Something to be proud to be #2 in: religious extremists

Bill Maher lays it out plainly: however bad our religious nutjobs here in America (or Western society in general) may be, even the worst of them pale sharply in comparison to the sort of war-mongering religiously-fueled monsters in certain other parts of the world. What is terrorism to us is merely a way of life to them – and that may be the scariest thought of all.

Here’s a quick transcript of the first part:

MAHER: Though America likes to think it’s number one, we have to admit that we’re behind the developing world in at least one thing: their religious whackos are a lot more whacko than ours. When South Park got threatened last weak by Islamists incensed at their depiction of Muhammad, it served, or should serve, as a reminder to all of us that our culture isn’t just different than one that makes death threats to cartoonists. It’s better. Because when I make a joke about the Pope, he doesn’t send one of his Swiss Guards in their striped pantaloons to stick a pike in my ass. When I make a Jewish joke, Rabbis may kvetch about it, but they don’t pull out a scimitar and threaten an adult circumcision. And when I insult Scientology, the worst that happens is – [power cuts out comedically]

I loved it all until his derisory mention of Garfield. Now I must hit him.

Aaaand that’s a wrap.

(via Friendly Atheist)