2101. Girl, 17, killed in Iraq for loving a British soldier

Comment #171567 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 3:12 pm

Pretending that they can be excused for such actions, and don't require meeting the moral standards set by the free world, because they are another race, it itself racist. Bring race into it at all, when it is clearly a non-issue and was not alluded to by anyone, is itself racist.

2102. Girl, 17, killed in Iraq for loving a British soldier

Comment #171559 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 3:07 pm

Yes, if you did not edit the post, I will apologize and remove my posts if you so wish.

2103. Girl, 17, killed in Iraq for loving a British soldier

Comment #171555 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 3:03 pm

akado,






I try to push people on their ideas, yes. Are you going to report me?

2104. Girl, 17, killed in Iraq for loving a British soldier

Comment #171554 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 3:01 pm

phil rimmer,





That is not what I recall reading. I should have block quoted, then I could be sure. Oh well, we wait for bunny to let us know if she edited the post to make it less general, or if I simply misread it.

2105. Girl, 17, killed in Iraq for loving a British soldier

Comment #171552 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 2:58 pm

Podaar,



I do know plenty of Muslims who speak about other Muslims they know limiting their wives.

Part of the problem in judging is that the Saudis I know, live in Saudi Arabia. There are state laws that restrict women. However, most of them send the educated ones (which are in my circle) send their daughters for western education.

Of course there is a double standard when it comes to dating, which is largely due to Arab culture. And it doesn't take much insight (maybe for some posters here it does) to realize that Islam is a religionized form of Arab ethos.

Women get it rough in the Muslim world, no doubt. But when a lot of those people are relocated to the west and educated, it generally molifies the problem.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali lied about her situation several times in regards to her arrival in Europe, arranged marriage, and several other things as well. I wouldn't doubt her stories unless I had some evidence she lied there too. Somalia is one of the worst places for women. As is the Congo, and several other non-Muslim African countries.

So I am not arguing that Islam DOESN'T teach violence or oppression of women, it clearly does. What I am saying is racist generalizations won't be much better.

2106. Girl, 17, killed in Iraq for loving a British soldier

Comment #171546 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 2:52 pm

Bunny,




I was attempting to counteract your wild generalizations of Iraqis.


I didn't deny there was a problem... Perhaps you may have chanced upon my comment about the abuse of women being sanctioned in the cannonical texts themselves. And if you had been around in other discussions you would have seen my critique of everything foul and odious about Islam and many Muslims.

Righteous anger... There is a dangerous term. You are welcome to be mad, I find this disgusting as well. I don't think it fair to shoot off generalizations about Iraq in the same breath as "Filthy" and "Sub human".

I never excused poor treatment of women anywhere. Someone else had said that the west was "so much better". Which is true, but doesn't mean that women in the west don't get a tough time too.

But your post absolutely speaks for itself. It is a Christopher Hitchens "simply underline" moment.

2107. Girl, 17, killed in Iraq for loving a British soldier

Comment #171539 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 2:42 pm

MItchell,







So what should we do? You skipped that.

And if I was caught in a racist rant, I too would attempt to flip it around on my accuser. Your anger in response well exceeded the tone of my original post. Why so angry if I am simply wrong? Go back to your cartoons.

2108. Girl, 17, killed in Iraq for loving a British soldier

Comment #171535 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 2:40 pm

Cairnarvorn,




Well then you can drop the superiority act. Women get shit in every culture, America and UK included. True they live better, without a doubt, but what is true is that women are subjected to abuse in the west. It is simply justified on different grounds.

I don't know a Muslim who hits his wife. Not one. That includes many Saudis, Kuwaitis, Emirates, and others... In their home countries.

2109. Girl, 17, killed in Iraq for loving a British soldier

Comment #171529 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 2:37 pm

bunny,




You didn't mention anyone in particular. You only ever mentioned Iraq in a general sense. Thus your racist outburst must be read in the same sense.

Although you may be an angy feminist, you also happen to be spewing racist nonsense. So don't try to back track now. Go post on some other site, you are only providing fodder for the theists that seek to paint atheists as Nazis and racists.

2110. Girl, 17, killed in Iraq for loving a British soldier

Comment #171519 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 2:31 pm

CHILDREN! ANIMALS! SUB HUMANS! HUMAN FILTH!

2111. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171509 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 2:27 pm

Steve,




There is one more....


I don't know if it is appropriate for public viewing.

2112. Girl, 17, killed in Iraq for loving a British soldier

Comment #171506 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 2:26 pm

Mitchell,




Your entire post is a generalized, racist rant... "These people". Most Muslims in the world treat their wives just fine. And many women enjoy good lives.

There were 47 honor killings in a city with a population of 1.7 million. Take a comparable US city and how many women are murdered by their husbands. Quite a few.

