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February 28, 2006
A Manifesto for the new millennium. . .
Originally published by Jyllands-Posten
MANIFESTO:Together facing the new totalitarianism
After having overcome fascism, Nazism, and Stalinism, the world now faces a new totalitarian global threat: Islamism.
We, writers, journalists, intellectuals, call for resistance to religious totalitarianism and for the promotion of freedom, equal opportunity and secular values for all.
The recent events, which occurred after the publication of drawings of Muhammed in European newspapers, have revealed the necessity of the struggle for these universal values. This struggle will not be won by arms, but in the ideological field. It is not a clash of civilisations nor an antagonism of West and East that we are witnessing, but a global struggle that confronts democrats and theocrats.
Like all totalitarianisms, Islamism is nurtured by fears and frustrations. The hate preachers bet on these feelings in order to form battalions destined to impose a liberticidal and unegalitarian world. But we clearly and firmly state: nothing, not even despair, justifies the choice of obscurantism, totalitarianism and hatred. Islamism is a reactionary ideology which kills equality, freedom and secularism wherever it is present. Its success can only lead to a world of domination: man’s domination of woman, the Islamists’ domination of all the others. To counter this, we must assure universal rights to oppressed or discriminated people.
We reject « cultural relativism », which consists in accepting that men and women of Muslim culture should be deprived of the right to equality, freedom and secular values in the name of respect for cultures and traditions. We refuse to renounce our critical spirit out of fear of being accused of "Islamophobia", an unfortunate concept which confuses criticism of Islam as a religion with stigmatisation of its believers.
We plead for the universality of freedom of expression, so that a critical spirit may be exercised on all continents, against all abuses and all dogmas.
We appeal to democrats and free spirits of all countries that our century should be one of Enlightenment, not of obscurantism.
12 signatures
Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Chahla Chafiq
Caroline Fourest
Bernard-Henri Lévy
Irshad Manji
Mehdi Mozaffari
Maryam Namazie
Taslima Nasreen
Salman Rushdie
Antoine Sfeir
Philippe Val
Ibn Warraq
As an atheist, it makes perfect sense for me to agree with this. As an American, it makes even more sense. As a product of Western Civilization, it makes even more. As one human among 6.5 billion others, even more. In fact, I can't find a single solitary reason to disagree with any of this.
So I'll make it mine and add my name to the list.
Mr. Rushdie and others, I'm proud to stand with you.
Jason F. Coleman
PS - Brief bios of the orignal signers in the extended post.
The signers:Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Ayaan Hirsi Ali, from somilian origin, is member of Dutch parliement, member of the liberal party VVD. Writter of the film Submission which caused the assasination of Theo Van Gogh by an islamist in november 2004, she lives under police protection.Chahla Chafiq
Chahla Chafiq, writer from iranian origin, exiled in France is a novelist and an essayist. She’s the author of "Le nouvel homme islamiste , la prison politique en Iran " (2002). She also wrote novels such as "Chemins et brouillard" (2005).Caroline Fourest
Essayist, editor in chief of Prochoix (a review who defend liberties against dogmatic and integrist ideologies), author of several reference books on « laicité » and fanatism : Tirs Croisés : la laïcité à l’épreuve des intégrismes juif, chrétien et musulman (with Fiammetta Venner), Frère Tariq : discours, stratégie et méthode de Tariq Ramadan, et la Tentation obscurantiste (Grasset, 2005). She receieved the National prize of laicité in 2005.Bernard-Henri Lévy
French philosoph, born in Algeria, engaged against all the XXth century « ism » (Fascism, antisemitism, totalitarism, terrorism), he is the author of La Barbarie à visage humain, L’Idéologie française, La Pureté dangereuse, and more recently American Vertigo.Irshad Manji
Irshad Manji is a Fellow at Yale University and the internationally best-selling author of "The Trouble with Islam Today: A Muslim’s Call for Reform in Her Faith" (en francais: "Musulmane Mais Libre"). She speaks out for free expression based on the Koran itself. Née en Ouganda, elle a fui ce pays avec sa famille musulmane d’origine indienne à l’âge de quatre ans et vit maintenant au Canada, où ses émissions et ses livres connaissent un énorme succès.Mehdi Mozaffari
