Maybe I'm misunderstanding your post. Are you saying that Islam is the enemy? George Bush Jr. himself has stated that isn't the case. To label Islam as the enemy is very dangerous, not to mention prejudiced and unjust.
No, I'm saying that 99.99999% of the terrorists we read about claim to be a part of the Islamic faith. But what I also realize is that 99.99999% of the Islamic faith want nothing to do with them whatsoever. The better we understand their beliefs, the better we can attack the evildoers, that's all.
Your definition of "terrorist" is loose. What about the IRA? They're terrorists, right? And the mafia- is organized crime not terrorism? Don't forget gangstas like the bloods and the crips - they've been terrorizing the hood for years.
SC, Us Muslims do believe Jesus was real. But if they did UNC read a book about Jesus, it'd probably be about his life, not his message.
Baqui -- In this context I'm using terrorist to refer to Al Queda (and entities with the same goal) and Palistinian bombers. You're correct, to define "terrorist" would mean including groups like the IRA.
I don't see anything wrong with it. As they say Knowledge is power, so power is a good thing to have. Anyways, I don't see people complaining about kid's getting taught about Christmas and learning christmas carol's in school and having christmas parties when some of the kid's aren't christian. It happened to me when I was younger. I always thought up til' 3rd grade that santa would come and leave me a present. My parents, being muslims, of course never did such a thing and every year I was like, damn, what did I do wrong this year? Anyways, I grew up and understood the whole situation but you gotta admit, it is misleading.
i understand your point...but christmas as is told in the Bible is NOT celebrated in public schools...yes, they may celebrate with all the conventional western trappings of the season...but they're not retelling the story of Christmas.
All colleges offer courses in religion. This has nothing to do with church and state. Freak, I can't believe you compared this to the pledge thing. The argument there was that people living in a free country shouldn't be FORCED to swear allegiance to a flag or a country or a deity -- Let alone stating that our country was subordinate to God, which is exactly the sort of zealotry the founders came here to get away from. People weren't scared of the pledge. They thought it shouldn't be mandatory. They were right, precisely because this is a free country.
Of course, if people had been taught "Mein Kampf" in the mid-30's, the governments of England, France, Russia, Poland, etc, etc, etc - probably never would've given in to Germany as regards to Austria, Sudetenland and Czechslovakia - and who knows how that might've influenced history.
If we alter the scenario a bit..... <i> A leading univeristy in (Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Iran etc) has asked all incoming freshmen to read a book about Christianity or Judaism.</i> Would the reaction be a lawsuit or something more? F.D. Khan <b> .......I think we should lead the way, take charge and learn about Islam and use the facts to show them a better way.....</b> Do you expect Islamic countries to make the same exploratory efforts in learning more about other religions? If we make the effort to learn more about their religion and hope to meet/understand each other somewhere in the vast gulf between, then some movement forward from those countries would be a huge help.
Well, I could see some disapproval, but those countries are run mostly by Islamic law, UNLIKE AMERICA.
There's a difference between offering a course in religion (optional), and requiring all incoming students to learn about a religion (mandatory). You're right, I shouldn't have compared it to the Pledge thing...this is much worse.
Azadre, It is usually called <i>sharia, shari'a</i> or <i>shari'ah</i>. Don't you see the irony in your post?
I can never spell sharia correctly so I didn't bother. However, America wasn't founded on any Religious rules. Also, I said that there would be (a lot of) dissapproval, but they (the government) might still allow it. Please don't forget, the west is civilized and educated (well, most of the westerners anyway) while most citizens in the Middle East are illiterate. If all the M. Easterners were as educated and civilized as us Americans, I am sure the majority of the Middle Easterners would not mind. Of course there'd still be disapproval though like here in America.
The NC legislature is against this: The amendment, crafted during a heated state budget debate, says no state money or university receipts can be used to run a university summer reading program involving religion unless students have the choice of reading about any religion. The budget committee approved the amendment 64-10.
