Guns, race, religion, terror, wingnut thread

[O Really]

Do you think that's a sign of a civilizations decline? When people become increasingly thirsty for violent retribution, like the gladiator battles of olde? People willingly watch movies like Saw nowadays. I stand by my theory that if a power vacuum would ever materialize and the strong arm of government was bo onger there to keep most in check, the majority of people would revert back to a state of bloodthirsty sadism.

Like "Running Man?"
"Hunger Games"
"Road Warrior" and particularly Thunderdome?
Very little in those films seems unbelievable now.

Leonard Pitts had a good column in the A-CT Sunday. Basic premise - if 20 little kids getting shot is bearable, what are we not willing to put up with to avoid confronting the NRA?

[JTA]

Do you think that's a sign of a civilizations decline? When people become increasingly thirsty for violent retribution, like the gladiator battles of olde? People willingly watch movies like Saw nowadays. I stand by my theory that if a power vacuum would ever materialize and the strong arm of government was bo onger there to keep most in check, the majority of people would revert back to a state of bloodthirsty sadism.

Like "Running Man?"
"Hunger Games"
"Road Warrior" and particularly Thunderdome?
Very little in those films seems unbelievable now.

Leonard Pitts had a good column in the A-CT Sunday. Basic premise - if 20 little kids getting shot is bearable, what are we not willing to put up with to avoid confronting the NRA?

Have you ever seen any of those saw movies? Saw 1 wasn't quite as bad, but I remember watching saw 2 when I was like 19 or something and was disgusted. I was in a movie theater and saw creepy older guy sitting alone two seats down was talking about how excited he was for the movie. The dude was straight up weird, like serial killer weird.

I don't want to see hyper realistic gore in movies. That's why I like the older horror movies.

[Vrede too]

Christian assault rifles now available

Spike's Tactical in Florida is selling a $1,400 assault rifle called the Crusader. It's inscribed with Psalm 144:1, which says, “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.”

Ben “Mookie” Thomas a spokesman for Spike’s Tactical and a former Blackwater security contractor, explained the thinking behind the weapon: “Right now and as it has been for quite some time, one of the biggest threats in the world is and remains Islamic terrorism. We wanted to make sure we built a weapon that would never be able to be used by Muslim terrorists to kill innocent people or advance their radical agenda.”

Meanwhile back in reality, Psalm 144:1 is found in the Old Testament which Islam regards as revealed truth. It quotes King David, who Muslims consider to be a prophet sent by God. So what they have is a gun that any Muslim can carry and use with the blessings of Allah.

Odds are that the merchants know how ridiculous the idea is . . . and how stupid and gullible gunhuggers are.

Somewhat related - During McCarthy's witchhunts many liberals stood by their principles and suffered for it, which is certainly honorable. Otoh, some hardcore communists pretended to go along, with the idea being that words are meaningless and avoiding sanction left them free to pursue the revolution. A true Muslim terrorist ain't gonna care what weapon he wastes infidels with.

[Boatrocker]

. . . Odds are that the merchants know how ridiculous the idea is . . . and how stupid and gullible gunhuggers are . . . ..

Ka-ching. The merchants preying on the ammosexuals know their prey very well. Of course, it ain't like the trailer trash gun-humpers who pay premiums for such drech as this are complicated, enigmatic individuals.

[Boatrocker]

George Takei on How Kim Davis Violated the First Amendment

This is reasoned and well-written. So, therefore, it is anathema to wingnuts.

This is even more important when we’re talking about government officials, such as public school educators, judges, or country clerks. Such individuals are expected to do their jobs no matter who is appearing before them or under their care. Imagine, for example, that a person of the Quaker faith took a job with the county and then refused to issue gun licenses on grounds it violated her faith. The easy answer here is that she would have no right to do so. If guns are legal in the county, then citizens have a right to apply, and she cannot use her personal beliefs to stop others from obtaining a license. In this example, gun owners and non-gun owners alike probably would tell her to go find another job where she could function without ethical or religious dilemma.