Mehdi Mozaffari, professor from iranian origin and exiled in Denmark, is the author of several articles and books on islam and islamism such as : Authority in Islam: From Muhammad to Khomeini, Fatwa: Violence and Discourtesy and Glaobalization and Civilizations.Maryam Namazie
Writer, TV International English producer; Director of the Worker-communist Party of Iran’s International Relations; and 2005 winner of the National Secular Society’s Secularist of the Year award.Taslima Nasreen
Taslima Nasreen is born in Bangladesh. Doctor, her positions defending women and minorities brought her in trouble with a comittee of integrist called « Destroy Taslima » and to be persecuted as « apostate »Salman Rushdie
Salman Rushdie is the author of nine novels, including Midnight’s Children, The Satanic Verses and, most recently, Shalimar the Clown. He has received many literary awards, including the Booker Prize, the Whitbread Prize for Best Novel, Germany’s Author of the Year Award, the European Union’s Aristeion Prize, the Budapest Grand Prize for Literature, the Premio Mantova, and the Austrian State Prize for European Literature. He is a Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et Lettres, an Honorary Professor in the Humanities at M.I.T., and the president of PEN American Center. His books have been translated into over 40 languages.Philippe Val
Director of publication of Charlie Hebdo (Leftwing french newspaper who have republished the cartoons on the prophet Muhammad by solidarity with the danish citizens targeted by islamists).Ibn Warraq
Ibn Warraq , author notably of Why I am Not a Muslim ; Leaving Islam : Apostates Speak Out ; and The Origins of the Koran , is at present Research Fellow at a New York Institute conducting philological and historical research into the Origins of Islam and its Holy Book.Antoine Sfeir
Born in Lebanon, christian, Antoine Sfeir choosed french nationality to live in an universalist and « laïc » (real secular) country. He is the director of Les cahiers de l’Orient and has published several reference books on islamism such as Les réseaux d’Allah (2001) et Liberté, égalité, Islam : la République face au communautarisme (2005).
Pesonally I fear a little for these individuals safety as this document begins to spread. I sincerely hope that no harm comes to them.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 11:10 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 23, 2006
Two tales of a city. . .
Ok, not quite a city, more just a place, and a people. The place is Lalish, Iraq (Kurdistan Iraq, for whatever that's worth), the people are the Yezidi. The tales are from Michael Totten, who focuses more on the religion, and Michael Yon, who focuses more on the people.
--Jason
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February 22, 2006
Guess it's time we found out. . .
I've started learning more about the U.A.E. and Dubai. Have you?
--Jason
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February 21, 2006
I'm happy to solve that problem . . . .
You know this hole "ports" kerfluffle, I'll give you the answer to it in one word:
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 1:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Your afternoon cup. . .
Here's your afternoon cup 'o coffee link.
Another declassified Al Qaeda document: The failed jihad in Syria
-via Austin Bay (who you can find on the blogroll, great blog).
AND, BONUS - if you liked that link, you'll appreciate this, also from Austin Bay.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 12:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 17, 2006
The international language of. . ..
First found via my favorite web diva.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 11:43 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Did I say hell? ? ?
Freigh-train, I tell ya, freight-train!!!!
Where's my jihad?!?!?!
First caught this at California Conservative, then at Cake or Death.
It's a must see, but be warned, Not Necessarily Safe for Work (Language, and if you're an easily offended jihadist wannabe Muslim, you'll really hate it.). You've been warned.
Courtesy of Zipperfish.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 1:47 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 16, 2006
Ok, I don't watch it, but that doesn't mean I live in a cave. . . .
