Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of 
This is the danger when incidents like the Ft. Hood shooting cause ignorant people -- always far too numerous -- to stereotype and dehumanize every member of a large and diverse group. Idiots like this guy then attack innocent people for no reason based on such images:
A Marine reservist armed with a tire iron beat and chased a man he thought was an Arab terrorist and even called 911 to say he was detaining the man, police said.But the man he assaulted was actually a Greek Orthodox priest visiting from overseas who spoke limited English, police said.
Wait till you see what an idiot this guy was:
That's why police arrested reservist Jasen D. Bruce on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.Police said they're also investigating whether Bruce, 28, committed a hate crime.
The incident took place around 6:35 p.m. Monday, police said. The priest, Alexios Marakis, 29, is from Crete, Greece. He is visiting St. Nicholas Greek Cathedral at 17 E Tarpon Ave. but police said he was in the Westshore area to bless another retired Greek priest.
But Marakis apparently got lost and exited northbound Interstate 275 into downtown Tampa, police said.
The priest followed several cars into the Seaport Channelside Apartments on Twiggs Street. He got out of his car and asked Bruce for help.
Instead of offering help, Bruce struck the priest on the head with a tire iron, police said.
He then chased the priest for three blocks to the Madison Avenue and Meridian Avenue, police said, and even called 911 to say that an Arabic man tried to rob him.
Bruce said he was going to take the Arab into custody. When police arrived, Bruce told them the victim was a terrorist.
This isn't a hate crime, it's a dumbass crime. I'm all for extra penalties for those.
Politics
Comments
Not recognizing Greek Orthodox so close to Tarpon Springs? Even more dumbass. I guess this Bruce idiot hasn't been around the bay area long.
Posted by: MikeG | November 15, 2009 9:18 AM
This ass hat has changed his story and now claims the "terrorist" hit on him and was only defending his heterosexual honor. Mr. Bruce it seems is also a model for gay magazines so it's no surprise that nobody is buying his story.
Posted by: Dogbert | November 15, 2009 9:19 AM
And this is what we get when the "Liberal MSM" abdicates journalistic responsibility and integrity in favor of soundbite newsiness and the profit motive. Meanwhile, the reichwing talkingshitheads fill the airwaves with their bigoted hatespeak and influence credulous dickheads like Bruce.
Posted by: democommie | November 15, 2009 9:35 AM
Guys, the meeting was in the underground apartment building, security gated parking lot. He drove in, how? why? He's not an idiot, or weekend tourist he is the official junior priest at the church. Odd place to ask for directions, what with all the gas stations he drove right past. The priest was an unmarried 29 year old from a country with some 'gay monasteries' and adjacent to Islamic countries, he knows their 'God is Great' phrases better than anyone in the USA after 9/11. Last, the priest was treated and released from the hospital and he was back at work the second day -- after allegedly being hit on the head three times with a tire iron by a 6'3" Marine I think he wouldn't have outrun the marine 20 feet in his robe and would still be in the hospital in a coma or worse. Plainly this story is nothing close to what we are supposed to think.
Posted by: WaitAMinute | November 15, 2009 9:41 AM
WaitAMinute:
Really, citations please.
FWIW, if the priest was a gay hooker soliciting from the poor 6'3" marine and he got slapped, it's still assault. You're an idiot.
Posted by: democommie | November 15, 2009 9:49 AM
He deserved it. On 9/11/01 the Archbishop of Athens said we deserved it. As a Greek American I know wha an anti-American anti-Semite he is if he doesn't bathe, shave and wear pants unlike the priests of my youth under Iakovos. If he doesn't speak Englis, he came here to spread poison. You can imagine what unnatural islamosoviet actions take place under his filthy gutter-swabbing cassock.
Posted by: Lucky Archer | November 15, 2009 9:57 AM
Part of me thinks Wait is jesting, but if not he seems to be full of shit.
About the priest being from another country - he's from Crete, and it seems he is studying at Holy Cross.
Police have stated that the GPS in the priest's car support his story of where he had been. The reports say the priest was hit 4 times during the chase, but nowhere is there reference to all 4, or even 3, of the blows being to the head.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/tampa-police-marine-reservist-attacked-greek-priest-he-mistook-for/1050707
Any bets on whether mr. minute will be back with more stories?
Posted by: dean | November 15, 2009 10:12 AM
"If he doesn't speak English, he came here to spread poison."
Nice. I rather think he served in that capacity by being a Catholic priest. You know, that venerated cabal of pedophiles, liars and misogynists? And unfortunately we can imagine what takes place under the robes of priests. Primarily because of the details revealed in the many lawsuits against the church for the rampant abuse of children and subsequent cover-ups.
Posted by: Leni | November 15, 2009 10:17 AM
Leni, purely in the interests of accuracy I should point out that Greek Orthodox are not Catholics any more than protestants are.
Posted by: Matty | November 15, 2009 10:25 AM
Wow. Holy dumbassitude, Batman. Are you actually unaware the the Greek Orthodox and Catholic churches are distinct entities?
Methinks, Leni, you need to find yourself a date, and stop fantasizing about clergy.
Posted by: Spidergrackle | November 15, 2009 10:37 AM
I bet this guy gets designated "Manual Mine Detector" MK I when he gets back to his platoon.
Posted by: The Pale Scot | November 15, 2009 10:56 AM
If anybody hit on anybody, it is more likely that the Marine hit on the priest, not for sex, but in order to justify bashing a gay. The priest was an easy target, weird looking and probably gay (to the Marine). That some muscle builders despise their latent homosexuality and violently take it out on others is not exactly a rare phenomenon.
Most likely the priest asked for help and the Marine thought; "Oh boy, a helpless weirdo to hurt."
Now a question: is it a hate crime to attack somebody for being 'different'?
Posted by: Rodney | November 15, 2009 11:00 AM
WaitAMinute obviously, has never driven in downtown Tampa. There are no gas stations and it is a very confusing place to get around if you're not a local.
Bruce went on the Bubba the Love Sponge show to defend himself for christ sake, the guy is a moron and so is his lawyer for letting him.
Posted by: Dogbert | November 15, 2009 11:20 AM
@WaitAminute
"The priest was an unmarried 29 year old from a country with some 'gay monasteries' and adjacent to Islamic countries"
You forgot the small detail that there is little love between Greeks and Muslims.
Posted by: Roman | November 15, 2009 11:23 AM
I am all for not stereotyping groups based on the actions of a single individual. Now, could we apply the same standard to white people from the South or Appalachia?
How often do you hear well educated people on the left use terms like "white trash" and "Deliverance types" or "red necks" as shorthand to described tens of millions of people? How often are crimes committed by individual whites against non-whites used to condemn the white population in general?
Perhaps we could all learn some lessons about not generalizing about societal groups based on anecdotal evidence.
