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Janet Jackson in Abu Ghraib

50 comments on Janet Jackson in Abu Ghraib

Janet Jackson in Abu Ghraib

: The Independent does quite a pundit’s two-step to tie Janet Jackson’s nipple to Iraq:

It has been impossible to ponder the issue of public morality in America these past few months without wondering whether we aren’t living in weird parallel universes. In the first, 2004 has been the year in which the United States was caught torturing prisoners in Iraq, was accused of lying about weapons of mass destruction, and was deemed to be violating the US constitution and international law by holding so-called “enemy combatants” indefinitely without trial.

In the second universe, none of these matters one jot: not as moral issues, anyway. In this universe – the province of cable television, talk radio and the strangely hermetic corridors of power in Washington – there has been only one noteworthy moral outrage in 2004, one thing to offend the consciences of decent citizens and make them despair of the nation’s moral fibre.

We are talking, of course, of Janet Jackson’s prime-time breast exposure…

Wow, what a stretch.

50 responses to “Janet Jackson in Abu Ghraib”

  1. sickles Avatar
    sickles

    If there were a “D” as President, do you think the Independent would be outraged?
    Me either.

  2. Thomas Nephew Avatar
    Thomas Nephew

    The topic was public morality in America, not Iraq. Call it “cognitive dissonance” or call it “misplaced priorities,” but it seems a valid point to me, even if it’s someone in the Independent saying so.
    Personally, I think Americans have assigned greater significance to Abu Ghraib, in particular, than to JJ’s ‘wardrobe malfunction’ — but that may be wishful thinking on my part.

  3. Angelos Avatar
    Angelos

    Stretch? How so?
    Haven’t we been saying that the media is guilty of a complete dereliction of duty? That blogger are filling in the gaps?
    How much more media sturm-und-drang was there over that saggy breast than over the turture and sodomizing of the men and boys we held at Abu Ghraib, most unjustly?
    How much outrage do you hear over the absolute fabrications that are the 527 ads?
    Why didn’t CNN or the rest of the “liberal” media hammer home that the Medicare bill would cost $530 billion, a number Bush and Co. were well aware of, but they insisted it was only $400 billion until the vote was forced through?
    The administration hands out scandal after scandal, lie after lie, cover-up after cover-up, and you hear nothing.
    But Janet, however, we heard about for 3 or 4 months? On this very site, wasn’t there a Daily Stern about 3 times a day for months?
    Not quite a stretch.

  4. TC-LeatherPenguin Avatar
    TC-LeatherPenguin

    After all this time, I still fail to see the “torture” indictment proved out. “Humiliated” and “intimidated”, okay, I can see that just from looking at the photos that everyone else is looking at. But how does that scale up to torture? I’ve yet to see an Abu Graib story that tells of physical abuse along the lines of broken knuckles, hot pokers jammed into various regions of the body, etc. The “torture” seems to be with messing with their fragile, middle eastern mindsets by having a chick hold a leash strapped around some schlepp’s neck and pointing at his weiner.
    People pay for that in certain circles.

  5. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    Angelos, what papers covered more of JJ’s boob than Abu Ghraib? What sort of comment is that, the NYT had a front page story about Abu Ghraib for what 2 months? Come on, get over yourself and your over-inflated sense of self-righteousness.

  6. Thomas Nephew Avatar
    Thomas Nephew

    TC-
    Prisoners threatened (and probably bitten) by dogs. Boy prisoner raped by interrogator. Prisoner sodomized by interrogator. (OK, with a fluorescent bulb, not a hot poker, you’ve got me there.) Child prisoners tormented and exhausted by interrogators. Then presented to their imprisoned parents. And that’s just what we (well, not you) have happened to find out about all this so far.
    Returning to the Independent item, the question is whether that’s all America wants to know about.
    Links:
    Torture at Abu Ghraib, New Yorker article by Seymour Hersh
    Boy rape story
    Child abuse story, German TV
    Use of dogs authorized
    Sworn statements by detainees
    And you know you would (and should) scream bloody murder even if it was “just” American soldiers on a leash, let alone American civilians, let alone any of the above crimes.

