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    bruunoBrendan O'Connor
    9/20/15 8:28am

    Maher and Dawkins, doing their best to prove atheists can be just as big a bunch of assholes as anyone else.

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      Joel_CRbruuno
      9/20/15 8:37am

      “I don’t believe in God… I’m not an atheist, or I don’t call myself an atheist, because I just don’t give a shit, really. Is that okay? I think it’s an enviable position to be in because it pisses people off more than atheists… Atheists are annoying - I think they’re control freaks who like to argue, they like to win… but I don’t understand exactly what it is they’re after, and now they think they’re the minority voice, they’re like “C’mon, we’re the minority voice, we have to have our point of view, too and why isn’t our voice out there?” Because it’s shrill and annoying and no one really wants to hear it. We understand your point, it’s just that when you talk about it, we just hate you.”

      Marc Maron

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      eliezabethbruuno
      9/20/15 8:38am

      I’m an atheist, and while I get the impulse to think we’re somehow more enlightened than the religious, it’s dangerous in the same way that it is for religious zealots. Besides, every culture, every people throughout human history has some form of religious belief.

      To denigrate people for what I suspect is a neurological adaptation is arrogant and stupid.

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    portland1Brendan O'Connor
    9/20/15 8:38am

    Dawkins and Maher have kicked their Islamophobia into high gear. Maher claimed that only Islamic people commit violence yesterday, to minimize the offense of Ahmad’s arrest.

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      francisducharmeportland1
      9/20/15 9:11am

      I never considered that Islamophobia might be part of the equation - if it is these folks are truly sick.

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      LenovoUser2223portland1
      9/20/15 9:34am

      Given that both have thoroughly discredited Christianity they likely are targeting Islam because as far as religions go.... its damn scary. Stoning, advocation of murder, death for apostates, repression of women are all common practices in the Middle East. Not that I equate all Arabs as Islamic, or that moderate muslims aren't respectable - I work with several and they are the kindest people ever.

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    4thGenBrendan O'Connor
    9/20/15 1:47pm

    I see a lot of knees jerking in various directions here. Everyone is falling all over themselves to fight Islamaphobia, which, okay, yes, let’s do that. Ahmed is not a terrorist and should under no circumstances have been arrested or detained. Great.

    But this kid is 14? 15? And smart. He genuinely did not expect this reaction?

    I’d call that pretty unlikely.

    Consider: Ahmend commented to Chris Hayes that he was *previously* mocked by schoolmates as a “bomb maker” and “terrorist.” Hayes was so thrown by this he went back and clarified this bullying was before, not after, the “clock.” Ahmed lives in a town where the mayor is an out-and-out crazed Islamaphobe who actually thinks “Sharia Law” is a danger to be reckoned with.

    So in this environment of being harassed and put upon by people already unjustly frightened of him, he puts a vintage digital alarm clock in a small briefcase, which is every idiot TV movie’s version of a bomb. Not for a class. Not for extra credit. Just to ... show it around?

    Something is very odd about the notion that a kid who was being harassed for being a bomb-making Muslim built something guaranteed to make anyone who saw it think of every single “bomb” we’ve seen on television, and then was shocked — SHOCKED — that it got this response from these people.

    It doesn’t justify the reaction, of course. But it’s a bit blinkered not to consider the possibility of a teenager being harassed pulling a prank to screw with people. Or that angry cops would have a lot of questions as to why he did it even upon understanding right away it wasn’t actually a bomb.

    Is it not at the very least possible this kid went trolling for bigots ... and caught some?

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      cepalg4thGen
      9/20/15 1:56pm

      allow me to answer your question with a question: isn’t it amazing how people feel a deep and abiding need to assume the worst regardless of evidence when muslims are in question?

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      4thGencepalg
      9/20/15 2:11pm

      I think it’s amazing how people force unlikely narratives over real life events in order to support a hopelessly simplistic worldview, whether that’s the worldview that sees terrorism everywhere, or one that thinks smart teenagers never screw with people.

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    Armageddon T. ThunderbirdBrendan O'Connor
    9/20/15 8:59am

    I’m praying for you, Richard.