Posted by: Midwest Yahoo | November 15, 2009 11:42 AM
Yahoo, thank you. As a southerner(born in Birmingham, raised in Atlanta and now living in rural Central Florida) it is nice to hear others recognize that not all southerners are bedsheet wearing, whiskey swilling, Bible thumping, racists. Quite the opposite for the most part. The stereotype is propigated because those that are Klansman are alot more vocal than the rest of us. Thanks, James
Posted by: James M. Phillips | November 15, 2009 12:10 PM
James M. Phillips:
Stop being the silent majority. If you let bedsheet wearing, whiskey swilling, Bible thumping, cousin humping, racist, trailer trash troglodytes elect your legislators then who can you blame but yourselves. I know lots of really neat people from places in the south--and a fair number of bedsheet wearing, whiskey swilling, Bible thumping, cousin humping, racist, trailer trash troglodytes who live in MY neck of the woods but, apparently they do not get to select all of our legislators, or even the most important ones.
Posted by: democommie | November 15, 2009 12:22 PM
Maybe nutcase Bruce thought that the priest was a visitor to the link posted below.
http://madabouttheboys.blogspot.com/2008/10/jasen-bruce.html
Posted by: SLC | November 15, 2009 12:34 PM
http://madabouttheboys.blogspot.com/2008/10/jasen-bruce.html
Not impressed with Mr. Bruce.
Posted by: Sadie Morrison | November 15, 2009 12:41 PM
He starts out looking nice, but deteriorates into bulging veins and bad haircuts. Regardless, for some reason it seems even worse when violent idiots come in pretty packages.
Posted by: Gretchen | November 15, 2009 12:46 PM
Demmo, you are absolutely correct. That is why my wife and I are very involved with our local community both politically and educationally. We vote Dem. consistantly and are very involved with our children and their friends through the school they attend and the various booster clubs and the church they attend. We make no secret of our politics or our philosophy. And, for the most part, even the klansmen will listen repectfully even when they don't agree. The secret I think, is to not be fearful of being open and honest about such things, without screaming about it. I can only hope that we are an example of the way to approach those kind of folks and hopefully make a change from the inside. As my grandmother used to say,"live your life like it is the only Bible folks will ever read". Now, I am no Christian and, don't claim to be, but that is something that has stuck with me all my life. Thanks, James
Posted by: James M. Phillips | November 15, 2009 12:47 PM
Can we officially decide not to take Leni's opinion seriously anymore?
Posted by: Brandon | November 15, 2009 2:06 PM
Something in the article jumped out at me:
Now, admittedly I don't have any hard facts to go on, but I have the sneaking suspicion that it could almost as easily have been the building super or a girl scout who got treated to a helping of "tire iron surprise". This guy isn't just ignorant and hateful- he's dangerously unstable.
Posted by: DaveL | November 15, 2009 2:20 PM
Lucky Archer wrote:
Anyone else lose an irony meter on that one?
Posted by: cserpent | November 15, 2009 2:20 PM
I thought that all Cretans were liars.
Posted by: kehrsam | November 15, 2009 2:22 PM
cserpent, just my tire irony meter. Thanks, James
Posted by: James M, Phillips | November 15, 2009 2:25 PM
The core thing to take away from this:
One man assaulted another man. It's clear that the first (and in this case only) man to perform assault was the reservist. That's all we need to know to put this man behind bars.
Even if the priest had been obviously Muslim, and had come up and started hitting on him, that's no excuse for assault. Even with his justifications, taking everything at his word, he still committed assault, and the priest didn't.
Posted by: Penn | November 15, 2009 3:09 PM
I think it is important to look at the video report ABC News did. There it becomes more clear what's what. Naturally people want to think the best of clergymen. However in this day and age we are paying megabucks for sex wrongdoing and so we have to take a fair perspective.
Personally every argument that says the Marine 'lost it' wiht a tire iron lots of time makes it more likely the short priest should have been knocked flat out cold or worse. But he was treated and released right away and back at work the second day. Nobody can really beleive a U.S. Marine 6'3" with a tire iron if he actually hit someone multiple times would have such minor injuries. The more out of his mind big and violent the people make the Marine out to be, the less credible it is the injuries were so minor.
It's completely possible the priest got all his injuries falling while running. 'lost while driving', not an idiot, not a weekend visitor but an official second priest, thought driving in to a gated underground apartment parking garage was a good idea, fell while running and got all scraped up... those facts are not in dispute. I wonder if a blood alcohol was taken.
Posted by: WaitAMinute | November 15, 2009 4:38 PM
I didn't think WAM would be back to advertise his stupidity. I lost.
Posted by: dean | November 15, 2009 4:54 PM
All right, WAM, let's assume that only the chase scene caught on the external camera happened, and that all injuries, police report aside, came from various falls, that the priest was drunk at the time (I have no idea where the hell this came from, but go for it), that he initially entered the garage illegally with dark and perverse intentions, through either a wrong entrance or an open gate, not to look at his map/call someone he knew, and then got out, not to ask directions of a guy who looked like he knew where he was going, but to try to pick his pocket and get a grope in while shouting Allah Ackbar -
I'm still missing the part where it makes perfect sense to chase down the drunk guy who pinched your ass while holding a tire iron (which you totally weren't planning on using). I mean, ass pinching and attempted purse grabs are annoying, but they aren't quite tire iron annoying.
Posted by: Stephanie W. | November 15, 2009 5:01 PM
I love how is name is "Jasen", because his mom was too dumb to spell Jason correctly.
Posted by: steve s | November 15, 2009 5:08 PM
Then the solution is obvious, isn't it?
Posted by: Azkyroth | November 15, 2009 5:18 PM
Stephanie,
I'm just not seeing the sort of facts necessary to put anybody much less a U.S. Marine in jail for 60 years. There's more legal fuss over bar fights. I think it is at least 50-50 that the priest, who plainly made some really dubious decisions about entering a locked facility to which he was (presumably) not invited thought the Marine would be 'a consenting adult' and 'went for it'. Plainly the priest's falling while running caused lots of injuries and whatever the Marine did with the tire iron wasn't enough to keep the priest in the hospital as the reports were 'treated and released'.
So the possibility the Marine was assaulted by someone who already made some bad decisions is as credible as the priest's 'I was just lost asking for directions'. Priests drive around all the time, I just don't buy that part of the story at all. Then the excuse the senior priest gives is that he couldn't have yelled an Islamic expression because he doesn't speak English. Please now. nine of ten people in the USA after 9/11 know that phrase and we don't speak Arabic either. How totally lame is it to think a person whose whole life was spent a short boat ride from Turkey and was trained as a priest wouldn't know Islamic stuff. Just nutso.
So it's these lame arguments that all fall apart when you look at them that make me wonder whether it is the right thing to do to hang the marine right off the bat.
