Captain's Quarters -

Sigh. One so wants to believe that Islam is not inherently and irreconcilably incompatible with civilization, and that reasonable coexistence is more than a theoretical possibility. The implications of taking Islam at its word are simply too enormous, to horrific and frightful to contemplate, that no one wants to face them. Understandably. Just as it was understandable in 1936 that almost no one wanted to face the prospect of a war in Europe to stop Hitler that might rival the Great War.

When the history of this decade is written in 30 or 40 years (assuming the West survives), people will be as incredulous at our weak response to institutionally radical Islam (and not just the overt terrorists) as historians were in the immediate aftermath of World War II.

Just remember Capt'n, if you criticize the "Religion of Peace"; WE'LL CUT YOUR HEAD OFF!

Ul-Haq says, "The West is accusing Muslims of extremism and terror," but doesn't his next sentence sound like, "and we're guilty as charged"?

Cap'n Ed: A high-ranking Pakistani minister

On what basis are you saying that Mohammad Ijaz ul Haq is a high-ranking minister? According to the Pakistani government, he first became a minister on March 23, 2007 and his portfolio only became a full-fledged ministry in 2004. His position is quite senior enough to make his statement appalling - there is no need to make him sound more important than he is - or saying that is in fact, Pakistan itself that has endorsed such statements.

Cap'n Ed: This points up a well-known problem among Muslims, even those considered somewhat moderate and cosmopolitan. They refuse to allow for any criticism of their faith, even from fellow Muslims.

Every single one of 'em, eh?

"Pakistan Endorses Suicide Bombing -- For Assassinating Authors"

I don't read his statement as restricted to assasination of authors. My take is a generalized threat against Brits --- and of course their crusader allies The Great Satan and te unmentionable Nation of the Sons of Pigs and Monkeys.

I think CatoRenasci is spot on.

I think it is great that Rushdie is finally being honoured by his peers and his adopted nation. I lived very close to the headquarters of Penguin Publishing when the uproar over the Satanic Verses began and it was distressing to see marchers openly advocating murder on the streets of London without any general outrage.

The comments by the Pakistani Minister are disgraceful as is the general outpouring of emotion in Islamic quarters over the award. Rather than respond in kind to the various threats it would be nice to see artists and leaders circle the wagons and make it clear to Muslim world that we don't fear their threats.

Well then ... Musharraf should get his act together and start castigating these clowns in his government!

It sounds like all may not be well in Londonistan.

The simple thing is to say that the followers of Islam does not like criticism. The larger truth is that the followers of any religion dislike it. Plenty of people have died as a result of Catholic, Orthodox Christian, Jewish and other non-Islamic religious decrees throughout history.

Still, it is the most intolerant of faiths and is perhaps the single greatest hindrance to a more peaceful world with a greater appreciation for human rights.

The saddest part of the story is that these things are set ups FOR the media. Reported BY the media. Because the media thinks this is a form of LEVERAGE.

Where are we now?

Well, it's complex. But I think we're watching vaudeville. And, I think the press gets to grab these shots because the over-abundance of muslem nutters are desperate "to get to America." So, they're happy to do so as IMAGES. Remember this. They don't speak English. And, other for a convoluted idea that they think they're making us "very afraid," there's very little to this garbage.

How did the press fall into such a hole?

Ya know? I have no idea. But it's like Alice In Wonderland. Or Hollywood. When people began watching bedsheets strapped up in doorways; and paid five cents. To see motion pictures.

My mom said there was always audiences on the lower east side.

And, during the day? When adults worked. Parents would give their kids two-cents. Since entry was a nickel. FOR ONE SEAT. The kids were expected to "share." And, my mom remembers standing outside movie theaters (in the days of the silents), calling out "I've got two cents, who has three?"

Yes. There was money to be made in the "magic" of the images. And, those were in the days a dime was a daily wage to a grown man!

And, those who got to "buy" the film crews' works? Made lots a money! The theater business was once a very good one, to the producers. Not so, today.

Religion, too, got swiped by the fast way a person could get "off" watching something on screen. It didn't have to be true. But the people? Had to be handsome. Bone structure, not brains, counted for points.

Some of this is in reversal. The Internet is now established as carrying the opinions of masses of people. Even if they don't write a post. They read.

Yet, the images that we get from our enemies, have you noticed? They tend to be the same.

