Rosie O'Donnell: "Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam..."

[CuppaJoe]

Re: Rosie O'Donnell: "Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam...

But the fact of the matter is many of these gay Bush ass-kissers are more or less women. Rosie isn't a detriment to the gay community. Those who prefer being treated like shit IS, however. And I don't consider these people part of the gay community. I consider them as shit. Like many people against Rosie in this thread - And they need to be flushed.

Nobody should accept being treated as less valuable than any other person. And nobody should force being treated this way upon the gay community (especially from other gay people). If you think of yourself like this, there's a thing called suicide - do it.

There's nothing worse than an anti-gay gay, who bitches when a gay person is sticking up for your faggoty ass.

I was hoping this would be an intelligent discussion, but when you make statements like this, and then put someone on ignore so that they can't make a response, it's no different from a child on the playground running up behind you, hitting you in the back, and then running off again before you can defend yourself. Inflammatory remarks like those add nothing to a discussion.

Back to Rosie: Another note on her Tom Selleck interview: She caught him unawares. He had come on the show to plug his movie, and then she ambushed him with the NRA questions, for which had not prepared any remarks. Later, it was revealed that Rosie's own bodyguard had applied for a concealed weapon permit. She, however, explained that the guard is unarmed, though trained in self-defense techniques. However, I doubt any bodyguard worth his salt isn't going to carry a weapon of some sort, especially to protect someone as controversial as Rosie O'Donnell.

But all of that is OLD news...

To get to more current issues, the recent reaction to the pope's remarks has outraged Muslims. Even with apologies from the pope, there has been outrage with effigy burning and just this morning, more than a half dozen churches in Palestine were firebombed and burned. Ancient religious artifacts and paintings were collected in the street and burned. Radical Islam at work...

As for Radical Christianity, I cannot remember the last time Jimmy Swaggart, Jerry Falwell or one of their henchmen kidnapped and decapitated "an unbeliever or homosexual" for being 'infidels' to the Christian faith, or for political differences, for that matter. Apparently in Rosie's weird little corner of the universe, these kind of atrocities happen so frequently that ultra-conservative Christianity is simply just like radical Islam.

As for invading Afghanistan and Iraq, we were looking for Al Qaeda terrorists at the time. Also, Saddam Hussein had refused to cooperate with weapons inspectors. It was clear he had used them before. Would he use them again? Even now, he is on trial for genocide against his own people. Who's to say he wouldn't have hesitated to use them against us?

Everyone wants to blame Bush. Every one wants to blame Clinton. Does everyone remember how after September 11th, there were no Republicans or Democrats, no Liberals or Moderates or Conservatives - we were all Americans. Remember how proud so many of us were to be called Americans?

Have we forgotten the horrible images of 9/11? The planes crashing into the towers, people jumping from the top floors, the collapse of the towers, the roiling smoke and dust as it pushed its way between the buildings while terrified hundreds ran in front of it, the newsreel images of Palestinians dancing in the streets...

Now, I fear that while we are all squabbling like children on the playground, we're going to be dealt another "hit and run" blow from terrorists again. Recent events (the failed attempted bombings of passenger planes over the Atlantic) shows that they haven't given up on the idea.

People talk about World War III like it's some future event... I think it's already here...

 

[springboksfan]

Re: Rosie O'Donnell: "Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam...

As for Radical Christianity, I cannot remember the last time Jimmy Swaggart, Jerry Falwell or one of their henchmen kidnapped and decapitated "an unbeliever or homosexual" for being 'infidels' to the Christian faith, or for political differences, for that matter. Apparently in Rosie's weird little corner of the universe, these kind of atrocities happen so frequently that ultra-conservative Christianity is simply just like radical Islam.

Oh dear lord! Must you take it to the literal extreme? "Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam in a country like America." What I hear her saying is that radical, fundamental ideas such as those espoused by our friends Fred Phelps, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson are just as dangerous as those of Osama and his ilk. After all, ideas lead people to action.

It amazes me how people have refused to learn from the history of their own religion--or worse, whitewash it. It's as bad as denying the Holocaust, IMHO! Have you people forgotten a little place called Ireland? Remember Kosovo? What stops that sort behavior from happening here? Nothing. Let us not forget the wave of assaults against anyone believed to resemble an "Arab" in the days immediately after September 11, 2001.

