Shooting at Muhammad cartoon conference in Dallas

[Hydesland]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-32579396

Just breaking. Two suspects shot and killed, one officer injured, this is all I know so far.

As for discussion: do you think conferences like this should be allowed to proceed, does the possibility of violence change your view?

[Godular]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-32579396

Just breaking. Two suspects shot and killed, one officer injured, this is all I know so far.

As for discussion: do you think conferences like this should be allowed to proceed, does the possibility of violence change your view?

1. Yep.

2. Nope. Just because something is offensive does not mean that anybody else is in any way justified in using violence against that thing.

[Miletos]

This conference appears to have been hosted by the ever-delightful American Freedom Defense Initiative, in which case it's hard to decide whether I dislike them, or the sort of person who shoots at a conference whose content they don't agree with, more.

Nobody wins in a situation like this.

[Cosumar]

This is about 15 minutes from where I live. Scary. While I don't agree with these antagonistic conferences, I don't think they should be banned either. Free speech, open forum of ideas, and whatnot.

But this is, once again, religious fundamentalism making its wonderful contributions to society. But now the Christian Right will get their panties in a wad about "those damned muslims invading our country" and pretend like they're somehow better...

[Oceanic Vakiadia]

This conference appears to have been hosted by the ever-delightful American Freedom Defense Initiative, in which case it's hard to decide whether I dislike them, or the sort of person who shoots at a conference whose content they don't agree with, more.

I think expressing distasteful political beliefs is considerably better than murdering people for whatever reason, personally.

[Alcase]

Tbh it looks like they called in the Marines for that.

[Wisconsin9]

So on the one side we have what sounds like a bunch of Islamophobes, and on the other we have Islamic extremists. Could somebody please remind me which ones I'm supposed to dislike more?

[Godular]

So on the one side we have what sounds like a bunch of Islamophobes, and on the other we have Islamic extremists. Could somebody please remind me which ones I'm supposed to dislike more?

The ones that aren't trying to kill people or cause physical harm, I think.

[Die Volkstaat]

So on the one side we have what sounds like a bunch of Islamophobes, and on the other we have Islamic extremists. Could somebody please remind me which ones I'm supposed to dislike more?

I dunno, maybe those who didn't attempt to murder people.

Anyways, this is saddening, and I'm hoping for the best.

[Hydesland]

So on the one side we have what sounds like a bunch of Islamophobes, and on the other we have Islamic extremists. Could somebody please remind me which ones I'm supposed to dislike more?

The answer seems kind of obvious to be fair.

[The Wolven League]

I am not sure which I dislike more; bible-thumping rigthers or Islamic extremists. Tough choice.

[The Wolven League]

So on the one side we have what sounds like a bunch of Islamophobes, and on the other we have Islamic extremists. Could somebody please remind me which ones I'm supposed to dislike more?

The answer seems kind of obvious to be fair.

Not to me, if you support the Islamophobes more.

[Terra Sector Union]

I can't side with neither of these parties in this one. Violent religious extremists and idiots hiding behind Free Speech to antagonize the opposition.

[Die Volkstaat]

So on the one side we have what sounds like a bunch of Islamophobes, and on the other we have Islamic extremists. Could somebody please remind me which ones I'm supposed to dislike more?

The answer seems kind of obvious to be fair.

To be fair? No, to be morally in the right. Jesus, there was a shooting committed by Islamic extremists, and people are jumping on the bandwagon of "Well, I dunno who I dislike more, right wingers or murderers?"

Plus, I think someone said that the victims are bible thumping christians? Does being anti-Islam make one a bible thumping christian?

[Miletos]

So on the one side we have what sounds like a bunch of Islamophobes, and on the other we have Islamic extremists. Could somebody please remind me which ones I'm supposed to dislike more?

The ones that aren't trying to kill people or cause physical harm, I think.

Given the AFDI's stance on placing mosques under surveillance, their posting of inflammatory adverts on buses with messages like "KIlling Jews is Worship" (to tar all Muslims with that brush), their efforts to demonise Muslims and their affiliation with extreme-right-wing groups in Europe, that'd be neither group trying to either kill people or cause physical harm, probably.

Killing people for their beliefs is reprehensible. So is a clear effort to demonise a community and incite hatred and violence against them.

[Godular]

The answer seems kind of obvious to be fair.

Not to me, if you support the Islamophobes more.

I tend to lean towards the side that doesn't make its point with bullets.

[The Wolven League]

The answer seems kind of obvious to be fair.

To be fair? No, to be morally in the right. Jesus, there was a shooting committed by Islamic extremists, and people are jumping on the bandwagon of "Well, I dunno who I dislike more, right wingers or murderers?"

Plus, I think someone said that the victims are bible thumping christians? Does being anti-Islam make one a bible thumping christian?

Most of the time. Emphasis on most.

[Zeinbrad]

I assume people will connect Jade Helm 15 to this?

[The Wolven League]

Not to me, if you support the Islamophobes more.

I tend to lean towards the side that doesn't make its point with bullets.

I tend to lead towards the opposing side of anyone "fighting" righters.

[Godular]

The ones that aren't trying to kill people or cause physical harm, I think.

Given the AFDI's stance on placing mosques under surveillance, their posting of inflammatory adverts on buses with messages like "KIlling Jews is Worship" (to tar all Muslims with that brush), their efforts to demonise Muslims and their affiliation with extreme-right-wing groups in Europe, that'd be neither group trying to either kill people or cause physical harm, probably.

Killing people for their beliefs is reprehensible. So is a clear effort to demonise a community and incite hatred and violence against them.

Best way to counter all that is to not give them ammunition...

hmm... pun not intended.

[Die Volkstaat]

To be fair? No, to be morally in the right. Jesus, there was a shooting committed by Islamic extremists, and people are jumping on the bandwagon of "Well, I dunno who I dislike more, right wingers or murderers?"

Plus, I think someone said that the victims are bible thumping christians? Does being anti-Islam make one a bible thumping christian?

Most of the time. Emphasis on most.

The head of this organization is Jewish. Pamela Geller, I'm sure you are all familiar with her.

[Godular]

I tend to lean towards the side that doesn't make its point with bullets.

I tend to lead towards the opposing side of anyone "fighting" righters.

There's no excuse for resorting to violence in response to speech.

[Wisconsin9]

The answer seems kind of obvious to be fair.

To be fair? No, to be morally in the right. Jesus, there was a shooting committed by Islamic extremists, and people are jumping on the bandwagon of "Well, I dunno who I dislike more, right wingers or murderers?"

Plus, I think someone said that the victims are bible thumping christians? Does being anti-Islam make one a bible thumping christian?

Yeah, it was a bad, tasteless joke that I knew I probably shouldn't have made. The people responsible for this shooting are absolutely in the wrong.

[The Wolven League]

Most of the time. Emphasis on most.

The head of this organization is Jewish. Pamela Geller, I'm sure you are all familiar with her.

Oh, obviously. No, I have no clue who she is. I am assuming she would be a... Torah-thumper, then? Is that even a thing? Eh.

[Godular]

To be fair? No, to be morally in the right. Jesus, there was a shooting committed by Islamic extremists, and people are jumping on the bandwagon of "Well, I dunno who I dislike more, right wingers or murderers?"

Plus, I think someone said that the victims are bible thumping christians? Does being anti-Islam make one a bible thumping christian?

Yeah, it was a bad, tasteless joke that I knew I probably shouldn't have made. The people responsible for this shooting are absolutely in the wrong.

The worst part, I think, are the folks who took it seriously... and agreed with you.