Comments on: Post and Perish: Iran Set to Make Offensive Blogging a Death Penalty Offense http://jonathanturley.org/2008/07/08/blogging-with-optional-beheading-iran-set-to-make-offensive-blogging-a-death-penalty-offense/ Res ipsa loquitur ("The thing itself speaks") Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:35:16 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: BARTLEBEE http://jonathanturley.org/2008/07/08/blogging-with-optional-beheading-iran-set-to-make-offensive-blogging-a-death-penalty-offense/#comment-17772 BARTLEBEE Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:17:53 +0000 http://jonathanturley.wordpress.com/?p=2332#comment-17772 Wow.. :| ...imagine what they'd do to me. Wow..

:|

…imagine what they’d do to me.

]]> By: Sue Ann Edwards http://jonathanturley.org/2008/07/08/blogging-with-optional-beheading-iran-set-to-make-offensive-blogging-a-death-penalty-offense/#comment-16227 Sue Ann Edwards Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:10:31 +0000 http://jonathanturley.wordpress.com/?p=2332#comment-16227 ps. Lessons in the basic Principals of cause and effect would definitely help. As in, if I desire to be adored, then I must genuinely BE adorable. For one is the cause and the other, an effect. I guess they haven't read the news. Whatever emotion we "feel" is a result of the peptide production inside our own heads. Maybe learning how to be Self Governing would also help? For "secure" is a PSYCHOLOGICAL state of mind. ps. Lessons in the basic Principals of cause and effect would definitely help. As in, if I desire to be adored, then I must genuinely BE adorable. For one is the cause and the other, an effect.

I guess they haven’t read the news. Whatever emotion we “feel” is a result of the peptide production inside our own heads. Maybe learning how to be Self Governing would also help? For “secure” is a PSYCHOLOGICAL state of mind.

]]> By: Sue Ann Edwards http://jonathanturley.org/2008/07/08/blogging-with-optional-beheading-iran-set-to-make-offensive-blogging-a-death-penalty-offense/#comment-16224 Sue Ann Edwards Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:03:43 +0000 http://jonathanturley.wordpress.com/?p=2332#comment-16224 Then I suppose that stating "civilization" is a result of civilized behavior and emotionally insecure control freaks need not apply, pretty much puts my head on the block. SMILING Then I suppose that stating “civilization” is a result of civilized behavior and emotionally insecure control freaks need not apply, pretty much puts my head on the block.

SMILING

]]> By: Susan http://jonathanturley.org/2008/07/08/blogging-with-optional-beheading-iran-set-to-make-offensive-blogging-a-death-penalty-offense/#comment-16212 Susan Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:18:16 +0000 http://jonathanturley.wordpress.com/?p=2332#comment-16212 Michael, I wish I could say otherwise, but the "preponderance of evidence" of religion's lust for power and control is painfully obvious to anyone who reads JT's blog or keeps up with everyday news. If fear and intimidation aren't working, try something stronger. I know of at least one kinder, gentler religion, such as Unitarian Universalist, that doesn't engage in these terror tactics. I'm sure there are a few others, at least I hope so! The hard-liners should try taking a lesson or two from the gentler ones; they might gain more respect that way. Michael, I wish I could say otherwise, but the “preponderance of evidence” of religion’s lust for power and control is painfully obvious to anyone who reads JT’s blog or keeps up with everyday news. If fear and intimidation aren’t working, try something stronger. I know of at least one kinder, gentler religion, such as Unitarian Universalist, that doesn’t engage in these terror tactics. I’m sure there are a few others, at least I hope so! The hard-liners should try taking a lesson or two from the gentler ones; they might gain more respect that way.

