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LordofTruth · 23rd June 2012, 02:54 AM

Hooray for religion and interfaith dialogue! Extended footage of confrontation between Christian protesters and Muslim festival-goers at Dearborn Arab Festival. I havn't watched it all but think it's mostly one long shot. What's most interesting is the age of the very vocal counter-protesters, many (and at times, most) of whom are children. It seems the adults stand back and even let the kids throw things. I wish I could hear what they're saying better. In the end the Police escort the protesters away, fearing for the safety of everybody. I don't like the protesters use of a pigs head as a standard, and I wish the muslims had the wisdom to ignore them, and I definately don't like the way a lot of the kids behave. But, hey, religion's good for society apparently.

http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/...orn-arab-fest/

bluesjnr · 23rd June 2012, 03:59 AM

Antagonising behaviour will antagonise....... in other news

Craig4 · 23rd June 2012, 08:55 AM

This was an odd thing for the God bothers to do since this really doesn't look much like a religious event. I'll go out on a limb here and say the Sharia crowd was not well represented since they had an Arab Woman on stage in an evening dress with bare shoulders singing pop songs.

MG1962 · 23rd June 2012, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by Craig4

This was an odd thing for the God bothers to do since this really doesn't look much like a religious event. I'll go out on a limb here and say the Sharia crowd was not well represented since they had an Arab Woman on stage in an evening dress with bare shoulders singing pop songs.

They seem completely ignorant to the existence of Christian Arabs. But this appears to be an encore performance from the previous year

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/...ional-festival

And the year before that

http://patterico.com/2010/06/23/chri...arab-festival/

DC · 23rd June 2012, 09:56 AM

lol no beheadings?

DC · 23rd June 2012, 09:58 AM

can you imagen the outrage if muslims were to shove their beliefs down the throats of Christians the way this group does?

DC · 23rd June 2012, 10:01 AM

"Full video of All-American Muslims gone wild at Dearborn Arab fest"

"Where sharia law is in full affect and enforced by the police."

what does the poster mean with that?

ddt · 23rd June 2012, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by MG1962

They seem completely ignorant to the existence of Christian Arabs. But this appears to be an encore performance from the previous year

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/...ional-festival

And the year before that

http://patterico.com/2010/06/23/chri...arab-festival/

That was my first thought too. It seems to have been a different Christian hate group every year though. The irony indeed is that the largest group of Arab Americans in Dearborn are descendants from Lebanese Maronites.

MG1962 · 23rd June 2012, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by DC

"Full video of All-American Muslims gone wild at Dearborn Arab fest"

"Where sharia law is in full affect and enforced by the police."

what does the poster mean with that?

Translation **I am a racist and hate anyone who dares think differently from me, act differently, have pride in a culture that is not mine**

MG1962 · 23rd June 2012, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by ddt

That was my first thought too. It seems to have been a different Christian hate group every year though. The irony indeed is that the largest group of Arab Americans in Dearborn are descendants from Lebanese Maronites.

And I can say from direct experience Maronites are very unassuming and polite people who seem to have an amazing ability to adapt to whatever culture they find themselves in.

I guess that makes them a perfect target for a hate group

ddt · 23rd June 2012, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by MG1962

And I can say from direct experience Maronites are very unassuming and polite people who seem to have an amazing ability to adapt to whatever culture they find themselves in.

I guess that makes them a perfect target for a hate group

Some people prefer to remain ignorant and just think "Arab = Muslim". In 2011, it was Terry Jones, the Quran burning "pastor" who wanted to troll at the Arab festival. The wiki page mentions, apart from Maronites, also Chaldaeans and Assyrians among the inhabitants of Dearborn.

Weak Kitten · 23rd June 2012, 11:59 AM

I grew up in Southfield, just a few miles away from Dearborn, and I never even knew there was a large Arab community there. They were just so quiet, hardworking and polite. I'm not surprised that the main violent counter-protest would be from kids, the adults were probably either too mature or too stunned and confused to get involved.

