Ask me if I care....

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 12:49 pm

This may be the start of another long-winded thread where people feel the need to argue what we're doing in Iraq, but guess what? I don't care! This guy is another new hero of mine:

Ask Me if I Care About 'Mishandling' of Koran

By Doug Patton

June 6, 2005

First, Newsweek pulled a Dan Rather on us, running a fabricated story just because they wanted it to be true. They told the world that an American guard at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, detention center had ripped pages from a prisoner's Koran and flushed it down a toilet. As a result, innocent people died when practitioners of Islam rioted in protest in Afghanistan.

Oops, said Newsweek, it seems we can't back up our story. Oh well, it's probably true; we just can't prove it. (Isn't it convenient for Newsweek that the media now have "Deep Throat" to talk about so they can revel in their glory days and divert our attention from their criminal negligence.) The lie heard round the world about the flushed Koran has caused convulsions in the Bush Administration and forced the Pentagon to launch an investigation of unfounded allegations contained in an unsubstantiated story. The results of said investigation are now in, and it seems there are at least five incidents of "mishandling" of the Koran at G

Well, guess what? I don't care!

Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001? Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from our nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania? Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning death that day, or didn't they?

And I'm supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was "desecrated" when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet? Well, I don't. I don't care at all.

I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.

I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia.

I'll care when Abu Musab al-Zarqawi tells the world he is sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling, slashed throat.

I'll care when the cowardly so-called "insurgents" in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.

I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.

I'll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights.

I'll care when Clinton-appointed judges stop ordering my government to release photos of the abuses at Abu Ghraib, which are sure to set off the Islamic extremists just as Newsweek's lies did a few weeks ago.

In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care.

When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college hazing incident, rest assured that I don't care.

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank that I don't care.

When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being "mishandled," you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts that I don't care.

And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled "Koran" and other times "Quran." Well, Jimmy Crack Corn and -- you guessed it -- I don't care!

Doug Patton is a freelance columnist and political speechwriter who has worked for conservative candidates, elected officials and public policy organizations at the federal, state and local levels. His weekly column can be read in newspapers across the country and on selected Internet web sites. Readers can e-mail him at dpatton@neonramp.com.

Jives · Post by **Jives** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 12:52 pm

Freakin' AWESOME BR! I love it. :wah:

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 1:00 pm

I knew you would, Jives! Though I suspect it will cause some "less-than-positive" reactions from a few others here. Guess what? That's right...I don't care!!!

FarRider, that was one of my favorite lines, too!

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 1:02 pm

BEAUTIFUL! The most interesting part for me is that I'm sure Newsweek doesn't care either. Politics has become Machiavelian (misspelled? :sneaky: I don't care!) and whatever happens anywhere in the world is fair game to be used as a club to bludgeon the other side - no matter what side you're on.

Pitiful!

Philadelphia Eagle · Post by **Philadelphia Eagle** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 1:13 pm

Doug Patton puts everything neatly into perspective.

It's long past time that the 'do-gooders' and 'anti-war' hypocrites really started to live in the real world.

American soldiers and their allies are risking their lives to protect everyone from these evil terrorists.They are a ruthless and determined enemy who will stop at nothing to impose their twisted logic on all of us.

It's very noticable that often the most criticism of our efforts comes from those countries who have never experienced a '9/11'.

Had they done so their tune would probably be very different!

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 1:17 pm

Ahh....I was hoping you'd stop in here, Philly!

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 3:32 pm

MY fave is "Jimmy Crack Corn" and I don't care!

HEEEEE!!!

;)

anastrophe · Post by **anastrophe** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 3:57 pm

well, i'll be the lone voice of dissent. i DO care.

just not very much. it's wrong to mishandle the koran in the presence of someone for whom it is a holy article that should be respected. on the other hand, it's also wrong for a formerly apolitical and non-partisan organization like Amnesty International, which does good work around the globe, to have a clown pop out of the box and declare gitmo to be a "GULAG" (which is doubly shocking, since apparently this clown doesn't even know what the GULAGs were - if he did, he'd not have used the term).

i've no love for what's being done at gitmo. it is *not* a violation of law, either national or international, however it does violate the spirit of the law.

hmm. violate the rights of some jihadists who if released will just go blow themselves up, taking with them a few dozen completely innocent people? works for me. i'd call the jihadists 'animals', except that that's an insult to animals.

just my 87 cents worth.

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 4:00 pm

Paul, I doubt you'll be the lone voice of dissent, the thread hasn't been here that long! :yh_rotfl

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 8:15 pm

BR,

BRAVO, BRAVO..!! :yh_flag :yh_flag

Loved it, excellent..

