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September 7, 2010

An Extremist (and Media) Bonanza: Getting Fired Up For 9/11

You desecrate our symbols, we desecrate yours.

With America in a downward, accelerating spiral of anger and scapegoating, the extremists — the visual media right there with a magnifying glass — have not only claimed ownership over Ground Zero, but now, the 9/11 anniversary.

First, the ignorant, ultra-fringe Florida preacher with the minuscule following promised to burn the Koran on 9/11, earning himself gobs of attention over his little sign and his demonstration video. In response, extremists in Asia have been getting the citizenry fired up, earning even more media attention over America’s supposed hatred of Islam. Now, the Petraeus warning has taken the story to whole new level.

So the stage is set … and it’s only Monday.

(photo 1: photo 2: Gainesville.com. from: Anti-Islam church sign stirs up community outrage. photo: Musadeq Sadeq/A.P. caption: Afghan protesters step on a U.S. flag during a demonstration against the United States, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Sept. 6, 2010. Hundreds of Afghans railed against the U.S. and called for President Barack Obama’s death at a rally in the capital Monday to denounce an American church’s plans to burn the Islamic holy book on 9/11. )

  • http://www.inconsequentiallogic.com Roschelle

    all these images are disheartening on so many levels. the fact that the intolerance, ignorance and bigotry appear to be increasing as the anniversary of 9/11 draws near…

    …what does that really say about us??

  • black dog barking

    The vehicle dead center in the top image probably has a few miles on it, maybe some pre-owners. Probably well maintained, too — like the steel building, now wearing a cross in its new life. “Manicured” first comes to mind looking at the lawn but also an uneasy sense that without constant care and attention there would be something else growing here, something wilder, that this spot will be grass only as long as it is carefully tended.

    No matter the importance of the sign’s words and message, the sign itself only merits used materials, like it was assembled from the leftover pile out by the alley. Looks like the first version omitted “is”, a problem fixed with a little creative typography. Don’t know how the V of devil jumped out of line — whatever, not worth throwing out a good piece of used wood for a trivial error.

    The sign could be professional work, going for a proletariat look. If so, these folks are very good.

  • black dog barking

    Kudos, Dr Jones for the successful viral campaign. Well played.

  • smasher

    Jingoistic fear-mongering during the runup to the mid-term elections. It’s absolutely disgusting, but the GOP (and the Tea Partiers) have found their wedge issue.

  • http://agrippinaminor.com/scarabus/ Wayne Dickson

    The top picture refers to hatred of a religion. The middle to hatred of a nation.

  • bill

    True, but that’s what confusing Church and State is all about.