When Mahatma Gandhi was asked what he thought of Western civilization, he reportedly answered that "I think it would be a good idea."
Over the weekend, I decided I needed just a little more stress in my life, so I wandered over to Arab News' web site. (It's highly recommended for those with low blood pressure, as it always seems to have at least one article guaranteed to outrage anyone.) And I got it in spades.
In Saudi Arabia, a couple's marriage has been ruled invalid. It seems that the bride and groom are from different social statuses, and that simply can't be allowed. It gets more entertaining when you read farther -- the marriage was sanctioned by an Islamic court first, her parents had consented, the couple is very happy together, and they have two children.
But this is Saudi Arabia, remember. Women are property there. The wife's father has died, so now her half-brother is fighting to own her. The first obstacle is to get rid of her current owner, her husband, and then he can marry her off to someone of his choosing for his own ends. And as far as his brother-in-law and the children who might call him "uncle" (but I doubt they will now)? They can go pound sand.
Next up, we have Dr. Salah Bin-Humaid, Chairman of Saudi Arabia's Shoura Council. (They don't say what that is, but it seems to be their "cabinet.") He was quite unhappy at President Bush calling those fascists who boast of their Islamic faith "Islamic fascists," and wants an apology. Dr. Bin-Humaid is also cordially invited to go pound sand. (Hey, it's a freaking desert country. YOU try resisting the temptation to use that phrase.)
And then there's this opinion piece regarding last week's terror plot broken up in the UK. The author seems to be advocating profiling to prevent future attacks. But instead of people, we should profile flight plans. Only those planes bound for the US or the UK ought to be subject to such rigid, apparently because those are the only ones that are likely to be targeted.
Here's a little tip for the author, Mr. Essa bin Mohammed Al-Zedjali: the terrorists have already gone past the point of a logical connection between their goals and their methods. A planeload of tourists have almost nothing to do with the foreign policy of the United States or Great Britain. Their whole modus operandi is to find the weakest point for an attack and go after it. What makes you think that they simply won't extend their hostilities to "those supporting the US and the UK by flying out of their airports" and go after any old flight? Allah's infinite mercy? I'd rather bet on the sun rising in the west tomorrow.
Finally, we have this particularly noxious piece by Randall B. (Nadeem) Hamud. Apparently the only functional democracy in the Middle East, surrounded by dictatorships and tyrannical monarchies and thugocracies and theocracies, is the only one truly worthy of the label "fascist." I have two competing wise-ass observations going on.
1) Apparently it's no coincidence that Denial is a river that runs through Muslim lands.
2) No wonder the Islamic fundamentalists hate movie theatres -- they give them a run for their money when it comes to "projection."
Islamic civilization? Sounds wonderful. Lemme know when it's being tried out.



Comments (21)
"But instead of people, we ... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Les Nessman | August 21, 2006 11:37 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"But instead of people, we should profile flight plans. Only those planes bound for the US or the UK ought to be subject to such rigid, apparently because those are the only ones that are likely to be targeted."
I have no problem with that. As long as the USA is protected, I don't really care what other countries do. I would strongly encourage them to profile; but if they don't want to, that's their business. American tourists should be warned which nations profile and which don't, then they can decide if they want to travel there.
1. Posted by Les Nessman | August 21, 2006 11:37 AM |
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Posted on August 21, 2006 11:37
2. Posted by jpm100 | August 21, 2006 12:09 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
The great Carnac perdicts a letter from CAIR and other such demonstrations of outrage in Jay's future.
2. Posted by jpm100 | August 21, 2006 12:09 PM |
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Posted on August 21, 2006 12:09
3. Posted by Red Fog | August 21, 2006 12:27 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
For what it's worth, my Baathist friend raised in Baghdad tells me that the Islamic world perceives Saudi Islamics and especially THE HOUSE OF SAUD as morally bankrupt.
Our cozy diplomatic relations with The House of Saud should be revoked upon ushering in a new U.S. president. This should be a campaign promise made to American voters who pay attention. We can get our 20% of crude from Iraq or Alaska or Canada.
And did you know that the Bin Laden Construction Company, the largest such company in that desert, must import sand for building foundations because Saudi sand is unstable (too fine)? There's a tidy little metephor in there somewhere.
3. Posted by Red Fog | August 21, 2006 12:27 PM |
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Posted on August 21, 2006 12:27
4. Posted by Synova | August 21, 2006 12:32 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
It's weird the things your brain can do to you. I read what jpm100 wrote accurately and understood it while part of my brain ran a parallel track and read... CAT, outrage, and furniture.