TimCallahan · 23rd June 2012, 12:46 PM

I got through about three quarters of this dismal video before I got tired of the constant pauses. Here's my take on what I saw:

So, the skin-heads for Jesus walked into and disrupted an Arab / Muslim festival with a bull-horn blaring out that Muhammad was a liar, pervert and pedophile, that Islam was a religion of hate and murder, and that the people attending the festival were all going to hell unless they repented and followed Jesus. Then they were shocked and surprised when the Muslim kids threw stuff at them. While these kids were unruly and ill-behaved, this was hardly "Muslims gone wild" as the site billed the video.

That said, the Muslim parents should have controlled their brats, and the police should have rounded some of them up and taken them into custody for assault. These ill-bred little snots reminded me a lot of some of the classes I had to deal with when I was a substitute teacher: delinquents whose parents failed to discipline them and who couldn't get through a sentence without using the "F" word.

So, in this example from the wonderful world of revealed religion, we have louts for Jesus vs. louts for Muhammad.

keale · 23rd June 2012, 12:53 PM

Religion: Crazy since 1000 BC

DC · 23rd June 2012, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by keale

Religion: Crazy since 1000 BC

egypt religions apologist

Craig4 · 23rd June 2012, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by DC

"Full video of All-American Muslims gone wild at Dearborn Arab fest"

"Where sharia law is in full affect and enforced by the police."

what does the poster mean with that?

No kidding. As near as i can tell, the Christian nutbags showed up at a largely secular event and ruined their party.

BStrong · 23rd June 2012, 01:28 PM

Xtian agit-prop street theater.

angrysoba · 23rd June 2012, 06:25 PM

Maybe the protesters were merely demanding that the Arabs stop being Arabs. That's a reasonable demand, right?

MG1962 · 23rd June 2012, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by ddt

Some people prefer to remain ignorant and just think "Arab = Muslim". In 2011, it was Terry Jones, the Quran burning "pastor" who wanted to troll at the Arab festival. The wiki page mentions, apart from Maronites, also Chaldaeans and Assyrians among the inhabitants of Dearborn.

I have to confess I have never understood this type of thinking. Attacking other faiths seems just so counter productive, if I think my faith is the best, I think I would be more interested in expressing and advertising the virtues of my faith rather than finding ways others to look bad.

angrysoba · 23rd June 2012, 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by MG1962

I have to confess I have never understood this type of thinking. Attacking other faiths seems just so counter productive, if I think my faith is the best, I think I would be more interested in expressing and advertising the virtues of my faith rather than finding ways others to look bad.

Yeah, but the point ddt is making is that many of the people attending the festival were of the Christian faith too. But the protesters didn't even know or understand that because they were unable to fathom that many Arabs are Christians.

Of course, they should also be able to tolerate the fact that people can be openly Muslim too without having to be harangued by a bunch of ignorant thugs.

ANTPogo · 23rd June 2012, 08:33 PM

Meanwhile, here's how an actual news source reported on what happened (as apposed to the lunatic blog in the OP that thinks sheriffs keeping angry bigots from disrupting a cultural festival somehow translates to "Where sharia law is in full affect and enforced by the police"):

http://www.freep.com/article/2012061...rborn-festival

Quote:

Tensions flared Friday evening at the annual Arab International Festival in Dearborn as members of some Christian missionary groups — including one called the Bible Believers — taunted Arab Americans with a pig’s head and signs that promoted hatred of Islam.

“You’re gonna burn in hell,” one missionary shouted at a group of young Arab-American boys listening to him speak on Warren Avenue, where the festival takes place.

The festival continues today in Dearborn, but the members of the Bible Believers won’t be there because they’ll be protesting a gay festival in Ohio, said Arab Festival organizers.

[...]

The Bible Believers also protested at last year's Arab Festival, holding up both anti-Muslim and anti-Catholic signs and causing one Arab-American Muslim girl to cry.

As MG1962 points out, this is a regular occurrence at the Arab Festival in Dearborn.

