Stupid is as stupid does

Stupidity is another word for religion.

Hmm, I would probably vote for the het-up Afghanis being slightly stupider in this case, in terms of pure reactionary stupidity. I mean, life is fairly grim in Afghanistan right now (hell, has been for the last 2000 years or so, by the looks of it); don't they have better things to get het up about, like food and medicine shortages? This sounds horribly ethnocentric coming from someone who prides themselves on being as culturally relativistic as possible... *chews on hangnail reflectively*

religion is merely a subset of stupidity

Ethnocentric....talking about stupidity knows no ethinic boundry. There are stupid people practicing religion everywhere and even some that have no religion. One is not dependant upon the other. Even reporters for highly regarded publications can be stupid.

Case in point...I can't even speel ethnic.

Shades of the BBC (and Andrew Gilligan who was behind the controversial BBC report that Downing Street "sexed up" an Iraq weapons dossier) where the 'powers that be' have a substanstial vested interest in this allegation being withdrawn. It will probably be eventually proved that the claim was true but by that time most people will have forgotten all about it and Newsweek magazine - like the BBC - will have been taught their place.

For me, the argument is for the Afghans because it's not entirely unlikely that American forces would destroy a Koran, they've done far worse things, particularly in Abu Graib. Therefore just because it wasn't done, doesn't suddenly make everything alright, especially in a region where deep deep problems have merely been papered over for the sake of the world's media and violence can erupt without a touch paper, where they see people being taken off the streets on a daily basis and incarcerated god knows where for god knows what while the rest of the world sits back and pats Bush on the back for "restoring democracy". Might just be me but if there's ever a choice in the stupidity stakes, the Americans seem to have it every time (Americans with a capital A as in administration, army etc before you start squawking).

In Washington, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the story had not met journalistic standards by relying on a single anonymous source "who could not personally substantiate the allegation that was made." Newsweek said its information had come from a "knowledgeable government source" who told the magazine a military report on abuse said interrogators flushed a copy of the Koran down a toilet in a bid to make detainees talk. Newsweek have since said their source could not be certain he had seen an account of the incident in the military report and that it might have been in other investigative documents or drafts.

So, you're saying that something being "not entirely unlikely" is a good enough justification for having a shit fit and killing people., that is a pretty low standard of proof if you ask me..I don't buy it. It's possible that my neighbor can break into my house and steal my toaster, he does have a key and hey, it's a nice toaster. He mentioned that he liked it. Paranoia isn't justification for over reacting and causing the death of others. Oooops, we did it again. The problem I have here is over zealous people taking things they read at face value and having the desire and ability to loose their minds over it. If something later contradicts that information, they blow it off and justify their actions by accusing others of ulterior motives, when there more evidence to support a theory that the people who wrote and approved publishing the story were just plain stupid. So, American soldiers are no more or less capable of doing anything than anyone else, but if there is a propensity to sensationalize any story true or false, it also feeds a propensity to overreact to said story, thus fueling more hate and more violence. Journalists should be held to a higher standard of accountability for their actions than a bunch of bedraggled uneducated peasants living in dirt houses in the middle of a war zone. The Afgans involved in this, though stupid enough in their own right, hear things they don't like and have no concept that what they are hearing may be bullshit. The fact that they were raised in a culture of intollerence only contributes to the problem.

If a "knowledgeable government source" is subsequently found to have commited suicide the cycle will be complete - except for Newsweek being forced to accept new management as penance for their mistake...

"bedraggled uneducated peasants" - how do you know? Isn't this what Newsweek assumes when printing a piece without checking their facts. You can bet your arse that they wouldn't go ahead so rashly if they weren't writing about a country they consider to be inferior to their own. Your reference to your neighbour and your toaster is utterly daft. What I am saying is that once violence has been inflamed by an article such as this, it's not going to calm down just because the claims are retracted. If the rioters are incensed it is hardly surprising and they will look to other reasons for their anger if this one proves not to be true. And you have to admit they don't have to look too far.