 

[NedNickerson]

Re: Rosie O'Donnell: "Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam...

NED:

You made a statement that simply isn't true. To wit:

O’Donnell then added that Iraq and Afghanistan “never threatened to kill us.”
What?!?!? Earth to O’Donnell... The purpose of al Qaeda, a group interwoven into the ruling Taliban, is the destruction of the American way of life. In Iraq, on numerous occasions, Saddam Hussein threatened America.

Ned, the 9/11 Commission--a bipartisan one--found that there were no links between Iraq/Saddam Hussein and the events of 9/11. None.

Didn't you know this?

Besides, I heard Bush say at a news conference that there was no link. He finally admitted it.

I agree with Rosie O'Donnell. When you have radical Christians--and I emphasize the word "radical"--who're bombing abortion clinics and calling for the death penalty for gay people (and who have bumperstickers saying,"Kill a fag for Jesus") you have a real-live, home-grown Christian Taliban.

I never said anything about Saddam Hussein and 9/11.... I was referring to Saddam's refusal to allow UN weapon inspectors to look for weapons of mass destruction prior to September 11 and afterwards, and the fact that Saddam had used such weapons against his own citizens in previous years...

As for Rosie, she's going to find herself alienating many Christians and Catholics by her statements. She may find the only religion that will embrace her will be the Muslims. I wonder how she'll like wearing a burkha...?

 

[Lube]

Re: Rosie O'Donnell: "Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam...

On the September 12th edition of "The View," ...

O’Donnell saved her harshest comments for the war on terror. After Hasselbeck mentioned the threat of extreme Islam, Rosie responded with her slap at Christianity:

O’Donnell: "Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam in a country like America."

What I don't understand is people here taking her quote and then saying it's wrong because radical Muslims killed--and want to kill--people, but that radical Christians haven't killed anyone in the US lately.

Since when is the only definition of "threatening" being the number of humans killed in a particular time period in a particular country?

Aren't words threatening? Aren't actions? Aren't unspoken desires? Isn't protesting gay funerals threatening? Starting of wars? Economic suppression of other peoples and countries?

There are lots of things that are threatening, and radical Muslims hardly have the market cornered.

Rosie couldn't be more right in her statement.

 

[CuppaJoe]

May I just ask everyone to turn on the television and watch the news coverage of what's going on with the Muslim's outrage over the Pope's statement last week and tell me if you've ever seen coverage even remotely comparable to that over anything that Fred Phelps or Jerry Falwell said...?

Does anyone know if Rosie ever mentioned Fred Phelps or Jerry Falwell in her statements...? Is that her definition of a radical Christian? Ok, then I'll say this with all honesty: As a gay American, I feel MUCH. MUCH less threatened by Jerry Falwell and Fred Phelps than I do by some of the radical Islamists and Muslims I've seen on television. Jerry Falwell and Fred Phelps may hate me because I'm gay, but the radical Islamist hates me because I'm not a Muslim. It doesn't matter to him if we're gay or straight, black or white, American, British, or any other nationality on the face of the earth. To them, we all are infidels and must be destroyed... And they won't hesitate to kill themselves if they believe they can kill us as well...

That's the new war we are fighting now. Not just in the United States, but all over the world now...

 

[springboksfan]

What a lovely first post, Spunk. Perhaps you could clean up your mouth as well.

 

[Homoaffectional]

Rosie has had the privilege of being a lesbian woman raising a son in America. Does she not realise how quickly she would be prosecuted, if not executed by radical Islamists for attempting to enjoy the same privilege?

Why hasn't Rosie said anything about that...?

Um... HELLO? I would say she *JUST* did!

O’Donnell: "Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam in a country like America."

In other words -- they *BOTH* SUCK! That's what she said. You're trying to completely lie about what she said in an attempt to try to get her to give extremist Christianity a pass while going after fundementalist Islam. She ain't hearing it, dear. She's gonna go after both, no matter how much bullshit is being spewed that she's only going after one, when her statement clearly belies that assertion.

 

[mexamor]

Why does an argument always devolve into "go to ... and see what it is like" or worse "if you don't like it then ..."?

