I thought I was having a rough day


But then I learned that the team of murderers in Bangladesh have released their latest hit list of atheist bloggers, and name of the #1 most hated person, the one they most want to kill, is my friend, Taslima Nasreen.

I suddenly feel like I’ve just been coasting along on a happy train.

Comments

  1. Pascal's Pager says

    I’m happy to support any effort to help those who are being targeted to get to safety. Anyone know what options there are for us to help out?

  2. says

    Taslima’s out, and ‘safely’ in the US. The problem is that these maniacs are threatening to bring their terror to foreign shores.

  3. Christopher says

    But Bangladesh has gun laws that would make Sarah Brady gush with joy, shouldn’t that make everyone so super safe that they don’t have to flee their country in fear for their life?

    http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/print_sections_all.php?id=38

    If some religious nutjobs put my name on an assassination list like these folks, I’d be packing heat 24/7. Like these bloggers, I’m too poor to pay a bodyguard or cop to pack heat around me 24/7 like a politician or CEO can. It is so nice to live in a country that acknowledges your right to effectively defend your life against a rabid mob.

  4. Alverant says

    Chris if the Bangladesh won’t enforce the laws saying you can’t kill people who “insult” their religion, what makes you think they’ll enforce the gun responsibility laws? I’m willing to bet many of those “law abiding citizens” are packin heat.

    And what exactly is a pistol going to do against a rabid mob doing God’s will?

  5. Ze Madmax says

    Alverant @ #5

    And what exactly is a pistol going to do against a rabid mob doing God’s will?

    Well see, in this scenario, bloggers packing heat against fundamentalists would technically be Good Guys With A Gun™. And as everybody knows, Good Guys With A Gun™ are the embodiment of all that is right and true in the world, and as a result cannot be harmed by Bad Guys™ (whether they are of the With A Gun variety or otherwise). And as we all know, the only thing keeping Good Guys With A Gun™ from keeping everyone safe forever are Evil Government Rules Against Guns™ (i.e., all regulation).

    (Note: the above might contain snark)

  6. militantagnostic says

    Alverant @5

    And what exactly is a pistol going to do against a rabid mob doing God’s will?

    Especially since the mob will be packing heat if they suspect their target is carrying a gun.

  7. PatrickG says

    @ Christopher:

    It is so nice to live in a country that acknowledges your right to effectively defend your life against a rabid mob.

    Let me rephrase that for you, Chris:

    Sure, we’ve got religious fanatics running around everywhere killing people without the slightest fear of reprisal, but at least I can take one of them with me. Maybe. If I see them coming. And they’re not armed too. And have my gun out. And it’s loaded. And haven’t already shot myself or someone else accidentally because I’m walking around with a loaded gun.

    Guns! The OBVIOUS solution to religious fanaticism!

    Or, if you want it shorter:

    The only thing that stops a rabid religious fanatic with a gun is a rabid secularist with a gun. Also, unicorns should be armed with pony-rifles.

    Now to be fair, I would accept correction if Chris can show me all the times in US history that rabid mobs of religious fanatics have been stopped by a single person with a gun. ALL the times, mind you. I don’t think it’s a long list.

  8. throwaway, butcher of tongues, mauler of metaphor says

    Hey Christopher: is your ass sore from riding your hobby-horse all the fuck the way in here from parts unknown just to spout your typical drivel? Thank fuck there’s you to bring about the right and proper conversation we would have otherwise overlooked.

  9. Alverant says

    #6 That sounds like a 80s action movie where the Good Guy With a GUN can defeat a bunch of Bad Guys who all conveniently line up to fight the GG one at a time.

  10. Gregory Greenwood says

    These Ansarullah Bangla Team types sound like a right bunch of charmers. From the link in the OP;

    Claiming that atheists would be killed one by one in Bangladesh, the Facebook post added that anyone involved with the publishing of books by atheists would be targeted, while anyone making anti-Islam films or videos would also face action from the militant group.

    This is one of those ‘Islam is a religion of peace, and I will kill you if you say otherwise’ moments isn’t it?

    PZ @ 3;

    Taslima’s out, and ‘safely’ in the US. The problem is that these maniacs are threatening to bring their terror to foreign shores.

    Isn’t ‘going global’ the standard ambition for pretty much every group of delusional fanatics these days? How many purely regional Islamist groups with no interest in some poorly thought out global jihad even exist anymore?

  11. Azkyroth, B*Cos[F(u)]==Y says

    And what exactly is a pistol going to do against a rabid mob doing God’s will?

    Why, provide a false sense of security, of course.

  12. Saad says

    Christopher, #4

    If some religious nutjobs put my name on an assassination list like these folks, I’d be packing heat 24/7. Like these bloggers, I’m too poor to pay a bodyguard or cop to pack heat around me 24/7 like a politician or CEO can. It is so nice to live in a country that acknowledges your right to effectively defend your life against a rabid mob.

    Congrats on your “if the Jews had guns, the Holocaust wouldn’t have happened” moment.

  13. Bernard Bumner says

    What should be the final word – the murder rate in Bangladesh is a little less than half that of the United States.

    On the topic – this is terrible, and I don’t know what can be done. It is just depressing.

  14. qwints says

    I’m happy to support any effort to help those who are being targeted to get to safety. Anyone know what options there are for us to help out?

    I’d like to second this question.

  15. grumpyoldfart says

    My prediction:
    Five more before the police stop saying “these are isolated incidents”
    Five more after that before the police start saying, “There’s something going on.”

  16. JohnnieCanuck says

    @16 Consider that the police are at least somewhat sympathetic to the assassins, having the same religion and all. If they did actually investigate the crimes, it would be a career limiting mistake. If not because of their superiors’ displeasure, then because they would become targets for action by the ‘activists’, themselves.

  17. culuriel says

    Is there any reason why Facebook has allowed their page to stay up? Why hasn’t their entire account been automatically deleted??????