  7. Rachel Avatar
    Rachel

    Everyone talks about this “lying” about WMD’s. Why? Because we have not found them? Not finding them does not define lying. Even if they are not there at all, that does not define lying. Bush & Co. had to had known for certain that there were no WMD’s and went on anyway for personal reasons. Has there been any official statement of them lying? Or is it just people who were against the war in the first place? I’ve overheard a story of clinton telling a Portuguese diplomat that even he was sure that there were still WMD’s in Iraq. And If that’s true, there should be a criminal investigation.

  8. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Jeff:
    I agree with the Independent. Americans, mainly fundamentalist Christians, flood the FCC with outraged calls about Jackson, but who calls anybody with outrage about an unprovoked, unnecessary, illegal and immoral war that

  9. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    — we’re the poster children of hypocrisy
    First of all, you hardly speak for the rest of us, let alone America.
    Your insight into the war on terror is pathetic. What would you have us do, try and reason with these people? They want to eliminate us from the face of the earth because of our lifestyle. But, hey, that’s Islamic Fundamentalism for you. Why don’t you denigrate that religion as well, no one has called for the killing of Muslims because the Bible says so.

  10. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Mike:
    I beg to differ:
    1. Many fundamentalist Christian fanatics see biblical implications in the Iraq War. That “End of Times” nonsense.
    2. I and most other thinking adults totally reject the “they hate us because of our lifestyle” or “because we’re free” or “because we’re Christians.” That too is nonsense.
    They hate us because of our arrogant, heavy-handed, sometimes deceptive and sometimes brutal behavior in the world.
    And, now, it may also have something to do with the fact that we

  11. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    Michael, can you post one comment without including some casual, arrogant put-down: I and most other thinking adults . You lend no credence to your arguments with such stupid insults. But after reading your arguments, I guess that’s all you have.

  12. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Mike:
    Care to elaborate on your criticisms of my arguments. What wrong with them, specifically?
    The insults are another matter. I concede they have no place in intelligent argumentation and debate. I’m just having some fun, that all. But, it’s wrong and I’ll try to contain myself.
    (Like right now, I’m dying to call you a f-ing homo or make some senseless derogatory remark about your mother face, but I won’t.)

  13. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    I rest my case. I suggest others do the same and not respond to this idiot.

  14. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Mike:
    That won’t happen. But, frankly, you’re starting to bore me. Either get better arguements or grow a personality.

  15. Ryan W Avatar
    Ryan W

    2. I and most other thinking adults totally reject the “they hate us because of our lifestyle” or “because we’re free” or “because we’re Christians.” That too is nonsense.
    They “hate us” because they practice an intolerant discipline of Islam, that teaches that the world must be “saved” by having Islam as its one and only religion. This is to be accomplished by any means necessary. If you really believe the press releases issued by bin Laden claiming that our refusal to sign on to the Kyoto treaty was the cause of attacks a few years back, or that the Berg beheading was in response to the Abu Ghirab scandal (he was captured a week before that information became public) then I suggest you look into the years of rhetoric, sermons, threats, etc. These guys are PR/media savvy, and understand what will get them airtime – but you’re foolish to buy into it.
    This probably won’t change your mind any, but the information is out there if you’re willing to see it.
    There was a Hamas leader (name escapes me, sorry) who said “We are not fighting so that you will offer us something. We are fighting to destroy you.” That’s not hard to understand.

  16. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Ryan W:
    You’re delusional. Been listening to too many neocon mouthpieces. But, understand, they don’t believe it — it’s just propaganda to keep the little people afraid and whipped up.
    I’m sure there are a few fundamentalists that hate and kill because of religion or sin or whatever, but certainly, Muslims have no monopoly on this. Muslims are angry, as are so many others, about U.S. foreign policy (doesn

  17. Ryan W Avatar
    Ryan W

    ..and the point is completely missed. You’re right, you’re the only sane man on earth.

  18. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Ryan W:
    If you missed my point you’re a moron. It was about “why they hate us” remember, you f-ing birdbrain. You said religion, I said foreign policy. Try to track.
    What’s your point about me being sane?

