Sunday, March 23, 2003

Despair

A few years ago, I lived in the UK for a bit. While I was there, there was a nationally prominent case about a young girl who was lost, later found to be kidnapped, raped, and murdered. Horribly sad story. It understandably set off nationwide outrage and panic about pedophiles, egged on by the tabloids.

As I said, understandable. Horrible crime, horrible murder, genuince concern. But, the nation was whipped into a frenzy with moronically tragic results.

Enraged by events, residents of a local town decided to take justice into their own hands. Responding to what had happened, they burned down the house of the local pediatrician, as they were somewhat confused about the difference between pedophile and pediatrician.


On a related note, feel the love:



The only speaker [at a pro-war rally] who received a hostile reception was N. Ruby Zigrino, a Muslim from Minneapolis. She was initially cheered when she said she supports "ousting a tyrant regime."

But she then read passages from the Qur'an, suggested that a new Marshall Plan will be needed in Iraq, and said administration officials should study foreign-policy failures to avoid repeating them.

Her listeners responded with boos and shouts of "Screw Muslims!" "Screw the Qur'an!" and "Go home!"

A turnout of 25,000 was mentioned more than once from the podium, but it was closer to 16,000 to 17,000, according to a count by the Star Tribune that was verified by the Minnesota State Patrol.