Tunnel Wall

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

When Drawing Muhammad, It Depends on Who Wields the Pen

Dan Gilmore


Winning cartoonist Bosch Fawstin

. . . "But instead of garnering the support of the Leftmedia — as it gave to Charlie Hebdo’s cartoonists and editors after the massacre at its offices, insincere as it was — the liberal talking heads turned on AFDI and said no one at the event had any right drawing Muhammad. Maybe it was because the Southern Poverty Law Center labeled AFDI an anti-Muslim hate group. Maybe it was because a good guy with a gun decided the final outcome of the day.
. . .
"Renald “Luz” Luzier drew Muhammad twice for the cover of Charlie Hebdo. When jihadists attacked his paper, killing his coworkers, he drew the figure again as a response to the terrorists who tried to silence him. . . . ”

"Both cartoonists had reasons to draw Muhammad. But now everyone is bickering over who has more of a right to draw the figure. When PBS’s Charlie Rose asked Charlie Hebdo’s film critic Jean-Baptiste Thoret to offer his opinion about the attacks in Garland, Thoret labeled AFDI’s images of Muhammad illegitimate because, unlike Charlie Hebdo, the group was making fun of only Muslims. Charlie Hebdo, on the other hand, lampoons everyone to advance a socialist political philosophy.
. . .
"Since Charlie Hebdo is also anti-Christian and anti-Jew, they’re in the clear.

"Thoret’s not the only progressive to justify the attacks against AFDI." . . .

ISIS VS. PAMELA GELLER: ‘Our Lions Will Achieve Her Slaughter’. . . " ISIS appears to declare war on anti-Muslim blogger Pamela Geller on Tuesday in an ominous online message claiming it has fighters across America ready to attack “any target we desire.”. . .

That Garland police officer's name should be "Harry"

HE PUSHED FORWARD: Brave Garland Police Officer Advanced As He Brought Down Garland Terrorists "More details are beginning to emerge about the incompetent Islamic terrorist attack on a free speech event held by the American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI) in Garland, Texas Sunday. Bearing Arms readers have asked for more details about how the actual shooting went down, and about the Garland police officer who used his duty sidearm to defeat two attackers armed with rifles within 15 seconds.

"Please keep in mind that we don’t have all the details about the attack, the individual officer’s response, or the exact steps law enforcement took once the attack began, and that even if we had that information, we would withhold such details which may be useful for any other would-be terrorists attempting future attacks.

"That said, we will provide analysis of some key pieces of publicly available information." . . .

Texas officer saved lives in shooting outside Muhammad cartoon contest, police say
"A Texas traffic cop saved untold lives Sunday night when he took down two heavily armed men bent on storming a building where a 'Draw the Prophet' Muhammad contest was taking place, killing both before they could make their way inside.

"The police officer, who has not been identified by Garland Police Department officials, "probably saved lives," said police spokesman Joe Harn, who added that "his reaction, and his shooting with a pistol, he did a good job.' " . . .

Does Islam Prohibit Drawing Mohammed?

By Tarek Fatah; Middle East Forum

"The soldiers of Allah have struck again. On Monday, Elton Simpson, a convert to Islam and his Pakistani-American partner, Nadir Soofi, attacked a convention centre in Garland, Texas, where 200 people were attending a contest to draw cartoons of Prophet Mohammed.

"Thanks to a quick-thinking traffic police officer, both men, carrying assault rifles, were shot dead in a 15-second exchange of gunfire that left an unarmed security officer injured.

"Islamic clerics in Texas denounced the terror attack, but also called on Muslims "not to be baited" into anger. The hint behind this message was that contest organizer Pamela Geller had provoked Muslims into acting violently.

"At the root of Muslim protestations is the false belief that Islam prohibits the depiction of Prophet Mohammed. There is no prohibition on creating images of Prophet Mohammed in the Qur'an. Up until the 14th century; such depictions were common in the non-Arab Muslim world. On my website, www.tarekfatah.com, I have posted many depictions of Prophet Mohammed, drawn mostly by Muslim artists. Even if it were true that such depictions were prohibited, the prohibition would not be applicable to non-Muslims." . . .
. . .
"Geller is no saint and is a polarizing figure when it comes to relations between Muslims and the West. But dismissing her as a hate-monger is not going to stop ISIS from attacking those of us who cherish free speech. It's time to choose sides; it's time to stand with Voltaire."

Tarek Fatah is a founder of the Muslim Canadian Congress, a columnist at the Toronto Sun, and a Robert J. and Abby B. Levine Fellow at the Middle East Forum. He is the author of two award-winning books: Chasing a Mirage: The Tragic Illusion of an Islamic State and The Jew is Not My Enemy: Unveiling the Myths that Fuel Muslim Anti-Semitism.