American Idol, that bane on humanity that is also the biggest and baddest TV show on the block despite the fact that so many people actually despise it.
For the record, I despise it.
Nonetheless, I live Birmingham, Alabama, so like Natalee Holloway (which I refrain from commenting much on for fear of lynchings or vigils on my lawn) I can't avoid hearing about it, and although I don't comment on Idol all that much, that doesn't stop people from commenting to me about it. (I'm talking in person here, not blog-commentary, that's now changed though.)
A blog reader (who must be shy, since they don't want their name revealed) asks why I don't comment on Taylor Hicks, the Birmingham contestant who's made it to the final 12/12 (that's 12 guys and 12 gals). The answer I'm afraid is simple. . . I didn't know he'd made it because I don't watch the show (that's not entirely true, but I'll get to that in a second).
I did know that Taylor Hicks was Birmingham's "contestant du season" for Idol, and I also knew that like Ruben Studdard (who was top dawg in Season 2) and Bo Bice (#2 in season 4), Taylor was just a little out of the ordinary for typical Idol finalists. In case you do live in a cave here's a picture to explain what I mean.
Yep, he's got gray hair, he's a geezer, a fogey, and he’s one step away from pushing up daisies. OK, well, actually he's only 29 and I've got 5 years on him, but that hair??? Even I don't have gray hair yet and I'm an old codger by comparison.
With the age comes experience though, and Taylor Hicks may be the most experienced contestant Idol has had yet make it to this level of competition. Sure Bo had a band, and so did Ruben, and both were older than your average Idol finalist; but Taylor Hicks has played with the likes of James Brown, Tom Petty, Jackson Browne, Drive by Truckers, and Percy Sledge.
Now despite reader comments and the general rumors that we're putting something in the water to boost our Idol candidates to stardom, there's nothing special about Birmingham (well actually there is, but it's not related to enhancing musical talent) and there's no secret tie between Simon, Paula or Randy and the Magic City. I think we're just a moderate to large Southern City that attracts and develops talent of all types and our proximity to Atlanta makes it easy for our kids to head over and audition.
Now I said I don't watch the show, but that's not entirely true. I try to catch the season premiere (actually my mother has tricked me into watching it the last 3 years) so I can see the truly horrid auditions and laugh/cry about the foolishness of people chasing their dream to be an "Idol". I also try to catch an episode or two at the end, and if there's a Birmingham or New Orleans contestant, I take down the voting number for them and fire off a couple of votes. Otherwise I could care less about it. It's not a show I can sit down and watch, nor do I care for the inflated dramas about contestants sleeping with judges, who's being mean to whom, the antics of young kids in Hollywood also don't interest me (I've done the young kid in Hollywood thing myself).
Living in Birmingham forces you to at least feign some level of caring about Idol, just like it forces one to acknowledge that Natalee is still missing and that the Aruban's botched the investigation when then tried to pin it on the security guards right off the bat. When I'm out of town people also ask about Taylor. "Have you seen him live? Is he popular in Birmingham?" Answers - No, and "a little." American Idol has now even barged its way into my blog, a reader forced me to pay homage to Taylor Hicks and now I feel just a little dirty about it.
All that being said, good luck to the home team, Go Taylor Go! Keep up the good work and. . .
Magic City Represent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
--Jason
PS - As I prepare to hit the Save button, I can't help but think that this will just lead to hits I don't necessarily want and spam I'll just have to manually delete and hundreds of young kids who have no clue about most of the thing I talk about here will visit. Hopefully a few will look around, and even give a comment or two on things they find interesting. So in a way I'm making Taylor Hicks my blog-ambassador to a younger and probably "cooler" audience. Either that or on some subconscious level I'm just Google-whoring for hits. I don't know. At least I got the opportunity to answer some reader mail and give some props to Birmingham.
Click here for the blog's Main Page.
-JC
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February 15, 2006
More of what the MSM won't show you. . . .
