more on Which is the bigger threat?]]

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject:        Re: [IP] more on Which is the bigger threat?]
Date:   Thu, 09 Feb 2006 09:58:33 -0600
From:   John S. Quarterman <jsq () quarterman org>
To:     dave () farber net
CC:     John S. Quarterman <jsq () quarterman org>, ip () v2 listbox com



> Date:   Mon, 06 Feb 2006 17:13:59 -0500
> From:   Marc Kletke <marc.kletke () rogers com>
> To:     dave () farber net
>
> That's easy. The answer is Google. Islamic rioting over racist cartoons

Racist?  Since when is Islam a race?

But nevermind that.

I was more struck by a coincidence of language:

> On the otherhand, Google's compliance with China's rules is a mercenary act,
> made in an organized way by a centralized body (Google itself) with
> tremendous cultural power. Because this threat is credible, organized,
> mercenary and powerful it trumps a bunch of irritated Muslims hands down.

‘What was more important in the world view of history?  The Taliban
or the fall of the Soviet Empire?  A few stirred-up Muslims or the
liberation of Central Europe and the end of the Cold War?’
--Zbigniew Brezinski, former U.S. Secretary of State

Brezinski's prodding of resistant fighters against the Soviet Union
in Afghanistan was one of the sources of the Taliban and Al Qaeda,
and thus one of the sources of the current so-called War on Terror.
It isn't wise to underestimate the effects of a few stirred-up Muslims.

Personally, I see no excuse for violent responses to the silly cartoons,
and freedom of expression must be defended, but I think the newspaper
that started this row went out of its way to prod the hornet's nest,
and that belittling Muslims isn't a particularly good way to calm them down.

-jsq



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