Unser Vater in Himmel!
August 29, 2006 2:02 PM Subscribe
What Would Jerry Do? German neighborhood evicts family for praying too loud. The U.S. State Department is critical of the level of religious freedom in Germany. But would a land nearly free of Scientologists and intolerant of overt displays really be so bad?
The family says the volume in necessary to stave off the devil.
Well, I guess... as long as it's for a good cause.
posted by Krrrlson at 2:11 PM on August 29, 2006
Well, I guess... as long as it's for a good cause.
posted by Krrrlson at 2:11 PM on August 29, 2006
they were being loud, late at night. that's why they were evicted. got nothing to do with the fact that it was prayer. sensationalizing anyone?
posted by sergeant sandwich at 2:12 PM on August 29, 2006
posted by sergeant sandwich at 2:12 PM on August 29, 2006
Yeah, except that they were basically shouting their prayers late at night and waking up everyone around them. They were asked to keep it to themselves and they refused. I don't see the issue here - these people can pray all they want as long as they don't interfere with other peoples' rights to live peacefully and sleep at night.
This issue is about the religious family not respecting the rights of their neighbors, not the other way around.
Boo-urns on your post's tone!
posted by Jupiter Jones at 2:13 PM on August 29, 2006
This issue is about the religious family not respecting the rights of their neighbors, not the other way around.
Boo-urns on your post's tone!
posted by Jupiter Jones at 2:13 PM on August 29, 2006
This makes no sense. The Debbil LIKES loud. He invented Rock and Roll for goodness sake!
posted by tkchrist at 2:36 PM on August 29, 2006
posted by tkchrist at 2:36 PM on August 29, 2006
But would a land nearly free of Scientologists and intolerant of overt displays really be so bad?
Works for me
posted by doctor_negative at 2:43 PM on August 29, 2006
Works for me
posted by doctor_negative at 2:43 PM on August 29, 2006
Unser Vater in Himmel!
Godwin!
Seriously, noisy bastards should keep it down.
posted by Joeforking at 2:44 PM on August 29, 2006
Godwin!
Seriously, noisy bastards should keep it down.
posted by Joeforking at 2:44 PM on August 29, 2006
"Jerry"? Referring to Arabs as "sand niggers" may be acceptable in moden discourse, but come on, Americans made up with the Germans years ago.
Note to the dim: this was sarcasm.
posted by GuyZero at 2:56 PM on August 29, 2006
Note to the dim: this was sarcasm.
posted by GuyZero at 2:56 PM on August 29, 2006
=> im Himmel
Entschuldigung.
This issue is about the religious family not respecting the rights of their neighbors, not the other way around.
Well, no shit. But I didn't want to be accused of bashing religion. If it were up to me, I'd send overtly religious people to re-education camps in Siberia where only the wolves and irritable guards would hear their mewling.
posted by Mayor Curley at 3:02 PM on August 29, 2006 [1 favorite]
Entschuldigung.
This issue is about the religious family not respecting the rights of their neighbors, not the other way around.
Well, no shit. But I didn't want to be accused of bashing religion. If it were up to me, I'd send overtly religious people to re-education camps in Siberia where only the wolves and irritable guards would hear their mewling.
posted by Mayor Curley at 3:02 PM on August 29, 2006 [1 favorite]
But would a land nearly free of Scientologists and intolerant of overt displays really be so bad?
Wait, I missed something! When did it become hip to suggest that some faiths should be stamped out (especially the loud ones)? If I were a Scientologist, I wouldn’t be too happy with this post… In fact, as a human being I’m not too happy with it. Please GYOB. (I added "please" and removed "f" b/c I like civility. Weird, isn't it?)
posted by MarshallPoe at 3:13 PM on August 29, 2006
Wait, I missed something! When did it become hip to suggest that some faiths should be stamped out (especially the loud ones)? If I were a Scientologist, I wouldn’t be too happy with this post… In fact, as a human being I’m not too happy with it. Please GYOB. (I added "please" and removed "f" b/c I like civility. Weird, isn't it?)
posted by MarshallPoe at 3:13 PM on August 29, 2006
Marshall, that's because they're not a religion, they're a mafia posing as a religion. They've broken into IRS offices to modify their own tax records. The organization is essentially fraudulent from top to bottom. They provide nothing of real value, and charge huge amounts of money for it.
The German government simply realizes that this is true, and has banned them as an organization. It's a shame more countries don't follow their lead.