Something tells me that you'll never see an article about this type of reconstruction in Iraq in the New York Times, LA Times, Boston Globe, nor will you probably see it on ABC, NBC or CBS.
Yes, that's in IRAQ, and so is this.
To find out about this kind of reconstruction. You'll have to look to the blogs. This time, you'll specifically have to check out Michael Totten, who's taken to blogging directly from the Middle East. Until recently he was living and blogging in Lebanon, and now he's taken his laptop and digicam to Iraq.
Have a look around his site at MichaelTotten.com, when you're done there, check out Michael Yon.
The MSM is dying on the vine, I'm just glad we have something to take it's place.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 3:29 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 14, 2006
YEE HA! Look at it go. . . .
Let's see, Oil under $60, John Deere is up (lawn care), KB Home and Toll Brothers are up (houses), retail sales are up (everything), Qwest is up, Coca-Cola is up this is up that is up, OMG things are up all over!!!!!
Boy what a shitty economy we have here.
Just think where we'd be without 9-11, two wars, a bundle of hurricanes and a slew of Democrats trying to be Chicken Little at every turn.
Happy Valentine's Day!
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 2:44 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
February 11, 2006
Who knew. . .
That Muslims were such ravers????
Yeah, I know, I'm bucking for a "Jihad on me!!! Durka Durka!!" I just say, "Bring it!"
--Jason
H/T to my favorite web diva SondraK.
Posted by JasonColeman at 12:15 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
February 10, 2006
Someone's missing the obvious question. . . .
And that question is:
Who's head is it and why isn't it still attached to their body????
I'm glad that the woman has been detained for "failing to declare the head and transporting hazardous material in air commerce", but come on, shouldn't we be asking just a wee bit more about this?????
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 3:08 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 9, 2006
More Fowler, now with Crumley. . .
I've mentioned Donnie Fowler before, here, here, here, here, here and here, to be precise.
Donnie doesn't fit with my political mold, but I've heard him speak a few times now. I've met him personally and was able to get some candid reactions from him leading me to the conclusion that I like the guy even if I disagree with his individual and group politics.
Donnie, like myself, believes that the nation needs a two party system to present Americans with a real distinct choice about the direction that the nation heads. Personally, I believe that those two choices need to be the Republican party and some as yet undefined entity that grows from a libertarian base and picks up supporters from the fractured and irreperably damaged Democrats. Donnie believes that there is still hope for the Democrats to become viable again. If he's right, more power to them and him.
I still hold that the Democrats are now merely obstructionist, oppositionist and reactionary and have no real ideas to offer the electorate.
All that being said, I want to give Donnie props once again for keeping up the fight and forming a new venture with Amanda Crumley to:
"identify new markets of like-minded individuals, create communities from them, and deliver messages that get people to take actions that our clients wish"
Good luck in your new venture Donnie, I wish you luck, and just wanted to maybe send you a hit or two to speed you along your way. Click the banner below to visit Fowler & Crumley, Inc.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 3:31 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Witness. . . the next Rove-a-Dope
They're piling up the political hay on the left over Michael Brown, the ex-FEMA chief who handled 500+ federal emergencies for the Bush administration only to resign over criticism about New Orleans post-Katrina and the federal response.
The left is clamoring for a look at Brown's confidential and candid reports from the field in the immediate wake of the storm. Senators are beginning to grandstand that since Brown is now a "private citizen" he no longer needs to respect "Presidential perogative".
No matter how CNN tries to spin this, this is not an advance warning of some release of information that will be harmful to the Bush administration. Sure there will be some colorful language about Blanco and Nagin's incompetance and stonewalling, but that will be nothing compared to the direct indictments handed down about the failures of state and local officials to properly act as first responders (and even second responders) during and immediately after the hurricane. I'm sure more than a little will be revealed about how the emergency supplies DHS paid for (MRE's and bottled water) to be pre-positioned in New Orleans LONG BEFORE the storm were somehow MIA throughout the entire disaster.