  19. Kat Avatar
    Kat

    Michael, you either fell off a turnip truck or you are naturally stupid with age.
    You tell me the following are not about islam and are the fault of the west. You truly are an idiot.
    Is there any country’s foreign policy that these idiots can abide?? Because there is hardly a country on earth free from islamic terrorism.
    Look at these pictures of true Islam.
    24/8/01 Islamist murders continue in Algeria
    The Armed Islamic Group (GIA) has been blamed for the death of 17 travellers near Mohammedia, Algeria.
    14/8/01 Another 17 farmers had their throats slashed at a false road-block near Ouled-Bouaja on Tuesday The Islamic groups are fighting for a Sharia state where Allah reigns supreme.
    Public whippings intensify in Iran
    14/8/01 A thousand people in Vali-e-Asr Square, Tehran watched 14 men each receive 80 lashes for drinking alcohol. Blood flowed from their bare backs as they were being flogged. Women who flout Islamic morals are whipped in detention centres.
    At least 9 mass public floggings in Tehran have been held since July, not only for alcohol but for distributing Western music CD

  20. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Kim:
    I could give you a similarly long list of egregious acts the U.S. perpetrated or supported over the last 40 years. Around the globe, including VN, Cambodia, Laos (these 3 before VN war), Philippines, Panama, Chile, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Cuba, Iran, Timor, etc., etc., etc. And the casualty rolls are far longer than anything the Muslims have done, including children, women, and the elderly — innocent defenseless civilians.
    BTW, we supported, organized, financed and armed the Muhajadeen in Afghanistan from 1980 to 1988. You

  21. Kat Avatar
    Kat

    Michael, are you sure your name iswn’t Mohammed?? You have bought into this muslim mentality, hook, line, and sinker. Do you support terrorist organizations financially as well as verbally. Did you dance on 911 and praise allah?? Allahmites like you make me ill–why the hell don’t you pack your belongongs in your checkered towel and catch the first plane east?
    “Muslims are religiously obliged to disseminate the Islamic faith throughout the world…. If non-Muslims submit to conversion or subjugation, this call can be pursued peacefully. If they do not, Muslims are obliged to wage war against them.” World peace, according to Islamic teaching, “is reached only with the conversion or submission of all mankind to Islam.”
    Moreover, continues Tibi, when Muslims disseminate Islam through violent means, that is not war (harb), as that word only describes the use of force by non-Muslims. Islamic wars are acts of “opening” the world to Islam. “[T]hose who resist Islam cause wars and are responsible for them.”
    A MUST READ FOR YOU!
    http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=14744

  22. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Kat:
    DON’T EVER ACCUSE ME OF SUPPORTING TERRORISTS, FINANCIALLY OR OTHERWISE. THAT’S A SERIOUS ALLEGATION OF CRIMINALITY WITH MONUMENTAL CONSEQUENCES. IT’S NOT SOMETHING TO KID AROUND ABOUT. ASSFUCKINGHOLE!

  23. Kat Avatar
    Kat

    Michael, you constantly excuse islmic terror by looking for equivalencies in Christianity. You refuse to believe that the islamic religion and terror go hand in hand. You are no better than the moderate muslims who refuse to condemn terrorists–as long as you do that–in my eyes, you are one of them–just like the ANSWER idiots or Rachel Corrie or anyone who lends support to these sickos. Put the blame where it belongs- on Islamists–unless you are one of them. Tell me Michael–do you support the militants AKA terrorists??Yes or no? Do you wish for a defeat for the US in Iraq? And victory for terrorist militants?

  24. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Kat:
    First, it

  25. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Kat:
    Why do you accuse me of buying into the

  26. Franky Avatar
    Franky

    Kat,
    What type of man are you?
    I ask because I find it simply staggering that you would accuse someone who disagrees with you of financially and politically supporting Islamic terorrism.
    So I repeat: what type of man are you?

  27. Kat Avatar
    Kat

    Franky–a WO-man….who is very loyal to America. I know he verbally is very anti-USA. It is our fault because of our policies–he is willing to give the monsters, who perpetrated 911, excuses, by bringing Christianity into it, and just finding any excuse to blame us–well, screw that–muslims are responsible for the 911 deaths…NO ONE ELSE.and they used the Koran to justifty their murders and millions more danced, cheered, celebrated,praised allah, and financially supported the homicide bombers who stole the planes. And millions said nothing. I ASKED if he supported them financially–just curious. Lots of 5th columners support terrorists. Michael wouldn’t be the first. Neither would you.

  28. Franky Avatar
    Franky

    You’re unhinged scum. The quicker you get put in your padded room the better.

  29. Kat Avatar
    Kat

    Franky, I am not accusing–just asking. You seem so anti-USA….well, you know what I mean.

