Beck celebrated Zarqawi death by mocking Islam with "Zarqawi bacon cake"
On the June 8 edition of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck, Beck mocked Islam by "mark[ing] the death" of Al Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi with a "Zarqawi bacon cake." In the lead-in to the segment, Beck said eating pork is a "big no-no in Islam." Beck's executive producer, known as "Stu," agreed that the cake was "very tastefully done."
From the June 8 edition of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck:
BECK: Something tells me that if Zarqawi's expecting to go to heaven with a bunch of virgins, he's in for a little surprise. Call me crazy, but if you've ever beheaded somebody, I think you're going to be spending all eternity in hell spoon-cuddling a naked Jeffrey Dahmer. Not so nice, especially if Zarqawi ever ate pork. Big no-no in Islam. Today -- you know, today I was just trying to see, are we any different than the Palestinians that were handing out cake on the World Trade Center day? The answer is yes, very different. We just nailed a bad guy. We sent Stu, our producer on the radio show, out on the rainy streets of Manhattan to mark the death of Zarqawi with a homemade bacon cake.
STU: Yes, I have a cake right here, as you know.
BECK: Yes.
STU: It says, "Zarqawi bacon cake." And it has a chalk outline, or as you actually -- you did it. It is beautiful.
BECK: Thank you.
STU: It is a frosting cake decorating outline of his body.
BECK: Yeah.
STU: And it was very tastefully done. I appreciate that.
BECK: Thank you. No, it was very nice. Now, you also have a plate -- a side of bacon if anybody wants the bacon.
STU: Yes, Kevin is here. He is holding the bacon right now.
BECK: OK.
STU: It's a steaming pile of bacon for a side, in case someone wants it.
BECK: OK.
STU: Excuse me. Excuse me for a second. Hi. All right, so we have -- as you guys know, al-Zarqawi died.
[group cheers]
BECK: I have a feeling we have some cake-takers.
STU: Would you guys like to have some celebration cake?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Of course. Yeah.
BECK: OK. All right.
STU: Who's ready for some cake, anybody?
[group cheers]
STU: All right. All right. They're cutting it now. The cameras are there.
BECK: Yeah. Yeah. And they're all hit by a truck.
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I shed no tears for Zarqawi, but Beck is just a jerk.
this is a joke, may not be the most politically correct one, but so what? we just killed a top member of al queda and that is a good thing, no matter what your position on iraq or anything else is. i am sure that most devout muslims who don't eat pork would not be offended or even bothered in the least by this bit. i am also sure they are celebrating this man's demise as we all are.
this is one of the least offensive comments that Beck has ever made ... besides the bad suggestion that pork cake might taste good. I already beginning to look green.
who brought so much violence on innocent people is one thing. As I wrote in another thread I cheered his death. The problem with these rightwing nuts is they go too far. They took it from cheering a murdering terrorist’s death to taking unnecessary pot shots at a religion. These terrorists are extremists they are not representative of the religion and by making the bacon cracks that is exactly what Beck is doing. He should have just had the cake and left the religious pot shots out of it.
the relationship between bacon and religion is very low. Its a big no-no for Zarqawi and than the celibration is with bacon Zarqawi pie, more or less as a symbol to make Zarqawi a sinner in the believe of the Islam. I do not see a bigger issue here.
By choosing something that is repellant to ALL Muslims (at least all of the ones I know), Beck is connecting the Muslim religion to the whole thing.
If Zarqawi actually committed these crimes, he is no different than McVeigh, Hitler, John Wayne Gacy or any other person who is capable of objectifying fellow humans to the point to commit unspeakable acts on them.
Religion may have been Zarqawi's supposed vehicle of choice to such acts, but Muslims in general are no more guilty than you or I for what Eric Rudolph did in the name of Christ. Should we have had a crucifix cake (or some other such nonsense) when Rudolph or any other Christian extremist is captured/executed? Of course not. All Christians aren't guilty for what selected Christian idiots do. The same can be said for Muslims.
as i said, it was not politically correct. but how many times do you see christianity slammed, bashed, made fun of, ridiculed and so on and it's left unchallenged here and throughout the media all time. sure there are the far right religious fanatics who use religion to further their political gain, but not all christians fall into that category. taking pot shots at christians is cool, do it to fanatical islam and your branded insensitive or bigoted. dumb.