Cartoonists are Controversial and Murderers are Moderate
. . . "A contest in which Bosch Fawstin, an ex-Muslim, drew a cartoon of a genocidal warlord is “controversial” and “provocative”, while the MSA, which has invited Sheikh Khalid Yasin, who has inspired a number of terrorists, including apparently one of the Mohammed contest attackers, is a legitimate organization that is only criticized by controversial, intolerant and provocative Islamophobes." . . .

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Watch This Color Footage Of Berlin Immediately After World War II

The end of Nazi rule is featured in this most excellent opening theme to "Judgment at Nuremberg", "Wenn Wir Marschieren" (When we March).
Quite interesting is that the final dramatic scene showing the giant swastika being dynamited has been cut out of most videos of this. Not to offend any Nazis out there perhaps? Watch it explode here

(Interesting side note is that Jewish Werner Klemperer, who played Colonel Klink in Hogan's heroes portrays one of the most evil characters in this movie.")

Buzzfeed "The color video captures a slice of life in the German capital just two months after the fall of the Nazis."

Truly amazing how the Germans cleaned up their city in such a short time. Imagine if New Orleans had been a German city after Hurricane Katrina.

"Seventy years ago this Friday, the Allies celebrated “V-E Day” — victory in Europe over the Nazis and the rest of the [European] Axis powers."

Seventy years ago this Friday, the Allies celebrated "V-E Day" — victory in Europe over the Nazis and the rest of the Axis powers.

New Yorkers on V-E Day

"Ahead of the anniversary, German historical film company Chronos Media published on its YouTube channel a compilation of life in Germany just two months after the fall of Adolf Hitler."

. . . "And the destruction just keeps on going, in a somber final tracking shot, a reminder of the cost that the war carried for so many."
. . .
" You can watch the entire seven-minute video here."

Water-Wasting Fines of Up to $10.000 Proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown

San Jose Mercury-News "Residents and businesses could soon face that threat after Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday unveiled legislation that would increase potential penalties on the most flagrant water scofflaws and allow cities, counties and water districts to issue fines without having to go to court.

" 'As this drought stretches on, we'll continue to do whatever is necessary to help communities save more water," Brown said after meeting with California mayors, including San Jose's Sam Liccardo and Oakland's Libby Schaaf." . . .
Hat tip to Harley Standlee; Placerville, CA

The Clintons and their cash

The Clintons versus the Hobbs Act ..."AT was right on top of the Clinton money scandal, explaining recently that author Peter Schweizer is properly citing the Gov. McDonnell precedent for gift-taking criminality even where no actual quid pro quo is proven. Not that anyone in the current administration is looking very hard.
"If anything, the McDonnell case is far less egregious than what the Clintons have been doing. A closer look at the laws reveal why.
. . .
"Of course, I am sure the Obama Justice Department has a full schedule of race-baiting taking up all its time the next year and a half, so nothing official will happen to the Clintons for now. But if we do get a Republican president, the statute of limitations is five years, which should suffice to allow a prosecution."

Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2015/05/the_clintons_versus_the_hobbs_act.html#ixzz3ZHtZJ7Ba

Bill Clinton: Accountant to Blame for Not Disclosing Foreign Donations on Taxes

"Bill Clinton is blaming the Clinton Foundation's accountants for not disclosing the acceptance of foreign donations on tax documents filed with the I.R.S. The former president made the comments in an interview with NBC:" . . .

Team Hillary prepares 'Clinton Cash' response "Hillary Clinton's (D) presidential campaign is launching a website to counter the release of Clinton Cash, new book that raises questions about donations to the family’s foundation while she was secretary of State.
"Clinton campaign Chairman John Podesta announced the effort — dubbed "The Briefing" — in a post to the publishing platform Medium.
"Podesta linked the site to the release of "Clinton Cash," a book that raises questions about the Clinton family's finances but that critics say is a partisan strike against Clinton's campaign." . . .

