gdp's Comments

The Comment Factory : Tony Benn comes to Stoke Newington in London

Mon, 1 Sep 2014 14:15:09 +0000

Hey there! I realize this is somewhat offtopic but I had to ask. agegefdebcee

The Comment Factory : Containing the "virus" of decency in the Obama era

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 14:11:36 +0000

Profound. But if the truth does not reach the masses or interest those who seek only to aspire to the life of the elite class(usually without full consideration/comprehension of the moral consequences of their actions), how can we have any hope of doing something about it. I do believe that the problems that obstruct peace, justice and democracy are in their broadest sense simple to understand, as shown by the use of maxims in the article. But establishing them as truths to those who need to be aware of them is an extremely difficult task. As I read I felt a lot of the material made sense to me, and at the same time I thought about how nonsensical it would sound to most people I knew, had I myself tried to explain it to them. Apart from their lack of context, the major problem would be that Professor Chomsky's ability to articulate this vast tapestry of imperial power in simple yet comprehensive terms is not shared by most of us. I sometimes feel that this ability is almost compulsory to successfully get through to people who are stuck among the deeply indoctrinated cobwebs of society today. Especially due to the amount of "alien" information one needs to state. Yet, there is solace, be it very little, to know that at least there are people bearing witness to the true story of humanity in the "modern" age. The whole story or at least a large part of it.

The Comment Factory : Concerned citizens should join the International Solidarity Movement in Palestine

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 10:59:40 +0000

But that doesn't mean I have much if any sympathies for Mousavi himself. People forget he was a hardliner and one of those people who helped shut down universities during the Cultural Revolution. The guy was a hardliner who's trying to ride the reformist wave cause it's in, and cause there's no chance of winning the rural and lower class demographic that Ahmadinejad is very strong with. It was like John McCain talking about going green. The killing and assault of civilians was of course horrible, and utterly asinine considering the current Iranian order came to power through protests and a revolution. I have no sympathies towards the undemocratic guardian council either who's leader has made his bias very clear. Regarding the election I think Ahmadinejad probably did win, but greatly exagerated margin by which he did. He was his usual idiotic self when he totally ignored the existence a good portion of the population (i.e. people who didn't vote for him) in his speech. And he's made a mess of things now as all this has ultimately weakened Iran, exactly the thing the guardian council thought they were averting.

The Comment Factory : Concerned citizens should join the International Solidarity Movement in Palestine

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 10:58:56 +0000

"Mullah friends" :D, you kill me man. Thanks BOB, there you go giving me another headache. The very act of trying to draw any meaning from your senseless rhetoric is a task suited for far more intelligent beings than me. I haven't been at the comment factory lately, but I'm pretty sure there have been a good deal of articles in criticism of the Israeli atrocities during that time. So only you know what you mean by "first chance". Then again from the looks of things you probably spend more time on CF than Matt himself, so you'd know better I guess. Unlike you I'm not here 24/7 and I don't shout out like an idiot about everything and anything. Especially when I don't have a clear idea about the issue. But if you're dying for my views on what happened in Iran, here's the gist. I would have like to seen Ahmadinejad lose as much as the next guy. In spite of all his gutsy bravado in standing up to the west, he's nonetheless the last person we need as a figurehead against western imperialism and zionism. I don't get what the guy's saying half the time at conferences. And his lack of eloquence is damaging to a lot of people.

The Comment Factory : Concerned citizens should join the International Solidarity Movement in Palestine

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:28:45 +0000

Brilliant article Matt. Loved the "instantly civilizes the IDF" line. Your description of the day to day suffering was vivid, and the mention of "Stoptheism.com" was a reminder of what kind of a powerful and dedicated force one has to deal with when trying to get the simplest truths about Palestine out to the rest of the world. Keep up the valiant work.

The Comment Factory : George Galloway's ban from entering Canada is a travesty that we will fight