When have I ever bashed christianity. I have chriticized those who do. I have challenged people on this forumn who do. I have read others who have done the same. So if you are going to accuse me of having a double standard why don't you provide facts to back it up. Your freuently complain about generalizations but you seem to have no problem when you are the one making them.
i never accused you, personally, of bashing anyone. i have only seen you post recently and have not seen that. you misunderstood. i am referring to other posts here on other topics. it has happened and very rarely taken to task.
there are some posters on this site who by their comments show themselves to be anti-Christianity…anti-religion actually. They post comments bashing both. I think it is wrong and I think most fair minded people left or right think it is wrong. But why does everyone think because the other guy did it is an excuse for further bad behavior? By the way sorry for the testy response earlier I am having a rough day. Shouldn’t have taken it out on you though.
no offense taken.
However, Christianity does get bashed a lot it seems. If you have not, I applaud you. I took the comment to be general but then again I did not make it and I cannot say for sure.
Doesn't make it right and doen'ts make it immune from comment. Just because some bash Christianity doesn't make it right for others to do the same thing to another religion. Both should be frowned upon and the "well he did it too" defense is getting really old.
Christianity is not above criticism. There is nothing wrong with criticizing it. Neither is Islam.
It also appears that what some may consider bashing, may be valid criticisms of individuals or ideas in Christianity/Islam that may be up for debate.
What is unfair (and has always BEEN unfair) is to judge the larger religion by the actions and words or their worst examples.
Most people self-servingly judge their own religion by its saints and other religions by their sinners. Beck appears to be doing just that. It is hypocritical.
Of course some may consider that bashing religion. So be it.
I don’t really see why you would bash a religion. I could see if you want to criticize some person who is claiming to be acting in the name of that religion but why the faith itself? It is not like you can have a fact based debate on faith. I guess you could give your opinion on how you think some religion is stupid but since no one is forcing you to practice that religion I don’t see the point—sort of like bashing gay people—what is the point other then mean spirited hatred? I guess you could have a discussion about the tenets of certain faiths but they are so varied in their application within the religion itself that again it seems more like the complaint would be with the practitioner not the faith. I have a cousin who was in what most people would term a cult. They practiced under the tenets of a particular religion—or the tenets as they interpreted it. We debated their interpretation of the religion but again my problem was with their interpretation and application not the religion itself. I guess my problem is with the sweeping generalizations about religion and faith based on how some chose to practice it.
To many people if you criticize their interpretation or application of their religion, as you mention, they believe you are bashing the religion itself.
If, for example, you believe that celibacy within the Catholic priesthood leads in certain cases to forms of sexual deviance (e.g. pedophilia), some might see that as an anti-Catholic attack and others might view it as a question of application or interpretation of Catholicism/Christianity. Maybe that is a bad example but bashing is indeed subjective.
If a person believes the application is an article of their faith, they may take offense although others may not see the same connection.
It all depends whether someone is criticizing something you or I hold dear in most instances.
I agree with you for the most part that individuals are usually the most ripe for criticism, but when you say just about anything about a religion's interpretations or applications many people find that akin to attacking their religion in general because they have intertwined the two.
That doesn't mean you can't criticize it, it just means don't be suprised when they call you a basher for it, even if you don't believe you are.
It is late. I hope that made sense. Bis Morgen.
then refuse to define them. you claim 'attacks' against 'christianity' remaine 'unchallenged' here and elsewhere, and you will refuse once again to PRODUCE THEM. And, sorry, bud but attacking self-proclaimed public scolds who use 'jesus' to attack other people is not attacking a religion, it is attacking the hypocrits who use it for their own profit.
Dress how a Muslim might in an Arab country. See how people treat you. It's a lot different than how they treat you if you're a Joe Average Christian living in America.