Obama needs to tell black young men that cops are not the problem

Silvio Canto, Jr. "Let me salute all of the police officers from coast to coast who protect us and put their lives on the line every single day.
"Over the weekend, we learned that another police officer was shot. We learned yesterday that he is dead.
"Sadly, there won't be any marches on behalf of this officer.
"Since Ferguson, we've seen this mad assault on the police. It comes as part of a false narrative that white police officers are out to kill black young men.
"President Obama has a duty and responsibility to address this madness. He can start by addressing the nation and speaking a few truths about the police and black young men.
"First, he can quote Politifact, referencing Juan Williams:

According to the CDC, homicide was indeed the No. 1 killer of black men between the ages of 15 and 34 in 2011. Accidents ranked second in causes of death, and suicide claimed the third amount of black male lives between 15 and 24 years old, while heart disease ranked third for men 24-34. [snip]
Compared to other ethnicities, the numbers really stand out. Forty percent of African-American males 15-34 who died were murdered, according to the CDC, compared to just 3.8 percent of white males who died. Overall, 14 percent of all men 15-34 who died in 2011 were murdered.
In 2011, black males 15-34 were 10 times more likely to die of murder than whites of the same age group.

"Second, he can tell black young men that they have a behavior problem. You can't get a good job if you don't graduate from school.
"Third, he can call on black men to raise their children. Over the weekend, John Blake posted a great commentary about a big missing piece in Baltimore:

We hear about the absence of black men from families, but what happens when they disappear from an entire community? West Baltimore delivered the answer to that question this week.
It's no accident that one of the most enduring images from the riot was a young mother spanking her son as she dragged him away from the protests. Where were the men in his life?
As I walked through my old streets, it was filled with nothing but black young women, children and teenage boys. It was as if an alien spaceship had come in the night and spirited all the older black men away.

"President Obama is uniquely qualified to make this point. He is a successful black man, a husband, and the father of two young women.
"It's up to him to make the case that the war on cops will not address the problems in the black community. On the contrary, the war on cops will mean less investment (jobs) and more unsafe streets for the people living in these communities.

Yet Another ObamaCare Promise Bites The Dust As ER Visits Spike

Investors.com "One of the key selling points of ObamaCare was that it was supposed to cut back on the overuse of expensive emergency rooms for routine care.
"The argument seemed to make sense. The uninsured can't afford to see a doctor, so they put off health care as long as they can, then head to the ER knowing that they won't have to pay.

" 'It's why those of us with health insurance are also paying a hidden and growing tax for those without it — about $1,000 per year that pays for somebody else's emergency room," President Obama explained in his 2009 speech to Congress on a government takeover of health care.

"By expanding insurance coverage, ObamaCare would cut this waste." . . .

Read More: http://news.investors.com/blogs-capital-hill/050415-750897-emergency-room-visits-spike-since-obamacare.htm#ixzz3ZHKYks4F

Islamic State claims responsibility for Texas attack outside Muhammad cartoon show

WaPo

"The Islamic State claimed responsibility Tuesday for the thwarted attack outside a prophet Muhammad cartoon contest near Dallas, threatening to carry out “worse and more bitter” violence on American soil.

"The authenticity of the claim — announced on a Syria-based radio station operated by the militant group — could not be immediately verified.

"U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, suspect that the Islamic State did not direct the attack, but theorize the gunmen were inspired by the terrorist group’s propaganda, which includes an online English-language magazine. In recent months, the FBI has charged several people with alleged attempts to stage attacks in the United States.

"Sunday’s shootout in Texas represented the first time the Islamic State has announced links to a high-profile attack in the United States.

“ 'Two soldiers … of the caliphate attacked an exhibit in Garland in American Texas, and this exhibit was holding a contest for drawings offensive to the prophet Muhammad,” the militant group said on its al-Bayan radio station, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors radical factions around the world." . . .

. . . "The winner of the cartoon contest was Bosch Fawstin, a New York native born to Albanian Muslim immigrants. His entry featured a scowling, turbaned Muhammad saying: “You can’t draw me!”

"At the bottom of the cartoon he wrote: “That’s why I draw you.”

"The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for dozens of major attacks and slayings in Europe, North Africa and elsewhere. In October, a gunman shot and killed a ceremonial guard at a soldiers memorial in the Canadian capital of Ottawa before storming the nearby Parliament building, where he was fatally shot. Some investigators described the attacker as a potential “lone wolf” militant inspired by the Islamic State, but Canadian officials later said there were no credible links to the group."

On race relations today. . .

Poll: Race relations at their worst point since 1992
. . . " 2012 was a year in which the president inflamed tensions around the death of a Florida teen that was presumed to be a racially-inspired homicide. Only a year later was the victim of that teen’s assault vindicated by a criminal jury. It was a year when the Supreme Court was determined to be a willing participant in a racial conspiracy after they ruled that a 47-year-old law was hopelessly dated and violated the principles of federalism." . . .

. . . "It required substantial agitating by a professional class of provocateurs to create the conditions that finally led to violence in America’s streets."