EDIT: And, much like Frank Gaffney's utterly fraudulent "report" about the supposed epidemic of shariah in US courts, the protest at the Arab Festival also is the exact opposite of any evidence in favor of "creeping shariah". Because the reason why the protests were more virulent this year is that the courts have constantly (and consistently) ruled against any efforts to try and restrict or prevent these evangelical Christians from protesting and handing out literature at the Arab Festival.

ANTPogo · 23rd June 2012, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by angrysoba

Yeah, but the point ddt is making is that many of the people attending the festival were of the Christian faith too. But the protesters didn't even know or understand that because they were unable to fathom that many Arabs are Christians.

Of course, they should also be able to tolerate the fact that people can be openly Muslim too without having to be harangued by a bunch of ignorant thugs.

It probably doesn't matter that they can't seem to understand that "Arab" does not equal "Muslim". As the Detroit Free Press article shows, they were insulting and haranguing even other Christians who weren't the right kind of Christian.

angrysoba · 23rd June 2012, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by ANTPogo

It probably doesn't matter that they can't seem to understand that "Arab" does not equal "Muslim". As the Detroit Free Press article shows, they were insulting and haranguing even other Christians who weren't the right kind of Christian.

Yes, I think they just don't like Arabs. Of course it is not really of much of a surprise to see overt anti-Muslim/covert racist sentiment morph into outright racism.

westprog · 23rd June 2012, 09:18 PM

I think it says something about the state of inter-faith rivalry in the USA when "causing one Arab-American Muslim girl to cry" is news.

MG1962 · 23rd June 2012, 09:35 PM

Originally Posted by angrysoba

Yeah, but the point ddt is making is that many of the people attending the festival were of the Christian faith too. But the protesters didn't even know or understand that because they were unable to fathom that many Arabs are Christians.

Of course, they should also be able to tolerate the fact that people can be openly Muslim too without having to be harangued by a bunch of ignorant thugs.

Oh I completely understand that

But assuming someone of another faith will be somewhere is really no reason to go and poke them with a stick just because

Tony · 26th June 2012, 10:49 AM

I don't have any love for Islam, but these Christians are being thugs. They are turning an otherwise fun, peaceful and secular event into a fundamentalist shouting fest. It would be cool if some atheist counter protesters showed up next year to drown out the Christians.

Craig4 · 26th June 2012, 02:04 PM

I suggest a pie fight staged in the area where the protesters are. Giving the Christian nutbags righteous indignation is like throwing raw meat at wild dogs. What they really need is mockery and ridicule and nothing says "you're a joke" like a pie fight.

Weak Kitten · 26th June 2012, 02:10 PM

It certainly worked for comic-con a couple of years back when some religious yahoos tried to protest it. The pictures of comic-con goers in full costume protesting themselves are hilarious.

Hercules Rockefeller · 26th June 2012, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by Craig4

I suggest a pie fight staged in the area where the protesters are. Giving the Christian nutbags righteous indignation is like throwing raw meat at wild dogs. What they really need is mockery and ridicule and nothing says "you're a joke" like a pie fight.

And perhaps having the theme from Benny Hill playing at the same time?

aviolet4u · 27th June 2012, 09:57 PM

If only they knew they're both wrong and Buddhism is the way. Someone should really inform them that the more these groups argue the bigger the chance they'll have coming back as cockroaches.

such a shame!

Mister Agenda · 28th June 2012, 08:31 AM

A counter-protest mocking the thumpers is probably the best way to go, as Tony suggests. Doesn't have to be atheists, just anyone who sees how ridiculous the thumpers are being, who knows how to bring a clever sign that points up how ridiculous they're being to passerby.

angrysoba · 28th June 2012, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by aviolet4u

If only they knew they're both wrong and Buddhism is the way. Someone should really inform them that the more these groups argue the bigger the chance they'll have coming back as cockroaches.

such a shame!

I know. Someone should organize a bunch of Buddhists to turn up and demonstrate against these competing groups of unenlightened souls to show how they are both wrong.

angrysoba · 28th June 2012, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by Mister Agenda

A counter-protest mocking the thumpers is probably the best way to go, as Tony suggests. Doesn't have to be atheists, just anyone who sees how ridiculous the thumpers are being, who knows how to bring a clever sign that points up how ridiculous they're being to passerby.