And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled "Koran" and other times "Quran." Well, Jimmy Crack Corn and -- you guessed it -- I don't care!

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 8:29 pm

Thanks Carla! I knew this would be a hit with lots of people here. I only wish I was as eloquent as this Patton guy! He's hit the nail right on the head, IMO.

mominiowa · Post by **mominiowa** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 9:45 pm

Amen Br!! :-6

Wolverine · Post by **Wolverine** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 10:49 pm

Man, Patton is good.

I can't wait to hear what the "Kansas Kommie" has to say about this. ought to be good.

C'mon David813. Where you at????

turbonium · Post by **turbonium** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 11:18 pm

I don't agree with this based on the way it sounds like every Muslim is a crazed Christian hating murderer. I know Muslims who greatly respect the Bible, because they can identify and respect the Christians who hold the Bible sacred as they do the Koran. Whether this prisoner is a murderer or not doesn't deserve callous attitudes towards the book held as sacred by nearly 2 billion people!

If he is a murderous scumbag, he is on his own deserving that tag. The Koran plays no part in the actions he alone is responsible for. Hate the scumbag, sure, but not the whole religion because of him.

If a Muslim cheered if Charles Manson ripped up a Bible, I would be just as appalled (moreso as my sacred book of upbringing). It's just a lack of respect and obviously can be seen by some as sacriligeous or "satanic" behavior.

Philadelphia Eagle · Post by **Philadelphia Eagle** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 6:30 am

Of course no right thinking person believes for a moment that every Muslim is a terrorist. I personally know a number and they are law- abiding and peaceful.

They sometimes wish, however, that their own leaders would be a little more outspoken in condemning the dreadful actions of the fundamentalists amongst them. That would go a long way in making other religions a little less wary of them.

Clint · Post by **Clint** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 8:14 am

Yessss!!!! I donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t care either! I get so tired of tip toeing around the truth

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 12:57 pm

turbonium wrote: I don't agree with this based on the way it sounds like every Muslim is a crazed Christian hating murderer. I know Muslims who greatly respect the Bible, because they can identify and respect the Christians who hold the Bible sacred as they do the Koran. Great.

Unfortunately, this is the exception, NOT the rule.

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 1:44 pm

And here we have another example of the question being posed in another thread. Where is the outcry against the atrocities committed by the other side?

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 2:06 pm

BabyRider wrote: And here we have another example of the question being posed in another thread. Where is the outcry against the atrocities committed by the other side?I guess I need to ask it again...

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 2:16 pm

No pity party. I just want to hear as much b!tching about what they Iraqi's have done and continue to do, as there is about our own soldiers.

Refer to post #147 in "No WMD...so what?" thread.

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 2:28 pm

I rest my case.

A Karenina · Post by **A Karenina** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 5:01 pm

BabyRider wrote: No pity party. I just want to hear as much b!tching about what they Iraqi's have done and continue to do, as there is about our own soldiers.

Refer to post #147 in "No WMD...so what?" thread.
Iraqi does not equal terrorist. Muslim does not equal terrorist.

If this sounds patronizing, well, I suppose it's because 99% of this thread sounds a lot like "He started it" - the kind of excuse we used as kids, refusing to accept any personal responsibility. Pretty sad when it's adults using it.

Here's another shocking thought - not everyone perceives things from an angry viewpoint. Knee-jerk reactions are not impressive or effective. They don't even make good reading on threads.

So I'll try to explain it as best I can. A lot of people don't need to hate the terrorist. They only need to hate the actions, and then use rational thought to stop the terrorists. 'Rational' does not include lots of "I don't care" nonsense. Personally, I don't care who cares or who doesn't care.

Wrong is wrong, and there is no justification for intentionally destroying something another person holds sacred. Do you truly believe Jesus is applauding these actions?

Moving on, we don't get to control the behavior of other countries (in theory, anyway). We do get to control the actions of ours. What our soldiers do or don't do is a reflection on all of us. Again, wrong is wrong. You cannot justify hurting another person for sport, from anger, out of vengeance, etc. It's stupid to even try to defend it.

If this is how people choose to behave, so be it. Don't sugar-coat it, or pretend it's patriotic, noble, holy, or any other good thing. It will never be made noble. Ya wanna colonize the Middle East? Then just do it, and quit droning on about how wonderful we all are. It insults intelligent people.

This from a person who adamantly believes that we (America) really are more civilized, open-minded, and kind than the people we are fighting. We are given more. From he whom much is given, much is expected.