First of all, very few of us have ever been to ... and where do we come off telling everyone who disagrees with us to leave? It is such utter nonsence. It is like a 7 year old saying, "fine I wont play with you".

When did we lose the ability to engage in honest disagreement and debat about the issuse that we face? How can we begin to solve problems if we yell at each other instead of listening?

On Rosies statement, I sort of agree. But Fred Phelps is not killing yet he is very hateful. Fundamental whatevers tend to worry me. You can't talk to them becuase 1 they are right, 2 God told them they are right and 3 They are the only ones going to heaven or whatever.

I disagree with her on leaving Iraq. I hate the war, I hate Georgie Porgies arogance to initiate the war and I find his ideology on making war unexcusable. He is in my opinion the absolute worst president than even LBJ. But...

We now have an obligation to finish what we started and do the best we can by the Iraqui people. there is now too much at stake for our country.

Too bad George didn't read Clauswitz before all of this started.

 

[glo-unit]

The point should be radical everything is extremely threatening, as mentioned before what about Christian who bomb abortion clinic and murder doctors who perform abortion, what about Waco Texas, what about everything in the past when Christians have murdered anyone who was not one of them. I don't care if you considered them Christian just because used violence. They considered themselves Christians and said they were doing God's work.

While I disagree with Rosie and she may have gone to far that doesn't change that what she said is correct that Radical Christianity is just as horrible as radical Islam. People will continue using religions to spread hate as long as they can the best thing we can is make sure the true message of most religions is seen, Peace and love. Just because radical Christians haven't killed people lately doesn't mean the day will not come where once again people will be horrible murdered by people claiming they are doing God's work. What all religions should do is come together and denounce anyone who has ever or will ever use their God to commit atrocities.

I know many Muslims in the US who denounce terrorism in all its forms One of them even served in the 1st gulf war and she knows just how much people use hate and fear to spread their sickening message. She is also much more eloquent in this message but I'm trying my best. She prays the time soon ends when her religion is no longer used for warmongering, she also hopes when this is over all Muslims will not be victimized for what a few did. Seeing this thread shows why she is often angry at the ignorance of the world, it also reinforces me thoughts at just how pathetic humanity can be at times.

PS. Sorry for the long rant.

 

[miatajeff]

Rosie Rocks!

but I still wouldn't watch the view....even for her --blech!

 

[NameTaken]

The war AND Rosie both suck!

 

[wentworth]

Re: Rosie O'Donnell: "Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam...

What a lovely first post, Spunk. Perhaps you could clean up your mouth as well.

Hahaha! Don't hold back now...Haha!

 

[wentworth]

Re: Rosie O'Donnell: "Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam...

As if Rosie was ever going to be popular with Christians and Catholics. In fact, they should have known that Rosie wasn't going to be just another voice chiming in her support for Bush at that table. Rosie has never been one to sit silently and bite her tongue if she had something to say. They had to have known this and they invited her onto that show. If they just wanted another automaton, they had plenty of other choices. Rosie is going to speak her mind whereever she goes. That's just the way she is.

Additionally, you make it sound as if the only people in America are religious folk. Certainly at the moment, most folks are religious but there are plenty of atheists as well. It wouldn't surprise me if all religions eventually start to lose their stranglehold on humanity. I think it should be them who should worry about alienating everyone else. Let's not forget it was religion that started this whole thing in the first place. Yes, it was a radical form of Islam but it could just as easily be a radical form of any other religion. This is what I think people fail to understand. Any religion can be twisted into something very dangerous. All it takes is someone with the motive and a significant number of people looking for something to believe in and/or something to fight against. Nobody should really have to explain this to a gay person. I would think it would be common sense.

Tick, tick, tick...
Good thing nobody ever predicted that before. There will always be more religious people in the world than not.

 

[KennyD]

^ Not nearly as much as Radical Republicianism ..... How many American boys and girls have died for those Invisible Weapons of Mass Destruction ?

 

[zoltanspawn]

Just_Believe18
Wrong.

http://www.afa.net/Petitions/Issuedetail.asp?id=214
This is from the American Family Assocation.

