Something I wrote in light of recent events, because I felt I had to. Correct me if I made any mistakes, political, logical or grammatical.

Text in the picture:

We are still several months away from first year of death of Christopher Hitchens, and possibly the moment when lot of the world’s atheists and other people will separate bit of their time and effort to remember the man’s life and work. I, for one, tend not to wait for that moment. In the light of the recent global events, I find myself in need of the voice of Hitchens. Not a voice that will tell me that we are facing theocratic fascists once again, I know that myself. Not a voice which will explain involvement of religion in all of this matters, I know that too. What I need is a voice that will attack the theocratic fascists.

A movie has been released months ago in U.S. about Muhammad and only recently has someone bothered to translate it into Arabic, causing world-wide riots. I had seen bits of movie, since entirety of it is unavailable to me at the time, but from what was presented one thing that is clear is that someone made this is in an deliberate effort to degrade the prophet. While Muslims would have my full sympathy for their hurt feelings, the way how they have always handled matters of this sort is which puts me on the side opposite of theirs.

This is what it takes to insult an average Muslim today - a movie made with budget apparently equal to one you need for a good lunch. Actually, scratch that. It takes even less. If you think back, and I am sure you are being reminded these days, about cartoons that some years ago were published in a small Danish newspaper. And once again, many months later when this reached them, Muslim world rose into the uproar, agonized and traumatized, asking for death of a country one of the most
democratic, non-imperialist countries in the world for something as tiny as a few drawings. Some of them, really insluting ones, not even published by Danes, but inserted later on, by so-called “insluted” Muslims.

Ongoing riots in the Muslim world, the Attack on the U.S. embassy in Libya and killing of the ambassador are to me, if I dare to think more simply, actions of the people who really have nothing better to do in their lives. I honestly think so, since it reminds me so strongly of declaration of independence of Kosovo in 2008. Arousing speech was made in front of Serbian parliament and crowd which left the event felt jubilant enough to wreck and pillage it’s own city, as well to burn the U.S. embassy here in Belgrade. Only victim of attack this time, if I recall well, is one of the very
pyromaniac who himself caught fire while performing the patriotic act.

But to correct myself on “if I dare to think more simply”, since these are no simple matters. Reason why I said that this people have nothing better to do with their lives, is that it really does seems they have nothing better to do. Living in countries filled with theocrats does not gives you much breathing space. Being give a permission by your leaders and your peers to breathe a little, even if it includes wreaking an embassy of another country, seems like a chance not to pass by. Maybe even earn some credit in their eyes. This is sad existence indeed in my eyes and if anything would make me have any sympathy for Muslims in general then this might be it.

This is just small and humble review of the most recent of events. I wanted to comment on religious matters before, but held my breath until now. And there has been some appalling events. Accusation of Christian girl in Pakistan for burning a holy book and later revelation that whole thing was set up by imam was, while horrid initially, a delightful show later on. Kind in a way when priests preach that you are going to hell and you know there is none, but you secretly wish there is hell for them to go to. Blasphemy law in Pakistan is delicious feat of irony, since now imam is going into kind of hell he wanted to send Christian girl to. And all of this trouble in country where 97% are Muslims. This do shows one thing: theocrats are so insecure in their position in the world that they do not stop until they reach 100%. Or beyond.

Trial of “Pussy Riot” in Russia is another matter, although less of interest to me. I find their act not interesting at all, but think sentence should be something as equivalent to breaking public peace or, if church wants, permanent ban from entering churches ever again, given their misbehavior in it. But the whole trial, the two year sentence, simply shows that church wants to show it’s growing power in Russian society again. Appalling as it is, I still however should congratulate Putin and Medvedev for publicly saying that sentence should be mild, while in fact suggesting to the church and the courts that pampering to the nationalists will be simply useless. Autocrats duo as they may be, they are one smart duo. But are still autocrats and should be fought.