Maybe the atheists should organize a bunch of people to protest the foolishness of blaring at each other about mythical entities that don't exist. I'll bring my loudspeaker and wittily ironic placard.

Craig4 · 29th June 2012, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by angrysoba

Maybe the atheists should organize a bunch of people to protest the foolishness of blaring at each other about mythical entities that don't exist. I'll bring my loudspeaker and wittily ironic placard.

How about a big sign in Comic Sans font that says "Jesus Died Because he was a Stupid Nut Job" or "Aren't you a Little Old for an Imaginary Friend"?

MattusMaximus · 29th June 2012, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by MG1962

I have to confess I have never understood this type of thinking. Attacking other faiths seems just so counter productive, if I think my faith is the best, I think I would be more interested in expressing and advertising the virtues of my faith rather than finding ways others to look bad.

It's basic insecurity and fear of "the other". As someone said upthread, these Christians viewed the Arabs/Muslims as someone alien to be feared, thus it is a threat to them and their religion. Thus, it must be marginalized and crushed.

The thinking is pretty close to pure tribalism. And anyone "not of my tribe" is my enemy, by default.

MattusMaximus · 29th June 2012, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by angrysoba

Maybe the atheists should organize a bunch of people to protest the foolishness of blaring at each other about mythical entities that don't exist. I'll bring my loudspeaker and wittily ironic placard.

Nope. Atheists should just rise above the fray and allow these religious morons to show the world just how tolerant, loving, and kind they are... they are their own worst enemy.

LordofTruth · 3rd July 2012, 02:27 AM

I don't know how true this is but if it's not in the mainstream media I'm unlikely to find much more out about it right now. My guess is it's true and should be veridical somehow:

http://www.answeringmuslims.com/2012...with-nine.html

Darat · 3rd July 2012, 02:53 AM

Originally Posted by LordofTruth

I don't know how true this is but if it's not in the mainstream media I'm unlikely to find much more out about it right now. My guess is it's true and should be veridical somehow:

http://www.answeringmuslims.com/2012...with-nine.html

Why not just contact the police and ask them about the incident? Then you won't have to guess or rely on hearsay.

TimCallahan · 5th July 2012, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by LordofTruth

I don't know how true this is but if it's not in the mainstream media I'm unlikely to find much more out about it right now. My guess is it's true and should be veridical somehow:

http://www.answeringmuslims.com/2012...with-nine.html

The headline from the article in your link reads:

Dearborn Muslim Charged with Nine Counts of Attempted Murder for Trying to Kill Street Preachers Outside the Islamic Center of America

This would seem to belie complaints from this Christian group that the police just stand idly by while they're being assaulted by Muslims.

LordofTruth · 5th July 2012, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by TimCallahan

The headline from the article in your link reads:

Dearborn Muslim Charged with Nine Counts of Attempted Murder for Trying to Kill Street Preachers Outside the Islamic Center of America

This would seem to belie complaints from this Christian group that the police just stand idly by while they're being assaulted by Muslims.

The festival went for a couple of days and the alleged SUV attack was two days later I think. I didn't realise that when I posted it. According to their accounts, the protesters were actually surrounded by police officers and police cars at the time.

It's had time to sink into Google now, but I can't find aything about it beyond the Christian and anti-Islam blogs. I just emailed the Sherrif's department so I'll let you know how that goes. I'm intregued, just from a media-study point of view.