Posted by: WaitAMinute | November 15, 2009 5:32 PM
Az, yes it is. That is why I will not lower myself to their level and will continue on the path of reason and tolerance. I will use the ballot, personal integrity, and the internet. Besides, I, and my family, have to live in this small rural town
Posted by: James M. Phillips | November 15, 2009 5:41 PM
Now we see the priest says he doesn't speak English, hardly at all. Such a priest wouldn't pull over and use his cell phone to call any of the staff or dozens of parishioners who speak Greek to get help if he's lost? He drives into a locked underground garage he's not invited to to ask a stranger for directions in a language he knows he doesn't understand?
Double Doubtful.
Posted by: WaitAMinute | November 15, 2009 5:44 PM
Okay WAM, let me get this straight. We can safely assume that this priest made a pass at a man because there have been sex scandals in the Roman Catholic church (which is a distinct and separate ecumenical body than the Eastern Orthodox churches). Also, because he came from a country which was near a country with a large Muslim population, it's safe to say that he decided to yell another religion's statement of faith at a stranger. Is that about right?
I'm not sure if you'd make a really good defense attorney or a really bad one.
Posted by: D Johnston | November 15, 2009 5:48 PM
I'm also not sure where you got 60 years. The most he'd be charged with is aggravated battery, which (in Florida, at least) carries a maximum sentence of 15 years. Unless the D.A. is planning on charging one count per blow, I'm not sure how you got to 60 years.
Posted by: D Johnston | November 15, 2009 5:52 PM
WAW, Pat is that you?
Posted by: James M. Phillips | November 15, 2009 5:53 PM
"Nobody can really beleive a U.S. Marine 6'3" with a tire iron if he actually hit someone multiple times would have such minor injuries."
The Marine propaganda is strong with this one. As a mouthy former member of the ANG, I've tussled with a few jarheads and believe me, those Madison Ave. produces TV commercials are a little exaggerated.
Posted by: History Punk | November 15, 2009 5:55 PM
Ironic that this guy was so gung-ho on nailing a terrorist, then got Jeff Brown as a lawyer. Jeff Brown was a defense lawyer for terrorist suspect Sami Al-Arian a few years back and got him off supporting terror charges. Why does he not beat up his lawyer for getting an (alleged) terrorist supporter off if he is so against terrorist??
Posted by: Geesh! | November 15, 2009 6:02 PM
The 60 years comes from a news report about the penalties for hate crimes. Google 'greek orthodox' and 'sexual misconduct' and you'll see the same problems.
www.pokrov.org
Anyhow the priest's priest boss was saying the priest couldn't have yelled an Arabic phrase because he speaks Greek. I guess if you can't see how that's pretty lame because we all speak English and know those Arabic words, anyhow. Look I'm just not ready to presume the priest was innocent because he's a priest and I'm not ready to presume the Marine was guilty because he's a marine. The hits with a tire iron doesn't jibe with the extent of the injuries. The 'lost in a locked underground parking garage looking for directions' doesn't jibe with an educated priest driving around the bay. The 'doesn't speak English' doesn't jibe with asking a stranger for directions instead of doing 'phone a Greek friend'.
Posted by: WaitAMinute | November 15, 2009 6:02 PM
I agree with WaitAMinute. I think we can all agree that:
1. Foreigners never ask for directions.
2. Lacking a blood test, we can only conclude that the padre was drunk...
4. ...and on the prowl for hot gay mansex.
5. Greek Orthodox priests commonly shout "Allahu Akbar".
Ergo, it's all the priest's fault that he got beat up.
So, to sum up, in a shortened version that isn't that much shorter:
1. It didn't happen.
2. It didn't happen on the scale that's posited.
3. He deserved what he got.*1
*1 Note this is exactly the same logic of Holocaust deniers*2
*2 Yes, I went there.
Posted by: Modusoperandi | November 15, 2009 6:10 PM
History Punk is on to something. Either the Marine was a big, strong, scary 'roid rage, gay-eye-candy musclehead capable of flattening the priest with a tire iron -- but somehow had the restraint to cause 'treated and released' minor injuries... or ... was not the stereotypical marine and so basically felt afraid and still didn't cause serious injuries.
www.pokrov.org Check it out if you think these Greek priests all deserve the benefit of the doubt just owing to their title before people get to know them.
Posted by: WaitAMinute | November 15, 2009 6:12 PM
Don't forget... He's Greek... you know... Greek... as in... teh anal sex!!
Yes, I'm just poe-ing here... but if you read Floridave's comment at Nov 12th, 2009 10:11 PM on the St. Petersburg Times article that Ed links to, he wrote:
If this was Floridave's only comment, I would have thought he was just Poe-ing too, but he commented many times on that thread. Based on the similar comments, I'm thinking that WAM might be the same person.
Posted by: doctorgoo | November 15, 2009 6:18 PM
Look, if people want to disagree with me please do it based on what I actually wrote and not pretend to respond as if I wrote that 'foriegners never ask for directions' and the rest. Seriously, would you drive into a locked underground garage to ask for directions? Remember priests all have advanced college degrees, they aren't idiots.
Posted by: WaitAMinute | November 15, 2009 6:19 PM
WAM, but what you wrote sounds willfully ignorant and juvenile. I'm waiting for you to say nanny-nanny-boo-oo.
Posted by: James M. Phillips | November 15, 2009 6:25 PM
WaitAMinute, you may indeed end up being, at least in part, correct. Even if that's so, it in no way excuses the logical trainwreck you used to reach your conclusions.
Posted by: Modusoperandi | November 15, 2009 6:49 PM
WAM, Now we see the priest says he doesn't speak English, hardly at all. Sound familiar?
Posted by: James M. Phillips | November 15, 2009 7:26 PM
Posted by: dean | November 15, 2009 7:32 PM
WaitAMinute:
"Look, if people want to disagree with me please do it based on what I actually wrote and not pretend to respond as if I wrote that 'foriegners never ask for directions' and the rest."
No, actually what you said was much more stupid than that.
"Seriously, would you drive into a locked underground garage to ask for directions?"
Umm, if the garage was locked, how did he drive in?
"Remember priests all have advanced college degrees, they aren't idiots."
A.) Untrue.
B.) He's not an RCC priest--they do have advanced degrees, afaia. He's been a priest for something like 9 years and he's twenty nine? Do the math.
I think it's important for you to understand that you're a bigoted moron, STFU.
"
Posted by: democommie | November 15, 2009 7:44 PM
I'd love to see that. I checked the article, and he is in being charged with aggravated battery which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years. A hate enhancement does not add 45 years.
