which the Times defended on free speech grounds – Eric.)
…..who have done nothing to the artist is somehow “striking a blow for freedom of expression” or how that display wasn’t motivated by “hate” (hint: because their definition of “hate” is arbitrary), but it sure did back it in the past. It was as “hateful” as anything at the Garland event.
Well, exactly. Moreover, it seems to me that there’s an issue of values in all of this is that the critics of Geller tend to ignore.
[3]
These animals we’re talking about here are offended by drawings, but not offended by beheadings, rapes, genital mutilation, suicide bombings, hostage taking, etc, etc, etc.
In light of that, maybe someday somebody can explain to me why I should give a damn about what they’re upset by. But I doubt it. You see, that would involve a certain level of respect. Given their views, given their actions, I have none for them, nor will I. There’s no excuse for it. None.
We still seem to be locked into this nonsense that all religions are equal, all cultures are equal, and should be treated as such. The events in Garland Texas are if nothing else a wake up call on those points.
And I suppose labeling this as a free speech issue is accurate, but less than all inclusive. Because once we acceed to the threat of violence on a matter of free speech, what other power over you do they *not* have?
As I told you yesterday, I have some problems with Geller myself, but this isn’t one of them. She was absolutely unquestionably unequivocally correct in all of this.
[4]
Look, obviously cartoons aren’t the center of the issue. Ideas are. And individual freedom is. That’s precisely what they’re fighting against, is ideas. Ideas they don’t like. I described what happened down there in Garland as a couple of morons who don’t like the First Amendment being introduced to the Second Amendment. And obviously, the First Amendment is what this is about, at least on the superficial level.
If you want to accuse Geller of setting those two morons up, do so and have done. I may even agree. Because the point here is how easily they were incited to murder. It can no longer be argued that they aren’t a threat, both to American lives, and American culture.
The cartoons in question are if nothing else a criticism. If you want you know we are being controlled by, goes the saying, look at who you can not criticize. I refuse to be controlled by these unspeakable animals, on any level, period.
For the record, I, for one, don’t hold Geller to be any kind of a hero, but I do have to give her propers for actually standing her ground on this business. That’s something that far too many people aren’t doing right now.
For example, a direct comparison to the leadership in both parties is in order. The woman has more testicular mass than the entire Obama gang and the GOP leadership, put together. And frankly, that strikes me as more problematic than any problems Geller herself presents.
And down the road I go. I’ll see you tomorrow.