HoodooMan wrote:http://jonathanturley.org/2012/02/24/pennsylvania-judge-throws-out-charge-for-harassing-atheist-while-calling-the-victim-a-doofus/^The link from the yahoo story.
-The "application of Sharia law" stuff from yahoo was a fabricated layer of stupidity. That isn't happening here.
-If you watch the video in that link, the guy who was "assaulted" was clearly an enormous douche, and the "assault" didn't seem to consist of anything more than the guy grabbing at the douche's stupid sign.
-It might have been shitty judging, but in that situation I can see wanting to tell the guy to STFU and go away, no matter the convoluted logic it took to get me there.
From the article you linked, a quote from the judge in the courtroom during the hearing:
I don’t think you’re aware, Sir, there’s a big difference between how Americans practice Christianity – I understand you’re an atheist – but see Islam is not just a religion. It’s their culture, their culture, their very essence, their very being. They pray five times a day toward Mecca. To be a good Muslim before you die, you have to make a pilgrimage to Mecca, unless you’re otherwise told you cannot because you’re too ill, too elderly, whatever, but you must make the attempt. Their greeting is ‘Salam alaikum, wa-laikum as-Salam,’ uh, ‘May God be with you.’
Whenever it is very common, their language, when they’re speaking to each other, it’s very common for them to say, uh, Allah willing, this will happen. It’s, they’re so immersed in it. And what you’ve done is, you’ve completely trashed their essence, their being. They find it very, very, very offensive. I’m a Muslim. I find it offensive. I find what’s on the other side of this [sign] very offensive.
Again, just because the guy was dressed like zombie Muhammad and acting like a "douche", why does that make it ok to go after him? Can I go up to a car with a bumper sticker that I don't agree with and remove it, even though that isn't me "assulting" the person that has it? There are plenty of people I'd like to smack upside the head for being a douche, but that doesn't mean I can just walk up to Peeker and hit him.
To me, it seems like the judge is throwing out the case because he finds the insult to Islam to be offensive. Basing that on his words, and his words only. Doesn't seem to make sense, and certinaly doesn't seem to be legal grounds for dismissal. Like exiled says, I think most of us would like to beat the piss out of the Westboro maniacs, but the Supreme Court has held that their speech is protected.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves
-----Abe Lincoln
Let me tell you, if any of you douchebag empty headed stuffed suit nanny politicians tries to fuck with my bacon, I’m going after you like a crazed chimpanzee on bath salts.
-----Lars