Azadre, <A HREF="http://www.irna.com/en/tnews/020811171304.etn05.shtml">Leader: Youth expected to reinforce Islamic Revolution</A> <i> Tehran, August 8, IRNA -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said on Thursday that the youth are expected to make the fruit-yielding tree of the revolution blossom out. In a meeting with a group of students, the Supreme Leader lauded the services of the government of President Mohammad Khatami and said that ranking officials are making every endeavor to pave the way for progress and national prosperity. Referring to the US interference in Iran's domestic affairs, the leader said Washington has launched a propaganda campaign against the success of President Khatami's government. Ayatollah Khamenei made it clear that the Iranian government is competent enough to administer the state affairs. The supreme leader said that the US is seeking to disappoint the Iranian nation by bringing the competence of the Iranian system of government under question. The Leader scoffed at US expectations from Iran under the guise of so-called reform program. "The reform sought by the United States in Iran has nothing to do with the aspirations of the Iranian nation," the supreme leader pointed out. The Iranian nation loves Islam and the Islamic Revolution and is sticking to its goals which form the fundamentals of eternity of the Islamic Republic, the supreme leader said. The leader recalled that on the eve of every (presidential or parliamentary) election, the enemy launches hue and cry calling on people not to take part in the election, but, on the contrary, the people turn out in larger number in the lection. The supreme leader, pointing to the message US President George W. Bush had sent to Iran last month which triggered nationwide protest on July 9, said that the US president has pinned his hopes on the press and the university students in his attempt to pursue his country's objectives in Iran, but, he would receive a blow from the youth thanks to their knowledge and awareness. The Leader said that the enemy had planned to trigger riots across the country on July 9 characterized by demonstrations by a small group of people, but as usual all enemy plots failed. SS/RR </i> So you seriously believe that Ayatollah Khamenei would be open to allowing universities in Iran to do a neutral examination of Christianity or Judaism?
When it comes to colleges, the most disturbing fact I have learned is the fact that an Iraqi, came to America, learned nuclear physics at the U of Minnesota. He returned home and is head of Iraq' nuclear physics program. I could care less if they teach the Islamic religion, because I personally believe most Americans are ignorrrant when it comes to understanding the Islamic religion and it's followers. I think it is a great idea to have our younger generations to have a complete education. One day these students may evolve and help Islamic followers have a better understanding of Christians. However, I completely understand why some would have a problem with students learning Islamic beliefs, when so many already fight against the teaching of evolution.This country is obviously still bias against all those that aren't Christians. I have always been offended by the "under God" phrase in the pledge, even though I believe in Christ, I believe that you put your faith in God and not in America.Sure I will continue to pay Ceasar his dues, but if you are Catholic and you go to war and kill another Catholic in another country, are you truly a Christian? Would you kill a Catholic from your own church in America? Let's face it if any of us were born in the Middle East, we would more than likely be Islamic than Christian and vice versa. As for terrorists, these are anyone who intentionally kill anyone else in my opinion. Religious extremists who bomb abortion clinics are just as guilty as those who blow up buildings and they are just as guilty as a serial killer.They all are in essence terrorizing our world. Let's respect all religion and accept the education this world is sorely lacking.
IRNA is state sponsered media. The demonstrations against America ARE staged. Also, I hate Khamenei, read my signature. The Ayatollah is corrupt. the real question is would the students protest against the reading?
I know that IRNA is the government feed, but the religious shadow government is not fond of media that strays too far from the straight and narrow. Hasn't the Khamenei goverment shut down various media outlets because of some ruffled feathers? Eventually, they get another a permit to reopen, but it is a constant battle to stay open while showing some editorial independence. Your question in regards to the students' decision to accept or protest the reading assignment won't come up until the government gives them the choice and that won't happen until the religious authorities have their power significantly curbed. Your familarity with this subject suprises me. I know your ancestry is Iranian, so that is why I elected to focus on Iran over some of the other countries I mentioned earlier. Keep up the interest in international events.