Don't be surprised at people yelling "terrorist!" and spitting on you. You might even get a few people trying to start a fight with you, too!
If that is his opinion he is free to express it. He does not have to pass it through the PC filter.
but he does not even present an opinion in my view. He is only using some symbolic action aimed against Zarqawi.
Does not matter if it is an opinion of not. It is his show and so long as his employer does not object and it does not violate any broadcast obscenity laws (which I am not clear on how they apply since this is cable), then he can do it.
I agree on this one.
no one says otherwise. We are simply commenting on his comments. Some of us find fault with it and some don't see a problem. You are trying to make a point that doesn't need making...so what do you think about his comments other then he has the right to make it?
He is entitled to make it. It is not a point of fact. I am really interested in his show. Thus, I don't really have an opinion as there is no need for me to. If you do, that is your privilege.
glad to hear you are above it all. Did you have this same reaction to the comments Sheehan made? I may be wrong but aren't you the poster who was talking about her comments just the other day?
But the airwaves are a PUBLIC resource they belong to US and if WE think OUR resource is being used in a way we object to its certainly within our purview to object
Yes as far as free speech, you are correct. What about the larger issue of morality?
Just because you can do something doesn't necessarily make it morally right. I wonder if you are so flippant about people having legal abortions?
I hope you are not so ensconced in the current Machiavellian fashion as to be unable to see that we are not debating at all whether Beck can bake that cake. It is about the judgement and the broader implications that are at issue here. I hope you agree that we are free to criticize Beck just as he baked that cake.
Your free speech argument is a straw man.
And gues what not only is he entitled to his opinion and to express it...I am also entitled to critisize his opinions and meathods of expressions. Ain't America grand.
I specifically did NOT say that you or anyone was trying to abridge Beck's right to do so. Just being proactive pointing that out.
Beck has every right to say what he said, and we have a right to call him a jerk for it. I bash Christianity all the time, and people have called me a jerk, religious bigot, disrespectful pig, etc. Of course, I don't have a nationally syndicated show, either. I wouldn't expect CNN to give a jerk like me a national platform, and I don't think they should give a jerk like Beck or Savage or Hannity or Limbaugh or Imus a national platform, either. But this is America, and suffering Jerks is the price of free speech. I wouldn't have it any other way. If only our Christian jerks would be so tolerant of speech with which they disagree.
Since no one was implying he DIDNT have such right what point were you trying to make? Are you saying you were being proactive in the sense you were attacking an argument no one had made and in fact that I have NEVER seen made in the year or so I have been coming here? Isnt that a strawman argument when you attack an argument no one is making?
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Don't forget patronizing.
Why don't you respond to actual attacks on Beck's freedom of speech before inventing a strawman. It would go much further towards gaining some respect here.
Then we are ENTITLE to tell him what we think about it. When will you GET that free speech does NOT equal a magic protection against criticism? It in fact goes both ways. He doesnt get a pedestal then a free pass as a first amendment right.
no religion, no one to live or die for, the Brotherhood of Man! (Excuse the paraphrasing)
the problem is when people chose to pervert faith for their own purposes. It is an excuse they use to justify to themselves their abhorent behaviour. Their delusions of claims to a higher power and religion are just that delusions. Don't blame religion for the perversion of others.
I totally agree. BTW: faith was not permitted in comunist Russia and China, and that did not work out either.
At least as far as the Soviet Union. While it was discouraged some of Europes most famous Churches are in Moscow. In the 70's more people belonged to the Eastern Orthodox Church than the Communist party. Chuch attendence and religious faith were never outlawed
Cogent point, perfectly made. THAT is the crux biscuit
ha ha ha oh what savage bloodlust. Eating a bacon cake in a chalk outline of Zarqawi's body, what could be more fun? Too bad you primitives couldn't feast on a ham made of his dead butt cheeks and had to make do with cannibalistic symbolism.