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      Climate RageArmageddon T. Thunderbird
      9/20/15 9:23am

      Easily the best way to respond to Dawkins.

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      DaMuttzNuttzArmageddon T. Thunderbird
      9/20/15 11:00am

      Don’t . . he doesn’t want you to

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    thisquietdustwasyofaceBrendan O'Connor
    9/20/15 8:30am

    Why are we critiquing a 14-yo’s misuse of the word “invented”?

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      Kaidogthisquietdustwasyoface
      9/20/15 9:12am

      Because Dawkins is a fanatical atheist who sees stupidity and irrationality in the behavior of every non-White and/or non-male individual he encounters.

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      Stenchofaburnerthisquietdustwasyoface
      9/20/15 9:33am

      Dawkins is one login away from being the next Violent Acrez on Reddit. Racism, misogyny, obtuse and ridiculous “opinions” are usual from him and kinda what he does every day on Twitter. Taking issue with a 14 year old’s use of language is to be expected from this “scientific mastermind”.

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    Brendan O'ConnorBrendan O'Connor
    9/20/15 10:15am

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      JSDuncanBrendan O'Connor
      9/20/15 10:55am

      In fairness, my aunt is Iranian and is crafty as hell.

      She makes and sows things all the time. Birthdays and Christmases are always a nice unique surprise.

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      IncognigroBrendan O'Connor
      9/20/15 11:01am

      I’m more surprised at this word “MOHAMMEDIAN” than anything. Only place I’ve seen that is in old ass history books in my school library when I was studying the Crusades.

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    ugly4mericanBrendan O'Connor
    9/20/15 8:55am

    Kinda with the Dawk on this one. Not that it’s worth getting worked up over, because breaking down and reassembling stuff is how kids express curiosity and learn about gadgets. And calling it “fraud” is a real fine piece of histrionics, as I don’t think this project was brought in for a grade or an award, much less for profit.

    But even if it’s not a significant element of the narrative, every time somebody has said this kid “built a clock” I’ve been itching for more details. Like did he design or at least assemble a countdown circuit, or create a novel display using LEDs or something? It’s kind of disappointing, but not surprising, to hear he didn’t so much “build a clock” as “put a clock in a thing.”

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      Kaidogugly4merican
      9/20/15 9:09am

      Uh... It’s not uncommon for high school geeks to put together simple electronic gadgets because they like to tinker with stuff. You can buy electronic ‘build you own X!’ In hobby shops. And you can find instructions for building your own digital clock from cheap circuit boards, wiring, and old LED displays online.

      You obviously don’t spend time with high school kids. They tinker. Then they become engineers. VGo watch ‘October Sky’ and come back to us.

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      Forcebewithyouugly4merican
      9/20/15 9:20am

      Bought clock kit( even sold by right wing nuts HOBBY LOBBY). Assembled it.

      He may of had initiative to maybe even salvage the parts. http://m.instructables.com/id/Make-A-Digi…

      At least he’s trying what the fuck have you done?

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    Cam/ronBrendan O'Connor
    9/20/15 9:13am
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      LokezombieCam/ron
      9/20/15 11:56am

      All that needs to be said. Go to hell Dawkins.

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    Fleur-de-litBrendan O'Connor
    9/20/15 9:14am

    He’s a kid, for fuck’s sake. First projects are never really all that impressive. He repackaged a device and kept it in working condition. He should be praised for his initiative.

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      foolery85032Fleur-de-lit
      9/20/15 10:03am

      He’s 14 years old, quit making fucking excuses for what he did. Taking something apart and putting it back together is something most of us accomplished when we were 5.

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      Fleur-de-litfoolery85032
      9/20/15 10:04am

      What did you accomplish at 14?

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    OnyxBlackmanBrendan O'Connor
    9/20/15 8:31am

    The prominent atheists make me feel better about not being an atheist.

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      El Oso PeligrosoOnyxBlackman
      9/20/15 8:44am

      And which religion are you that the prominent members of your faith make you feel good about it?

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      BiscuitOnyxBlackman
      9/20/15 8:47am

      I totally get where you’re coming from.
      The prominent Christians in the U.S. make me feel better about not being a Christian.

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