On the naming of Teddy Bears...

[cfos]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-11-30-sudan_N.htm

Damn.

I think it is going a bit far to call for someone's death for the naming of a Teddy Bear. While I am not going to pretend to know all the facts, I am open to the idea that there may have been a misunderstanding and the teacher may not have knowingly intended any sort of insult. Why is this not considered (or was it?) Why is this an example of an "all or none" phenomenon that results in the call to death? Furthermore, wasn't the name of the bear suggested by a child in the classroom? Shouldn't the child, perhaps more knowing of local/religious/theological customs known better and have, at a minimum, 30 lashes?

I cannot recall of many other instances where people were so very rabid over the death of someone that is merely a "teacher" (Please enlighten me with examples, post-Socrates, if you can). Before you do, I offer this: "Leaders" are a different issue -- Sure, many wanted Saddum dead. I can't keep up with the turn-over of the Shahs of Iran over the last 30 years, but I know there have been a few attempts/successes of death. Of course, I believe those to be more related to politics and perhaps, ethnic murders which may have cause feeling of retaliation amongst people. But the naming of a bear as suggested by a child? I do recall a similar(?) group of "followers" calling for the death of Rushdie after he wrote The Satanic Verses. But, I struggle for other examples from other groups that aren't what people would describe as being "Hate-groups" (an example might be White Supremicists) or "gangs". Granted, these groups may be large, but I wouldn't consider them to be "country-large" as in the case of the above listed article.

What are offenses that are considered worthy of "death". Do you think anything is worthy of a death sentence? I know, in America, there are some (states that uphold the death penalty) that often involve murder or perhaps henious crimes that are COMMITTED resulting in harm... but nothing over the naming of something nor over the writing of a book. What say you, oh populance of the alp boards?

[Simon_Says]

Only supports my predication that WW3 and the 10th Crusade will be one and the same.
_________________

[Satan Crime Wash]

They sentenced the woman to 15 days in one of their shithole prisons. Fun fact; one of the people on my Live friends list was banned for putting the word Mohammed in his signature.
_________________

[Aramor]

[Munan]

It's interesting, though, that Muhammed is one of the most popular names among Muslims and bizarre attitudes like this one will soon make it impossible to say things like:

"Muhammed's taking a crap" or "Muhammed's ill" or "yesterday Muhammed raped a woman" or "Muhammed's an evil bastard" or referring to all the other mundane and/or nasty things committed by Muhammeds all over the world.

I instantly had the strong desire to rename my cat Muhammed after hearing about this incident, so that I can talk about Muhammed going to her litter box. And then I will buy a dog and call it Jesus Christ.

As for Simon seeing visions of a tenth crusade: this is hardly the attitude of all Muslims - many if not most are equally shocked and disgusted by the whole thing.

Besides, Sudan, as you may or may not know, is quite far from Al Quds.
_________________
The Justified Ancient of Mu Mu

[cfos]

There were a few more articles regarding this story and it appears that the woman didn't realize that she was committing an offense. It is a shame that there are radicals that suffer persecution complexes and feel empowered to determine who lives and who dies.

[Aurelyn]

She's being released today. A couple of high profile Muslim British MPs did their thing and got her pardoned.
_________________
Da Fro-mastah of da aLp Forums!

[cfos]

I'm glad to hear that. After what I've seen regarding this story, I seriously doubt that she was looking to insult a religion. I still can't fathom how the parents of these children who are quick to demand death, do instill the same sense of "honor"(?) in their own kids who suggested the name in the 1st place.

[Blaster]

[Alternate Spideygal]

I heard she got a pardon from the Sudan President.
_________________

Married to Azrael.
Queen of Innuendo.

[Simon_Says]

[Munan]

Well, the president of the largest muslim country in the world certainly isn't.

I'm not here to refute anything, though.
_________________
The Justified Ancient of Mu Mu

[cfos]

[Simon_Says]

[Blaster]

[Munan]

SBY was democratically chosen, actually.
_________________
The Justified Ancient of Mu Mu

[Simon_Says]

[Blaster]

[Simon_Says]

[Munan]

Anyway, you'd have to define reactionary. From the top of my head:

- Bashar al-Assad - A nasty dictator certainly, but hardly promoting fundamentalism, since fundamentalism would want him, as belonging to a heretical shi'a sect, dead.
- King Husseyn - by all means and purposes, quite progressive and against fundamentalism.
- King Mohammed - idem.
- I don't know about Musharraf, but his country did have a female president, something which America still has to accomplish (SBY's predecessor was a woman as well)
- Khadaffi is a moron, but you can hardly call him reactionary and he certainly is not supportive of fundamentalism
- Erdogan is a Muslim democrat. That's like a Christian democrat - his agenda is way less religious than that of, say, George Bush.

Bear in mind: I myself would only be supportive of democratically chosen leaders like SBY and Erdogan and I don't think I endorse the views of any of these, but still.
_________________
The Justified Ancient of Mu Mu

[Blaster]