Clearly, the religion of Islam is a hotbed issue - probably in Dearborn more than most places in the country. There is a large Muslim population, there.
Stoning is a controversial statement and throwing anything at protestors is absolutely not the same thing as the punishment for crimes big and little in areas of the world that do, indeed, stone people to death. I am not going to argue the merits of this vile and reprehensible punshment because I simply cannot think of anything to say.
The thing about peaceful protest is that it's supposed to be peaceful. Too often, we see bad behavior in crowds because of the mob hysteria that sets in and tempers flare.
As for news coverage, or local news coverage, I don't necessarily agree that coverage or lack of coverage on the news constitutes anything. NBC News didn't cover Eric Holder's Fast and Furious gun running operation to Mexico using our gun stores until roughly last week. And yesterday, the House found Eric Holder in contempt of Congress. This has been a big deal for about 18 months now, yet, little news on one of the three major news outlets. Editorial agendas often dictate what is seen on our news tv outlets and newspapers.
Like most things, I have no idea what really happened at that rally in Dearborn. I am concerned that violence in the name of religion is disturbing, no matter what the religion...and can cite countless completely legitimate news stories about honor killings and maimings for Sharia Law - not just in other countries, but here in the US.
It's a hotbed issue, to be sure. It's always going to be. It's also a balancing act to try to figure out how to be tolerant of everyone's religion and beliefs, when some religious extremists take their views into an obscenely scary direction.
Go check out what just happened when UK reporter Natasha Smith got sexually assaulted in Egypt last week by a crowd of people celebrating their first freely elected President. And no, it wasn't the first time that something like this has happened. CNN covered it, so it won't be tough to find.
Sharia Law should scare the **** out of everyone, especially women. I don't say that lightly.
The fact that the objects thrown might not be rocks is immaterial. Whether it’s rocks, empty water bottles, bottle caps, cream pies, or glitter, it’s assault. If both sides were doing it then both sides were wrong.
Where, exactly, IS the “place to do this”?
__________________
It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.” – Mark Twain
But if you notice, the cops are white (and likely Christian).
Romani,
From all evidence available to me you are a reasonable, rational, person who is not given to overreaction or hyperbole and who gives level-headed explanations for their views.
Given that, I have the following serious question:
What is the quote above supposed to mean, or, what does it have to do with what happened, or, why mention it at all?
What if I said, in a different situation, "But if you notice, the cops are black"? What would you think I was trying to say?
And from where do you conclude that the cops are "likely Chrisitian"? What's the basis for that statement?
What if I drew some sort of generalized conclusion about a bunch of black cops, like they're "likely Democrats," or "likely liberal" and through that generalization implied that that affected how they did their jobs?
How would you feel? What would you think, or wonder, about me and the way I think?
Why bring it up at all? How is it pertinent to the topic, which is the protest itself and the supposed stoning? How does the cops' race and/or religion pertain? How does brining it into the discussion enhance it?
-- Edited by winchester on Thursday 28th of June 2012 11:33:02 AM
__________________
It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.” – Mark Twain
First of all, it was empty water bottles and cups. No stones that I could see. No stones reported at all.
I asked around as I have a LOT of friends who go to Dearborn and I found a friend who was at this so I asked her. This is her take on it. She is a Christian fwiw. Both sides were at fault. There were "talking tos" on both sides. The police originally asked them to take down the signs because they were creating a scene and the police were spread thin (as they are EVERYWHERE in metro Detroit). They didn't. Then the police repeatedly asked the protesters to leave as they were instigating the crowd with taunts and other things (what you didn't see on camera). They didn't. The crowd got mad. Both sides were throwing things. Selective video editing.
"If we were protesters, we'd have a tent like occupy." Then what are you there for?
Dearborn is a hot spot for tensions. NUMEROUS homes were vandalized after 9/11, etc. But if you notice, the cops are white (and likely Christian). The police was spread thin and they wanted to protect the safety of everyone so they asked them to leave. Again, after first asking them to stop with the signs and such.
A festival just isn't the place to do this. The group knew damn well what they were doing, why they were doing it, and where they were doing it.
Wasn't there. Can only go by what she said. This never made the Detroit news AFAIK. IF this had actually been as bad as it said, they would have gone to the news and they would have made a big story out of it. I can almost guarantee it. Because I've lived in that area for the vast majority of my life and that's just how it works.
I spend a lot of time in Dearborn. Never had a bad experience. I work there quite often as well. Never had a bad experience. Not that my experience is worth much.