  30. Franky Avatar
    Franky

    You’re a fucking pussy as well. What a typical coward’s thing to say: “I’m not accusing – just asking” can’t even strap on a pair long enough to make an outright accusation, but you accuse by questions and insinuations.
    Contemptible scum.

  31. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Kat:
    Muslims aren’t responsible for 9/11. Nineteen terrorists and their accomplices are — they happen to be Muslim. Less than 1/1,000 of 1% of Muslims have anything to do with terrorism. Just like Tim McVeigh and his accomplices are responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing. Not right-wingers or Christians.
    Being a loyal American is completely unrelated to an irrational homicidal hatred for a group of people. I

  32. Kat Avatar
    Kat

    {Less than 1/1,000 of 1% of Muslims have anything to do with terrorism.} Yeah, and I just saw a polka dotted pig fly by the window.

  33. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Kat:
    How many then?

  34. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Kat:
    “I ASKED if he supported them financially–just curious. Lots of 5th columners support terrorists. Michael wouldn’t be the first. Neither would you.”
    FUCK YOU FUCKING FUCK.
    YOU ARE SICK AND YOU’VE TAKEN THE BLOG GAME TOO FAR.
    YOU’RE ACCUSING POSTERS ON THIS BLOG OF ACTUALLY COMMITING CRIMES OF TERRORISM — BECAUSE YOU DON’T AGREE WITH THEIR POLITICAL OPINION. SOMEBODY COULD GET IN A LOT OF TROUBLE JUST BY YOU SAYING THAT. IT’S NOT FUNNY. NOBODY HERE DOES THAT.
    I’M DONE WITH YOU.

  35. Kat Avatar
    Kat

    Conservative figure is10-15%–100,000,000-
    150,000,000 trained in madrasas, mosques like Finsbury, and many others–wasn’t the planner of the first WTC bombing some blind mullah? Wonder how many terrorists he recruited? I have never said ALL Muslims were terrorists–too many Muslims are terrorists and most terrorists these days are muslims…and too few muslims are speaking against the terrorists.
    Paul Marshall, senior fellow at the Center for Religious Freedom at Freedom House: Right now perhaps eight to 10 governments are “scared of being toppled” if they stand up to the Islamic “jihad” against the West. Citing Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Jordan, Indonesia and other potential “coalition” members. Such states “are afraid their country could be destabilized if they support the West too much, which shows that opposition to American action is not simply from a few hundred people.” Take a deep breath. Of the world’s approximately 1.2 billion Muslims, an estimated 10 to 15 percent are of the militant “Islamist” strain. Do the math

  36. Kat Avatar
    Kat

    You said:{1. Many fundamentalist Christian fanatics see biblical implications in the Iraq War. That “End of Times” nonsense.
    2. I and most other thinking adults totally reject the “they hate us because of our lifestyle” or “because we’re free” or “because we’re Christians.” That too is nonsense.
    They hate us because of our arrogant, heavy-handed, sometimes deceptive and sometimes brutal behavior in the world.
    And, now, it may also have something to do with the fact that we

  37. Sortelli Avatar
    Sortelli

    Ha ha ha! Michael, you’re priceless!
    Kat, shame on you for thinking that Michael might be cheering for a US defeat in Iraq, or that he might sympathize with “militants” who want to rescue that country from the clutches of democracy, even if that means targeting Iraqi civilians (I mean, French resistance fighters killed other Frenchmen in the Vichy government, as Michael has pointed out to me, and now I no longer think of guys like al Sadr as “crazy” “Islamic” “terrorists”)
    So I have NO IDEA what gave you that impression about Michael, but obviously you are bothering him very much because he thinks that people who disagree with him politically should not die.
    Unless they are coalition soldiers or Iraqi civilians, I guess, but they’re on the wrong side here.

  38. Franky Avatar
    Franky

    Yeah Sortelli, what a great side to pick: join with someone who accuses – sorry, asks – those who disageee if they financially support terrorists. Roll around in the mud of Kat’s company and see if the color and smell suit you.

  39. Andrea Harris Avatar
    Andrea Harris

    Looks like Kat struck a nerve. PS: I’m surprised that Jeff hasn’t noticed this thread and banned Michael for saying the “f-word” lots and lots of times.