No one will debate the language of the verses on women, that is manifest, but to wield such a broad brush in your angry rant is no use either.

What do you propose we do, since "sitting by" digusts you?

2113. Girl, 17, killed in Iraq for loving a British soldier

Comment #171480 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 2:12 pm

headcold,




Turn the country into a field of glass. So instead of the occasional honor killing, everyone will be dead.


Not much better.

2114. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171464 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 1:56 pm

believerb2,





No one said Aliens created the earth.


What was said, is that is the only plausible form of ID at this point.

You need to brush up on your English.

2115. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171448 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 1:48 pm

Elli,





From my somewhat limited knowledge of all semitic languages (limited meaning limited to one, and a great deal of guessing on the others), the "royal we" seems to be somewhat common. However this could have been made post hoc, to reconcile the polytheistic tendencies.

2116. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171444 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 1:46 pm

Frankus,







No further comment. Other that you seem to be an astute fellow.

2117. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171437 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 1:41 pm

Steve,




Kirk did womanize some aliens. He was the great space pimp.


"I... Can't undo... my space... trousers"
"Kirk to Spock... I am leaving a sock... on the door."
"Mr. Scott... If the Bridge is a-rockin'... Don't come a... knocking."

2118. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171422 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 1:33 pm

epeeist,





To be honest, I invented the Stalinicon. Anna will confirm this. If not she is a cheating plagarist.

There are plenty of secrets to go around anyhow.

2119. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171418 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 1:32 pm

Steve,






Kirk kissed Uhura?

Can I still lodge a complaint, or is there a statute of limitations.

2120. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171414 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 1:30 pm

Frankus,





Are you insinuating that Anna and I have something going on.... outside of RD.net? I dropped out before I got to middle school, so I am no help there.

2121. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171408 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 1:27 pm

epeeist,





The Stalin face is the best of emoticons. It can go either way. Stoic is the best.

2122. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171398 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 1:22 pm

Frankus,






Interesting observation. I will let Anna field that one.

2123. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #171394 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 1:21 pm

Quine,





Baal Shamin was one of the Gods of the Dedanites. When I was researching for a publication, I came across a story of the Dedanites (in Dedan, modern day al-Ula) sacrificing a boy aged 3 to Baal. Nasty bit of business. Baal was a mean SOB.

2124. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171390 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 1:19 pm

Anna,




<3 You too!


|>:-{o

2125. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171387 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 1:18 pm

Elli,




Well at least in Arabic yawm never means "long expanse of time". If it meant this in the Qur'an it would be the only place in Arabic literature. There are so many words for "time" "age" "expanse of time" etc... that appropriating Yawm for such a purpose would not make sense. No classical scholar seems to think so either.

I would probably assume the same is true with the Hebrew, but I could be wrong.

2126. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171378 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 1:12 pm

Anna,




Shut up.

2127. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #171375 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 1:10 pm

phatbat,




He claimed it was invalid, I said "fine, but why", and then I got a stream of malodorous nonsense. He is simply scared of the answer. His beliefs are as sane as belief in Thor.

2128. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171372 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 1:08 pm

Tez,





It is indeed number 3 on the list.


But I hope it moves up the list soon. Americans don't seem to be getting brighter, so I have hope.



Steve,



Not to mention, not everyone sees the American flag for all those "great" qualities. Some see economic exploitation, violence, elitism, arrogance, ignorance. So its symbolism certainl isn't ubiquitous and uniform.

2129. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171369 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 1:06 pm

Elli,





Good to know on the Hebrew. I did Arabic. The word for day is Yawm and is equally literal, and closely related to the Hebrew word. It is an exact day, and is obviously so in the Qur'an. Yet as of late, we get the Muslim intellectuals claiming "metaphor".

Great point on the semantic definition. The semitic languages can be quite clear, this is such an instance.

2130. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #171365 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 1:04 pm

seeker_of_truth,




Figures.


You're done.

2131. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171356 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 12:57 pm

Cartomancer,





Well to be honest, being an atheist in the armed forces, makes you an oppressed minority, so Falcon qualifies.

I just get very hesitant when I sense a victimhood passion play coming on. It is a tired act.

But I agree, there are places in the world that are so utterly horrible for gays, it really makes me sick. Iran being a perfect example.

2132. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171353 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 12:55 pm

Tez,





Millions of Americans not worth their salt. Second most obvious statement. Most Americans don't know what Habeas corpus is. The only reason they know Miranda rights is because of the show Cops. It is sad really.

2133. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171346 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 12:52 pm

Elli,






Finally a sane person here. I was getting worried that it was Bill O'Reilly versus the Nihilists. Can't people be respectful of each other? Apparently not.

2134. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #171342 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 12:49 pm

seeker_of_truth,




Likelyhood? Evidence for any?


I have been trying to get to this for about a day now.