My guess is that this type of crap will continue to repeat itself until the entire situation spirals into an abysmal shit hole of death, confusion and distrust. These are the things that happen when one country invades another and two cultures are forced to deal with each other, all armed to the teeth and both perfectly willing to pop a cap on the other. George Bush is a Moron, The reporters at Newsweek are morons, the Afgan's involved are Morons. I say, get our Morons the fuck out and let their Morons solve their own problems. I don't like having our Morons killing or disrespecting their Morons any more than they do. But hey....stupid is as stupid does.

Rachel, have you ever been in a war zone as a civilian trying to survive? You'll loose your rationality in short order, I promise.

Just exactly why were your morons there in the first place, Denver? I can't quite remember... wasn't it just a practice for Iraq or something; maybe they just wanted their kit back from the caves...

Well, our head Moron decided it was a good idea. I noticed your head Moron tends to go along with his stupid ideas as well. There's no shortage of stupid people are there?

:o)

"Rachel, have you ever been in a war zone as a civilian trying to survive? You'll loose your rationality in short order, I promise." No I haven't but you prove my point exactly. I've been thinking very hard about your assertion that "The fact that they were raised in a culture of intollerence only contributes to the problem". I haven't worked out if you are being deliberately ironic but it keeps making me laugh.

Would you consider the Taliban to be a tolerant bunch? Lets wack some hands off with a hatchet and see. I'm just trying to get you to think, mission accomplished. *little smiley thing*

It's probably worth pointing out that it is not only Afghanistan that has been involved in protests but also Pakistan, India, Indonesia and Gaza. You have to feel sorry for the Afghans though - first the Russians kick hell out of them (naturally America backs the Afghans) then the Russians leave and America (with a little token help) shows the Russians how it should be done. No doubt that if and when the West decides to abandon Afghanistan the Chinese will invade to ensure a decent supply of opium - to make up for their people's lack of religion.

I don't think that Bush understands the concept of "the cure being the disease." The general populace of the the Middle East has never trusted western culture. What's the best thing to do, lets go over there and show them we can't get along, if they don't like it, we'll kill em.... War is not the best method of cross-cultural education. In fact, it's a pretty shitty way to get your point across. We'd be better served to fly over and drop McDonalds Cheeseburgers and it would cost a lot less. Either that or just let them kill one another, which I'm sure they'll get back to doing as soon as we leave.

It's less than 250 years since you chaps had a fairly messy little internal squabble but luckily we didn't invade you to save you from yourselves - otherwise you would probably still be a British colony. Mind you the world might well be a lot safer place :o)

140 years...and I doubt it.

My, how time flies :o)

Mykle, in your wildest imagination you couldn't possibly conceive of how much I'd like to sit you on your fat arse.

gosh, i read that as "you couldn't possibly conceive of how much I'd like to sit on your face." Im really worred about myself these days.

oooooooo how rude!!!!!!

It would be a pleasure to crap on his face after decking him.

Mississippi that sounds more homoerotic than threatening.

Why don't you just say "I'd like to kick your ass and poop on you" ? Your way with words is gonna get everyone confused. *little smiley thing*

Isn't there a special word for that practice? Like 'golden shower' for the warm drizzle coming from the land of Nob? I would agree that everyone involved in this particular snafu is stupid: Newsweek, the Pentagon, the (violence-committing) Afghans, the stupid fucking American troops who -doubtless- did something stupid. Most of the military, those doing the grunt work, are not educated officer class, ya know. Look at stupid gormless Lynndie Engerlund. I can certainly understand being pissed off if my holiest book is desecrated; but rioting and killing my own people makes about as much sense as the riots in LA when Rodney King's beaters were freed: they shat in the pot from which they also ate.

yeah scat. This thread is a perfect example of its title.

There's nothing homoerotic about my arse, milton, especially after I've had a vindaloo.

>>>gosh, i read that as "you couldn't possibly conceive of how much I'd like to sit on your face<<< You have no idea just how much you made me laugh when I read that! Must admit, I initially read it as "you couldn't possibly conceive of how much I'd like to sit on your arse" *has vision of missi riding mykle around the room ... whip in hand ... giddyup there!* Yee har.