- The Iranian regime’s treatment of the independent philosopher is a lesson in its new tactics for quelling dissent, says Rasool Nafisi.
- Twelve girls sat in rows at the front of the community room in Silver Spring’s Muslim Community Center, calming their nerves with giggles and girl talk. In their sweaty hands, they held prepared speeches.
- More than anything, the attacks on New York and Washington exposed the moral disorientation and bewilderment of the West.
- A few years ago, I was involved in some studies that uncovered a funny fact: When Republican-appointed judges sit on three-judge panels with other Republican appointees, they show unusually conservative voting patterns. So too, Democratic-appointed judges.
- The resistance to globalization runs deep.
Entries from September 2006 ↓
In Other News: 06-09-06
September 6th, 2006 — Uncategorized
Benedict XVI and Islam: the first year
September 5th, 2006 — Uncategorized
Sheikh Abdul Hakim Murad is a lecturer in Islamic Studies at the faculty of divinities at Cambridge University. He is the pre-eminent voice on the role of Muslims in Europe, a topic on which he has written on extensively.
In his latest essay he reflects on the first year of the Benedict papacy and its neo-conservatism, he contrasts this with the great strides made by John Paul in mending relations with the Muslim world.
It is a detailed and scholarly analysis, that deserves careful reading and reflection.
In Other News: 05-09-06
September 5th, 2006 — Uncategorized
- Nearly three-quarters of terrorism suspects seized by the US in the five years following the September 11, 2001, attacks have not even made it to trial because of lack of evidence against them, a new report based on government data says.
- The sessions at the Islamic Society of North America’s annual convention had a little something for everyone. Some people came to ask questions about Islamic banking, others wanted tips on Muslim dating.
- Amazing photos from around the world.
- “Are random searches effective in keeping everyone safe?”
- In the blogosphere more than in the mainstream media, a new generation of Indians is discussing the meaning of freedom.
Looking for Lomu: The politics of Muslim bashing
September 4th, 2006 — Uncategorized
In the late 1990s the All Blacks force in decline, an ageing pack and timid game plan should have ensured their failure, and yet they remained competitive. It was due entirely due to the “Lomu” factor, the two meter tall man mountain who was 120 kg of muscle on the left wing. When the ABs were down and out in a test match they would invariably cycle the ball out wide and Lomu, the human battering ram would do his thing, run through the opposition and score. He was the go-to guy, the reset button, the first, final and only solution.
So too it is with Islam and Muslims in contemporary Australian politics. The Howard government especially, but all other organisations seeking quick, cheap and dirty public support, the go to guy is Muslim bashing, here is their game-plan…
In Other News: 04-09-06
September 4th, 2006 — Uncategorized
- FAR-RIGHT extremists have adopted the tactics of Islamic jihadis by posting videos on the internet in which they threaten to behead British Muslims.
- n this instance, Maher suggested that, “If converting to Islam is all it takes to get the terrorists off our backs, then all I have to say is, ‘Lalalalalalala!’” He referred to Americans as “Christians in name only,” asserting that “the best p
- Early in the day, Sunni sect leader Abdul Mannan Kalimi bombed Ahraula with a fatwa (edict) that all those who had offered prayers in a congregation led by his rival Qari Abdul Hamid, of the Wahabi sect, had turned ‘kafir’ and their ‘nikah’ had lo
- THE Daily Telegraph has established an online petition to collect support for NSW adopting Megan’s Law. This is a law introduced in the US in 1997 which sees community members notified when a child sex offender moves into the neighbourhood.
To condemn or not to condemn
September 4th, 2006 — Uncategorized
Following on from the Prime Minister’s call for “a minority of Muslims” to learn English, the treasurer Peter Costello turns the rhetoric up a notch by calling on Muslims, yet again, to condemn terrorism.
“This is where we really need the Islamic leadership of this country to stand up and contend unequivocally that terrorism, no matter who it is perpetrated by, is never justified under the cover of religion and to make it clear to would-be converts when you join this religion, you do not join a radical political ideology.
The Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer made similar comments but, at least, made some effort not to appear to be targeting Muslims.
“Australian Muslims, Australian Christians, Australian Jews, whatever they happen to be, Australian atheists, they should all be out there as one denouncing terrorism,” he said.
Mr Downer also urged Muslim migrants to learn English.
“Migrants who come here and aren’t able to learn the language are going to end up becoming alienated from the mainstream of society,” he said.
In Other News: 03-09-06
September 3rd, 2006 — Uncategorized
- Singling out one migrant group is divisive and dangerous, writes Irfan Yusuf.
- MISS World’s Australian contestant has been made to feel uncomfortable in her own country because of her religion, the beauty’s father says
- Al-Qaeda has called on non-Muslims especially in the United States, including President George W Bush, to convert to Islam and abandon their “misguided” ways or else suffer the consequences
- I Converted at Gunpoint, Am I really a Muslim?
- Taki Theodoracopulos discusses whether there is a Left or a Right and whether such labels matter anymore.
Euthanasia: A right may become a responsibility
September 2nd, 2006 — Uncategorized
In a remarkable piece of attention seeking behaviour (even for a politician), Australian Democrats MP Sandra Kanck stood up in the South Australian parliament and described, in detail, methods for committing suicide. As it is illegal, under federal law, to publish such details, Ms Kanck took advantage of parliamentary privilege to make the statement. It is recorded in Hansard, but has not been published in the online version. It is published elsewhere online, but I’m not going to link to it. Use Google.
Ostensibly, Ms Kanck chose to detail the various methods of murdering oneself and the relative virtues of each (note: don’t throw yourself in front of a train because it is unfair to train drivers) because she wanted to make some point about euthanasia. However, in doing so, she ignored advice from South Australia’s most senior psychiatrist, Dr John Brayley, that she risked inspiring or provoking more suicide attempts by her actions.
In Other News
September 2nd, 2006 — Uncategorized
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Several Arabic-language websites have been set up for joyriding hobbyists to share their passion for leaving rubber on the pavement.
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It is intolerable that a American company, Benchmade, would make a product of death and market it in such a anti-American and racist way.
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ASIO and federal police are investigating whether a vandalism attack at the Melbourne home of a respected Islamic leader was a religious hate crime.
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City of Brass launch a ‘real time’ blogging carnival.
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Islamic leaders are trying to gag Prime Minister John Howard from speaking out against Muslims who refuse to integrate, threatening that any criticism of their culture could lead to another race riot.
PM to Muslims: Speak English
September 2nd, 2006 — Uncategorized
Last week, the Australian Prime Minister John Howard provoked a torrent of criticism when he told reporters:
Fully integrating means accepting Australian values, it means learning as rapidly as you can the English language if you don’t already speak it.
Ordinarily, such comments wouldn’t meet much controversy but the problem was the PM made them in relation to a section of the Muslim community. Here’s a summary of some of the responses.