WAM, why the vociferous defense of this guy? He's not exactly trustworthy - he changed his story several times (shades of the Matthew Shepherd murder) and he has a previous assault on his record. You've repeatedly used the defense attorney's story (the "locked garage" bit, which wasn't mentioned until after Jasen was arraigned). Plus, nothing Jasen has alleged justified chasing the guy for three blocks.
So really, why the defense? Do you know the defendant?
Posted by: D Johnston | November 15, 2009 8:06 PM
D Johnston: I think my take came because the first thing I watched was the ABC News video report on the subject which showed cars going down a ramp, through a security garage door and into the sub-terrainian garage of an apartment building. I have no doubt that if the press had access and spoke Greek they could find lots of unhappy stuff about the junior priest, just like all the unhappy stuff about the marine. Look I know everyone has stuff but seriously if the Marine was as much a total hothead 'roid rage guy he would have totally flattened the priest with a tire iron. Seriously -- how bad could have the marine wanted to hurt a guy if there was a three block foot chase -- the priest in a robe vs. marine? Even if the marine was totally nutso just no way the injury would have been so slight-- none at all. I'm thinking the only real answer is the marine didn't want him to get away and that's why he chased the priest and called 911. Seriously -- how many people call 911 on themselves?
Most people who went straight for 'the marine is a guilty jerk' theory got their news from the Alexandra Zayas print report. My first hit on the story showed the video of the scene and that's really it.
Posted by: WaitAMinute | November 15, 2009 8:36 PM
WaitAMinute,
Would you mind terribly sharing your views on vaccination and the holocaust?
Posted by: titmouse | November 15, 2009 8:38 PM
No, I don't know anyone involved, not the lawyers, the people, nothing. I don't even live near there. Just saw all these people lining up against the marine and totally not ready to investigate whether the priest might have actually done what the marine said, at least the crotch grab bit. Before all the clergy sexual misconduct stuff hit the news I wouldn't have thought so, but now? You've got to consider it.
Posted by: WaitAMinute | November 15, 2009 8:48 PM
Vaccination: A Really Good Thing. Polio is almost gone from the world as a result.
Holocaust: A Really Bad Thing (visited the museum in DC with the family).
Posted by: WaitAMinute | November 15, 2009 8:50 PM
How did he get in a fucking locked garage?
Chasing someone three blocks when you're afraid of them?
Give it the fuck up.
Posted by: democommie | November 15, 2009 8:50 PM
For all we know, the priest might have been kicked out his the monastery in Greece and might have a police record of his own over there. Maybe coming to the USA at 29 years of age is his second chance to make a new start. Or, not. The difference is nobody here speaks Greek or has access to the records over there, so we all just fill in the blanks with the assumption he's incapable of misconduct.
Posted by: WaitAMinute | November 15, 2009 8:56 PM
DemoCommie: Why the priest thought it was a good idea to drive or walk through a garage security door while lost is a really good question. He replies 'No English' to the press, so what's he thinking he's going to find in an underground garage? A Tourist Information Booth?
Clearly the Marine was not afraid of the priest, that's why he chased him for three blocks while having enough personal control not to crush him with the tire iron, since the priest was treated and release from the hospital and back at work the second day. My guess it the marine was not about to let somebody come into the garage of his home, grab his balls and waltz away as if nothing happened. I wouldn't either.
Lastly, you know just because we disagree on this doesn't mean we need to be disagreeable. What does all the swearing accomplish?
Posted by: WaitAMinute | November 15, 2009 9:02 PM
Been reading more about clergy sexual misconduct in the Greek church. Seems the top play in that playbook starts with blaming the victim and rallying the people against the victim. That www.pokrov.org is scary.
Posted by: WaitAMinute | November 15, 2009 9:12 PM
Your insistence on disputing that Jasen struck Eaccarino is rather odd, given that (as far as I can tell, anyway) Jasen never disputed this.
What you're describing is battery and is very much against the law. The second Eaccarino ran, Jasen lost any right to strike him. You aren't allowed to beat someone with a blunt instrument because you don't like him.
Notwithstanding, that was one of Jasen's later stories, after it became clear that his "the Greek guy was a terrorist" story wouldn't fly.
The story repeatedly noted that he was visiting on behalf of the local Orthodox church. He's not living in this country.
Before you continue this particular line, I'd like you to consider that you are accusing a man of being a sexual predator with absolutely no evidence.
Posted by: D Johnston | November 15, 2009 9:14 PM
Take a look at the website for the Tarpon church. There you see the priest listed as an official there, and the videos show he does services. So, you know, not a tourist.
Eaccorino is the main priest at the Tarpon church according to the website, not the one the marine alleges grabbed his balls. There in the video Eaccorino explains most of the injuries had to do with falling while running away. So were any of the injuries due to being struck with the tire iron? And if the priest kept coming at the marine as he says -- if the marine was a total hothead just no way at all the priest would be walking or running or whatever for three blocks. Seriously, a Marine with a tire iron could do as much damage as he pleased, and that there was nothing a hospital couldn't fix in one short visit is serious proof as to how bad the assualt really was.
Anyhow we aren't the court and all that, I'm just not ready to believe the priest didn't provoke his being chased and falling down and so on just because he's a priest. Clearly the marine is no saint but 'hate crime'? 'Aggravated Battery'? Maybe, but not certainly like everyone seems to 'just think'. Heck I'm not even in the military, I just think this marine is getting nailed and possibly quite unfairly due to people watching too many Vietnam movies or something.
Posted by: WaitAMinute | November 15, 2009 9:26 PM
WaM* - And what if the 'Greek Orthodox Priest' is not Greek, not Orthodox and not a priest? What if he one of Obama's Lizardoid Overlords from the centre of the Earth, or what if he made of green cheese, or what if...? If you're going to stretch to facts not in evidence, why not go whole hog?
Citations please for:
a) 'locked garage'
b) 'gated community'
c) 'chased him three blocks'.
All this is irrelevant anyway. The Marine assaulted the priest with a tire-iron. The marine has a history of assaulting people. The marine changed his story repeatedly (as opposed to the priest).
Who do you think is more creditable in this case, the perpetrator or the victim? - DJ
--------------
* no relation to the 80's boy-band I assume.
Posted by: DingoJack | November 15, 2009 9:28 PM
"Lastly, you know just because we disagree on this doesn't mean we need to be disagreeable. What does all the swearing accomplish?"
Excuse me, I'm sorry. When I deal with obtuse assholes, like yourself, my default is to tell them they are obtuse assholes.
You are trying to excuse the fuckhead marine who assaulted a guy. And you are attempting to do so by slandering the other party. You're either a complete fucking idiot or a lying piece of shit--perhaps both. If you don't like reading nasty comments that are made by others--while you are making them yourself--too bad. You concern trolls are so predictable.
Posted by: democommie | November 15, 2009 9:28 PM
Citation: Google the ABC News first video released on this subject. You'll see the scene for yourself.
