Reply #74: But how is that an argument against what I said? [View All]

In Algeria, those fighting for freedom from French rule killed civilians. That's just a fact. But don't we have to look at those deaths within the context of the political struggle? Does that diminish how sad those deaths are for the people who lost loved ones? Of course not (and I freely admit, though I think the Algerians were correct to fight for their freedom, I would have a difficult time talking about this with the mother of a child killed on the street). We're talking about political realities. Muslims immigrants in Europe are part of an oppressed group. They are attacked in their home countries, and when they emigrate they are treated like an invading horde. How can we not look at Theo Van Gogh's death in light of this? If we can't ask the hard questions, we don't get anywhere. No one is saying it's alright that he was killed, we're saying don't the conditions that made his death possible really suck? Why can't we work on changing them?

Worrying about offending Muslims with cartoons is a distraction from this task, as I said before. And you're right, most Muslims do swallow their outrage over these things. That's why it's so silly we act as if our rights are being trampled by an incredibly marginalized group.