At first I was confused when I saw the terrible blonde beast, Ann Coulter, viciously attack the 9/11 widows but I see clearly now... right wing nuts and Arab terrorists are two sides of the same coin.
you see too much in this thing. Besides that it could be considered bad taste (especially cake and bacon, let alone the idea to eat it from Zarqawis 'body') Beck is just making fun of Zarqawi and his fanatical version of the islam. It is aimed at Zarqawi, not the islam!
but when I read the comments I winced at the religious reference. I have this reaction when people use christian symbols to make pots shots too. My reaction usually colors my view of the comment as not being appropriate. I do not practice either religion as such and perhaps those who do will not equate the dig to be aimed at their religion. I am just calling it as I see it. I would have found it more humorous if he had just left it at the chalk outline and celebratory cake. Just my personal opinion. I do not like the tone that is out there today and I think this type of thing encourages even more extrem bashing.
That in fact makes me a bit sensative to the attacks on Islam as if IT were the problem and the insensativity toward the religion instead of the specific nutbags within it. I see too much of it coming from some of my religious friends yet one of my Muslim friends is one of the most God loving, kind, and devout people I have ever met
I really think ...
you see too much in this thing. Besides that it could be considered bad taste (especially cake and bacon, let alone the idea to eat it from Zarqawis 'body') Beck is just making fun of Zarqawi and his fanatical version of the islam. It is aimed at Zarqawi, not the islam! - Yellow Bird
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I think you see too little. Zarqawi is a corpse. The comment could only be directed to the living. The ban on pork is taboo for all Muslims, not just fanatical ones. They will surely not mistake such "fun" comments for attacks on their religion even if you have.
There's a huge difference between being happy about a job well done and gloating. Right wingers are gloating, plain and simple. I wonder how that sets with God?
My guess would be that as soon as they die, they will be able to ask Him in person.
At least you admit you're just guessing.
CNN - Crap-filled No-news Network
Bernard Shaw probably can't stop throwing up.
Beck was hired as a shock jock and bringer of his opinion, not of making/bringing news or even backgrounds behind the news.
... for reinforcing my point.
CNN - Clinton News Network
I also detest Clinton Bacon Cake.
as we see evident in all of your posts
Contains No News is more like it
I no longer watch CNN and headline news.
Stay informed by staying AWAY from cable news outlets.
I think it's safe to say that Cable "News" has never recovered from the Monica Lewinski frenzy. It has, indeed, become that "vast wasteland".
-- Beck: " ... are we any different than the Palestinians that were handing out cake on the World Trade Center day? The answer is yes, very different"--
I'm waiting for the right-wingers to scold Beck for 'sinking to their level' or saying 'he's no better than they are', as they frequently do when someone here gets angry with Coulter, O'Reilly or Beck. But I'm sure they'll say 'this is different'.
and that is exactly the nice part of this piece: he does not even seem to know that for him and his crew the answer is 'no', although there is of course a big difference between a celebration over kiling citizens and a terrorist leader.
The answer would be a definitive no when we had celebrated the H killinhs or the civilian casualties on the Palastinian beach last week.
If it is spiritually correct to celebrate the death of a human who deserved it, show me the way to Strom Thurmond's grave so I can spit and dance on it.
its not my way to celebrate his death. I am just glad he is gone, thats all.
I am just defending Beck here for what his crew did. As I said, he is just using it as a symbol.
Hey ...its not my way to celebrate his death. I am just glad he is gone, thats all. I am just defending Beck here for what his crew did. As I said, he is just using it as a symbol. - Yellow Bird
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Nothing personal. I'm glad when any oppressor is gone. I'm not sad to see Zarqawi go and I wasn't sad to see Strom Thurmond go. I wouldn't be sad to see Beck go either but I would probably refrain from using it as an opportunity to mock Mormonism and inflame violent polygamists.
I usually agree with your posts but when you start defending the racist Beck there is bound to be collateral damage.
this particular case. Most of the time I disagree with the remarks of Beck, but in this case I think it is one of his least offensive remarks.