Check Operation Clambake for more info if you doubt me. Religion is only a cloak they wear, it has nothing to do with what they essentially are.
posted by Malor at 3:28 PM on August 29, 2006
The German government simply realizes that this is true, and has banned them as an organization. It's a shame more countries don't follow their lead.
Check Operation Clambake for more info if you doubt me. Religion is only a cloak they wear, it has nothing to do with what they essentially are.
posted by Malor at 3:28 PM on August 29, 2006
damn dirty ape made me smile.
But the rest of the post, not so much.
posted by mkhall at 3:29 PM on August 29, 2006
But the rest of the post, not so much.
posted by mkhall at 3:29 PM on August 29, 2006
The family says the volume in necessary to stave off the devil.
or maybe because they're rightly afraid that God is deaf
posted by matteo at 3:40 PM on August 29, 2006
or maybe because they're rightly afraid that God is deaf
posted by matteo at 3:40 PM on August 29, 2006
hey were being loud, late at night. that's why they were evicted. got nothing to do with the fact that it was prayer. sensationalizing anyone?
Exactly. I'd want them evicted if they were playing loud music at all hours of the night too and I had to listen to that crap while trying to sleep.
Noise is the issue. A decibel is a decibel. The precise nature of the noise is irrelevant.
posted by bim at 4:00 PM on August 29, 2006
Exactly. I'd want them evicted if they were playing loud music at all hours of the night too and I had to listen to that crap while trying to sleep.
Noise is the issue. A decibel is a decibel. The precise nature of the noise is irrelevant.
posted by bim at 4:00 PM on August 29, 2006
MarshallPoe : "When did it become hip to suggest that some faiths should be stamped out (especially the loud ones)?"
MetaFilter was established in July of 1999.
posted by Bugbread at 4:14 PM on August 29, 2006
MetaFilter was established in July of 1999.
posted by Bugbread at 4:14 PM on August 29, 2006
The U.S. State Department is critical of the level of religious freedom in Germany.
Wow.
Unfortunately I don't have the time to reply at length to this right now, but I cannot think of *anything* concerning personal religious freedom right now that would be suppressed here.
What Americans usually understand as lack of religious freedom is, in fact, protection of the private sphere of the fellow citizen. Things like the fact that Jehovah's witnesses may advertise on the street, but may not actively harass you (ringing on doors, etc.). This applies to all faiths.
How this restricts religious freedom escapes me.
posted by uncle harold at 4:17 PM on August 29, 2006
Wow.
Unfortunately I don't have the time to reply at length to this right now, but I cannot think of *anything* concerning personal religious freedom right now that would be suppressed here.
What Americans usually understand as lack of religious freedom is, in fact, protection of the private sphere of the fellow citizen. Things like the fact that Jehovah's witnesses may advertise on the street, but may not actively harass you (ringing on doors, etc.). This applies to all faiths.
How this restricts religious freedom escapes me.
posted by uncle harold at 4:17 PM on August 29, 2006
If it were up to me, I'd send overtly religious people to re-education camps in Siberia where only the wolves and irritable guards would hear their mewling.
I'm intrigued by your thinking and find your logic persuasive. Is there a newsletter to which I may subscribe?
posted by tkchrist at 4:24 PM on August 29, 2006
I'm intrigued by your thinking and find your logic persuasive. Is there a newsletter to which I may subscribe?
posted by tkchrist at 4:24 PM on August 29, 2006
That's rude. Don't call the krauts "Jerry"
posted by Megafly at 4:27 PM on August 29, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by Megafly at 4:27 PM on August 29, 2006 [1 favorite]
Jerry? Gerry!
posted by blue_beetle at 4:39 PM on August 29, 2006
posted by blue_beetle at 4:39 PM on August 29, 2006
blue_beetle : "Jerry? Gerry!"
Nono, Jerry, from Jermany.
posted by Bugbread at 4:41 PM on August 29, 2006
Nono, Jerry, from Jermany.
posted by Bugbread at 4:41 PM on August 29, 2006
When did it become hip to suggest that some faiths should be stamped out (especially the loud ones)?
Dude, don't you know that since 9/11 everything has changed?
posted by illovich at 4:48 PM on August 29, 2006
Dude, don't you know that since 9/11 everything has changed?
posted by illovich at 4:48 PM on August 29, 2006
"Jerry"? Referring to Arabs as "sand niggers" may be acceptable in moden discourse, but come on, Americans made up with the Germans years ago.
