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If jihad is an offence to the "modern world," the latter is infiltrating the otherwise austere practices of Ramadan. The depraved, infidel media continues making inroads among the faithful, watering down their religion -- according to "salafists," that is.
"For some, Ramadan means fasting, cleansing and TV drama," by Octavia Nasr for CNN, September 10:
CNN) -- Ramadan is the holiest month for Muslims around the world, a time to fast, cleanse the soul and surrender to God. But in the Middle East, there's a new twist to the tradition.Those much longed for high caliphate times, when infidels knew their place -- unlike now, when infidel practices (such as watching "soap operas") have infiltrated Islam's holiest month.Ramadan translates into big bucks for Arab satellite channels. Millions of dollars are spent on special programming, much of it comparable to Western soap operas, to entertain the masses during their sunrise-to-sunset fasts.
[...]
But it's not all soap. There are also history programs highlighting glorious times of Islamic and Arabic bygone eras.
On these, the ancient Arabic tribal costumes are showcased, complete with the traditional headdress, dagger on the side and more camels than a viewer can count.The soap opera boom during Ramadan has become the subject of hot debate on news channels. Some people have expressed concern that sitting in front of a TV set all day doesn't go well with the spirit of the month, when Muslims are supposed to be contemplating and meditating.
Posted by Raymond at September 11, 2008 8:46 AM
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http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/08/20080829-2.html
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at September 11, 2008 9:16 AM
Presidential Message, Ramadan 2008
White House News
I send greetings to Muslims observing Ramadan in America and around the globe.
The holy month of Ramadan is a special time of prayer, fasting, and service. For Muslims, these days commemorate the revelation of God's word to the prophet Muhammad in the form of the Qur'an.
I thank the men and women of the Muslim community for their contributions to America. Your love of family, and gratitude to God have strengthened the moral fabric of our country. Our Nation is stronger and more hopeful because of the generosity, talents, and compassion of our Muslim citizens.
Laura and I send our best wishes. Ramadan Mubarak.
GEORGE W. BUSH
___________________________________
I could write an Errata Sheet to this little missive. But the real Errata Sheet would require the entire thing to be eliminated, and the practice of this Ramadan well-wishing, a recent one, I believe instituted by Bush himself after the 9/11/2001 attacks, in response to them, was a very bad idea.
For example, that phrase "Our Nation is stronger and more hopeful because of the generosity, talents, and compassion of our Muslim citizens" gives a false impression, is false, is dangerous. If Muslims demonstrate "compassion" to anyone other than fellow Muslims, that is not because of Islam, but depsite it. If Muslims show generosity to anyone other than fellow Muslims, that is not because of Islam, but despite it. If Muslims show "talents" that is, so often, only because outside of Dar al-Islam they are allowed to exist in a society not suffused with the habit of mental submission, nor with severe constraints on free and skeptical inquiry, nor on means of artistic expression, a world in which, for exmaple, Muslim females can do things that would be impossibly difficult, or impossible, in an Islam-suffused state, and that too is because this country is not Muslim.
He, Bush, and the team of speechwriters that work on this kind of thing for days at a time -- god, official Washington is full of such tedious mediocrities -- could at the very least have excised that last, mendacious and dangerous, paragraph.
Now it reads:
I send greetings to Muslims observing Ramadan in America and around the globe.
The holy month of Ramadan is a special time of prayer, fasting, and service. For Muslims, these days commemorate the revelation of God's word to the prophet Muhammad in the form of the Qur'an.
Laura and I send our best wishes. Ramadan Mubarak.
GEORGE W. BUSH
That's enough. That's more than enough.
Posted by: Hugh at September 11, 2008 9:53 AM
Hey, if muslims can meditate and contemplate on Allah while watching 'Baywatch' during Ramadan, great for them.
It's a skill muslims should strive for.
It's not easy to watch 'Baywatch' and maintain purity of thought, but muslims can do it if Allah is willing, and he always is...Well sometimes any way...
at September 11, 2008 9:56 AM
Yes, it's so tough, skipping lunch for a whole month, gorging yourself until you're nearly sick every evening.
Some meditation.
Posted by: Jesus Worshipping Zionist at September 11, 2008 10:42 AM
There are also history programs highlighting glorious times of Islamic and Arabic bygone eras.
Those much longed for high caliphate times, when infidels knew their place
and rape and murder of kufer men and the enslaveing of there children and wives was leagle in muslim lands but then they believed all land belonged to allha (sic) muslims
real nice era for the bronze age savages that muslims were and imo are
at September 11, 2008 12:33 PM
There are also history programs highlighting glorious times of Islamic and Arabic bygone eras.
Those much longed for high caliphate times, when infidels knew their place
and rape and murder of kufer men and the enslaving of there children and wives was leagle in muslim lands but then they believed all land belonged to allha (sic) muslims
real nice era for the bronze age savages that muslims were and imo are
at September 11, 2008 12:33 PM
From the article: we are told that Muslims in the Middle East during Ramadan will be watching "history programs highlighting glorious times of Islamic and Arabic bygone eras."
Let's recall this passage from Tawfiq Hamid's article
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1200475901923&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
about 'the development of a jihadist's mind':
"In secondary school I watched films about the early Islamic conquest. These films promoted the notion that "true" Muslims were devoted to aggressive jihad."
And since the general topic is Ramadan, let's hear Hamid's account of what Muslim schoolchildren from the more pious families used to do during Ramadan, in Egypt, some thirty years ago:
"Not only Christian children in the school were persecuted, however; non-practicing Muslims were scorned as well.
"Observant Muslim children would gather around those who did not fast during Ramadan and sing, "You who eat or drink during Ramadan are the losers of our religious... the black dog will tear apart your guts."
"Such treatment of Christians and non-practicing Muslims encouraged us to think that nonbelievers were inferior creatures and that it was right to hate them - they did not follow Islam and the Prophet Muhammad and, therefore, deserved to be tortured in hell forever.
"Though my secular upbringing prevented these thoughts from entirely dominating my mind at the time, other children were affected even more."
at September 11, 2008 10:27 PM
We were taught that "...nonbelievers were inferior creatures and it was right to hate them.." from Dumble's quote
More proof that Islam is the religion of hate.
Posted by: charlie at September 11, 2008 10:59 PM
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