Before this thread was even posted, they've been on the rampage. Now they are organizing another boycott/apology demand on ABC. The point of this is to show that Rosie O'Donnel is inflamming and polarizing sides here. News stories have released information stating the average American is becoming more tolerant and accepting of homosexuals again.

But what happens, when you have organizations like these (who are constantly bashing homosexuals) finding justification through a public homosexual icon belching there is nothing different between "Radical Christians" and "Radical Muslims?" I'll tell you what happens. This is one more reason for anti-gay organizations like the American "Family" Assocation, to keep other Americans scared, threatened, and angry at homosexuals. In essence, we lose ground with legislators and voters. Its another setback for us all

So, when a loud and pushy woman utters a provocative opinion, does it color your view of all women? What about minorities? When a latino says something polarizing, does it inform your view of latinos in general?

I think folks separate the two, individual from group. At least, folks worth worrying about.

CuppaJoe May I just ask everyone to turn on the television and watch the news coverage of what's going on

Which channel?

 

[james1200]

she's kinda right...the only reason that radical christianity is actually NOT as dangerous as radical islam is that the christians are, for now, thankfully kept in check by our constitution so they can't set up the christian theocracy that they would so love to. i say, fuck em both in the ass.

 

[NickCole]

Re: Rosie O'Donnell: "Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam...

Tick, tick, tick...
Good thing nobody ever predicted that before. There will always be more religious people in the world than not.

That may or may not be true but it doesn't necessarily speak well of religion or those who are religious. I know that every gay basher I've ever heard of is religious. Talk to someone who's bigoted, ask them if they're religious and they'll say yes. Have a conversation with a warmonger, ask him if he's religious and he'll say yes. Those are not coincidences.

And it's interesting to whom religion appeals.

Religion is much more important to Americans than to people living in other wealthy nations. Six-in-ten (59%) people in the U.S. say religion plays a very important role in their lives. This is roughly twice the percentage of self-avowed religious people in Canada (30%), and an even higher proportion when compared with Japan and Western Europe. Americans’ views are closer to people in developing nations than to the publics of developed nations.

http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=167

Furthermore, not surprising, those who scored as most religious tended to have low science scores.

I'm not saying religion is bad or appeals only to ignorant backward people, but I am saying that religiosity is a complex matter, and both Christianity and Islam --the two largest religious groups in the world today-- are used by people looking for community and love, and also by people looking for a way to justify their bitterness, disappointment and anger. Radicals in both religions tend to be threatening and are attracted to destruction and violence.

 

[jkirk3000]

Re: Rosie O'Donnell: "Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam...

First, don't give my opinion any more weight than anyone else's simply because of the bold blue title under my name.

Second, Rosie said that radical Christianity is as much of a thread in America as radical Islam. She is absolutely correct. Any and all fundamentalist religions that show no tolerance for differing views is dangerous. Witness Katherine Harris and her conviction that only Christians--her view of what comprises a Christian, mind you--should be elected to Congress. Witness George W Bush and his "crusade" against the "axis of evil." Witness Fred Phelps and his crusade against faggotry. Witness the "Christian soldier" who shoots and kills abortion providers because it is "God's will." Witness Andrea Yates. Witness any bigoted person who believes himself superior simply because he considers himself a "Christian," one of the "chosen ones," the "true believers" and acts accordingly.

Third, Rosie is once again correct in that the United States has invaded two sovereign nations in an un-winnable "war on terror." Meanwhile, the Bush Administration is routinely using terror-inducing techniques to squelch any resistance to their agenda and message. How many times did that little colour-coded warning thing change colors before the 2004 elections? How many since? (And does anyone even pay attention to it anymore? Why haven't blue or green ever been used?) Bush and his minions harp constantly on how much we're all still at risk for another terror strike on our soil--yet, no real evidence has been presented to confirm those talking points (can't count the recent British airline debacle--that would have occurred over the Atlantic, thus not on American soil).

Fourth, Rosie is--must I repeat myself again? apparently, yes--correct again in that the American invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan has killed hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians. Is that payback enough for our own 3000 dead? Oh, of course killing all those civilians wasn't intentional. They're "expendable losses and collateral damage" sustained in a war. They're to be expected but not mourned over. Interesting. It would appear the Osama bin-Laden would consider himself at war with the United States. Therefore, our 3000 dead are nothing more than "expendable losses and collateral damage."