Anyhow, I see the people who like the priest and hate the marine have emotions on the subject that run so deep they can't help swearing. Cuss away if you think that helps your process. Doesn't work for me, but hey, 'innocent until proven guilty' applies to marines too.
My bet is this case goes away before it ever makes it into a court room. Probably better for the marine if it doesn't as otherwise how will he clear his name? 'There I was, getting something from my car and when I turn around this little scraggle beard guy in a black robe goes for my balls!' I'm thinking no Marine lets anyone do that and just walk away and neither would I.
Posted by: WaitAMinute | November 15, 2009 9:41 PM
Ummm, yes. Woops. I thought I read Catholic in there somewhere. My bad :D
Actually, I don't really have a problem in the date department. But I could probably remedy that by spending a some time schooling myself about the Greek Orthodox Church.
Posted by: Leni | November 15, 2009 9:51 PM
Pardonnez moi. And I know I got the name wrong, too.
Still, Jasen never denied attacking the guy. All of his defenses are justifications. He started by claiming the guy was a terrorist, and only when that failed did he claim that Marakis made sexual overtures. He's obviously trying to gin up a bogus gay panic defense, which is allowed in Florida courts. However, either of his stories - that he thought Marakis was a Muslim or he thought Marakis was gay - makes this eligible for a bias modification, at least at the federal level.
Repeat after me: This. Is. A. Crime. You are only legally allowed to strike someone in self defense, not because you are upset.
I know why the regular readers are so involved in this: the idiot attacks a guy he thinks is a Muslim, then lies like crazy to employ a defense that oughtn't be allowed. What about you? Why are you so insistent on defending this guy?
Posted by: D Johnston | November 15, 2009 10:02 PM
Also, while I can only speak for myself, I don't think that anyone here hates Jasen because he's a Marine. Personally, I dislike him because he seems to be a bigot, a moron and a liar. His service has nothing to do with it.
Posted by: D Johnston | November 15, 2009 10:04 PM
D Johnston: Whacking and chasing and calling 911 on someone who grabbed your balls then runs away has got to be okay in any court at any level in the USA. Do you seriously buy that the marine hit the little guy with a tire iron and all he had was cuts and scrapes? Come on.
Posted by: WaitAMinute | November 15, 2009 10:09 PM
WaM! - No need to have a trial then, ABC News told us what happened so that must be true. That is just one theory of the crime, put out by a news organisation 'dog-whistling' xenophobia and faux patriotism to drum-up ratings, (Leaving aside the issue of airing prejudicial facts before a trial has even been arranged).
Perhaps you should re-read mine at #62. Now count the "cuss words". Any comment you'd like to make?
My bet is the marine will plead guilty to assault in exchange for a lesser sentence.
For someone so concerned to be 'unbiased', your bias sure is showing. Where did I say either party was guilty or innocent? Issues of creditability are not about guilt or innocence, merely which story is more believable.
It's possible that the alleged Greek Orthodoxy Priest did wander into a locked garage (by melting through the walls or something) and did go up to a part-time marine (who was in this same locked garage because...?). Then the Greek priest, for some totally unaccountable reason, shouted the Arabic "Allah Akbar" before doing what all good terrorist do, grabbing the genitals of the nearest person. The marine, affronted by this attack, grabbed a tire-iron before chasing (at less than walking pace) the clumsy priest, who fell down every other step, for three blocks.
Hmm... sounds soooo creditable to me.
Besides which, we are not the ones speculating on facts not in evidence, you are. - DJ
Posted by: DingoJack | November 15, 2009 10:22 PM
Seriously, would you drive into a locked underground garage to ask for directions?
REALLY seriously, if the garage was "locked," then how did he get in? WaM has been asked this question more than once, and has totally failed to answer it.
He's also totally failed to provide even one scrap of evidence or reliable reporting to back up any of the assertions he's made here. I think its safe to say he's a brain-dead bigot desperately grasping at any straw that looks remotely like an excuse to blame a furriner for what a red-blooded American serviceman did to him.
Oh, and about that "treated and released" canard: just because someone was released from the hospital soon after coming in, doesn't mean his injuries were inconsequential; it just means the hospital did all it had to do in one day. My girlfriend and I got out of hospital the same day we were in an accident that totalled our car and left us in pain for months; she was also discharged within 12 hours of coming in with a concussion; my ex-wife has had several athsma attacks (which are, as we all know, life-threatening), and was always released within 12 hours. The seriousness of an injury is not measured by the number of nights spent in hospital.
I'm quite sure WaM is not Pat (still not sure about the boy-band connection, though); but I am sure he's a hateful, stupid, morally-retarded loser in the same league as Pat.
Posted by: Raging Bee | November 15, 2009 10:33 PM
There is no evidence that the priest "grabbed [his] balls]. Bruce came up with that after he said that he thought the priest was a terrorist. So which is it? And how do you know?
As to his medical condition, since when are you a forensic scientist? Watching short videos of the suspect and the victim and you've already determined that it couldn't have possibly happened the way it was reported? How do you know, or are you just making things up again?
Finally, no, hitting someone with a tire iron, chasing them for three blocks, and then calling 911 is not a proportionate response to what happened (haven't you watched Law & Order? People changing their story is one of biggest giveaways.)
D Johnston:
I would imagine that, if anything, most of the members of this forum would be inclined to be biased against the priest; but because (as Micheal Heath likes to say) this is a ScienceBlogs forum, we respect and require a certain standard of evidence for accusations and claims like this.
Posted by: Kyorosuke | November 15, 2009 10:37 PM
WAM, the fact that the perpetrator in in the Marines, active duty or reserves, is immaterial. If he were a cop, a bricklayer, a shoe salesman, or whatever has nothing to do with it, in my opinion. He committed a crime, lied about it and is trying to wriggle off the hook. I think what you are trying, poorly, to defend is nativist xenophobia. You are using the fact that he is a Marine to justify or excuse his acts. Thanks, James
Posted by: James M. Phillips | November 15, 2009 10:43 PM
I'm going to try and make this my last comment, as it's much too late to keep this up.
No, it's not. In the United States, the only legally permissible use of force is in self-defense or (in some states) defense of another person. Even if you are attacked, your right to employ force against the aggressor ends as soon as he is no longer a threat.
This becomes an issue anytime one person kills another during a fight in which the victim started it. Trials for cases like this tend to focus on whether the defendant had control of the situation at the time of the murder; if he did, then he's guilty. As a rule of thumb, if the victim was fleeing the defendant, then the defendant had control of the situation.
There is no sense in which an unarmed man who is running away is a credible threat, and that means that any act of force against him was an illegal one. In fact, even if Jasen never struck the victim (and again, he never denied that he did), he would still be guilty of aggravated assault for the chase. I can't think of a simpler way to say this.