I've been thinking about this bit of "sarcasm." Is that really sarcastic? It seems more like you over-enthusiastic to get to type "nigger" without people jumping all over your shit, at least to me.
Your need to qualify that your post was "sarcasm" and calling people dim who don't "get it" bolsters my conviction.
posted by illovich at 5:03 PM on August 29, 2006
I've been thinking about this bit of "sarcasm." Is that really sarcastic? It seems more like you over-enthusiastic to get to type "nigger" without people jumping all over your shit, at least to me.
Your need to qualify that your post was "sarcasm" and calling people dim who don't "get it" bolsters my conviction.
posted by illovich at 5:03 PM on August 29, 2006
Reminds me of an old joke about a Baptist and a Pentecostal praying together. The Baptist was praying quietly while the Pentecostal was praying quite loudly. The Baptist said to the Pentecostal,"Why are you praying so loud? God's not deaf!!!!" The Pentecostal replied, "That's true, but He's not nervous either."
Topic? Even I would have wanted them to pipe down.
posted by konolia at 5:04 PM on August 29, 2006
Topic? Even I would have wanted them to pipe down.
posted by konolia at 5:04 PM on August 29, 2006
illovich : "Your need to qualify that your post was 'sarcasm' and calling people dim who don't 'get it' bolsters my conviction."
I just "figured" it was because "sar"casm sometimes doesn't "communicate", and because some people don't "know" that "Gerry" is to "German" as "Jap" is to "Japanese" or "Chink" is to "Chinese".
posted by Bugbread at 5:09 PM on August 29, 2006
I just "figured" it was because "sar"casm sometimes doesn't "communicate", and because some people don't "know" that "Gerry" is to "German" as "Jap" is to "Japanese" or "Chink" is to "Chinese".
posted by Bugbread at 5:09 PM on August 29, 2006
Note: the above was not due to over-enthusiasm to type "Japn", "Chink", or "because".
posted by Bugbread at 5:10 PM on August 29, 2006
posted by Bugbread at 5:10 PM on August 29, 2006
"Gerry" is to "German" as "Jap" is to "Japanese" or "Chink" is to "Chinese".
Yes, but there aren't really racial overtones, given that there isn't a lot of historical precedent for Germans being persecuted.
As to the tone of the post, it's ridiculous. You couldn't get away with this in the US either. Your religious rights do not extend to disturbing the peace. And frankly, I think most people, religious or not, would phone the police if the dudes next door were shouting at the top of their lungs in the middle of the night, regardless of whether the racket was religious in nature.
posted by unreason at 5:37 PM on August 29, 2006
Yes, but there aren't really racial overtones, given that there isn't a lot of historical precedent for Germans being persecuted.
As to the tone of the post, it's ridiculous. You couldn't get away with this in the US either. Your religious rights do not extend to disturbing the peace. And frankly, I think most people, religious or not, would phone the police if the dudes next door were shouting at the top of their lungs in the middle of the night, regardless of whether the racket was religious in nature.
posted by unreason at 5:37 PM on August 29, 2006
This post is almost as misleading as the three from Unregistered User.
posted by bob sarabia at 5:52 PM on August 29, 2006
posted by bob sarabia at 5:52 PM on August 29, 2006
I dunno, Jerry's pretty laid back.
He's all ate up about this though.
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 7:26 PM on August 29, 2006
He's all ate up about this though.
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 7:26 PM on August 29, 2006
I say we give them1 what-for2!
1 in refering to "them" the poster implies makes no judgement as to the validity of such an expression, nor does he wish to designate any specific group as "them". Any resemblance to any group or individual, living or dead, is purely coincidental, and should not be construed as indicative of intent nor the expression thereof.
2 "What-for" is not intended in either a positive or negative sense, and does not imply any sort of anglo-culture context. Don't mess with Texas.
posted by blue_beetle at 8:35 PM on August 29, 2006
1 in refering to "them" the poster implies makes no judgement as to the validity of such an expression, nor does he wish to designate any specific group as "them". Any resemblance to any group or individual, living or dead, is purely coincidental, and should not be construed as indicative of intent nor the expression thereof.
2 "What-for" is not intended in either a positive or negative sense, and does not imply any sort of anglo-culture context. Don't mess with Texas.
posted by blue_beetle at 8:35 PM on August 29, 2006
If I were a Scientologist, I wouldn’t be too happy with this post…
XENU! It was Xenu that did it!