Again, I must say that in frequent dealings with African-Americans in my community and in my church, I have experienced nothing but grace and friendliness from them. It leads one to think that there is some embarrassment over the evil things we all see in our society caused by this racial friction; that we want others to know we are all better than the Sharpton-Wright- Farrakhan Axis. TD

The logical outcome of the Sharpton-types being: ANOTHER BLACK MAN KILLS A COP

“It’s with great regret and sadness that we announce the passing of New York City Police Officer Brian Moore. Shield number 469. New York City police officer, hero of the city, killed in the line of duty,’’ Police commissioner Bratton told reporters outside the hospital.

. . . " Well it has happened again, another black man kills a cop, but where is the outrage, where are the protests, is there an epidemic of blacks killing cops in this country? I don’t expect to see any outrage or protests, because in today’s upside down society the criminal, the bad guy, is the one that seems to get all the sympathy, the cops, the good guys, are the one’s being treated like the criminals." . . .

New York City Police Officer Brian Moore is seen in an undated picture released by the New York City Police Department. Moore, 25, a plainclothes police officer shot in the head over the weekend has died of his wounds, local media reported.

"Here is a novel idea for the black leaders, instead of protesting when a black criminal dies, why don’t you teach young black men not to be criminals. Communities would be safer, jails would not be over crowded and lives would be saved. Making martyrs out of criminals will only make way for more criminals."

Rev. Al expresses anger over the murder of this police officer. Um, what? Wait. Oops, my mistake.

Al Jazeera takes note of the police shootings

The Hot Air article above closes with this positive quote:

. . . Despite the best efforts of a class of professional agitators, racial progress is quantifiable. That is not to say that racism is not an issue, racial progress is never stifled by its adversaries, or that racial disparities have entirely disappeared or perhaps ever will. There are persistent inequalities of outcomes among the races that should anger every American, and many of them are perpetuated by a cast of well-meaning public servants in Washington. Perhaps perfect racial equality and harmony is a utopian goal that will never be achieved. But those who contend that race relations have not improved with historically atypical alacrity lack the evidence to support this contention.

IS claims responsibility for Texas cartoon attack

ISIS claims responsibility for Garland jihad attack, making Pamela Geller a target
"Pamela Geller is apparently on the hit list of ISIS. French press agency AFP reports that ISIS is claiming responsibility for the attack on the Draw Muhammad cartoon competition in Garland, Texas:

"Two of the soldiers of the caliphate executed an attack on an art exhibit in Garland, Texas, and this exhibit was portraying negative pictures of the Prophet Mohammad," the jihadi group said.
"We tell America that what is coming will be even bigger and more bitter, and that you will see the soldiers of the Islamic State (ISIS) do terrible things," the group announced.
It marked the first time the extremist group, which has captured swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq, claimed to have carried out an attack in the U.S.

"Pamela, a longtime AT contributor, is no shrinking violet. She has announced that she wants to have more such events. " Video at the link

"ISIS can be expected to plan and attempt to carry out more attacks. We are in a battle of wills. Pamela has baited the trap. Will the Obama administration rise to the challenge? It is an opportunity to take down ISIS."

ISIS in America and the Importance of the Second Amendment . . . "Any discussion about the Second Amendment must take seriously the Islamic threat. The Second Amendment is not about hunting; it’s about defending ourselves from threats of force.

"Consider the following from Breitbart. “Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), sent a message to his fellow Sunni supporters to commemorate the Muslim holiday of Ramadan.

"Baghdadi wrote:

“Soon, by Allah’s permission, a day will come when the Muslim will walk everywhere as a master, having honor, being revered, with his head raised high and his dignity preserved. Anyone who dares to offend him will be disciplined, and any hand that reaches out to harm him will be cut off."

Read more at Godfather Politics

First attack on US soil. Well, except for Boston; Oklahoma and, well...

Sorry about the commercial before this next video.

MAAMOUN YOUSSEF via Drudge "CAIRO (AP) -- The Islamic State group claimed responsibility on Tuesday for a weekend attack at a center near Dallas, Texas, that was exhibiting cartoon depictions of the Prophet Muhammad - though it offered no evidence of a direct link to the attackers.

"An audio statement on the extremist group's Al Bayan radio station said that "two soldiers of the caliphate" carried out Sunday's attack and promised the group would deliver more attacks in the future.

. . .

"It was also unclear from the statement whether the group, which has captured large swaths of territory in Syria and Iraq, had an actual hand in the operation, or whether the two suspects had pledged allegiance to the group and then carried out the attack on their own.

"The suspects have been identified by officials as Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi. They opened fire on an unarmed security officer stationed outside the contest center featuring cartoons of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad." . . .