You see, for every argument and action, there are three sides. Your perspective, that of the other person, and the objective truth. Unfortunately, this is one of those situations where the objective truth is ignored by everyone.


Current Christian doctrine is much more subtle than "kill all the infidels." Yet, it wasn't so long ago that the Requiremento of the Spanish Conquistadors was given full support by the Pope. How long ago were witches, adulterers, etc., burned at the stake? As for the Church declaring "war on anybody" need I remind you of the Crusades? That was actual warfare, but are many other examples of "warfare" by the Church. However, I think my point is made already.


Can you honestly say there is not a mirror segment in the West that desires the destruction of Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and all things Muslim, etc? "Christian soldiers" are simply more subtle, eg. "Missions" instead of "Crusades."


A little paranoid, don't you think? I know many more peace-loving Muslims than radical ones, just as I know many more peace-loving Christians than radical ones. You're buying into the propaganda Bush has been catapulting. Open your eyes. Learn on your own. Research. Read your history. Expand your mind.


Clearly, you're still taking only the best of what you believe and juxtaposing it against the worst of what you fear. Try a little intellectual honesty instead of repeating the Republican talking points. Take an anthropology and/or history class.

Now, ahem, as I said before, "Go Rosie!"

Sorry for the delayed response - I don't get to my computer much over the weekend.

First, I do not gave you any more weight than any other poster because you are a moderator. I used you as an example.

Second, radical Christians appear in our society as individuals taking individual acts. None of the individuals cited leads an army or even represents a point of view that they wish to impose by means of violence on others. Are you suggesting that since their opinions are offensive to you that we censor them? While I don't agree with Christian Fundamentalists, I support their right as I support Rosie's right to express their opinions. And I'm not sure how the George Bush campaign against the "axis of evil" fits in with this - GW's statement wasn't about religion, but about countries that foster terrorism and he perceives represent a threat to us.

Third, you state that the war on terror is unwinnable. So, we surrender? We aren't supposed to fight back? Afghanistan was the staging area for attacks that took 3000 lives - are we supposed to turn our cheek? Invite Osama to tea? War was delcared on us by Al Qada. Al Qada was hiding in Afghanistan while training more terrorists. To not act would have been unacceptable. As to Iraq, we can debate this forever. GW relied upon evidence suggesting that Iraq was a threat with WMD's. He acted to prevent another 9/11 pre-emptively. He was wrong, and the intelligence was wrong. But what if he had been correct and not acted? What if Saddam had developed WMD's and then passed down a nasty cocktail or two to Al Qada that resulted in more mass deaths?

I resent the implication that I just repeat Republican talking points, and have no intellectual honesty. I am well aware of the history you cite. We learn from history. As it is said, those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it's mistakes.

I am not paranoid - yet, it seems you are paranoid that we are about to be overwhelmed by a Christian Fundamental revolution. I see no signs of it. In fact, just the opposite. Our society has become more liberal and more secular. Look at the changes over the last 25 years. Who could have imagined that gay marriage or even civil unions would be given even serious thought?

I believe we are at war with radical Islamic fundamentalists, and that as I said we must win this war through a combination of military activity and our ideas. I know and concur that this is a minority in the Muslim community, but that does not make them any less dangerous.

I see no evidence that Christian Fundamentalism is anywhere near the threat.

 

[andyspete]

Re: Rosie O'Donnell: "Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam...

So, other than religious people who you think are all retarded, and gay people who have different views than you, being "shit" who need to be flushed, or, as you put it, maybe they should consider taking their own life, but other than that...you believe everyone should be treated equally and with tolerance. (???)

Am I missing something here?

I couldn't have said it better myself. The hypocrisy of the person you quoted is frightening.

 

[Kulindahr]

Rosie has always been short on facts and long on opinion, well-seasoned by rudeness and bitterness.
She may be looked at as a major spokesperson for the gay community, but I didn't vote for her, so she's not MY spokesperson -- to me, she's a case of "with friends like this, who needs enemies?"
She has somewhat of a point about radical "christian" theocrats... but IMHO, Rosie is as much a danger to America as they are.