Muslim Rage Over Intoonfadeh Invades America's Borders

Our Borders book stores, that is. What used to be one of my favorite American megastores refuses to carry the April/May issue of Free Inquiry magazine, a fine publication of the Council for Secular Humanism, Paul Kurtz's operation, because it reprints Those Cartoons of Muhammed. Objectivist Robert Bidinotto calls for a boycott and collects some relevant links.

A comic book artist friend of mine who insists on remaining nameless for his own protection drew a funny little cartoon of a fuming Prophet on a coffee cup recently to amuse his companions. The prophet had those great squiggly cartoon lines coming off of his angry face in abundance, which can often signify shock or stench. What did they represent in this drawing? he was asked. "Muslim rage!"

Comments

[thoreau]

I'd just like to put in a plug for my wife's employer, Barnes & Noble. They are in fact carrying the cartoons. However, the publisher is only printing a small run, so the store managers fear that they may run out. They've told their employees to be prepared for complaints from people who are irate about the cartoons, and also complaints from people who are irate if the store runs out of copies.

As far as I know, their plan is just to be as nice as possible to complainers. Nobody has ever won an argument with a customer.

[Number 6]

I disagree, Dr. T-Sometimes, the customer goes away. That can be the best possible outcome.

[Jersey McJones]

Good for Borders. The cartoons were right wind Danish nationalist's attempts at riling the rabble - and it worked. We do not need that sort of rabble rousing here. (We get enough from talk radio as it is!)

JMJ

[Douglas Fletcher]

I wasn't planning on buying anything from Borders anytime soon but this will surely make me think twice about going there for awhile, anyway.

[Akira MacKenzie]

Good for Borders. The cartoons were right wind Danish nationalist's attempts at riling the rabble - and it worked. We do not need that sort of rabble rousing here.

Like any good busybody, Jersey isn't interested in freedom or justice, all he wants is quiet.

[Number 6]

Like any good busybody, Jersey isn't interested in freedom or justice, all he wants is quiet.

No, he wants noise. Specifically, he wants the noise of us noticing him.

[Jeff P.]

I haven't seen FI in Borders in years! I let my subscription lapse (I didn't have a Free Inquiry Pillow Girl to remind me, damnit!) and have been checking the shops regularly.

[mediageek]

"Like any good busybody, Jersey isn't interested in freedom or justice, all he wants is quiet."

No. All he wants is the opportunity to shout as loudly as he wants, and completely unopposed.

[Jersey McJones]

What's the matter, Libers? I thought you were all for the freedom of choice for private businesses?

JMJ

[Number 6]

Hey, JMJ, why not just jump up and down and scream "Notice me, notice me?"

[Jersey McJones]

Are you for real? The paper that published those pictures (which weren't all that funny anyway) did it on prupose. Everyone knows that. They were looking to stir nationalist/muslim discontent. Borders made a business decision to not bother with them. I am all for freedom of the press, and such, but this would just be more rabble pandering. Besides, we have enough of that going on right now with "immigration reform," don't we?

JMJ

[Isaac Bartram]

What's the matter, Libers? I thought you were all for the freedom of choice for private businesses?

We are, but we're also for the freedom to criticize or otherwise comment on choices we don't like.

[Timothy]

Thinking Borders has every right to do as it wants with its shelf space is different than thinking every choice they make is the best or even the right one. *le sigh*

[mitch]

This is too bad, as (no offense to thoreau or his wife) I find Borders to be more to my liking than Barnes and Noble. I much prefer to browse and shop at the Borders on Park and 57th or the one on 33rd and 2nd than I do the Barnes and Nobles here in Manhattan. They seem cleaner, less cramped, and they seem to have a wider selection, or maybe they just have more books that I am interested in, or maybe they just display the books I am interested in more prominently, because they don't devote so much space to bargain books.

And I still think Jersey is kidding.

[MP]

What's the matter, Libers? I thought you were all for the freedom of choice for private businesses?

sigh...so you truly are simply yet another master baiter who attempts to inflame discussion by injecting slanderous statements that completely twist a stated libertarian position.

"buh-bye!" said MP, who then implemented a permanent mental JMJ filter.

[General Zod]

Fools! There is no left, no right, only Zod.*

* Paid for by the Zod for President campaign.

[Akira MacKenzie]

What's the matter, Libers? I thought you were all for the freedom of choice for private businesses?

We are, but we also have the freedom to point out that Borders is being a bunch of spineless pussies and buy our copies of "Free Inquiry" elsewhere.