4. Posted by Synova | August 21, 2006 12:32 PM |
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Posted on August 21, 2006 12:32
5. Posted by Muslim Unity | August 21, 2006 12:33 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
We don't need any apology from bush. As that thing means nothing to us. It is like getting a fake apology from the satan. Will apologies bring back millions of lives lost because of that thing? (Even innocent American lives lost because of it)
"Islamic civilization? Sounds wonderful. Lemme know when it's being tried out."
I do not want to compare any civilization a all of them are uniqe and different and need to be respected. Such statements just show ignorance and even arrogance.
Look deeper and you'll will find out that to fight terror we need to collaborate instead of turning more than 1 billion people against you'll.
There is still hope left, let us not miss the chance and unite together to spread peace instead of terror and hate.
5. Posted by Muslim Unity | August 21, 2006 12:33 PM |
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Posted on August 21, 2006 12:33
6. Posted by jpm100 | August 21, 2006 12:41 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Red Fog,
the last time we abandoned a morally corrupt leader of an Islamic nation, we got current day Iran.
No need to rush to throw them to the wolves if you aren't going to like the wolves any better.
6. Posted by jpm100 | August 21, 2006 12:41 PM |
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Posted on August 21, 2006 12:41
7. Posted by Muslim Unity | August 21, 2006 12:43 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I don't know but why does it sound as if 'we' are in battle against each other? It shouldn't because we all all the same people wanting the same thing placed in different cultures.
The goal is peace for both of us.(I hope)
7. Posted by Muslim Unity | August 21, 2006 12:43 PM |
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Posted on August 21, 2006 12:43
8. Posted by _Jon | August 21, 2006 12:52 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Oh, I see - going there spikes *your* blood pressure, so you bring some of that love back here for us....
Great! Thanks!
How about driving some spikes into my eyes, while you are at it?
I come here to learn the finer points of sock-puppetry and *this* is what I get...
I thought torture was illegal in America!
/sarcasm
8. Posted by _Jon | August 21, 2006 12:52 PM |
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Posted on August 21, 2006 12:52
9. Posted by yo | August 21, 2006 1:04 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I don't know but why does it sound as if 'we' are in battle against each other? It shouldn't because we all all the same people wanting the same thing placed in different cultures.
The goal is peace for both of us.(I hope)
Posted by: Muslim Unity at August 21, 2006 12:43 PM
As long as assholes who shroud themselves in the banner of Allah continue to repress and massacre innocent people, there is no "we" in this issue.
There is only "us" and "those fuckers."
I don't know, but why does it sound as if you're going well out of your way to give credibility to a bunch of murderers?
There is a shared goal of "peace," of course .. the difference is in the how islamic facists define "peace."
9. Posted by yo | August 21, 2006 1:04 PM |
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Posted on August 21, 2006 13:04
10. Posted by cubanbob | August 21, 2006 1:51 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
MU, if a billion people believe a foolish thing, it's still a foolish thing. Tell me does it bother you to know that your using a computer to access the internet to post your drivel, all of the technology and science necessary to accomplish this is in large part derived from Israel and non of it from an Arab country?
10. Posted by cubanbob | August 21, 2006 1:51 PM |
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Posted on August 21, 2006 13:51
11. Posted by JB | August 21, 2006 2:38 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"I do not want to compare any civilization a all of them are unique and different and need to be respected."
Then you better get to respecting OUR civilization, an integral part of which is not taking crap from totalitarian thugs.
11. Posted by JB | August 21, 2006 2:38 PM |
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Posted on August 21, 2006 14:38
12. Posted by DaveD | August 21, 2006 3:18 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
MU, you can talk about respecting other civilizations but I can't see you having the time to do this while the Sunni's and Shia's are killing each other. Let me know when you have your own intramural butchers under control then we can help point the way to respecting other civilizations. You know, the ones where women can go to school, people can worship as they please....you get my drift.
12. Posted by DaveD | August 21, 2006 3:18 PM |
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Posted on August 21, 2006 15:18
13. Posted by blackflag | August 21, 2006 3:23 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Well it looks like the Da'Wah didnt go over so well.