DingoJack -
Oh, he'll almost certainly take a plea. Thankfully, the gay panic defense has a very low rate of success - in fact, a man using that defense was tried and convicted this year.
Posted by: D Johnston | November 15, 2009 11:09 PM
The news account said he reported that, being lost, he followed another car into the locked underground garage before the door closed behind them. Just what anybody would do that couldn't speak English and needing directions. Yes? No....
Anyhow I'm thinking ABC News isn't exactly biased for the Marine since George Stephanopoulos (Greek guy) is one of their prime news stars. You can see right on the video cars going down the hill and through the security door and into the underground garage. Seriously does anybody here buy a person would do that just for directions who didn't speak English? Someone smart enough to operate a GPS and smart enough to preside and lead fancy church services? Look it just doesn't add up.
Posted by: WaitAMinute | November 15, 2009 11:11 PM
According to the accounts the use of force ended after termianting the sexual assault on the marine. There is little doubt the marine didn't use the tire iron in any serious way because the priest still had the ability to run for three blocks. Nobody can really think if the marine really wanted to hurt the guy he couldn't have done it, that's what makes all the arguments for his guilt so impossible to sustain. After that the priest fell while running away and the marine chased him calling 911 to be sure he wouldn't get away, not illegal.
Well, we'll just all see how it plays out. I'm hoping we hear as much about the priest's past as we heard about the marine's.
Posted by: Wait | November 15, 2009 11:19 PM
The only reason it "doesn't add up" is because WaM can't add.
Posted by: Raging Bee | November 15, 2009 11:21 PM
Uh-oh, it's starting to unravel for the priest.
http://www.pokrov.org/display.asp?ds=Article&id=1160
So much for 'No English' and 'Tourist'. He's talking now and admits he's been in the states for a while, in the article that he followed the marine's car into the garage!
Posted by: WaitAMinute | November 15, 2009 11:27 PM
Posted by: Onkel Bob | November 15, 2009 11:32 PM
The previous article said he was a student from greece at a seminary. Look what else Google found. The allegation of sexual assault is credible.
http://www.goarch.org/news/goa.news491
Posted by: WaitAMinute | November 15, 2009 11:40 PM
Oops I sit corrected. Both the priest's and the guy-in-front-of-him's cars both melted through the wall of the locked garage.
Seriously WaM! you're telling me that you've never been in an unfamiliar location, saw someone purposefully striding somewhere and thought: "Well, he seems to know he's doing, I'll follow him"? Once you're approaching the ramp down into the locked garage you can't turn around (or back out) easily, so going through the wall is your only option.
And just because you preached a few sermons in a church in a city, doesn't make you automatically eligible taxi licence within that city.
I still say the priest's tale is the more creditable. - DJ
Posted by: Dingojack | November 15, 2009 11:55 PM
Wam:
1) Will you get your news from reliable sources, rather than interest groups?
2) Now we know how he got in the garage, that's it. It doesn't mean anything else. It happened to be that car. So what? More details are coming out, but that doesn't equal changing stories. He's not a reporter. He's not in charge of the media. He's also what you would consider a filthy furriner, so I doubt many cared about his side until the story went national.
3) What does being in the country any amount of time mean? Have you ever associated with ethnic groups at all? Do you realize that, right now, there are thousands of immigrants who speak little or no English? Are you aware of the thousands of native born Americans speak little or no English? I can take you to hundreds of them, right now, all over South Texas. I can introduce you to the Vietnamese neighbors I had in Orange County, CA c. 1983, in which the teenager always had to translate for her grandmother, and even for her parents sometimes. They had lived in America for over 7 years at that point, and still the older people either didn't speak English, or struggled with it after so being here so long.
So your "unraveling" still indicates a disgusting level of bigotry, but that won't stop you from following your hate into the abyss.
Posted by: Aquaria | November 16, 2009 12:05 AM
Hmm seems WaM! didn't even read the document he was tendering as evidence. Nowhere is Eaccorino mentioned. Thus the evidence is irrelevant, failing to even support a theory of prior bad acts in the case of the victim in this case.
That there were allegations of dishonesty, excess drinking and, in one case, sexual misconduct leveled against students in a Greek Orthodox seminary IN THE US, and that the hierarchy quickly held a enquiry and expelled one priest IN THE US, to AVOID a 'cover-up' is not relevant to issue of an assault of a GREEK TRAINED Orthodox Priest by a less-than creditable part-time marine in a locked garage.
Also what was the marine doing lurking in a locked garage anyway? Parking cars I suppose. - DJ
Posted by: DingoJack | November 16, 2009 12:13 AM
Seriously WaM! you're telling me that you've never been in an unfamiliar location, saw someone purposefully striding somewhere and thought: "Well, he seems to know he's doing, I'll follow him"?
Is that why I'm always the help lady, wherever I go? Because I know where I'm going and what I'm doing?
Shit. Do you know how bothersome it is to have people blocking your path, following you around a store or into a restaurant/bar/office building, to ask where something is? I've had people ask me to read for them. Once, I led a bunch of lost Japanese tourists from the mall where I then worked, to Disneyland. They were in the lot where I parked before the mall opened, they were all turned around, and scared and crying. I had to help...
I need to start lollygagging and drooling on myself, I guess. Or start bludgeoning people.
:::roll eyes:::
Posted by: Aquaria | November 16, 2009 12:37 AM
Aquaria: You're just lucky that they didn't grab your crotch while shouting "Allahu Akbar".
Posted by: Modusoperandi | November 16, 2009 12:41 AM
Just for the benefit of WaM! who may not be familiar with the works of (late) Douglas Adams:
(inexplicably shouts "Allah Akbar!" and grabs own crotch] :) -DJ
Posted by: DingoJack | November 16, 2009 12:57 AM
"Lastly, you know just because we disagree on this doesn't mean we need to be disagreeable. What does all the swearing accomplish?"
Well for starters it allows everyone to show that they know you are a prejudiced fuckhead in a neat and succinct way, without delving into your tiresome and spurious posts.
It shows that we get it, we know that your own personal calculus is broken; that in your eyes a video of a massive marine chasing a priest for three blocks is not evidence that the marine did anything wrong, that in fact the priest may well be drunk and a pervert, that marines wielding tire irons always kill with the first swing, so he can't have been attacking him with the tire iron he was chasing him with, but that he would be entirely justified in hitting the guy because that "has got to be okay in any court at any level in the USA" (though as D Johnston showed you that's stupid.), and that anyway priests are way too smart and highly educated to ask directions from a guy in a car park.
Basically the advantage of incivility is that we can summarise that above paragraph as "You're a fucking idiot, everything you've said is 3rd-grade moron bullshit, now fuck off and tell your spurious theories to people stupid enough to believe them. Say Stormfront?"