[thoreau]

OK, obviously Borders should have the right to sell it or not sell it, you should have the right to criticize it or not criticize, we should have the right to criticize (or not) those who criticize (or don't criticize) those who sell (or don't sell) the cartoons.

And those who criticize those who criticize those who criticizize those who criticize those who sell it or don't should be free to do so.

And yadda yadda yadda.

There, happy?

[General Zod]

To pander to so-called "libertarians", Zod has removed the latest entry of the one called Jersey McJones. Zod shall also obliterate this Planet Borders.

Zod is about freedom--the freedom to worship Zod as directed.

[smalls]

thoreau,
I think you left out one "those who criticize".....or maybe I'm just being too critical.

[Pirate Jo]

And our fathers' fathers' fathers! It should be the god-given right of every man (or woman!) etc.

[Akira MacKenzie]

Are you for real?

When last I checked.

The paper that published those pictures (which weren't all that funny anyway) did it on prupose. Everyone knows that.

So what?

They were looking to stir nationalist/muslim discontent.

Again, so what? Freedom of speech allows one to "stir" as much discontent against whoever you want.

Borders made a business decision to not bother with them.

Again, I don't dispute their right to do that. However, I'm making my own business decision not to give them my money in response to their cowardice.

I am all for freedom of the press and such...

If this tread, and last week's bumper sticker thread was anything to go by, no you're not.

...but this would just be more rabble pandering.

Just what "rabble" is "Free Inquiry" pandering too? Have you ever read it?

Besides, we have enough of that going on right now with "immigration reform," don't we?

What the Hell do cartoons about Muslims have anything to do with immigration reform seeing that the worst of these bills are target on Latinos?

In debate, this is what they call a "non sequitur fallacy," Jersey.

[VM]

SPLITTER!!!!!

[AMDG]

JMJ = Jesus Mary and Joseph.

Less well educated grade-schoolers used to put that on their homework and test papers.

Those from the Jesuit tradition used AMDG.

[Jersey McJones]

Akira,

They were looking to stir nationalist/muslim discontent.

Again, so what? Freedom of speech allows one to "stir" as much discontent against whoever you want.

I agree. Rabble rousing is a right. It's also a right not to.

Borders made a business decision to not bother with them.

Again, I don't dispute their right to do that. However, I'm making my own business decision not to give them my money in response to their cowardice.

I don't think it was cowardice. It was just not stooping to Right Rabbling Religious Riling Rhetoric.

I am all for freedom of the press and such...

Just what "rabble" is "Free Inquiry" pandering too? Have you ever read it?

Right Wingnuts. Eh. About it - not it itself?

Besides, we have enough of that going on right now with "immigration reform," don't we?

What the Hell do cartoons about Muslims have anything to do with immigration reform seeing that the worst of these bills are target on Latinos?

Just comparing rabblings, that's all? 😉

In debate, this is what they call a "non sequitur fallacy," Jersey.

No, it's called an ANALOGY. Look it up.

JMJ

(Oh, and AMDG, interesting call, but wrong. I just made the name up one day some years ago.)

[Eddy]

Thoreau,
You forgot to mention that we have the right to pander rabbles and rabble the pandering rabble stirrers and purposely pander rabble stir rabble pandering discontent rabblerers... or something like that.

[Eric the .5b]

JMJ, can you go into detail about how people declining to say things (or a bookseller being afraid to sell a particular magazine) due to a fear of violence is not something for freedom-loving people to worry about?

Would that be anything like saying shariah will be great for our civil liberties? 🙂

[coachacola]

I don't really think Jersey McJones believes half the stuff he writes because it's mostly the complete opposite of what he thinks a libertarian would write. What he spouts is so predictable as to be unbelievable. I could cut and paste from any left-wing website and probably sound more intelligent that he does.

[Akira MacKenzie]

Right Wingnuts.

As noted in Brian's original entry, "Free Inquiry" is published by the Council for Secular Humanism; as in atheism, secularism, separation of church and state, and everything else that gives religious conservatives conniption fits. I doubt it like hell that their publication of those cartoons was meant to pander to anyone on "the Right." I suggest you find out the context of the usage before jumping to conclusions.

No, it's called an ANALOGY. Look it up.

Again, what does the publication of these cartoons have anything to do with the immigration reform debate?

[AMDG]

I just made the name up one day some years ago

That's how Moses ended up with the Torah. He just made it up one day.

God works in mysterious ways.

[Eric the .5b]

"Just what "rabble" is "Free Inquiry" pandering too? Have you ever read it?"

Right Wingnuts. Eh. About it - not it itself

Wow, how left-wing do you have to be to consider the Society for Secular Humanism "right wingnuts"?