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:16:48 +0000

To all those reading (except racists and bigots) who are thinking about those "incontrovertible proofs" I was talking about, here are three unique videos if you're interested. 1. Is the Quran God's word? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQxNaDBDDjo&fe... (10 minute videos in 23 parts) http://www.vuze.com/details/35Y5O7FGQTPVXHVUPYWPG... (downloadable version) 2. Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) in Various Religious Scriptures http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyfxQ-hDvu8 3. Quran and Modern Science - Conflict or Conciliation (start from 15th minute) http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=226095429... (The YouTube links are the only non-torrent links I could find) THIS IS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO PROSELYTIZE, but it is to show you where I'm coming from. That my claims about my religion are not based on hot air. There is this assumption that has been spreading like a plague since 9/11 that because so many of the Muslims are people living in the poorest and technologically inferior nations, we don't have rationality and sagacity in our thinking. These videos are just to demolish such misconceptions. A lot of us Muslims think in depth. We don't follow our religion simply because our forefathers did. We've had our religious cum existential crisis. And we don't judge a religion by those who claim to follow it, but we judge it by its scripture. ( To get anything at all out of the video you must set aside whatever prejudices and assumptions you might have had about the religion, or you might have about the speaker because of his dress up or origin)

The Comment Factory : George Galloway's ban from entering Canada is a travesty that we will fight

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:13:56 +0000

You can misinterpret and make up whatever you want about Islam along with a million other people on the net. I wouldn't care as you are all incapable of actually harming the religion. The Quran encourages debate and rationality, but it would be stupid to engage in further dialogue with someone as prejudiced as you. Again, you reassert the lie that I think Arab leaders are worth anything at all. Western leaders hug and shake hands with those same Arab leaders, as they all did with George Bush and Tony Blair (both of whom have committed greater sins than Al-Bashir). If you watched my video, I mentioned Darfur there. One last time, you're trying to cancel one negative by pointing out another. The West has reprimanded Sudan heavily, but Israel puts on the facade of being an innocent peaceful nation while they commit the most hideous atrocities in their own backyard for over half a century. What is worse--- murder committed by a known criminal, or a "model citizen" of the society (backed by those who claim to be freedom's champion) torturing and killing innocent people as a pastime? Don't bother answering. I don't really care about the opinions and lies of a racist. The only reason I wasted my time debunking your lies was for the sake of anyone who might read this and is unaware about the issue. Goodbye, and may your ignorance not infect others.

The Comment Factory : George Galloway's ban from entering Canada is a travesty that we will fight

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:13:33 +0000

Final reply to John Forthright: All I could do was just laugh at your last comment. Even after you previously stating your disregard for the value of Palestinian life, I was slightly doubtful about whether readers would immediately understand that you're an imbecilic racist and bigot. But you then labeled me and consequently the entire Muslim world as "sick pedophiles" on the grounds that we follow Islam and respect the Prophet Muhammad. YOU JUST ADMITTED OUT AND OUT THAT YOU ARE A RACIST. And then you call me a racist just because you got pissed off that I called you one. There's nothing that you can point to prove otherwise. What‘s this rubbish you're trying to throw at me about hearing stories from a Bangladeshi. I bloody live in Bangladesh, where everyday I meet people (example: my father) who survived the war. And I did not claim America's actions in 1971 were at an equal magnitude with Pakistan's. Prophet Muhammad(P.B.U.H) consummated his marriage to Aisha after she had reached her first menstruation. The age for puberty varies from country to country, and is earlier at regions near the equator. Their marriage was a happy and healthy one, and Aisha lived very well. It was also a very exceptional case as the Prophet's other wives (most of whom were widows) were all between 17 and 50. Context is key, it was a very different time & place where things like completion of formal schooling and college were obviously not a part of day to day life like they are today. Lifespan and reaching maturity was also in a different range. Islam does NOT allow marriages without consent of both parties, and DISALLOWS consummation before they are ready for sexual relations. Some "Muslims" choose to bend these and other laws according to their own agendas. Just like an entire population cannot be judged for the act of a few, the same goes for those cases.

The Comment Factory : George Galloway's ban from entering Canada is a travesty that we will fight

Wed, 8 Apr 2009 21:34:06 +0000

And I didn't notice this earlier probably because of your other utterly nonsensical comments. But you gave a link to "aljazeera.com" which has nothing to do with the entire Al-Jazeera Network (English or Arabic). The magazine you cited is run by an independent company based in London. This grave mistake once again unmasks the lack of understanding you have of such sources and issues, including the falsity of your claims of "being aware". One more thing, De Paul was the ONLY university Finkelstein had to leave, and that too because of his views, and the campaign against him by Dershowitz. De Paul didn't have a problem with his academics. If you didn't know, Professors often choose to teach at a various number of universities. The writing "most recently De Paul" is again proof of your use of fallacious arguments plus use of "quick glance at a Wiki" info.

