Muslim Football league names draw Wrath!

Society Religion & Philosophy
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What could be more commendable than a Californian teenager organising an American football league to keep young people off the streets?
The tournament planned by Sabih Khan, 18, aimed to give aspiring Muslim footballers - although it was not limited to just Muslims - a chance to enjoy themselves over New Year.

But the competition got off to a bad start after some of the contestants from Irvine, California, named their teams Intifada, Soldiers of Allah and Mujahedin.

Intifada, meaning “uprising” in Arabic, is a term used by Palestinians to describe their protest against the Israeli occupation, while Mujahedin - meaning “holy warriors” - is associated with a number of Islamic groups which are on the US’s list of terrorist organisations.

“The issue is these words are linked to real terrorists, real threats, real murders today,” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper of the Jewish human rights organisation, the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

They say while the Soldiers of Allah and Mujahedin teams have opted to changes their names, the Intifada team is keeping its.

Other team names include the Muslim Rangers, Fantizzle Fizzle and the Liberators.

The Muslim footballers are not the first Americans to choose controversial team names.

The Washington Wizards basketball team changed its name in 1997 after its previous name - Bullets - was deemed too violent.

Some Native Americans have complained about team names or mascots including the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves.

Muslim league names draw ire

Land of the free, that statement is more laughable by the day, how on earth can they claim freedom of speech when they don’t like foriegn names or words which most of them don’t even know what they mean! What next you have to change your name from muhammad to Mark because muhammad is linked to islam and that is too much for them to handle, man how ridiculous.

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Why should they change their name? That is just stupid.

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Re: Muslim Football league names draw Wrath!

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ak47: *
Land of the free, that statement is more laughable by the day, how on earth can they claim freedom of speech when they don't like foriegn names or words which most of them don't even know what they mean! What next you have to change your name from muhammad to Mark because muhammad is linked to islam and that is too much for them to handle, man how ridiculous.
[/QUOTE]

They don't have to change their names.

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what sports has to do with holy warriors ? sports is not somekind of relgious warfare.

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Re: Re: Muslim Football league names draw Wrath!

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by storch: *

They don't have to change their names.
[/QUOTE]

storch i was showing how ridiculous it can get, by giving analogies

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by rvikz: *
what sports has to do with holy warriors ? sports is not somekind of relgious warfare.
[/QUOTE]

rvkiz this issue is to do with speech and so called freedom of speech. But to answer your point directly there are all kinds of names out there you have Notre dame, Crusaders, vikings you have warriors just because it is in arabic it becomes offensive give me a break!

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ak47: *

rvkiz this issue is to do with speech and so called freedom of speech. But to answer your point directly there are all kinds of names out there you have Notre dame, Crusaders, vikings you have warriors just because it is in arabic it becomes offensive give me a break!
[/QUOTE]

there is no secular arabic term for sports team like "eagles" or "falcons"
or "tigers"?
how hard it is to avoid
names like crusaders or army of saladin for sports team?

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It's not a question of freedom of speech. It's a question of political correctness.

A whole bunch of teams have changed their names and/or their mascots to satisfy the sensibilities of those who are easily offended. During the 1970s, I believe, the big issue was with teams that were called Indians, Redmen, and things related to native Americans. Some teams, particularly in pro sports held out and retained their names (Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, Washington Redskins). Colleges, which seem to be very concerned with a liberal politically correct viewpoint, changed names quite a lot. Stanford changed from the Indians to the Cardinal. St. Johns used to be known as the Redmen. I think their now something stupid like the Red Johnies.

I think this political correctness stuff is BS. If you want to call yourself the Crenshaw Mujahadden, so what. Just don't complain when your opponent for the week is called the Temple Beth Zionists or the Kansas Klan. Also, a little common sense will tell you that certain team names are going to be offensive to others. Knowing you will offend, don't cry and complain when those offended express their opinions about how obnoxious you are for naming your team something offensive. And don't expect a lot of sympathy and support when you try to hide behind the First Amendment when the offended express their outrage.

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can i join the league with the team name

holy crusaiders

mary's soldiers

jesus army

what would you say if i started team with those names in pakistan.. or saudi?????

youdont even have those names for team in pakistan.. so y here

its what you call baiting the locals.. and is arrogant... as it has not taken the feelings of the locals .. the 'neighbours' in the choice of names

and let me not start on the rights of the neighbours.... even if they are non-muslims.

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Football Team Names Spark Furor…

(AP) The idea was innocent enough: A group of young men organize an American football tournament for the holidays and give their teams such innocuous names as “4th and Goal” and “1988’ers.”

It was some of the other team names that raised eyebrows: Intifada, Soldiers of Allah and Mujahideen.

The furor that followed has forced some teams to change their names and a handful of players to quit. It also sparked a debate that threatens to overshadow the tournament, which was planned primarily for young Muslims and scheduled for Jan. 4.

“This was really just supposed to be about the youth playing football. Now it’s become so political that a part of me thinks we shouldn’t even play,” said Tarek Shawky, 29, one of the tournament’s organizers.

Those involved in the league said they never set out to upset or offend anyone. But critics say such names as Intifada and Mujahideen glorify terrorism.

Intifada, “uprising” in Arabic, is a term used by Palestinians for their revolts against Israeli occupation from 1987 to 1993 and over the past three years. Mujahideen, which means “holy warrior,” is associated with several Islamic groups that are on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations.