  40. ForNow Avatar
    ForNow
  41. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    IMPORTANT:
    POSTERS ON THIS BLOG HAVE ACCUSED OTHER POSTERS OF INVOLVMENT WITH TERRORS. THIS SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT THAT GOES TOO FAR. IT THREATENS THIS BLOG AND EVERY POSTER ON IT. SERIOUS LEGAL CONSEQUENCES COULD ARISE FROM SUCH ACCUSATIONS. THIS CONDUCT MUST STOP IMMEDIATELY AND NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.
    EVERY POSTER SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SUCH ACCUSATIONS, EVEN IN JEST, ARE UNACCEPTABLE AND AGREE TO NEVER TO ENGAGE IN THIS PRACTICE.
    This gravely serious matter requires the attention of every poster on this blog.
    I am the first to admit that I have passionate opinions which I forcefully express on this blog. On too many occasions my posts have been obnoxious, antagonistic, confrontational, disingenuous, profane or insulting. Sometimes I even get angry or mean. Only occasionally am I pleasant and reasonable.
    At the same time, I assume that every person on this blog is a decent human being and good American who

  42. Scott Chaffin Avatar
    Scott Chaffin

    I think you need a good bender and a $50 hooker, dude. You’re way too wound up about typing into the internet when you say things like “the very future of the blog experiment”. It’s a comment box…try to get some scope. Or start your own blog…they’re free.

  43. Rob Avatar
    Rob

    Michael,
    You might enjoy a nice cup of tea or coffee right now. Look away from your computer. Lean back in your chair. Close your eyes. Rub your temples gently. Isn’t that better?
    Now, think this through: You will not find a large audience receptive to your views in America. This is plain fact; regardless of who they support for President, the overwhelming majority of Americans are not willing to equate Islamic terrorists with fundamentalist Christians, in any way. Neither are they willing to equate “egregious acts the U.S. perpetrated or supported over the last 40 years” with the numerous recent acts of terror foisted upon Christians, Jews, and infidel Muslims alike by Al Queda and similar groups. Do you understand? You are not convincing anyone of anything other than your own neuroses.
    I cannot believe that someone who claims to live in Manhattan is asking “Why do they hate us?” instead of asking “Where can I find the people who did this so I can kill them?”
    Not sure if you’re a creationist, Michael, but I can assure you that evolution will snicker and move you into the “cancelled bloodline” category, with thinking like that.

  44. RebeccaH Avatar
    RebeccaH

    I am the first to admit that I have passionate opinions which I forcefully express on this blog. On too many occasions my posts have been obnoxious, antagonistic, confrontational, disingenuous, profane or insulting. Sometimes I even get angry or mean. Only occasionally am I pleasant and reasonable.
    This guy just outed himself as a total nutjob. I’m surprised anybody would bother to talk to him.

  45. onecent Avatar
    onecent

    “YOU’VE TAKEN THE BLOG GAME TOO FAR”………Wow! Says he whose virtual empire got scorched.
    Thanks, Kat, someone had to do it.

  46. ForNow Avatar
    ForNow

    Michael has screamingly obvious power issues, & simply wants to take control of the place

  47. Andrew Ian Dodge Avatar
    Andrew Ian Dodge

    Michael mate, take some valium and relax. The only loon I see here is you and your ranting. What percentage of Christians in the US do honestly believe the way you think they do?
    I think the fuss over JJ’s breast was silly but her doing the martyr bit over Iraq is just ludicrous.

  48. Alan Sullivan Avatar
    Alan Sullivan

    Interesting how Michael worries about ‘harm’ to people who assert that real live Islamofascists are the problem, not imaginary US Nazis. How is that harm going to happen? Who’s going to do the harming? Michael’s friends in al Qaeda? Because he’s on their side, even if he doesn’t know it, and even if he is Jewish.
    As a gay American, like the Governor of New Jersey, I know who my enemies are. General Boykin is a marginal character, and he’s not beheading any sodomites. Islam is a font of intolerance beyond the wildest dreams of the few ragtag American fundamentalists. Already the Muslims of Canada are on the verge of getting official acceptance for Sharia law there. How long before gay Muslims must flee from Canada to the US for refuge? Americans are going to be fighting Islamists for a long time, but eventually we’ll beat some sense into them.

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    Karen

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    Mark

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