The Comment Factory : George Galloway's ban from entering Canada is a travesty that we will fight

Wed, 8 Apr 2009 21:22:02 +0000

At:Forthright :- You are pretentious as you are absolutely ignorant. You don't know anything about the genocide my people faced. A mere glance at some Wikipedia page, and you start thinking you can lecture me about 1971 with your self-righteous sanctimonious tones. The US government supported Pakistan at the time, and also blocked a UN resolution condemning Pakistan (they did the same thing when Indonesia destroyed East Timor). Henry Kissinger also made sure that the US withheld the recognition of Bangladesh as long as they could after the war. Maybe you hate Kissinger too, but screw you for thinking you can throw some bloody figures at me about 1971. Bangladeshis died liberating their nation and the West's mainstream media (e.g. TIME magazine) portrays the Indians as the heroes and saviors. "The rise of the taliban and extremest Muslims in pakistan, which could be perceived as a direct threat towards him and his country." What do you think I am? Some Southerner? Unlike you I did not face a culture of indoctrination and fear mongering from a government that uses the term "terrorism" to control its people. You're a racist because Palestinian blood is cheap to you, and your visible hatred for Islam just goes to support that notion. Only a monster could make such comments about the footage of people suffering. "Islamic nationalist"??- I am a Muslim, period. Meaning I believe the Quran in its entirety, and so am bound to follow the laws in it. Laws which don't specify a particular system of government. It however gives ethical and moral guidelines that are a sufficient basis for the formation of just systems of governance. Neither did the Prophet Muhammad specify anything regarding the topic or mention a caliphate. The Palestinian cause isn't about religion to me. It's about HUMANITY. I realize that I was only born where I was and not in Gaza through luck, and I think about what I would want from the outside world if I was in their position. I came to Islam through rationality and discovery of incontrovertible proofs regarding the religion's validity. Irrationality is a symptom of arrogant ignorance which you display in abundance. You keep coloring people and nations however you want. At the end of the day your stubborn ignorance will be your downfall.

The Comment Factory : George Galloway's ban from entering Canada is a travesty that we will fight

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 14:33:18 +0000

An ordinary American who got enlightened--- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOvlYQvRYFE&fe... Please don't start with the numbers. I can't help saying this, but you sound like an utter moron when you try to bring down the numbers through some bizarre logic. I'm supposed to believe what the IDF said? Monsters who used white phosphorus(illegal in any combat situation) in an area like Gaza. You wanna do math. 1.5 million people(half of them children) stuck in 139 square miles, blockaded from all sides with no escape. Drop a bomb any kind(just one, not the hundreds by Israel in January).....what do you think happens genius? Wait, don't tell me, Israel uses magic bombs that only kill evil people right? The Gaza massacre is unique from other war scenarios because of the immediately prior history, size location, blockades, etc. It was like the IDF went to hunt in their self-run zoo. Policemen are civil servants. You take them out you destroy order in a society. You allow more rockets to be launched by distressed angry people. And the policemen they killed were taking part in their graduation ceremony. For your understanding, I'm not an Arab. Arab governments are BS. They have a unique way of ignoring pretty much everything, and they do not speak for their people. And that is why the US considers them good buddies. Who does the US dislike?...Democratically elected governments such as Iran and Hamas. You didn't have a reply for the what the multitude of Human Rights groups have reported about Gaza. You didn't watch the videos. If you did, and are still bringing up the arguments about numbers then you're one sick person. I was wrong, you're not an open minded person. You're one of those people who claim to be so by having slightly wider boundaries to personally acceptable ideas. Boundaries which seem much wider than those of the people around you. Consequently a false notion is created since you feel you are easily able to traverse the lefts and rights of the box. But ultimately you can't get out of that box.

The Comment Factory : George Galloway's ban from entering Canada is a travesty that we will fight

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:07:02 +0000

What about the Canadian media? Aren't they jumping on this or is it the same corporate farce they've got down south? Good luck with the legal action. The escort would be a stunning and inspirational act. Needless to say, if you guys do carry it out try making sure the global lenses are on it.

The Comment Factory : The Wilders case and the responsibility of free speech

Mon, 2 Mar 2009 09:04:11 +0000

It IS important. That is why it should not be abused. If a person is going to say "I hate you", they can scream it to the world , and no one's going to bother him. But if they say "I hate you BECAUSE........(so and so reasons)", then they are OBLIGED to show proof for those reasons. And since truth doesn't work when one man dictates everything, he has to listen and reply to the valid critique of those who disagree with him. Otherwise the liar can just get the loudest megaphone, and spread his lies totally unopposed. That equals propaganda. Which equals veiled fascism. Don't be so blind in defending freedom of speech that you actually infringe upon something more important---freedom of thought.