2135. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171340 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 12:47 pm

Tez,





That is the most obvious point ever made, in the history of RD.net.

I don't really give a shit about the flag code, I care far more about the tax code and where the hell does all my fucking money go.

2136. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171334 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 12:44 pm

Cartomancer,





Can you tell me exactly how you are an oppressed minority in 21st Century England?

2137. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #171329 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 12:39 pm

phatbat,





I hate 24. But I am not offended by reference to my features.

I had a 3rd baseman who called me Tom Hanks... I couldn't figure it out. I also get Vince Vaughn pretty often.

2138. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171327 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 12:36 pm

DickDawkins,

I love Queen, especially Freddy Mercury, but the ones I know in general are whiny and bitchy and star spangled eagle really set me off with his avatar.

2139. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171325 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 12:32 pm

Tezcatlipoca,





I am well aware of the danger we face with the curtailment of habeas corpus. I have been following the supreme court in closer fashion as of late.

But how do you get habeas corpus from a discussion the symbolism of the flag. Most Americans worth their salt care about our rights, and the threat the state apparatus poses to them.

2140. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171315 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 12:28 pm

Falcon,

Political affiliation, sexual orientation, race, gender, etc. do not matter to me. If you can't take the 10 minutes necessary to know the do's and don'ts of the flag, then perhaps you shouldn't consider yourself a patriot. I mean, I wouldn't want to really burden someone by forcing them to take 10 minutes out of their busy schedule...

2141. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #171308 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 12:24 pm

seeker_of_truth,





You have struck out.


I posed an honest question. I included ridiculous characters, I also included what you would consider non-ridiculous characters "being, entity, energy". You refused to addess those.


Based on the evidence, which has greater support:

God
Gods
Thor
Baal Shamin
Non-descript energy
Vishnu
Mahapumbra
Aliens of some sort


THose are all reasonable because you find people believing it somewhere at some time. Can you answer now? Or are you unable to admit to yourself that such a god as you accept is as logical as Thor or Baal Shamin?

2142. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171300 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 12:19 pm

FightingFalcon,





It isn't fair to call someone's patriotism or bravery into question simply because they don't serve in the military. If everyone joined the military our society would fail.

So that really isn't fair at all. And besides many people serve in the military and never fire a shot in anger, and don't even leave the US.

Patriotism consists of more than killing brown people in the middle east.

2143. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171296 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 12:17 pm

Steve,




I get it. I am not offended. I am however conscious of the values that it represents. But there is no insulting an inanimate object, quite true. Unless that inanimate object is a sock puppet.

2144. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171294 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 12:15 pm

FightingFalcon,





Cartomancer is just trying to get your goat. Once he said "precious republic", which can only be interpreted sarcastically, I realized this is about him. I understand his feelings about the discrimination homosexuals have been subjected to, even under the banner of that very flag.

Still, there have been many a people extremely happy to see that flag on the top of tank coming into their city.

2145. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171290 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 12:12 pm

Cartomancer,

Doing things with a flag does not affect your precious republic one whit. That's crazy poppet magic with a vengeance! Weird voodoo nonsense! Utterly irrational!

2146. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171284 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 12:09 pm

Falcon,



Please see where I defended you earlier. I understand very well what this means to you.



Steve,



Please do not be so short with regards your dealings with Falcon. Symbols can mean things to people. There are many homosexuals in the US, who use a multi-colored triangle as a symbol of identity and pride. If I had a picture of someone doing something to this symbol, some gays may object, and I would respect that.

The US flag means something to Americans. Not everyone understands this. America's foreign policy has gone astray in many cases, but in many more cases Americans have done a great deal to help other people around the world live in freedom as well as be free from genocide and death.

This flag symbolizes the good behind these actions. I simply understand this, and the flag is a singular and consequent representation of these values.

2147. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171279 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 12:04 pm

Cartomancer,




In defense of Falcon's RIGHT to be offended. The flag represents a commitment to freedom along with several other things. Many people have had their coffins draped in this flag, having been killed for our freedom or the freedom of another people.

I received a folded flag when my grandfather was laid to rest, and I still have it. It does mean something to me as well. So I understand the issues surrounding offense. I simply choose not to get offended due to the irreverence of a British citizen. But believe me when I say I understand it.

2148. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #171268 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 11:57 am

seeker_of_truth,





Well explain why it is "silly" then. Thanks.

2149. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171264 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 11:56 am

Falcon,





It may be disrespectful to you, but it is constitutionally protected disrespect. No matter what anyone says it is legal, and should be legal.

And it doesn't enrage me, simply because it is a piece of cloth. At best it is unsanitary... he is laying FACE DOWN.

2150. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #171253 by al-rawandi on April 28, 2008 at 11:51 am

Dick Dawkins,





So you never answered. What should we do with the gays that certainly don't fit in with the landscape here in the US?