To excuse, rationalize, sympathize, even understand such violent behavior (in the name of religion, no less) is unfathomable to me. I agree that the Nigerian government, Miss World Organizers and the newspaper were all irresponsible - but not culpable. Even if these people were uneducated and poor, they are responsible for their own actions. We could all have an excuse to be pissed off about something that offended us and use it as an excuse to kill. I understand that insulting Muhammed is very serious to these people. But other people feel equally strong about their own values that other people offend.
The pagaent should have never been planned there in the first place. Not necessarily because it would offend any fundamentalist group, but because radical elements of a fundamentalist group could end up rioting and killing innocent people. There was already way too much intolerance and fundamentalist violence in Nigeria to have pulled this off.
To blame the contestants or to draw the conclusion that they are all brainless bimbos for being in this pagaent is cruel and unfair. They didn't pick Nigeria (I'm sure the Bahamas or any other 10,000 locations would have been their first pick). Kudos to the contestants who boycotted, that showed nerve. But who can blame the ones who didn't? Does everyone here sacrifice their dreams and careers to make a political point?
mo_best, do you really believe that Russians would go on a rampage and butcher people and set them on fire? I agree that both scenarios are insensitive and not very smart, it is not a valid comparison.
what about the feelings of millions of muslims who live in England?:) they must be pulling their hairs...oh no this evil evil beauty is coming towards us..oh no..down with beauty.
[/QUOTE]
In an interview with Leslie Stahl of CBS on May 11, 1996, U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright was asked whether the over half a million children killed by the sanctions were “worth it.” Her response was: “It’s a hard choice, but I think, we, think, it’s worth it.”
At about 4:00 this afternoon, the President arrived in New York, first getting a view from a helicopter of the World Trade Center site, then touring the area with New York’s elected officials. The President personally thanked some firefighters, police officers, and other recovery workers, then addressed the teams through a bullhorn.
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: I want you all to know that America today… America today is on bended knee in prayer for the people whose lives were lost here, for the workers who work here, for the families who mourn. This nation stands with the good people of New York City and New Jersey and Connecticut as we mourn the loss of thousands of our citizens.
PERSON SHOUTING: I can’t hear you.
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: I can hear you. (Laughter and applause) I can hear you, and the rest of the world hears you, and the people – (cheers and applause) and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon. (Cheers and applause)
PEOPLE CHANTING: U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
I think Diff is trying to say how hypocritical it is to say that Muslims are militant as G. Bush was rattling the sabre.
Here's the slight difference, Different: George Bush was standing on the still smoking tomb of 3000 innocent people. Audacious that he proclaimed, "Those responsible for this will hear you!" ? Hardly. He had and has every right to call out to the guilty that we're coming.
In Nigeria the mob's call to action was motivated by their distate for a beauty pageant and a newpaper article, not the crushing and incineration of 3000 innocent people.
That wasnt a 100% serious commenty, but by and large muslims dont mind such contests, I'm a muslim, and I dont mind.
Africans, yeah, well the Arab north is ok, quite decent, but below that-astagfulallah. Alla they do is kill each other and wear grass skirts chanting "ooh oooooh" and then chuck a spear some way. :p
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Faisal: *
Reading the news story, it seems that the Govt of Nigeria, in a bid to host the contest, pledged to stop stoning sentences. Now I am not saying what is right and what is wrong about the stoning and other shariya sentences.... point is if Nigeria already had such high tensions in major parts of the country over implementation of sharia, its stupid to be inviting and hosting such a contest, which is quite controversial even in other parts of the world.
It seems 12 participants bycotted the finale anyway due to Nigeria's recent legal decisions.
On top of that, to invite the participants in the month of Ramadhan is like putting salt on the wounds of muslims there.
This is like creating a security nightmare by yourself.
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Mo Best my dost
Granted that PC sometimes goes a bit too far.
However, in my opinion, the following is equivalent to racism - whether it’s against Pakistanis (we’re all smellly) or Africans. In equivalent, what is being argued here is that all Africans residing in the southern countries of Africa just spend their time chanting, dancing in their grass skirts, and throwing spears at each other. My dear friend (and i mean that TRULY sincerely), one of the most respected individuals in our history (Nelson Mandela) came from one of these savage countries, not to mention that the first muezzin himself was none other than a black man from Ethiopia, appointed as Islam’s first muezzin by none other than our beloved Prophet himself. Bilal was from Ethiopia, hence i assume his skin color was quite dark; simultaneously his voice was so beautiful that he was chosen by God’s Last Messenger as the first one in history to call Muslims five times a day to prayer. They’re not all savages.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by mo_best: *
Africans, yeah, well the Arab north is ok, quite decent, but below that-astagfulallah. Alla they do is kill each other and wear grass skirts chanting "ooh oooooh" and then chuck a spear some way. :p
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That statement is more racist and offensive than the quote in the newspaper. The very newspaper you said should be shut down.
That statement is more racist and offensive than the quote in the newspaper. The very newspaper you said should be shut down.
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Quite correct, Seminole. I for one take exception to mo_best's remarks. The whole of South Africa is intended in his slur and we have given the world at least 3 Ms. World/Universe.
And for the record.....I have never danced around with a spear half-naked in my life - too afraid what my wife will do! :p
Mo Best my dost