My Icon Illustrates My Frustration

[hsifeng]

http://attack-laurel.livejournal.com/91441.html
None of my friends would do this sort of thing, and while I know that there are people out there I cannot be friends with - the fact that people like *THIS* exist just fucks up my whole universe.

Where is my corrective baseball bat?





I know, I know...more violence is not the answer. But it can certainly be satisfying to consider as an option.

Its days like this that I am completely mortified to be identified a citizen of this country. Not because of potential bodily harm, but because things like this reflect on all of us and are morally unconscionable to an extreme that makes me want to puke.

Comments

[shadowd1.livejournal.com]

/sigh

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

Another arguement for late term abortions. My guess is that these would be around 225-261 months (18-21 years old).

[fishnetumbrella.livejournal.com]

when reading this i can hear your voice... this post makes me sad.

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

I just hate ignorant people and the stupid, hateful stuff they manage to pull sometimes.

Please people, spay and neuter your village idiots!

[dravon.livejournal.com]

It's stories like this which make me think "This is the sort of situation where the idea of vigilante justice is mighty tempting..."

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

I think it would be much more effective to drop these folks in the middle of a nice Muslim country and give them a chance to see that people of another religion aren't the boogie-man and aren't all out to get us. Have you seen Jesus Camp? It isn't like we don't have our own home-grown versions of extreamism.

[docryder.livejournal.com]

Terrible news. I'm thinking justice would be some time spent in a locked room full of "chemical irritants," but there's that darned "cruel and unusual punishment" clause.

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

It's another lovely case of "fear breeding fear" - and I think a healthy dose of "I feel I have an excuse for my shitty behavior and so I am going to do it - even though I know I shouldn't" thrown in.

It would do these idiots more good to be sent to work in a Muslim community long enough to realize that they are hurting people that are just like them.

Sadly, that isn't going to make a big difference to the folks that they hurt.

[bippimalin.livejournal.com]

Don't be mortified about being identified as being a citizen of your country. There are idiots everywhere, in all countries.
I'm sad to say but there's plenty of people who'll do things like that in this country too.

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

I agree - there are fools and liars in every country, just like there are good and honest people in all walks and ways of life. My big issue with the current spate of American Idiotology is that too few folks are speaking out against it.

When at least 1/2 my fellow citizens seem content to just let things continue to devolve from the original intentions that helped to found our nation (you know; liberty, equality, all those silly Enlightenment ideals) so long as they can fill up their Hummer for $.50 a gallon or watch the world go by on their big screen TV - it just makes me sad.

We seriously lost our way somewhere, and we aren't going to be able to buy it back. It makes me wonder just how hard the lessons are going to be when we finally figure that out.

[lumpyone.livejournal.com]

I agree with you, especially about the stupidity of people. But its everywhere.

However, I also would have to question the motives of the person who posted this on her LJ as she used the term "tear-gassed" but clearly in the article it says "chemical irratant" That could be anything! No where in the article does it say tear gas. I'm not trying to belittle what happened, but its things like this where people don't have all the facts and they blow things out of proportion. I still don't agree with what happened, but let's not go overboard and be overly emotional when dealing with circumstances like this. Its reactionary words and actions which just add fuel to this already growing fire.

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

I understand what you mean by accuracy in reporting. But honestly, I don't care if they dumped a massive dose of flea powder in the room: It seems pretty clear from the first hand statements of those being acted against that the intention was to scare the crap out of people because they were worshiping in a Mosque. Their intention was to cause fear. That is shit - no matter how effective their meant.

[lumpyone.livejournal.com]

Again, I'm not arguing the intention of those who attacked those worshipping in a Mosque. I don't agree with what they did and find it a horrendous act.

However, throwing out terms like "tear-gassed" and other such assumptions about what happened without all the facts only continues a cycle of violence and hate that causes such acts to begin in the first place. People will always react with violence when in fear over something. In your posts lately, you really talk a lot about people just sitting aside and not doing anything, and then how our country is doing downhill daily.

Instead of continuing a cycle which will only get worst, step above that continuing system of fear, hate and violence and work towards making the world better without such emotions. Acceptance, love, understanding, and forgiveness really do have a powerful impact on people. Done correctly it will cause people to change their views and behaviors a lot better. Its definitely not a fast process, nor flawless, but it definitely life a lot more worth living and a society much more desirable to live in.

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

Hence my suggestions (in my replies above to others) that a first-hand experiance any group of Muslims would probably set these folks straight faster than the smackdown that my gut reaction was attempting to dictate...*grin*

[mojo-iv.livejournal.com]

The outrage centers of my brain have burnt out after 7 years of following this jingoist crap in the mainstream and alternative medias. If I have one more reason to be ashamed of (one half of) my national identity, I'm going to collapse into a black hole and take Fresno county with me.

--m4