Posted by: Sende | November 16, 2009 8:19 AM
The allegation of sexual assault is credible.
Credible how? You really think even the most depraved gay guy would grab the crotch of a stranger twice his size, in a public place, without being absolutely certain in advance that the other guy wanted it? Seriously, how often is that sort of thing known to happen?
I've had guys come on to me in public places, but they were NEVER that forceful or clumsy. This reservist is full of shite, and so is WaM.
Posted by: Raging Bee | November 16, 2009 9:44 AM
I can, especially if the priest tried to fend off blows with his hands, or if the marine was panicking.
No one's going to jail for 60 years. Period. I don't know which orifice exactly you pulled that one out of, but nobody is facing 60 years for aggravated battery, hate crime or not. He wouldn't have gotten 60 years if the priest had died.
You. Are. Insane.
You think it's just as likely that a guy with a previous history of violent outbursts went crazy when surprised by a foreigner he obviously in his mind had pegged as an Al Qaeda operative as it is that a Greek Orthodox priest took a detour after visiting a nursing home to sexually assault some random fucking huge guy in the name of Islam?
We're not exactly talking about someone with their ear to the ground on pop culture, here. The guy joined a Christian monastery in his teens. Even if he's familiar with the phrase, why on earth would he use it? He's a Christian priest. How much more unequivocally not-Muslim can you get?
Are you American? How's your French?
Really? You have no doubt that a guy who joined a monastery in his teens has a pile of skeletons in his closet? Despite not having one scintilla of evidence for this or indeed for any untoward behaviour on his part except for the absurd testimony of one man with a criminal history and an obvious motivation to lie?
No doubt?
I think you need to exercise your doubting muscles more often.
For all we know, you could be a chronic goat molester. On the other hand, maybe we should refrain from making allegations before there's some semblance of evidence to justify them.
No, we're not filling in any blanks. You're the one filling in blanks with wild accusations. There is no assumption being made that the priest is incapable of misconduct, there's only the fact there's not one jot of evidence for any misconduct on his part other than the word of one guy with a violent history and an obvious reason to lie.
Maybe you could link to a known case where the victim was a hulking U.S. marine.
Indeed, I'd be willing to bet that scenario has never, ever actually happened in the history of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Nobody has claimed he was a tourist here but you. Your link does not contradict the claim the Maraks speaks little English. The article is from the National Herald, a Greek-American publication. It's rather naive to suppose the interview was actually conducted in English.
Bullshit it's credible. Why? Because of an incident that happened at his seminary some ten years before he arrived there?
Would it be fair to tar Jasen Bruce with every incident that happened at any post where he served within ten years of him serving there? I can only imagine what that would drag up.
Posted by: DaveL | November 16, 2009 10:04 AM
Really the nub is this: WaM! you didn't really prove your argument. the alleged perpetrator still looks to be extremely dodgy, based on the evidence presented.
The alleged perpetrator's story (or stories) are not creditable even with the most generous assumptions, especially when compared to the alleged victim's story. Your added details gleaned from various secondary and tertiary sources don't hang together, layers of added hearsay, irrelevant detail, and speculation facts not on evidence, add nothing to the credibility of your case.
I'd say it's lucky you are not the defense lawyer for the defendant. - DJ
Posted by: DingoJack | November 16, 2009 10:12 AM
DaveL:
"For all we know, you could be a chronic goat molester. On the other hand, maybe we should refrain from making allegations before there's some semblance of evidence to justify them."
We should? I have seen no credible evidenct that says, conclucsively that WaitAMinute, is NOT a chronic goat molester. OTOH, all he needs to do is furnish a full accounting of his life from three or four unimpeachable sources (none of the that "parental shit" either) and we can stop wondering about his alleged bestiality.
Posted by: democommie | November 16, 2009 10:23 AM
The death toll inflicted upon USA society by "Allah-defending" Muslims is already way too high and can be expected to rise more in future days. (Sidebar: If Allah is the most wonderful of deities, why does he need defending, anyway? Isn't he quite capable of defending himself?)
OTOH, the incidents of anti-Muslim violence are rare to the point of triviality. Those who would have us wring our hands in concern regarding same are helping set the stage for the next "Allah-defending" atrocity.
Posted by: SpeedyGonzales | November 16, 2009 10:59 AM
I hate to rain on your parade, buddy, but if you'd paid attention you would have noticed the victim in this case of anti-Muslim paranoia wasn't actually a Muslim at all.
Posted by: DaveL | November 16, 2009 11:13 AM
I think that WAM has a point here. really.
It's the point that we don't know what went on and what anyone was thinking, and just because the guy SAID he hit the priest because he was a terrorist, that does not mean its what he actually thought.
seriously, the guy maybe was having sex with the old cooter in the parking garage (after meeting on the street and saying follow me) and something happened that caused a little spat between then..
sort of like a lover's quarrel.... and so if you were the big brave marine chasing after your boyfriend and you were stopped and asked what you were doing (and you were not that bright) would you rather say "I'm chasing my boyfriend because he bit me" or something along the lines of "I am saving America"
I have not read any of the news. can't be bothered. I just don't think any of you/us know what actually happened.. at this point and maybe never.
watch for the charges to be dropped.
Posted by: Kevin (NYC) | November 16, 2009 11:36 AM
@SpeedyGonzales: Then again, those that villify all Muslims might be helping to create the next generation of radical extremists.
Posted by: Deen | November 16, 2009 11:52 AM
I agree, we don't *know* what happened so making a judgement call based on comparing the two stories with available evidence is no better than randomly making shit up. I think they were both lizard people who tunneled into that underground garage from their lair in the centre of the earth.
Posted by: Matty | November 16, 2009 11:52 AM
Unfortunately for you, the victim is GREEK ORTHODOX, a splinter group of Christianity. As to the number killed by Muslims, does 100,000 (at least) Muslims, mostly women and children, killed by 'Shock and Awe' mean anything to you?
Oh and BTW Kevin, look for the charges being plead out for a lesser charge, since the defendant knows his various stories aren't gonna stand up in the witness box. - DJ
Posted by: DingoJack | November 16, 2009 11:56 AM
How did I KNOW this story took place in Florida before it was identified?
I think FARK is right.
Posted by: Siamang | November 16, 2009 12:25 PM
As far as being in an underground garage... I have done this; I'm a horrible dunce when it comes to driving in congested areas without my GPS. In fact, I bought the GPS because I got panicky while driving sound downtown, pulled off the road into a driveway that turned out to be the entrance for a multi-level garage. I pulled a ticket to get in because there was no backing out (there were cars behind me), and furthermore I got lost trying to get OUT of the fricking garage. No, it wasn't my intended destination; yes, it was a private garage for some office complex; no, I had no business there; no, I wasn't there to grab someone's (ahem).