23rd June 2012, 02:54 AM	#1
LordofTruth Thinker Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 153	Christians vs Muslims at Dearborn Festival Hooray for religion and interfaith dialogue! Extended footage of confrontation between Christian protesters and Muslim festival-goers at Dearborn Arab Festival. I havn't watched it all but think it's mostly one long shot. What's most interesting is the age of the very vocal counter-protesters, many (and at times, most) of whom are children. It seems the adults stand back and even let the kids throw things. I wish I could hear what they're saying better. In the end the Police escort the protesters away, fearing for the safety of everybody. I don't like the protesters use of a pigs head as a standard, and I wish the muslims had the wisdom to ignore them, and I definately don't like the way a lot of the kids behave. But, hey, religion's good for society apparently. http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/...orn-arab-fest/
LordofTruth Thinker Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 153

23rd June 2012, 03:59 AM	#2
bluesjnr Professional Nemesis for Hire Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Not where I should be. Posts: 2,200	Antagonising behaviour will antagonise....... in other news
	__________________ A baby smoking? That's child abuse - UncaYimmy Your avatar really cracked me up the first hundred or so times I saw it...Now, it gets on my nerves.. - Skeptical Greg

23rd June 2012, 08:55 AM	#3
Craig4 Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 5,397	This was an odd thing for the God bothers to do since this really doesn't look much like a religious event. I'll go out on a limb here and say the Sharia crowd was not well represented since they had an Arab Woman on stage in an evening dress with bare shoulders singing pop songs.
Craig4 Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 5,397

23rd June 2012, 09:56 AM	#5
DC dedicated aphilatelist Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Switzerland Posts: 21,708	lol no beheadings?
	__________________ AGW is a fact, including the A, face it

23rd June 2012, 09:58 AM	#6
DC dedicated aphilatelist Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Switzerland Posts: 21,708	can you imagen the outrage if muslims were to shove their beliefs down the throats of Christians the way this group does?
	__________________ AGW is a fact, including the A, face it

23rd June 2012, 09:08 AM	#4
MG1962 Guest Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kansas (Australia) Posts: 14,750	Originally Posted by Craig4 This was an odd thing for the God bothers to do since this really doesn't look much like a religious event. I'll go out on a limb here and say the Sharia crowd was not well represented since they had an Arab Woman on stage in an evening dress with bare shoulders singing pop songs. They seem completely ignorant to the existence of Christian Arabs. But this appears to be an encore performance from the previous year http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/...ional-festival And the year before that http://patterico.com/2010/06/23/chri...arab-festival/

23rd June 2012, 10:01 AM	#7
DC dedicated aphilatelist Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Switzerland Posts: 21,708	"Full video of All-American Muslims gone wild at Dearborn Arab fest" "Where sharia law is in full affect and enforced by the police." what does the poster mean with that?
	__________________ AGW is a fact, including the A, face it

23rd June 2012, 10:37 AM	#8
ddt Mafia Penguin Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 10,406	Originally Posted by MG1962 They seem completely ignorant to the existence of Christian Arabs. But this appears to be an encore performance from the previous year http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/...ional-festival And the year before that http://patterico.com/2010/06/23/chri...arab-festival/ That was my first thought too. It seems to have been a different Christian hate group every year though. The irony indeed is that the largest group of Arab Americans in Dearborn are descendants from Lebanese Maronites.
	__________________ Proud member of the Solipsistic Autosycophant's Group

23rd June 2012, 10:41 AM	#9
MG1962 Guest Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kansas (Australia) Posts: 14,750	Originally Posted by DC "Full video of All-American Muslims gone wild at Dearborn Arab fest" "Where sharia law is in full affect and enforced by the police." what does the poster mean with that? Translation I am a racist and hate anyone who dares think differently from me, act differently, have pride in a culture that is not mine

23rd June 2012, 10:45 AM	#10
MG1962 Guest Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kansas (Australia) Posts: 14,750	Originally Posted by ddt That was my first thought too. It seems to have been a different Christian hate group every year though. The irony indeed is that the largest group of Arab Americans in Dearborn are descendants from Lebanese Maronites. And I can say from direct experience Maronites are very unassuming and polite people who seem to have an amazing ability to adapt to whatever culture they find themselves in. I guess that makes them a perfect target for a hate group

23rd June 2012, 11:56 AM	#11
ddt Mafia Penguin Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 10,406	Originally Posted by MG1962 And I can say from direct experience Maronites are very unassuming and polite people who seem to have an amazing ability to adapt to whatever culture they find themselves in. I guess that makes them a perfect target for a hate group Some people prefer to remain ignorant and just think "Arab = Muslim". In 2011, it was Terry Jones, the Quran burning "pastor" who wanted to troll at the Arab festival. The wiki page mentions, apart from Maronites, also Chaldaeans and Assyrians among the inhabitants of Dearborn.
	__________________ Proud member of the Solipsistic Autosycophant's Group