“The issue is these are words that are linked to real terrorists, real threats, real murders today,” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

“There shouldn’t be young Americans chanting the name Mujahideen as American soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq are put in danger and attacked daily,” Cooper said. “As for Intifada, it has been a disaster for the Palestinians and the nearly 1,000 Israeli children and parents murdered by suicide bombers.”

Muslim leaders have asked the teams to reconsider the names.

“Sensitizing our youths is our role as adults,” said Hussam Ayloush, the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Southern California.

But he also said he believed the players were not being malicious when they decided the names.

More…

Didn’t know where to put it, so here it is…

Comments:

The names that these youths are using for their teams are associated with glory, chivalry and honour…Concepts which the Americans have a hard time comprehending…Add to this the media manipulation of these names to suit their needs and drive these names to represent something ‘terroristic’ speaks volumes about where the Ummah is headed…The term ‘Mujahideen’ is what is associated with great the Ashaba-e-Karam, Saladin and every Muslim man and woman who has raised his or her head to proclaim freedom from man made laws…

Do not be fooled that these terms would ever lose their greatness and the noble ideals they represent in the eyes of any true Muslim…Today these terms are ‘dangerous’…And since American fear knows no bounds, tomorrow the very names of Muslims will be a sword hanging upon the throats of Americans…

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by rvikz: *

there is no secular arabic term for sports team like "eagles" or "falcons"
or "tigers"?
how hard it is to avoid
names like crusaders or army of saladin for sports team?
[/QUOTE]

the arguments presented have prooved my point exactly i don't give a damn about the names they can be called taleban reloaded i could'nt care less. I prooved beyond doubt the fallacy of freedom of speech.

Even with a simple example of football team names the double standards of democracy are exposed again and again its so full of holes it should be called the swiss cheese ideology!

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I feel you are misguided in your understanding of democracy

and so is your understanding of freedom of speech.

They had their right for freedom of speech .. and the opponents have their right to disagree with that... which they have done

These teams have not been banned for using those names? have they?
they have been asked to change them ..

I do not see holes in the freedom of speech or democracy as you have outlined them... I only see your swiss cheese like understanding of the concepts.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by blackzero: *
I feel you are misguided in your understanding of democracy

and so is your understanding of freedom of speech.

They had their right for freedom of speech .. and the opponents have their right to disagree with that... which they have done

These teams have not been banned for using those names? have they?
they have been asked to change them ..

I do not see holes in the freedom of speech or democracy as you have outlined them... I only see your swiss cheese like understanding of the concepts.
[/QUOTE]

"These teams have not been banned for using those names? have they?
they have been asked to change them .."

How is that freedom of speech!

You are the one who is misguided, because you cannot see the clear fallacy which is staring at you in the face.

Don't call it freedom of speech if it is not, its so basic even a child can see that.

If you cannot see the holes in freedom of speech and democracy then you not looking hard enough are you because you don't even have to look that deep into it!

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Re: Football Team Names Spark Furor...

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Lajawab: *
tomorrow the very names of Muslims will be a sword hanging upon the throats of Americans...
[/QUOTE]

So, Lajawab, your post confuses me. Is it a defense of these team names in the sense that the names are harmless and not politically charged, so no big deal?

Yet, your final though on the matter is the above statement, because that seems to be the very concern of those offended by the conotation in the names.

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i m sorry that you still do not understand the concept of freedom of speech and personal freedoms...

you have these freedoms as long as you are not imposing on someone else's freedom.

with freedom comes rights and duties.. you can't dissociate one from the other. why is that so hard for you to understand?

i think you need to take a basic civics course to better understand the concept of rights and duties of an individual and the individual's relationship with the society at large.

btw.. you can have freedom of speech without having democracy.. but ucant have democracy without freedom of speech.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by blackzero: *

you have these freedoms as long as you are not imposing on someone else's freedom.

with freedom comes rights and duties.. you can't dissociate one from the other. why is that so hard for you to understand?

[/QUOTE]

theres no need to be patronizing i know very well what your concept of freedom is and even you have highlighted the contradiction in your own statement,

freedom as long as it doesnt impose on others so one mans idea of freedom is anothers problem.

don't call it freedom then call it restrictions simple dictionary phrase which even you don't need to go on a basic course for!

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It's a publicity stunt, ignore their lack of knowledge on politics and disregard for their environment.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by blackzero: *
can i join the league with the team name

holy crusaiders

mary's soldiers

jesus army

what would you say if i started team with those names in pakistan.. or saudi?????

youdont even have those names for team in pakistan.. so y here

its what you call baiting the locals.. and is arrogant... as it has not taken the feelings of the locals .. the 'neighbours' in the choice of names

and let me not start on the rights of the neighbours.... even if they are non-muslims.
[/QUOTE]

Gd point .. i dun understand how were they unable to find other names, that are not linked to terrorism. Nothing wrong with those names in my eyes, but they can be offensive just like the names above are offensive and inappropriate. They wasted all the gd work their league management did.

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i still remember the hooo haaa made by the muslim ppl in america when Bush mentioned that it is a crusade against terrorism..

wasn't that his freedom of speech the muslims were upset about and wanted him to retract his words?

isnt that hipocrisy from the muslims then?

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^ Meet the confusion that faces Muslims around the world.