It's as if Pauline is always tied to the train tracks, so you come back, again and again. Oh. And, all villians had mustaches. Maybe, that's why soldiers and policemen had to be clean-shaven?

As to what gets accomplished when you view these images, I don't know. Salman Rushdie, for instance, is not going to go to Pakistan. And, that he got knighted? You read his book? The talent didn't impress me. And, I've about given up on fiction, anyway.

The other thing I know? Separate from the gangs that come out for "picture taking," is that it's quite common or communists to use propaganda. That we're having it done to us, though?

What are the owners of newspapers and the media? Crazy, or something? Do they think they're too big to fail?

Failures are good for our system. (Winston Churchill pointed this out, after the famous crash in 1929.) He said an English government would have fallen. But in America? There are "sweep up" laws that come along. And, the bankrupted are swept aside, while new industries and key players, emerge.

The other thing? Did you know the smuggling that goes on? There's no way for the "spice trade," as it was formerly known for hundreds of years; if not thousands. To flourish. WIthout a whole world wide web.

This though gets no media coverage at all.

Doesn't mean the media lets you see its lies.

Though most people are smart. They know the silver screen wasn't delivering the truth, folks. They knew it was all "make believe." Didn't stop Walt Disney from growing rich, either.

And, then? Once you establish an elite section, they're the ones who want to rule. Look at history. Go back, far. Aristocrats, aka "elites," always held the keys to governmental control.

Sometimes? I just think the media is an idiot with a camera. When I look at these set pieces I realize a lot of people who sing in the shower without talent, also hold up cameras, and what they usually get, if not blur, is focus on their shoes.

You mean, you never told someone to remove their finger from the lens, first?

You really think this time the Pakistani's and their "cover story" makes a dent?

Not to me, it doesn't. ANd, free to read Rushtie's book, I can assure you that there are others out there, much, much better. Don't be fooled.

The awards. And, the queen tapping you on the shoulder, is just a sorority sister's game. Ya ain't gonna get smart, participating in it.

Oh, yeah. The silents lost out to sound. (Though Winston Churchill said it cut into the talent pool. Because to act without spoken dialogue, said he, is harder.)

I guess you could say the same for color. There was genius in black & white.

Yup. The pictures are repititious.

And, ya know what? Hollywood no longer does Cowboy and Indian movies.

So to answer my own query, "why" ...

We're getting this crap thrown at us because it's easy for the media to do.

They pay a crowd of illiterate performers in pakistan.

But it's no different that the big bucks earned, here, in America. When indians were pictured coming over the hill.

As a matter of fact, in the tumult, hollywood was actually born. Because it needed the good weather.

Go take a look. Those burning flag and effigy pictures? They never do it in the rain. They never do it at night. But they can gather grown men in daylight hours.

Men are in clean clothes.

At Little Green Footballs, yesterday, a poster noticed how CLEAN the uniforms were on the newly installed Hamas guys. And, also in all the street pictures.

Maybe, that's what you look for? Because the clues are there.

Nothing you see is Kosher.

It's all designed by some "marketing expert" to sell you their versions of toothpaste.

Will it ever stop? Well, when was the last time you saw a good Cowboy & Indian movie? Doesn't mean that people wouldn't respond if they saw them, again.

But the media is stuck on this, instead.

And, ya know what? In a Cowboy & Indian movie you had to wait for the last reel to see the good guy, winning. It was called "suspense."

Are you in suspense? Is that why you hope Israel knocks out the lights in gazoo? (Ain't gonna happen. Sometimes the fake stuff just doesn't work as well as reality. And, her choices.)

i stopped being surprised by the doings at the low end of the gene pool but i am still amazed that folks still convert to islam. talk about wanting the nanny state. you know rules for even wiping in a certain way.

another amazing factoid is that rush-die is still alive!

Pakistan is our ally there, and our government should step up and act like the lone super power and stop this idiocy. We know that Pakistan has not acted in our best efforts in Afghanistan, even allowing the Taliban to gather and regroup inside its borders.

Does this mean Mr. (Sir) Rushdie is now a member of the House of Lord (the British Senate)?

Imagine they succeed in their efforts to kill him or a sitting Senator, where it's not the act of a single fanatic (like the Palestinian that murdered Bobby Kennedy) but an action endorsed by a the sitting heads of a sect of a religion.

Elizabeth the 1st would have acted. Will Mr. Blair's successor?