]]> By: Michael Spindell http://jonathanturley.org/2008/07/08/blogging-with-optional-beheading-iran-set-to-make-offensive-blogging-a-death-penalty-offense/#comment-16191 Michael Spindell Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:27:04 +0000 http://jonathanturley.wordpress.com/?p=2332#comment-16191 History has sadly proved time and again that whenever religion is mixed in with governance, intolerance and tyranny run rampant. This occurs despite the type of religion seeking and/or taking power. The reason is obvious to anyone willing to view the issue dispassionately without the filter of their own particular religious beliefs. Even a seemingly non-violent belief such as Buddhism has had in periods and places incidents of of repressive violence in the name of belief. The reason is that in the end religious leaders are human and fallible. Their motivations are variously and combined as greed, lust for power, prejudice, sexuality and even personal doubts about their own faith that are projected onto others. If the Jesus of the Sermon on the Mount and Golden Rule can be turned into a vengeful warrior by his supposed ministry, all forms of excess become possible. Susan and Jill are quite correct all faiths have been guilty of this disgusting excess in the name of their deity. History has sadly proved time and again that whenever religion is mixed in with governance, intolerance and tyranny run rampant. This occurs despite the type of religion seeking and/or taking power. The reason is obvious to anyone willing to view the issue dispassionately without the filter of their own particular religious beliefs. Even a seemingly non-violent belief such as Buddhism has had in periods and places incidents of of repressive violence in the name of belief.

The reason is that in the end religious leaders are human and fallible.
Their motivations are variously and combined as greed, lust for power, prejudice, sexuality and even personal doubts about their own faith that are projected onto others. If the Jesus of the Sermon on the Mount and Golden Rule can be turned into a vengeful warrior by his supposed ministry, all forms of excess become possible. Susan and Jill are quite correct all faiths have been guilty of this disgusting excess in the name of their deity.

]]> By: Seamus http://jonathanturley.org/2008/07/08/blogging-with-optional-beheading-iran-set-to-make-offensive-blogging-a-death-penalty-offense/#comment-16186 Seamus Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:10:28 +0000 http://jonathanturley.wordpress.com/?p=2332#comment-16186 Is there some way we can make sure that Townhall.com and all of its bloggers are posted in Iran??? Is there some way we can make sure that Townhall.com and all of its bloggers are posted in Iran???

]]> By: Jill http://jonathanturley.org/2008/07/08/blogging-with-optional-beheading-iran-set-to-make-offensive-blogging-a-death-penalty-offense/#comment-16177 Jill Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:21:09 +0000 http://jonathanturley.wordpress.com/?p=2332#comment-16177 I do consider this indicative of how much dissent is occurring in Iran. In this country we use fear of terrorist attack to stifle rational anaylsis and action (see the Senate and FISA). In Iran, the weapon of choice is "insulting" Islam. Islam has a proud tradition of encouraging tolerance and knowledge. The West owes Islam a debt for keeping much knowledge alive, while our Christian leaders were burning books and apostates. It is shameful to declare that learning/thinking and Islam are incompatible. The leaders of both countries are far too similar for my comfort level. They each play on the ugliest aspects of their society to gain and keep complete control over the people. It is disgusting. Brutality is effective and the tool of every dictator. Our Senate is about to give over great power to those who have tortured. I respect and admire the dissidents of Iran. There are many of them and their courage is great. I do consider this indicative of how much dissent is occurring in Iran. In this country we use fear of terrorist attack to stifle rational anaylsis and action (see the Senate and FISA). In Iran, the weapon of choice is “insulting” Islam.

Islam has a proud tradition of encouraging tolerance and knowledge. The West owes Islam a debt for keeping much knowledge alive, while our Christian leaders were burning books and apostates. It is shameful to declare that learning/thinking and Islam are incompatible.

The leaders of both countries are far too similar for my comfort level. They each play on the ugliest aspects of their society to gain and keep complete control over the people. It is disgusting. Brutality is effective and the tool of every dictator. Our Senate is about to give over great power to those who have tortured.

I respect and admire the dissidents of Iran. There are many of them and their courage is great.

]]> By: Susan http://jonathanturley.org/2008/07/08/blogging-with-optional-beheading-iran-set-to-make-offensive-blogging-a-death-penalty-offense/#comment-16169 Susan Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:20:45 +0000 http://jonathanturley.wordpress.com/?p=2332#comment-16169 Sadly, JT, this doesn't surprise me at all, and there are some "christian" fundamentalists in the U.S. who probably feel the same about anyone who "insults" the faith simply by questioning or criticizing it. If some of them had their way, we would have laws against "blasphemy" that would make any form of criticism of religion in general and christianity in particular, be that criticism spoken or written, a high felony offense. Sadly, JT, this doesn’t surprise me at all, and there are some “christian” fundamentalists in the U.S. who probably feel the same about anyone who “insults” the faith simply by questioning or criticizing it. If some of them had their way, we would have laws against “blasphemy” that would make any form of criticism of religion in general and christianity in particular, be that criticism spoken or written, a high felony offense.

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