The Comment Factory : Section 76, which criminalizes taking pictures of the police in Britain, angers photojournalists and

Sun, 1 Mar 2009 17:45:10 +0000

Had no idea. Wonder how Orwell would have reacted at the thought of Big Brother taking over his homeland. Probably why he wrote the story. These laws seem like pretty scary prospects. Next thing you know expressing dissent will be regarded as inspiring terrorism. Sorry I can't help quoting the old line: Quis custodiet ipsos custodes-"Who watches the watchmen?"

The Comment Factory : If atheists are to win their battle, they must separate religious culture from religious dictates

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 10:27:24 +0000

Jesse, though it's a "disbelief", I think it's safe to say Atheism is your "religion". When you say you want to separate faith from state, you should see that you are in a way trying to impose your own "religion" into the working of the state. Religion has a strong connection with a lot of people as it tells them the purpose of life. Therefore, it is arrogant to assume it won't play a wide role in their lives. It's ultimately a matter of democracy, where the majority religion dictates (loudly or through undertones) the way some things work in society. Religious people of all faiths will insist that their religion is totally tolerant to others. And that's the problem you'll face. It's a utopian society that you're talking about. The type of change that you want to bring about first of all requires changes in the personal philosophy of the people. You'd have to first invalidate to everyone their religion by using logic. And if that's what you aim to do, then good luck to you mate. On the notion of having "typically quite insulated worldviews", I consider the people who have a foot on both boats to be hypocritical. Because they should either follow their religion fully, OR reject it if it has errors/practices that just doesn't make sense to them. Anyways, thank you for the debate, I learned a couple of things in the process.

The Comment Factory : If atheists are to win their battle, they must separate religious culture from religious dictates

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 20:12:13 +0000

Look, everyone knows Hitler was or claimed to be Christian. I used the term "leanings", by which I meant him and his Nazi counterparts were fascinated by the idea of scientific racism i.e. finding absolute logic on why the lives of non-Aryan or healthy people had lives that were of no value. Hitler himself was interested in eugenics along with racial hygiene which led to the commissioning of the later atrocities. And I'm hoping you didn't mean atheism has had no role in shaping day to day culture in communist societies. I didn't say people killed in the name of Atheism, but rather tried to point out the adverse effects secular mentality, especially the deadly cold blooded logic which does not hold the value of a lone human life as something special, has had on massive populations. And that's how it sorta works, and might in the future. Like you said, atheism isn't a unified philosophy or belief, it's just a "disbelief ". And its hard for people to unite around something like that. Mosques aren't used in most places for anything other than prayers. Marriages and other such riuals aren't carried out in it. So an atheist wouldn't have much to pass the time. And no one's going to ask you if you are an atheist and tell you to get out. As for apostasy, its only punishable by death in Saudi Arabia, and that too if you speak out ill against the religion you used to be a member of. And you might not get this, but to them it is the equivalent of betraying one's nation. And what do all nations do with traitors? That of course doesn't mean those actions are justified. But anyways I'm tired of sounding apologetic cause my comment still stands. You obviously see much of religion as having a cultural affair, but Islam is supposed to be a complete lifestyle which one lives by. Its not about going to mosques and celebrating Eid. Therein lies a big difference in our perceptions of religion

The Comment Factory : The BBC is taking sides by not showing humanitarian appeal

Thu, 5 Feb 2009 17:03:11 +0000

Mark Thompson's wife Jane Blumberg is a Zionist. They're on quite good terms with Ariel Sharon. Hmmm......and to think I doubted his non-sense about "impartiality"

The Comment Factory : Anti-Israeli polemics are propaganda, not scholarship

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:47:20 +0000

I really wish someone WAS doing Anti-Zionist propaganda. You wouldn't need to lie to do it. Zionism is racism. It certainly is not Judaism, which dictates there should not be a state of Israel until the coming of the Messiah.

The Comment Factory : Noam Chomsky on the US, Israel, and Gaza

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 19:42:12 +0000

The second point is a joke right?? You have got to be irreversibly brainwashed or blind,deaf and mute. What else did your government tell you? That Israel builds orphanages and hospitals for Palestine, or that Arabs learn how to kill Jews before they learn how to walk?

The Comment Factory : Noam Chomsky on the US, Israel, and Gaza

Thu, 8 Jan 2009 18:05:26 +0000

Aptly put Mr.Chomsky.