Muhammad the Bear

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That's far from anything that I am suggesting, and you know it, Ragusa. What I am saying is that we need to focus less on our differences and rather on what we have in common. People have many of the same dreams -- most wherever you go -- they want to live in peace; they want to prosper; they want freedom of choice for themselves and their families. If you have studied history then you know that this is a basic, self-evident, truth about most people.

Yet, they never receive these basic rights. Instead they have endless wars, orchestrated by popes and kings, religious leaders and political leaders. And in more recent years, these "leaders" all reach an accomandation with each other, shake hands, and say: "Have a nice day," after they have spilled enough blood, while the average person is left with ruined lives, families, and cities (I know this is NOT the expierence of Germany, but look at the more recent history, mostly Russia, China and the US).

You know that I am opposed to tyranny, whether it is in GWB's "adventure" in Iraq, or the departed Ayatollah and his minons in Iran, or the ruthless Pol Pot or the Taliban. You are being unfair when you suggest that I am wanting to impose anything on Muslims. Please, my friend, read my post a little more carefully.

 

Nakia: On Number 8, I vote for Morrowind. I did that this afternoon...

 

There is a strong political component to OBL's rhetoric, despite all the religious rhetoric. Also, can anyone say that GWB is NOT a Chrsitian? the "war president?" Yet, look at what he has done in Iraq. I think we can agree that the line between a freedom fighter and a terrorist is which side of the line YOU are on. But "imagine" if the lines between us were suddenly erased....

 

I may be wrong, but I thought I heard on the radio that the teacher was pardoned and being shuttled out of the country as fast as they can.

 

Yeah, it appears that's what happened. Anyway, I came upon a passage in the Yahoo! News article that confirmed my doubts:

"During her trial, the weeping teacher said she had intended no harm. Her students, overwhelmingly Muslim, chose the name for the bear, and Muhammad is one of the most common names for men in the Arab world. Muslim scholars generally agree that intent is a key factor in determining if someone has violated Islamic rules against insulting the prophet."

You know, the situation could have hardly been more overblown. Whoever is interpreting law in Sudan must be a fundamentalist of epic proportions. I wonder what most Muslims think on the matter - the British ones have been opposed to the arrest in the first place afaik, but it might be interesting to see how this is viewed in, say, the Middle East.

 

Maybe she--or the school--simply didn't pay a bribe.

I mean, it is Sudan.