23rd June 2012, 11:59 AM	#12
Weak Kitten Graduate Poster Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Lost and lonely...will you be my friend? Posts: 1,807	I grew up in Southfield, just a few miles away from Dearborn, and I never even knew there was a large Arab community there. They were just so quiet, hardworking and polite. I'm not surprised that the main violent counter-protest would be from kids, the adults were probably either too mature or too stunned and confused to get involved.
	__________________ A quick reminder to all participants that although incomprehensibility is not against the Membership Agreement, incivility is. Please try and remember this, and keep your exchanges polite and respectful. -arthwollipot

23rd June 2012, 12:46 PM	#13
TimCallahan Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,211	I got through about three quarters of this dismal video before I got tired of the constant pauses. Here's my take on what I saw: So, the skin-heads for Jesus walked into and disrupted an Arab / Muslim festival with a bull-horn blaring out that Muhammad was a liar, pervert and pedophile, that Islam was a religion of hate and murder, and that the people attending the festival were all going to hell unless they repented and followed Jesus. Then they were shocked and surprised when the Muslim kids threw stuff at them. While these kids were unruly and ill-behaved, this was hardly "Muslims gone wild" as the site billed the video. That said, the Muslim parents should have controlled their brats, and the police should have rounded some of them up and taken them into custody for assault. These ill-bred little snots reminded me a lot of some of the classes I had to deal with when I was a substitute teacher: delinquents whose parents failed to discipline them and who couldn't get through a sentence without using the "F" word. So, in this example from the wonderful world of revealed religion, we have louts for Jesus vs. louts for Muhammad.
TimCallahan Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,211

23rd June 2012, 12:53 PM	#14
keale Muse Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 813	Religion: Crazy since 1000 BC
keale Muse Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 813

23rd June 2012, 01:21 PM	#15
DC dedicated aphilatelist Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Switzerland Posts: 21,708	Originally Posted by keale Religion: Crazy since 1000 BC egypt religions apologist
	__________________ AGW is a fact, including the A, face it

23rd June 2012, 01:26 PM	#16
Craig4 Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 5,397	Originally Posted by DC "Full video of All-American Muslims gone wild at Dearborn Arab fest" "Where sharia law is in full affect and enforced by the police." what does the poster mean with that? No kidding. As near as i can tell, the Christian nutbags showed up at a largely secular event and ruined their party.
Craig4 Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 5,397

23rd June 2012, 01:28 PM	#17
BStrong Illuminator Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: California Posts: 4,047	Xtian agit-prop street theater.

23rd June 2012, 06:25 PM	#18
angrysoba Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Osaka, Japan Posts: 8,887	Maybe the protesters were merely demanding that the Arabs stop being Arabs. That's a reasonable demand, right?

23rd June 2012, 06:39 PM	#19
MG1962 Guest Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kansas (Australia) Posts: 14,750	Originally Posted by ddt Some people prefer to remain ignorant and just think "Arab = Muslim". In 2011, it was Terry Jones, the Quran burning "pastor" who wanted to troll at the Arab festival. The wiki page mentions, apart from Maronites, also Chaldaeans and Assyrians among the inhabitants of Dearborn. I have to confess I have never understood this type of thinking. Attacking other faiths seems just so counter productive, if I think my faith is the best, I think I would be more interested in expressing and advertising the virtues of my faith rather than finding ways others to look bad.

23rd June 2012, 06:43 PM	#20
angrysoba Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Osaka, Japan Posts: 8,887	Originally Posted by MG1962 I have to confess I have never understood this type of thinking. Attacking other faiths seems just so counter productive, if I think my faith is the best, I think I would be more interested in expressing and advertising the virtues of my faith rather than finding ways others to look bad. Yeah, but the point ddt is making is that many of the people attending the festival were of the Christian faith too. But the protesters didn't even know or understand that because they were unable to fathom that many Arabs are Christians. Of course, they should also be able to tolerate the fact that people can be openly Muslim too without having to be harangued by a bunch of ignorant thugs.

