Ground Zero Mosque - Tolerance, Racism or Comedy?

This closely relates to the closed thread Obama supports Ground Zero mosque. Religious freedom or is he being too PC?.There is an email doing the rounds that asks the following: So is this a genuine and worthwhile dig at intolerance? Is it making a serious and worthwhile point? Is it anti-Islamic in nature? Is it just intended as a joke that shouldn't be taken too seriously?What do people think?

I am inclined to agree in the sense that this blatantly targets Moslems.But is there a serious point regarding religious intolerance in there too?

That is my take on this too.This specific example is obviously been stirred up by some anti-Moslem hysteria. But we could make a wider point about religious intolerance by suggesting similar things be located next door to Christian churches or whatever.Personally I think all places of worship should be built next to each other and clumped together in a single location in an enforced act of theistic ghettoism. Let them fight it out between themselves I say.(For anyone not clear - That was intended as a joke)

Now you are talking!!! What a splendferous idea. Reality TV theism.A sort of theistic "Big Brotherhood" or "Theocracy Island" where we place a bunch of religious communities or individuals in an enclosed area or zone of some sort cutoff from the rest of the world for an extended period and then film what happens. Tasks and eliminations can take place to stoke the already inflammatory situation and then at the end we get to see which form form of theism is most popular and entertaining as voted for by the public. Quality TV if ever I heard of it.If this sells we can split the proceeds 50-50.Huntard - We are gonna be rich brutha!!!!

Darn it. I should've known someone would've com up with an idea that good already.The pantheon of gods that put us here to fight over them are sipping beer and watching us whilst laughing their arses off even as we speak.We are the cast of "Theocracy Island".

Would this "church park" contain Mosques and Synagogues? Hindu temples and Scientology "labs" (or whatever they call their places of Scientological activity?)Etc.Or is it just different Christian denominations?

Now that is tolerance in action.Did it work/Is it working?Edited by Straggler, : No reason given.

I must admit to being surprised.Delighted. But surprised.There is hope for us who dwell on "Theocracy Island" after all.

Well if it had blatantly targeted Christians I would have said that it blatantly targeted Christians.The only reason I might not have posted the same thing about Christians is that the whole Mosque moslem thing is a current issue.And let's be honets) I am trying to stir things up between Rrhain and Oni by starting a thread on Mosques, Moslems bigotry and comedy all in one convenient location.

I am deeply offended by your stance on offending people.

Against my better judgement I am going to get all serious in this thread and suggest that there is "a line" over which comedy becomes abuse. Purely to disagree. Because I am an argumentative sod and I have had a few beers this eve.Imagine the (admittedly extreme to make a point) scenario. You are a comic in a bar where you are about to do a set in a couple of hours. You talkin to the barman. He points out a guy in the corner in a wheelchair. He tells you that few weeks ago this guy got drunk, crashed his car, killed his only kid in the process and ended up a paraplegic.You, being the cutting edge comic you are, go off and write a load of material that directly relates to this story.In your set an hour or so later you intentionally engage this guy, who is as you know out for the evening to forget his woes, in audience participation conversation. You bring up his tragic situation. You rip the piss about him for being a dickless cripple who will never fuck again. An impotent kidless invalid who will die alone. You make fun of the fact that his only kid is dead and looking down on him thinking what a fuckin loser he is if there is any afterlife at all which there probably isn't while his dead son gets eaten by worms.Now I don't care how good your material is. I don't give a fuck how funny the audience thinks this is. You have crossed a line. And frankly deserve a kicking for it.Now - Is this level of tergetting even possible as it pertains to a group rather than an individual? I don't know.I guess my point is that blithely saying "there is no line" isn't a sufficient argument. Because there is a degree of targetting, victimisation and abuse (as per the extreme scenario above) that surely anyone would consider to have "crossed the line".No?

Yeah he laughs himself all the way through the set.Then he commits suicide later that evening.You (i.e, assuming the role of the comic in question) feel any responsibility at all?

So there is no line at all?I (somehow) find out you privately gay. You agree that I can send a series of jokes and pics disclosing this fact to your family because I find it funny to do so?

OK. But is contravening "common courtesy" with respect to making fun of a guy who has lost his kid, his ability to have kids and his whole life at the deepest point of his depression in any way crossing of any line?Or is it fine because other people find it funny?

For once we agree.I am certainly NOT suggesting that a comic decide NOT to make jokes about sucha situation because someone MIGHT be in that situation.I am talking about learning what hurts and then targeting on the basis of that hurt for comic effect. How the fuck can you ever know that?Put yourself in his position. That is our empathetic gift as human beings. How would you feel>?"Do unto others....."THAT is the golden rule of morality. But the lines and the rules are blurred. Nobody sane could deny that.