I've been using this example for weeks, in arguments with relatives and acquaintances who insist on beating me over the head with this stupid cow and her superstitious nonsense. All I've gotten in response is mutterings about how "That's different!" and "There ain't nuthin in the bible about guns!" or how I'm going to hell, and all that bullshit. It's like discussing algebra with a beagle.

[O Really]

You need new relatives.

[rstrong]

I've been using this example for weeks, in arguments with relatives and acquaintances who insist on beating me over the head with this stupid cow and her superstitious nonsense.

Hey, now. She's fighting to protect the sanctity of traditional bigotry.

[Boatrocker]

You need new relatives.

That has occured to me numerous times in 38+ years of marriage (it's mostly my rural, fundamentalist in-laws).

[O Really]

You need new relatives.

That has occured to me numerous times in 38+ years of marriage (it's mostly my rural, fundamentalist in-laws).

I see. So you besmirched their daughter, assuring her rapid descendance into a life of sin and eternity in Hell, and you argue about their bigotry. Damn, you're lucky you haven't been shot and eaten by coon hounds.

[Boatrocker]

You need new relatives.

That has occured to me numerous times in 38+ years of marriage (it's mostly my rural, fundamentalist in-laws).

I see. So you besmirched their daughter, assuring her rapid descendance into a life of sin and eternity in Hell, and you argue about their bigotry. Damn, you're lucky you haven't been shot and eaten by coon hounds.

We always go to her sister's in LA (Lower Alabama) for a massive (30-50 people) early T-giving, including her first cousin, who is lesbian and her partner of over 10 years. In the meantime, that same couple- both very fine people- have accepted an invitation to come to the Upstate for a tailgate weekend. I expect Tgiving this year, if not cancelled outright, to be tens . I have already prepared my wife for the eventality of a full-blown, Springer-esque meltdown, and the liklihood that I will do what I have resisted 100s of times before: take sides
If the wingnuts would just practice their religion and not insist on rubbing it in everyone's face . . . .

[O Really]

Beck vs. Breitbart... https://celebrity.yahoo.com/news/glenn- ... 48416.html

They're eating their own.

[Vrede too]

... including her first cousin, who is lesbian and her partner of over 10 years. In the meantime, that same couple- both very fine people- have accepted an invitation to come to the Upstate for a tailgate weekend. I expect Tgiving this year, if not cancelled outright, to be tense. I have already prepared my wife for the eventuality of a full-blown, Springer-esque meltdown, and the likelihood that I will do what I have resisted 100s of times before: take sides
. . . .

Get it over with, talk the couple into making it a surprise wedding.

[Vrede too]

(Muslim) Irving (Texas) 9th-grader arrested after taking homemade clock to school: 'So you tried to make a bomb?'

[Boatrocker]

... including her first cousin, who is lesbian and her partner of over 10 years. In the meantime, that same couple- both very fine people- have accepted an invitation to come to the Upstate for a tailgate weekend. I expect Tgiving this year, if not cancelled outright, to be tense. I have already prepared my wife for the eventuality of a full-blown, Springer-esque meltdown, and the likelihood that I will do what I have resisted 100s of times before: take sides
. . . .

Get it over with, talk the couple into making it a surprise wedding.

Oh, that conversation has been had, and they know they have our public support when the time comes. But she (the cousin) is still trying to find a way to come out to her aging parents, who are no fools and have known this for a looooong time. As oft happens, it is easier for old people to ignore it and pretend it doesn't exist. As for me, I'm going along with their desires as long as I can for the sake of my wife, who is trying- with increasing difficulty- to play peacemaker and walk the middle line. It doesn't help that most of her relatives are primitive savages, socially, who cling to their pentacostal bullshit. If my only interest were my personal desire and weariness of that bullshit, I would've called them out long, long ago, rather than walking away from all religious and political conversations. I sit by myself al lot at family gatherings.

[Boatrocker]

(Muslim) Irving (Texas) 9th-grader arrested after taking homemade clock to school: 'So you tried to make a bomb?'

Texass ain't America- never has been.