[Pss, author. Is the intent to present "JMJ" as astonishingly radical, or just uninformed? Or should I hush and wait for you to reveal as this thread goes on? Yeah, I shouldn't be a pushy fan, nevermind.]

[Jersey McJones]

AMDG,

I'm an atheist.

Eric,

I thought you were talking about the Danish paper. My mistake. Yes, I know that many of my secular friends (even the very liberal ones) are with you guys on this. Personally, I thought publishing the images was stupid.

JMJ

[Eric Atkinson]

As an Atheist it pains me to say this....Jersey, your not too bright. Pun intended.

[Jersey McJones]

Eric, coming from you, I'll take that as a compliment.

JMJ

[Eric Atkinson]

I beleive thats call an "left handed compliment".
Any way its the only kind you'll get from me, Mr Jersey.

[lunchstealer]

I am all for freedom of the press, and such, but this would just be more rabble pandering. Besides, we have enough of that going on right now with "immigration reform," don't we?

Which exact analogy were you going for, JMJ?

• Freedom of the press is to rabble pandering as immigration reform is to rabble pandering.
• Freedom of the press is to mohamed cartoons as rabble pandering is to immigration reform.
• mohamed cartoons is to immigration reform as rabble rousing is to rabble rousing.
• rabble is to immigration as rousing is to reform.
• mohamed cartoons is to islamic extremist as reason is to jmj.
• non sequitur is to immigration reform analogy as majesty is to Trogdor.

Just curious.

many of my secular friends (even the very liberal ones) are with you guys on this.

Cool, so liberal secularists agree with libertarian secularists. Do you post as many weird non-sequitur analogies on their websites as you do here?

[lunchstealer]

I am all for freedom of the press, and such, but this would just be more rabble pandering. Besides, we have enough of that going on right now with "immigration reform," don't we?

Which exact analogy were you going for, JMJ?

• Freedom of the press is to rabble pandering as immigration reform is to rabble pandering.
• Freedom of the press is to mohamed cartoons as rabble pandering is to immigration reform.
• mohamed cartoons is to immigration reform as rabble rousing is to rabble rousing.
• rabble is to immigration as rousing is to reform.
• mohamed cartoons is to islamic extremist as reason is to jmj.
• non sequitur is to immigration reform analogy as majesty is to Trogdor.

Just curious.

many of my secular friends (even the very liberal ones) are with you guys on this.

Cool, so liberal secularists agree with libertarian secularists. w00t!

[Eric the .5b]

I thought you were talking about the Danish paper. My mistake. Yes, I know that many of my secular friends (even the very liberal ones) are with you guys on this.

Try listening to them.

[spur]

The last time Bidinotto called for a boycott five people stopped watching TV channels owned by Ted Turner -- I'm sure they are quaking in their boots.

[ororo]

it could be like spider sense, 'my muslim sense is tingling! somewhere, somebody is insulting islam!'

I thought the comics were printed in defiance of muslim extremists, because they had heard that cartoonists were scared to publish cartoons, i fail to see how not publishing them and succumbing to fear is better than saying damn it to hell, publish those suckas and lets see what happens. sure, it will get loud (wear earplugs jmj) but aint done change!

[mhodnov]

This blog Borders: "Please don't hurt me Muslim Man - oh pleeeease" covers the angle that private businesses have the right to do whatever they want - but they are not free of the consequences.

[Uri ben Tzvi]

I'll bet Borders is pretty upset that libertarians will be boycotting its stores. Do the folks that run Borders know that the Libertarian party got an impressive .03% of the popular vote in the last federal election? The overwhelming majority of Americans may not have the foggiest notion of what a libertarian is, but libertarians are confident unaccountably confident of their power, and it's this confidence that has Borders spooked. Borders might just back down and face Muslim wrath rather than mess with...what are they called again?

[The Real Bill]

I'll bet Borders is pretty upset that libertarians will be boycotting its stores.

Of course not, but there are many others that it might piss off.

Do the folks that run Borders know that the Libertarian party got an impressive .03% of the popular vote in the last federal election?

How ridiculous to assume that libertarians voted for the Libertarian party. Most voted for the Ds and Rs.

The overwhelming majority of Americans may not have the foggiest notion of what a libertarian is

You've written this before. No matter how many times you do, it'll still never be true.

but libertarians are confident unaccountably confident of their power, and it's this confidence that has Borders spooked. Borders might just back down and face Muslim wrath rather than mess with...what are they called again?

You are pitiful beyond belief. You're the kind of guy who makes jokes that no one ever laughs at, aren't you?