XDA

You’re living in the age of the Internet. Your religion will be mocked, and the mockery will find its way to you. Get over it.

OK. Let's look at the list of religions to whom he addresses his "cool it" message back to front. Jews get their religion mocked. Really? I thought it was just plain old Anti-Semitism or Anti-Zionism. I guess some Jewish comedians do mock their own religion. Can't recall a non-Jew doing the same, but perhaps my memory is faulty. In any event if we were to mock the Jewish religion, what would be the reaction? I'm pretty sure it would be nothing at all. If the mockery is truly anti-semitic, then you might get a letter from the ADL, but I'm seriously doubting that Mossad agents would be dispatched to silence you for mere mockery of a religion. Here, let me try it: Isn't it silly to use a block of wood for a "lens" on your forehead. What moron thought up that one?

I'm not trembling.

Hindus get their religion mocked? Again, I guess. A friend never says the word "Hindu" without proceeding it with "monkey worshiping" so I guess they are in for some ribbing here and there. What has been their reaction to this mockery of their religion? Nothing again? Aren't the Hindus pacifists? Do they even have an anti-defamation league? A mossad? It's my guess that they don't actually care if you mock their religion, at the very most, they might not think you are a good person to do so. Would they attack you in the streets? Not a chance, I think.

Christians get mocked all the time. Especially here in America. Devout Catholics and evangelicals (along with Southern men) are mocked all the time with full impunity. You know examples of it, I don't even have to begin to give examples. And what is the reaction? Visits by the new Knights Templar? Rioting in front of the mockers' homes or businesses? Obviously not.

OK. Now what happens when you mock the Muslim religion? They try to kill you in response. They riot and kill. They rage. You are brought up on charges of hate speech in Canada. You, recently, are whisked off to the police station for questioning here in America. It's an awful and violent reaction.

So, as they say on Sesame Street, one of the four addressees is not like the other. Why do you think Mr. Saletan includes the other religions alongside of Islam in his calling for calm? Is he equating the need for calm among all four? Is he equating Islam with the other three regarding violent reactions to religious mockery? Well, yes he is. And he looks stupid doing it.

His entire article is about the deadly and violent so-called reaction to the silly internet movie mocking the Prophet (PBUH). It's all about the Muslims being violent and murderous. No Christian, Hindu or Jewish violence and rage is mentioned (probably because there isn't any). He does provide links to mockery of other religions (except Islam--hmmmm). Then there is the big "Why can't we all just get along" finish.

The hatred and bloodshed will go on until you stop taking the bait. Mockery of your prophet on a computer with an Internet address somewhere in the world can no longer be your master. Nor can the puppet clerics who tell you to respond with violence. Lay down your stones and your anger. Go home and pray. God is too great to be troubled by the insults of fools. Follow Him.

Doesn't Islamic law require faithful Muslims to kill (by stoning) those who mock Mohammed (B&PBUH) or offend the faithful? So the bloodshed and hatred exists not because the Muslims are "taking the bait" but because they are fulfilling the dictates of their religion, right?

Here is some real mocking (but of Mr. Saletan) from a different blogger, Amy Alkon, the Advice Goddess, who writes after quoting a bit more than I did of Saletan's opening:

Come on, why be "inclusive"?

I tease a Christian friend about believing in god. He teases me about not believing in god.

I mock the ridiculousness of circumcision with some regularity.

I have no fear that some Schlomo Glickstein and his mob of yeshiva students are going to drag me out of my house, rape me, and murder me for it.

Islam COMMANDS the death of those who mock Islam, Allah, or Mohammed, be they infidels or Muslims. (And the death of infidels in general, along with the installation of The New Caliphate around the globe. And you can probably guess that TNC won't be democratic or very nice to women, gays, or those not worshipping Allah.)

Good stuff.

Saletan has gone from bad to ridiculously stupid in about a week.