Posted by: speedwell | November 16, 2009 12:25 PM
"I agree, we don't *know* what happened so making a judgement call based on comparing the two stories with available evidence is no better than randomly making shit up."
Just to be clear you're suggesting that taking the facts that a priest with no known convictions for assault was chased by a marine with convictions for assault who doesn't deny hitting him but instead claimed he did it because of a series of changing reasons (none of which would justify his assault legally), is no better than making up stories about how maybe the priest was a pervert and had it coming?
Good. I agree.
Your lizard theory is stupid though, and so are you by association. Clearly the priest was a secret member of Opus Dei in possession of the real Japanese long form birth certificate that proves Obama is a secret communist smuggled into Japan at birth by his Chinese masters, and he was trying to blackmail the United States Military with this information. Then the marine had to hit him. Or something.
Posted by: Trent | November 16, 2009 12:26 PM
I'm just waiting to hear that this "overt sexual advance" was in fact "Drop your panties, Sir William, I cannot wait until lunchtime!"
Posted by: DaveL | November 16, 2009 2:17 PM
I'm just not seeing the sort of facts necessary to put anybody much less a U.S. Marine in jail for 60 years.
Speaking as a Marine (retired), are we so special that we get a bye on idiotic/criminal/reckless behaviour? If this person had pulled such a stunt on base he'd be in the brig right now.
Posted by: Shay | November 16, 2009 3:50 PM
DingoJack: Srsly? Splinter group? You might want to check your facts, there. The Greek Orthodox church is the same age as the Roman Catholic church, and I don't think anyone's going to be calling /them/ a splinter group. There was no such thing as the Roman Catholic church until 1054, when the RCC and the GOC split.
Google the Great Schism if you don't believe me.
Posted by: Miiru | November 16, 2009 4:07 PM
DingoJack: Srsly? Splinter group? You might want to check your facts, there. The Greek Orthodox church is the same age as the Roman Catholic church, and I don't think anyone's going to be calling /them/ a splinter group.
I'll happily call 'em both splinter groups. And the Protestants, too (espeically them). The whole damn religion is a splinter off Judaism, that succeeded in mass-marketing itself to the Romans. And they've been splintering ever since.
Posted by: Eamon Knight | November 16, 2009 4:55 PM
Look, if people want to disagree with me please do it based on what I actually wrote and not pretend to respond as if I wrote that 'foriegners never ask for directions' and the rest.
Why? You've gone out of your way to show yourself to be a bigoted fucking moron. You have said absolutely nothing substantive worth responding to. Waste of time pointing out exactly why you're a fucking jackass when you have already done that for us.
Posted by: DuWayne | November 16, 2009 5:07 PM
Um, if I might offer:
I have actually been hit with a metal object (not a tire iron). I can say the following is true: that when you take a hit on the arm or leg, it hurts like a motherf*cker but you won't always go down. Your arms can take a lot of hits before they break.
And when you are moving it is harder for someone to get a good solid whack in. A tire iron is heavy enough, but wave one around and see if you could get a good shot in -- it's actually a bit harder than it would seem at first blush (depending on the kind of tire iron it is, hw long it is, and the balance, and how well you held and swung it).
You'd be amazed at what happens when a crazy person is attacking you and you want to RUN AWAY.
WHile a muscle-y guy with an iron is dangerous, it isn't like "seven with one blow" or anything.
Posted by: Jesse | November 16, 2009 6:00 PM
Miiru "Google the Great Schism if you don't believe me."
And I realize that this is wildly off-topic but doesn't Google the Great Schism sound like an awesome name for a wizard?
Posted by: Modusoperandi | November 16, 2009 6:07 PM
DuWayne:
Yeah, you would think the asshat would get, after being told he is a fucknuts by about 20 people, tired of hearing it.
Hope you're healing well.
Posted by: democommie | November 16, 2009 10:32 PM
My dear Modusoperandi,
No, no it really isn't. You don't know how often I was teased on the playground at Hogwarts. :(
But on a happier note, my band, eponymously named of course, is number 14 (and climbing) on the Wizard charts.
Thanks for asking, GtGS
Posted by: Google the Great Schism | November 16, 2009 11:12 PM
MO - I believe the Eastern Church (which became the 'Orthodox' Churches) and the Western Churches (RCC brand) split much earlier than that, all over an iota*. They hung together for some centuries mainly because they realised that otherwise they would hang separately. The decree nisi was the Great Schism, and it only got worse from there, finally ending with multiple popes, a very ugly divorce all up.- DJ
---------------
* go figure!
Posted by: DingoJack | November 16, 2009 11:20 PM
Google: I saw you play live. The unicorn drummer was a nice touch.
Posted by: Modusoperandi | November 16, 2009 11:52 PM
Hey! That was no unicorn; that was my wife! - GtGS
Posted by: Google the Great Schism | November 17, 2009 1:17 AM
I'm so late to this thread, only now reading all of it, but I need to sort this out in print just to see if I'm even following it.
According to WaitAMinute, there's no less than a "50/50" chance that the following scenario actually occurred:
A Greek Orthodox priest snuck into a private car park, approached a well-built marine and "went for it" by grabbing said marine's crotch. The offended marine then chased the priest, subdued him and called 9-1-1. Then, when the police arrived, instead of accurately reporting that the priest had sexually assaulted him, he decided to say that he'd caught an Arab terrorist who'd shouted "Allahu Akbar" at him. But then again, maybe the priest really did say "Allahu Akbar" (since he lives close to Turkey, remember). One must assume that he was under the impression that Americans find that phrase incredibly sexy.
And those of us who find this scenario implausible do so because we have a simple-minded, "marines=bad, priests=good" bias.
Is that about it?
Seriously, WTF?
Or, maybe, just maybe, could it be that a marine was approached by a heavily accented stranger who appeared (to him) to be wearing Muslim garb and that he got spooked? What's the simpler explanation?
The only thing that seems odd about the incident is that the priest wasn't more seriously injured, considering a tire iron was involved, but that's hardly an insurmountable problem. Except, it appears, to WAM, who'll entertain the most ludicrous scenario based on this one oddity.
Posted by: Michael Hoaglin | November 17, 2009 1:53 AM
Has WAM gone?
Good flamin' bog that was a pile of teh dumbassitude.
I stopped reading when he suggested that getting honked was a good reason to beat the honker with a tire iron.
Posted by: Metro | November 17, 2009 4:13 AM
I agree with WAM, a lot of Greek Orthodox priests are gay Muslim terrorists pretending to look for directions as a pick up line. (I know because I used to be one.)
Posted by: DAM | November 19, 2009 5:59 AM
Brandon wrote:
Remember that time I retracted telling you to "fuck off"? Yeah. I retract that.
Posted by: Leni | November 20, 2009 3:57 AM