13. Posted by blackflag | August 21, 2006 3:23 PM |
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Posted on August 21, 2006 15:23
14. Posted by SCSIwuzzy | August 21, 2006 6:21 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
DaveD,
After he makes his Martyr video, maybe he'll have time to get on that
14. Posted by SCSIwuzzy | August 21, 2006 6:21 PM |
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Posted on August 21, 2006 18:21
15. Posted by Red Fog | August 21, 2006 11:17 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
jpm100,
the last time we abandoned a morally corrupt leader of an Islamic nation, we got current day Iran.
No need to rush to throw them to the wolves if you aren't going to like the wolves any better.
Okay, I say let the wolves eat now. They are a diplomatic Catch 22 for the U.S.
15. Posted by Red Fog | August 21, 2006 11:17 PM |
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Posted on August 21, 2006 23:17
16. Posted by bernie | August 22, 2006 1:44 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Here is what Arab civilization has done for the world in the last 1000 years: The Arab Contribution to Civilization: Nothing Lately
And as for all of us cultures looking for the same thing? No. Islam is looking to make the whole world Muslim. I would like to see the whole world non-Muslim.
16. Posted by bernie | August 22, 2006 1:44 AM |
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Posted on August 22, 2006 01:44
17. Posted by Syntax | August 22, 2006 5:04 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Far be it for me to interject some common sense here but if we don't particularly like these people, we would like to wipe them off the face of the Earth, feel their contribution is "nothing", call them intramural butchers and blah blah blah, why did the United States just waste 2600 American lives and $1.7 trillion dollars to bring these people freedom and democracy? If Saddam was killing them, HE WAS OBVIOUSLY DOING US A FAVOR!!! And......AND...it didn't cost us a freakin penny!!!!
And you libs need to stop bitching about Bush's strongest allies in the Middle East. Who is the diplomat from Saudi Arabia that has his own room at the White House? What's that Saudi Diplomat's nickname? Bandhar Bush??? It was the leader of Saudi Arabia that our great President was holding hands and playing smoochie-kissums with on the front lawn of OUR White House. This totalitarian government that is ruled by a Islamic Monarchy shares Bush's ideology of democracy when it comes to the aggressive regimes that were voted into power by the people of the democratic states of Iran and Syria and Lebanon. So you libs need to support this president and his allies like the totalitarian monarchy and militant ruled countries like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan in his effort to bring democracy to countries where the people elect hard-liners by exercising the democracy that he says they don't have and need more of!
Kind of makes your head hurt don't it?
17. Posted by Syntax | August 22, 2006 5:04 AM |
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Posted on August 22, 2006 05:04
18. Posted by Oyster | August 22, 2006 10:09 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Wow. Hamud's piece really was noxious. I wouldn't even know where to begin. But I'll try:
Apparently being "fascist" means you have to have physical national boundaries as Islam does not.
Apparently being "fascist" means you have to be secular (unless of course you're Jooooish).
Apparently "fascism" never existed until Marxism and communism came into being as it wasn't "vogue" intil then.
And most of all he describes real fascism as:
"...fascist Italy emphasized the importance of the state as an organic entity rather than as protector of individual rights. The state controlled all aspects of life. It exploited populist rhetoric, exalted heroic effort — especially war — to achieve past greatness, and exacted absolute loyalty to a single leader. And its ends always justified the means, no matter how murderous."
Just exchange Italy with Islam and state with Ummah and there you have it! All they need is the single leader which, Ahmadinnerjacket is sure will appear soon - the 12th Imam. Until then, your local fascist Imam will have to do.
18. Posted by Oyster | August 22, 2006 10:09 AM |
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Posted on August 22, 2006 10:09
19. Posted by Silly in Saudi | August 23, 2006 2:33 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Dear The Author,
Saudi Arabia'a Shoura Council is not their version of a Cabinet.
Rather it is the Appointed Puppet Parliament that Has No Power to Do Anything but Pontificate.
19. Posted by Silly in Saudi | August 23, 2006 2:33 AM |
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Posted on August 23, 2006 02:33
20. Posted by Syntax | August 23, 2006 3:20 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Well shit then!!! I thought this peice was researched before being presented. Don't I feel factually stoopid! Still...you libs leave the president and his totalitaran, militant, monarchys alone!!!! We're spreddin democercy stupids! Its my stratergy!
20. Posted by Syntax | August 23, 2006 3:20 AM |
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Posted on August 23, 2006 03:20
21. Posted by abu afak | August 23, 2006 10:59 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Bravo Jay Tea!
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Images/DoubleStandard.jpg
21. Posted by abu afak | August 23, 2006 10:59 PM |
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Posted on August 23, 2006 22:59