23rd June 2012, 08:33 PM	#21
ANTPogo Unique Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 9,595	Meanwhile, here's how an actual news source reported on what happened (as apposed to the lunatic blog in the OP that thinks sheriffs keeping angry bigots from disrupting a cultural festival somehow translates to "Where sharia law is in full affect and enforced by the police"): http://www.freep.com/article/2012061...rborn-festival Quote: Tensions flared Friday evening at the annual Arab International Festival in Dearborn as members of some Christian missionary groups — including one called the Bible Believers — taunted Arab Americans with a pig’s head and signs that promoted hatred of Islam. “You’re gonna burn in hell,” one missionary shouted at a group of young Arab-American boys listening to him speak on Warren Avenue, where the festival takes place. The festival continues today in Dearborn, but the members of the Bible Believers won’t be there because they’ll be protesting a gay festival in Ohio, said Arab Festival organizers. [...] The Bible Believers also protested at last year's Arab Festival, holding up both anti-Muslim and anti-Catholic signs and causing one Arab-American Muslim girl to cry. As MG1962 points out, this is a regular occurrence at the Arab Festival in Dearborn. EDIT: And, much like Frank Gaffney's utterly fraudulent "report" about the supposed epidemic of shariah in US courts, the protest at the Arab Festival also is the exact opposite of any evidence in favor of "creeping shariah". Because the reason why the protests were more virulent this year is that the courts have constantly (and consistently) ruled against any efforts to try and restrict or prevent these evangelical Christians from protesting and handing out literature at the Arab Festival.
	__________________ "A nation can survive with kufr, but not with zulm." - ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib "No more hurting people" - Martin William Richard Currently Reading: Righteous Victims, by Benny Morris Last edited by ANTPogo; 23rd June 2012 at 08:51 PM.

23rd June 2012, 08:37 PM	#22
ANTPogo Unique Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 9,595	Originally Posted by angrysoba Yeah, but the point ddt is making is that many of the people attending the festival were of the Christian faith too. But the protesters didn't even know or understand that because they were unable to fathom that many Arabs are Christians. Of course, they should also be able to tolerate the fact that people can be openly Muslim too without having to be harangued by a bunch of ignorant thugs. It probably doesn't matter that they can't seem to understand that "Arab" does not equal "Muslim". As the Detroit Free Press article shows, they were insulting and haranguing even other Christians who weren't the right kind of Christian.
	__________________ "A nation can survive with kufr, but not with zulm." - ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib "No more hurting people" - Martin William Richard Currently Reading: Righteous Victims, by Benny Morris

23rd June 2012, 09:11 PM	#23
angrysoba Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Osaka, Japan Posts: 8,887	Originally Posted by ANTPogo It probably doesn't matter that they can't seem to understand that "Arab" does not equal "Muslim". As the Detroit Free Press article shows, they were insulting and haranguing even other Christians who weren't the right kind of Christian. Yes, I think they just don't like Arabs. Of course it is not really of much of a surprise to see overt anti-Muslim/covert racist sentiment morph into outright racism.

23rd June 2012, 09:18 PM	#24
westprog Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 8,928	I think it says something about the state of inter-faith rivalry in the USA when "causing one Arab-American Muslim girl to cry" is news.
westprog Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 8,928	__________________ Dreary whiner, who gradually outwore his welcome, before blowing it entirely.