Mark my words, if Brown does release his correspondence with the White House, it won't be hurting Bush or his administration, but it will be downright disasterous for Nagin, Blanco and the political left in general.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 1:16 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 8, 2006
Back again. . .
Back from another trip to New Orleans. This time I'm returning with pictures and video from the French Quarter and the Ninth Ward as well as new photos and such from Abramson High School. I'm working on editing up the video into web-friendly segments and putting copyrights on all the pictures, so bear with.
More, much more, coming tomorrow, just wanted to give my RSS subscribers a heads up.
If you're stopping by for some other reason and want to get caught up to speed, Click Here.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 10:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 1, 2006
Somehow. . .
I don't think THIS is what THEY had in mind.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 8:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Dear Alcohol. . .
Did I ever tell you I used to own a brewery??? Anyway, I just wanted to share.
Dear Alcohol,First & foremost, let me tell you that I'm a huge fan of yours.
As my friend, you always seem to be there when needed.
The perfect post-work cocktail, a beer at the game, and you're even
around in the holidays, hidden inside chocolates as you warm us when
we're stuck in the midst of endless family gatherings.However, lately I've been wondering about your intentions.
While I want to believe that you have my best interests at heart, I feel
that your influence has led to some unwise consequences:1. Phone calls: While I agree with you that communication is
important, I question the suggestion that any conversation of substance
or necessity takes place after 2 a.m. Why would you make me call those
ex-girlfriends when I know for a fact they do not want to
hear from me during the day, let alone all hours of the night?2. Eating: Now, you know I love a good meal, but why do you suggest
that I eat a kebab, a butter chicken curry along with a sausage with
cheese,onion and mustard (washed down with WINE &
topped off with a Kit kat after a few sweet chilli and sour cream old
dutch chips)? I'm an eclectic eater, but I think you went too far this
time.3. Clumsiness: Unless you're subtly trying to tell me that I need to
do more yoga to improve my balance, I see NO need to hammer the issue
home by causing me to fall down. It's completely unnecessary, and the
black & blue marks that appear on my body mysteriously the next day are
beyond me. Similarly, it should never take me more than 45 seconds to
get the front door key into the lock.4. Furthermore: The hangovers have GOT to stop.
This is getting ridiculous. I know a little penance for our previous
evening's debauchery may be in order, but the 3pm hangover immobility is
completely unacceptable. My entire day is shot. I
ask that, if the proper precautions are taken ie water, vitamin B, bread
products, aspirin
prior to going to sleep/passing out face down on the kitchen floor the
hangover should be minimal & in no way interfere with my daily
activities.Alcohol, I have enjoyed our friendship for some years now & would like
to ensure that we remain on good terms. You've been the invoker of great
stories, the provocation for much laughter, and the needed companion
when I just don't know what to do with the extra money in my pockets.In order to continue this friendship, I ask that you carefully review my
grievances above & address them immediately. I will look for an answer
no later than Thursday 3pm (pre-happy hour) on your possible solutions &
hopefully we can continue this fruitful partnership.Thank you,
Your biggest fanP.S.
THINGS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:
1. Innovative
2. Preliminary
3. Proliferation
4. CinnamonTHINGS THAT ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY WHEN DRUNK:
1. Specificity
2. British Constitution
3. Passive-aggressive disorderTHINGS THAT ARE DOWNRIGHT IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY
WHEN DRUNK:
1. Thanks, but I don't want to have sex.
2. Nope, no more beer for me.
3. Sorry, but you're not really my type.
4. Good evening, officer. Isn't it lovely out tonight?
5. Oh, I couldn't. No one wants to hear me sing
----------------------------------------------------
I wish I could take credit for this, but I can't. I read it first some time back and had been looking for it ever since. Found it, so I'm putting it here so I won't lose it.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 7:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