BR, hopefully you are quite satisified now. You've been wanting someone to argue with you. My gift to you.

turbonium · Post by **turbonium** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 5:22 pm

BabyRider wrote: Great.

Unfortunately, this is the exception, NOT the rule.
Not where I live it isn't. The religious makeup here is about 55% Christian (Catholic, Protestant,etc.), and about 2% Muslim (approx. 25, 000). They are as law-abiding as the rest of the people, and respectful of the other religious groups. Around here, it's the Sikhs and Hindus that fight and kill - but they fight and kill each other!

Methinks the mass media may have given you a slanted view on the whole population of Muslims, by only showing the radical minority - and it IS a small minority.

nvalleyvee · Post by **nvalleyvee** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 5:49 pm

I don't care one whit about religion - it's a matter of personal belief. When one religion denigrades and attacks another religion - and kills the supposed non-believers - there is a great problem for those being attacked. I think most great wars were caused by religious differences and I DO NOT understand it. I would not denigrate a Christian, Catholic, Taoist, Muslim, African Tribal or even pygmies for what they believe. I do have a problem with waging war on a people because of their belief.

BR - I thought this was very insightful, funny and thought provoking. I've only expounded on one of them.

BTS · Post by **BTS** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 6:00 pm

This is my take on the whole event:

Attached files

Philadelphia Eagle · Post by **Philadelphia Eagle** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 6:08 pm

BTS wrote: This is my take on the whole event:

Love it, BTS!

BuckTurgidson · Post by **BuckTurgidson** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 7:44 pm

"No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.Ã¢â‚¬Ã¢â‚¬¦Ã¢â‚¬¦Ã¢â‚¬¦.. Ronald Reagan

Mmm...explain that to your average Wehrmacht soldier on the Eastern Front in 1944.

nvalleyvee · Post by **nvalleyvee** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 7:54 pm

OK - I don't care about most things that don't impact my life. So the gardeners can take it from there. What don't YOU care about.

Clint · Post by **Clint** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 8:44 am

TW2005 wrote: There have only been a few soldiers that have been punished for their wrong doing, little slaps on the wrists and their off. Let's see what would happen if I went and picked up someone off the streets, forced them to masturbate in front of a camera, shove broom-handles up their rectums and see what happens to me. You would not see me for years. 900 prisoners were released the day after the photos were released, coincidence?

I'm not sure on percentages either but I'm sure Bush will hold back that information from the American people as well.

Where did you get your information about the insurgents? AM radio? The rebels are fighting a war with whatever they can, against the greatest army in the world. By any means necessary. They are being occupied by a foreign invader. The rebels are the equivalent to our Founding Father's.
And you are the enemy within. We are at war and you are clearly on the other side, fighting a war of words.

How dare you say, "OUR Founding Fathers"?

Philadelphia Eagle · Post by **Philadelphia Eagle** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 8:53 am

TW - You do talk a load of garbage. And we're still waiting for you to tell us all what flag you're flying.

Philadelphia Eagle · Post by **Philadelphia Eagle** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 9:05 am

So you fly the German flag! Now that's very illuminating.

But you said you were an AMERICAN CITIZEN.

Were you born here?

Why aren't you flying your own country's flag?

Are you happy to be a citizen of the United States?

What on earth are you doing flying another country's flag? - unless, of course, you're not an American after all.

Agnes · Post by **Agnes** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 9:15 am

TW2005 wrote: Seems to be the German flag, ever seen it before? You know everything so I'm surprised you didn't know that.

TW, you are still maturing, give it some time, you are not there yet.

Clint · Post by **Clint** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 9:27 am

TW2005 wrote: If I've ticked you off, then I'm on the right side of the fence. ASK ME IF I CARE...... :wah: :yh_rotfl :yh_loser
I donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t care if you care or not. You are the enemy. You are armed with a computer instead of a bomb. You are probably too much of a coward to really put your life on the line for what you believe. Your kind all smell alike. Thats all I'm gonna say.

Agnes · Post by **Agnes** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 9:38 am

Killer on the loose.

Clint · Post by **Clint** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 9:44 am

TW2005 wrote: I don't fight for causes I don't agree with. I don't agree with the war so why would I fight for it? Why aren't you suited up and fighting for your prophet Bush? You are the coward sir. And thats all I have to say.
For clarification only:

1) I wouldnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t expect you to be fighting on my side. I would expect you to be fighting on your side.

2) I am a combat veteran. I volunteered for this one but my age combined with a service connected disability prevented me from serving.