[JTA]

(Muslim) Irving (Texas) 9th-grader arrested after taking homemade clock to school: 'So you tried to make a bomb?'

This got me thinking. I work with a bunch of Muslims, have a few Muslim friends that are all cool as fuck.

In my day to day experience, my experiences with Muslims has been far more pleasant than my experience with Christians. I get that the ones I work with are far more educated than most of the Christians I deal with probably so there's that, but on a day to day basis I've so far had a much more pleasant time dealing with Muslims than Christians here in the US and A

Drop me off in bumfuck Crapistan and my tune would probably change, I get that.

[rstrong]

In my day to day experience, my experiences with Muslims has been far more pleasant than my experience with Christians. I get that the ones I work with are far more educated than most of the Christians I deal with probably so there's that, but on a day to day basis I've so far had a much more pleasant time dealing with Muslims than Christians here in the US and A

There's also the possibility that they're more likely to be first or second generation immigrants.

I've mentioned this before: In high school it was the immigrants - from Asia, Russia, the Philippines, etc. - who did their homework and got the highest marks. They got the work ethic from their parents. Later I've worked for immigrants who set up businesses here.

We all know people with grand plans to improve their lives. They're going to move to the west coast. Or to Canada if the Republicans or Democrats win. They're going to save up, quit their jobs and go back to school. They're going to run for office and fix things. But most never do. They're stuck in the inertia of their own lives, unable to drop or stop making new commitments even in the long term. Or unable to save, or put in the extra effort. Or just too nervous about taking a leap into a new life.

Immigration - whether from Europe, Asia or Mexico, legal or illegal - acts as a filter. You get only the people who DO the things they said. Who got over their fears. Who put in the extra effort. These are the kind of people you want as citizens. The kind who ALSO tend to start businesses and create jobs. On average they're more pleasant to deal with.

[JTA]

(Muslim) Irving (Texas) 9th-grader arrested after taking homemade clock to school: 'So you tried to make a bomb?'

Texass ain't America- never has been.

[Vrede too]

Two people that Irving, TX school administrators and cops will never be in the same room with:

The 14-year-old arrested after bringing a clock to school gets invites to visit Barack Obama and Mark Zuckerberg

Especially for rstrong:

... When he was arrested, Mohamed was wearing a NASA T-shirt, prompting many astronauts to reach out to the teen and encourage him to continue pursuing science:

Hi @IStandWithAhmed ! I'd love you to join us for our science show Generator in Toronto on 28 Oct. There's a ticket waiting for you.
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) September 16, 2015

More from @IStandWithAhmed:

Chanda (王嬋娟) ‏@IBJIYONGI 10h10 hours ago

.@anildash @IStandWithAhmed we would love to have Ahmed visit us at MIT!

Tariq Khokhar ‏@tkb 9h9 hours ago

Watch out, it's a brown guy with a clock! #IStandWithAhmed @IStandWithAhmed

Brienne of Snarth ‏@femme_esq 9h9 hours ago

Students can carry firearms at colleges in Texas but a 14 year old can't make a clock. #IStandWithAhmed

Ahmed Mohamed ‏@IStandWithAhmed 8h8 hours ago

Going to meet my lawyer.

[O Really]

I continue to be amazed at how adept school administrators are at stepping on their own dicks. I do understand that in a time where nail clippers are "knives" lip balm is "drugs", a picture of a gun is the same as a gun and - when kids Mohammed's age really do bring guns and bombish things to schools, that they have to be very cautious. They wouldn't have wanted to just say, "oh look at that box ticking with wires hanging out of it" and then have it go boom. But there were definitely better ways to handle it. IMNVHO, I think they might have treated any boy who brought that clock to school in the same way, Mohammed or not - up to the point they knew it was NOT a bomb and then tried to jump to the "bomb hoax" claim. Clearly, there was no bomb hoax and the only people who mentioned "bomb" were not Mohammed. I think L'Damian, Johnny, and Ahmed all get treated the same at first, but at the end of the day, L'Damian gets suspended, Johnny goes back to class, and Ahmed goes off in handcuffs.