200 protesters is indeed not a lot of people, but let's not downplay the number of Pakistanis who agree with the notion that blasphemers should be killed.
Wikipedia:
They take this shit very, very seriously in Pakistan.
Not trying to downplay it, but Pakistan has much bigger issues atm. Terrorism, illiteracy, corruption, countless COUNTLESS social issues, etc. Illiteracy is honestly one of the biggest problems in Pakistan, look at how the signs are spelled. Just solving something as simple as having a majority of your citizens well educated prevents a lot of these backwards and illogical demonstrations from happening.
i'm sorry you think less of me now.
i am on the whole a very rational person.
but there are just some topics that set me off, and this is one of them.
i have a strong, visceral reaction to behaviour lifted right out of the middle ages.
i can't help it...it's absolutely, utterly appalling. these sort of protests need to be condemned by all rational, reasonable pakistanis, and if they aren't, shame on them.
I do not think less of you. I completely understand where you're coming from with frustration from seeing tragedies happen. Was just shocked initially that's all. You're still one of the most intelligent posters on GAF and your contributions and insight on both Gaming and Off-Topic are very helpful.
And as for condemning them I completely agree. BUT what a lot of people are missing out on here are that these are most likely illiterate and very poor people who are being led by a couple of radical Muslims who have the slightest bit of education. You and I and everyone around the world can condemn everything as much as we want, but the root of the issue still lies with Pakistan and that is the most tragic part of it in my opinion. You have almost the whole western world looking down in disgust at one country that is suffering from issues on a multitude of fronts, along with a large group of uneducated people who are swayed by corrupt politicians to vote for them, and all the aid money the US sends here is simply taken by the politicians and given to their friends and families. And from this terrorists begin to move in, the US sends in drones, civilians die and get angry, and then people once again look at Pakistanis as if we are subhumans. I hate the stories that come out of Pakistan, as much as it hurts anyone who reads it from the outside let me tell you hearing it as a Pakistani is ten times worse. It's horrible but I believe with figures like Malala some progress will be made and hopefully once corruption dies down and the literacy rate is above 80% Pakistan will not look anything like it does today.