There. I've saved you your life savings and, for that matter, a lot of years not lost to being an asshole Scientologist.
Go read A Piece of Blue Sky and figure out why it is perfectly okay to ban Scientology.
posted by five fresh fish at 10:21 PM on August 29, 2006
XENU! It was Xenu that did it!
There. I've saved you your life savings and, for that matter, a lot of years not lost to being an asshole Scientologist.
Go read A Piece of Blue Sky and figure out why it is perfectly okay to ban Scientology.
posted by five fresh fish at 10:21 PM on August 29, 2006
From the US Dept of State page (second link:)
"The U.S. Government discusses religious freedom issues with the Government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights. The U.S. Government placed particular emphasis on support for direct dialogue between representatives of minority religions and relevant government officials."
Wow. Who the hell does the US Government think it is? I hope the Germans told them to go to (non-denominational) hell. This isn't Mao-era China we're talking about here. Germany is a liberal western democracy.
posted by salmacis at 2:04 AM on August 30, 2006
"The U.S. Government discusses religious freedom issues with the Government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights. The U.S. Government placed particular emphasis on support for direct dialogue between representatives of minority religions and relevant government officials."
Wow. Who the hell does the US Government think it is? I hope the Germans told them to go to (non-denominational) hell. This isn't Mao-era China we're talking about here. Germany is a liberal western democracy.
posted by salmacis at 2:04 AM on August 30, 2006
I would assume the US Department of State is referring to the Scientology ban.
posted by fullerine at 3:17 AM on August 30, 2006
posted by fullerine at 3:17 AM on August 30, 2006
Just that Scientology is not a religion. Plus their activities include illegal activities like severe coercion. What's the problem?
posted by uncle harold at 3:21 AM on August 30, 2006
posted by uncle harold at 3:21 AM on August 30, 2006
BTW, since this seems to always get ignored by most people: Scientology is not banned in Germany. They are denied official status as a faith, which basically comes down to tax status.
Which, of course, is what the fuss they make is really about.
posted by uncle harold at 3:31 AM on August 30, 2006
Which, of course, is what the fuss they make is really about.
posted by uncle harold at 3:31 AM on August 30, 2006
Does "Jedi" have official status in Germany as a religion? Because that would be really cool if it did and scientology didn't. :)
posted by antifuse at 4:40 AM on August 30, 2006
posted by antifuse at 4:40 AM on August 30, 2006
because some people don't "know" that "Gerry" is to "German" as "Jap" is to "Japanese" or "Chink" is to "Chinese".
If you mean that Jerry is a name given to the Germans by foreigners that was historically used as a shorthand to refer to them, you're somewhat correct.
But you seem to be misinformed as to the actual equivalency of the terms in sort of the reaction you'll get. It's true that calling a German "jerry" would probably not positively dispose them to you, but it would be a rare case that you would start a fight by doing it.
At least where I live, if you walk up to an asian (of Chinese decent or not) and call them a chink, you might be looking at an ass-kicking, especially if the individual isn't alone. Not in every case, of course... but just 'cause you might get away with it once or twice is no reason to make it a habit.
There are a number of reasons why this is the case, most of them having to do with silly academic topics like cultural and racial hegemony, history, etc.
If you're curious, try looking into why calling a black american a "nigger" and a white american a "honky" are not equivalent acts in the United States, no matter what the backsliders who "just don't see race" will try to believe.
posted by illovich at 6:22 AM on August 30, 2006
If you mean that Jerry is a name given to the Germans by foreigners that was historically used as a shorthand to refer to them, you're somewhat correct.
But you seem to be misinformed as to the actual equivalency of the terms in sort of the reaction you'll get. It's true that calling a German "jerry" would probably not positively dispose them to you, but it would be a rare case that you would start a fight by doing it.
At least where I live, if you walk up to an asian (of Chinese decent or not) and call them a chink, you might be looking at an ass-kicking, especially if the individual isn't alone. Not in every case, of course... but just 'cause you might get away with it once or twice is no reason to make it a habit.
There are a number of reasons why this is the case, most of them having to do with silly academic topics like cultural and racial hegemony, history, etc.
If you're curious, try looking into why calling a black american a "nigger" and a white american a "honky" are not equivalent acts in the United States, no matter what the backsliders who "just don't see race" will try to believe.
posted by illovich at 6:22 AM on August 30, 2006
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posted by damn dirty ape at 2:07 PM on August 29, 2006