You seem to call it as you see it. You don't just walk a party line or spew hatred for oneside. Keep up the great posts. I may not always agree with your point but I find your honesty refreshing.
like those in the WTC. While I am glad his reign of terror has been stopped, I must admit I am a bit uncomfortable with the out-and-out celebration over the death of any human being. Celebrate that he has been stopped, but taking excessive joy in death...not sure I can go for that.
is that his violence has been ended. Speaking for myself when I say I cheered his death I do not mean I am cheering death itself but rather the fact that his death caused the end of his terror. I imagine ther are some wackos who actually enjoy death but I think most cheer at what his death means.
How I feel. Its a good thing he is gone. I cant celebrate anyones death. I can understand why others do. I wouldnt say they were wrong.
Glad that his carnage has stopped, but I am never willing to celebrate the death of a human being.
can you criticize the Palestinians in Gaza who celebrated the 9/11 attacks? I mean after all, their people have been viciously repressed by a nation who acquires its armaments of repression from the United States, not to mention that the U.S. government is completely obsequious to the Zionist -AIPAC lobby. There is NO debate in the MSM about how U.S.-Israeli ties affected the rise of international terrorism and hatred for the U.S. in the region.
if one accepts the premise of your question. I don't agree with your characterization of the situation so I do not equate the two.
go? Why to replace money that would have been spent on the wall that will make sure palestinians are cut off from water supplies? And to guns used to shoot 5 year olds while they are playing? For bulldozers to run over girls with their foot trapped?
I tried to respond to all post directed at me but I notice your posts to me are usually lacking in any real value. You are using wingnut rhetoric. No matter if it comes form the right or the left it is usually lacking in truth. What you wrote is so inaccurate that I find myself unable to even dig out something that I can comment on. If you want to debate Israelis and Palestinians then how about bringing some perspective to the table and seeing the truth of both sides—good and bad?
And they have never killed kids playing in the street? and No bulldozer has ever been used to run over some poor girl with her foot stuck? Gosh, keep on re-writing history!
the really funny part is, you keep trying to pin me into some little box so you can dismiss me, but all that is evident is that you can never defend your own posts! LOL!
Well I think there is something I can pick out of this post. I did not say we didn’t send money—I would argue that we send it so they can do the things you claim. I also do not think the guns and bulldozers are for the purpose of shooting 5 year olds and running over girls—hey call me a Pollyanna but I am pretty sure they are for a different purpose. I didn’t dispute that these events could have occurred—frankly I do not know. I don't think they are relvant to the discussion of who is right and who is wrong in their battle. It could certainly be used to show how innocent victims are suffering due to an unending war though. I dispute the reasoning you used for the events. If you truly believe they are for the purpose you stated here or that was their intention then I felt justified in saying this is wingnut logic. By the way I m sure many here got a good laugh about the part that I can’t defend my posts—most here would say I defend them ad nauseum—like a dog with a bone. You may not agree with my defense but it is amusing that you made this observation. Glad to see you don’t view me that way.
I see your point. I think another point to make is there was also a vigil in a Palestinian church to mourn the deaths on 9/11 that didnt get near the attention. I wonder why?
and loonies like "lost" and 'buzz' just have to keep other people in. Even if that had been broadcast as much as the other scene was, those types would ignore it completely.
Zero you are a hoot. Talk about trying to put people in a box. Aren’t you the poster with the loony idea that they get bulldozers for the purpose of running over little girls and machine guns so they can shoot toddlers? You have no idea about my stand on these issues. All you know is I have disagreed with a few of the leftwing talking points so you want to categorize me as the enemy. You will hopefully learn one day that not everyone will agree along party lines. As a liberal I believe in thinking for my self and coming to my own conclusions about things—I do not subscribe to any one school of thought. Issues are too complex to view them as simple black and white issues. You have now called me a liar, a loser, and several other personally derogatory names—it means nothing to me and really comments like that are a reflection of the one using them not the person they are towards. Something else you will hopefully learn one day.
With Beck's program on Headline News and the ability of Media Matters to now show video of his bits everyone can now hear AND see how lame he is.
Bacon cake. Um...funny?
I may have seen that ep. I was flipping channels and he was interviewing some comedian guy. Beck kept pressuring the guy to admit that he was disappointed Zarqawi was dead because he wouldn't be able to make jokes about it anymore. I think he pushed the guy like 3 times to admit he was disappointed.