23rd June 2012, 09:35 PM	#25
MG1962 Guest Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kansas (Australia) Posts: 14,750	Originally Posted by angrysoba Yeah, but the point ddt is making is that many of the people attending the festival were of the Christian faith too. But the protesters didn't even know or understand that because they were unable to fathom that many Arabs are Christians. Of course, they should also be able to tolerate the fact that people can be openly Muslim too without having to be harangued by a bunch of ignorant thugs. Oh I completely understand that But assuming someone of another faith will be somewhere is really no reason to go and poke them with a stick just because

26th June 2012, 10:49 AM	#26
Tony Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 13,810	I don't have any love for Islam, but these Christians are being thugs. They are turning an otherwise fun, peaceful and secular event into a fundamentalist shouting fest. It would be cool if some atheist counter protesters showed up next year to drown out the Christians.
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26th June 2012, 02:04 PM	#27
Craig4 Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 5,397	I suggest a pie fight staged in the area where the protesters are. Giving the Christian nutbags righteous indignation is like throwing raw meat at wild dogs. What they really need is mockery and ridicule and nothing says "you're a joke" like a pie fight.
Craig4 Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 5,397

26th June 2012, 02:10 PM	#28
Weak Kitten Graduate Poster Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Lost and lonely...will you be my friend? Posts: 1,807	It certainly worked for comic-con a couple of years back when some religious yahoos tried to protest it. The pictures of comic-con goers in full costume protesting themselves are hilarious.
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26th June 2012, 02:27 PM	#29
Hercules Rockefeller Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ponylandistan Posts: 1,408	Originally Posted by Craig4 I suggest a pie fight staged in the area where the protesters are. Giving the Christian nutbags righteous indignation is like throwing raw meat at wild dogs. What they really need is mockery and ridicule and nothing says "you're a joke" like a pie fight. And perhaps having the theme from Benny Hill playing at the same time?
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27th June 2012, 09:57 PM	#30
aviolet4u Critical Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 372	If only they knew they're both wrong and Buddhism is the way. Someone should really inform them that the more these groups argue the bigger the chance they'll have coming back as cockroaches. such a shame!

28th June 2012, 08:31 AM	#31
Mister Agenda Master Poster Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 2,635	A counter-protest mocking the thumpers is probably the best way to go, as Tony suggests. Doesn't have to be atheists, just anyone who sees how ridiculous the thumpers are being, who knows how to bring a clever sign that points up how ridiculous they're being to passerby.

28th June 2012, 08:48 PM	#32
angrysoba Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Osaka, Japan Posts: 8,887	Originally Posted by aviolet4u If only they knew they're both wrong and Buddhism is the way. Someone should really inform them that the more these groups argue the bigger the chance they'll have coming back as cockroaches. such a shame! I know. Someone should organize a bunch of Buddhists to turn up and demonstrate against these competing groups of unenlightened souls to show how they are both wrong.

28th June 2012, 08:50 PM	#33
angrysoba Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Osaka, Japan Posts: 8,887	Originally Posted by Mister Agenda A counter-protest mocking the thumpers is probably the best way to go, as Tony suggests. Doesn't have to be atheists, just anyone who sees how ridiculous the thumpers are being, who knows how to bring a clever sign that points up how ridiculous they're being to passerby. Maybe the atheists should organize a bunch of people to protest the foolishness of blaring at each other about mythical entities that don't exist. I'll bring my loudspeaker and wittily ironic placard.

29th June 2012, 09:00 AM	#34
Craig4 Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 5,397	Originally Posted by angrysoba Maybe the atheists should organize a bunch of people to protest the foolishness of blaring at each other about mythical entities that don't exist. I'll bring my loudspeaker and wittily ironic placard. How about a big sign in Comic Sans font that says "Jesus Died Because he was a Stupid Nut Job" or "Aren't you a Little Old for an Imaginary Friend"?
Craig4 Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 5,397

29th June 2012, 10:29 PM	#35
MattusMaximus Intellectual Gladiator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the midst of a vast, beautiful & uncaring universe Posts: 14,204	Originally Posted by MG1962 I have to confess I have never understood this type of thinking. Attacking other faiths seems just so counter productive, if I think my faith is the best, I think I would be more interested in expressing and advertising the virtues of my faith rather than finding ways others to look bad. It's basic insecurity and fear of "the other". As someone said upthread, these Christians viewed the Arabs/Muslims as someone alien to be feared, thus it is a threat to them and their religion. Thus, it must be marginalized and crushed. The thinking is pretty close to pure tribalism. And anyone "not of my tribe" is my enemy, by default.
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