This is you average right-wing mentality.
so Zarqawi is dead. Perhaps we can now return to the larger security issues facing Iraq and the Middle East as a result of America's useless invasion such as coming to grips that the Shiite power brokers are really puppets of Iran. The U.S. has not freed Iraq, it has just turned the country over to right-wing fundamentalist Shiite muslims who take their cues from the mullahs in Iran.
Anyone remember Haditha and Fallujah? Where are the INDEPENDENT investigations into these massacres?
...but not funny, either. Lame Letterman ripoff. Here's a hint for Beck: it kills the joke when you laugh at how clever you are.
I look forward to the Irsraeli terrorist whose death will be marked by pork pastries, and of course the Roman Catholic Priest child molester who se incarceration we shall celebrate with condom balloons.
Or does associating a tennant of a faith with an infmaous practioner (however misguided) of that faith tend to smear said faith? That couldn't be Beck's purpose at all.
(Associating a tenet of faith with an infamous practitioner to smear the faith) That was the impression I received from Beck’s actions. Seems many use this tactic these days.
Associating a tenet of faith with an infamous practitioner to smear the faith
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you hit the nail on the head
"Oh please . . . this is a joke, may be not the most politically correct one, but so what? we just killed a top member of Al-Qaeda [sic] and that is a good thing . . ." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Absolutely right, RO . . . after all, Zarqawi wasn't even human, so perfectly ok to show his deceased face 24/7 on the news channels . . . after all, we need this to remind us of why we're there in Afghanistan - oops I mean Iraq, to bring democracy -oops I mean fight terrorism - oops I mean to get bin Forgotten - oops I mean find WMD's . . .
So go ahead, let's make celebratory cakes, let's shoot off fireworks and CELEBRATE . . . ZARQAWI IS DEAD!! Heck, let's make it a nat'l holiday - Bunker Day! After all, its not like the insurgents in Iraq will mind what we do . . . just like that whole thing about Muslims getting all upset about the cartoons being published that depict Muhammed - they have no sense of humor - not like we do whenever someone burns a U.S. flag . . .
Before I begin... yes I am a conservative and yes I troll this website, for no other reason that I am a big Glenn Beck fan and when I miss a good show I can always count on Media Matters for an excellent recap of what I missed. Then I can count on an entertaining read of posts by people who are very good at taking things way out of proportion. That being said...
I applaud many of the posters on this topic for recoginizing facts such as...
#1. This was meant to be funny. You may not have thought it was funny but I did and many other people did. This is why Headline News hired him. Ratings. You don't like him, you don't have to watch him. He has freedom of speech, CNN has the freedom to air him and you have the freedom to tune in or out. I applaud those posters that have alluded to this.
#2. Christians get bashed all the time. I'm a Christian and I am a proud Christian, and I bash some aspects of my faith as well.. especially some of the stuff going on in the Catholic church (I am a recovering Catholic). I realize that people may sometimes bash my religion (United Methodist) as well. Again... opinions and entitlement to them and all of that. And I even tell Christian jokes that some may find offensive (Did you hear about the new Low-Fat communion wafer? It's called "I Can't Believe It's Not Jesus".) Hey, God gave me the sense of humor, what can I say?
So, thank you to those who have provided excellent posts under this subject. Many of the ones I disagree with have been posted in a manner that is not full of vile for Glenn Beck.
And, if you would ask me, yes, I would have a piece of the Bacon Cake just for the sheer entertainment provided by Beck and his staff for even coming up with such a thing. And then I would take an Alka Seltzer/Pepto Bismol cocktail afterwards.
thats why I love Glenn.... never afraid to speak his opinion.... I just guess none of you listened when he said that he was doing a social experiment to see if Americans would act differently than the Palestinians after 9/11... I guess you all didn't get it and never will....... Thats why I'm a proud SICK FREAK!!!!
Maybe we ought to get our fellow Insiders to visit this page! Any fan of Glenn Beck would find this stuff incredibly funny!
The man has a sense of humor.If people want to celebrate a monster's death with cake then why not?