The Pope’s recent comments
On September 12, 2006, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI delivered a lecture at the University of Regensburg during “the Meeting with the Representatives of Science.” I am quoting a portion of his lecture that has been popularized recently, put it in context, and then muse on it for a bit. Read the rest of this entry »
“Only”
This sentence I wrote – “I left Islam and only a few years after that converted to Christianity” – made me wonder: have you guys noticed if I and/or other South Asians use “only” differently than how other English-speakers use it? Any other language or vocabulary oddities?
In college I had a professor from south India who pronounced it “one-ly” (wunlee). It was interesting.
Update: I meant to say that I converted to Christianity a few years after leaving Islam. Thanks to Dex‘s comment in the previous thread for pointing out this mistake.
Pork and leaving Islam
Do you know how to tell if someone has truly left Islam? Determine: does he/she eat pork?
One of the most amusing aspects of Muslims’ behavior is considering all the many sinful activities they will engage in (sinful according to Islam), Muslims will never eat pork. Oh, they’ll drink and defraud people and take interest and not pray and not fast, and so on, but they will faithfully obey Islam’s prohibition on eating pork.
October 1998 was the first time I had pork. I was at a lunch with a group from church (LDS will understand: it was for YSA/LDSSA group between sessions of General Conference) and they had pizza with sausage and pepperoni (among other things). This was before my baptism, and some only later realized that I was not used to eating pork. But I dug in anyway! There was no turning back after that.
Now? I love pork. Because it tastes good and because a part of me considers eating it an act of rebellion, reconfirming my departure from Islam about a decade ago. (I left Islam and only a few years after that converted to Christianity.)
Update: I had originally written: “I left Islam and only a few years after that converted to Islam.” What I meant was that a few years later I had converted to Christianity. Thanks to Dex for pointing out this egregious error. This is what happens when I write when I should be asleep.
Thoughts on American diversity
Many people in Pakistan characterize The United States as populated by secular immoral promiscuous drug-addled half-naked drunkards. They also characterize the people of The United States as puritanical, deceptive, anti-Islamic Evangelical Christians. These characterizations amuse me to no end. (First of all, where did the Jews, who evidently control The United States, go?) Anyone who has been to The United States will realize that both characterizations are wrong.
The United States are all quite diverse. There are, of course, the stereotypical a-religious folk and the Evangelical proselytizers, but there are so many peoples in between. In fact, there are some pockets that are undoubtedly more conservative than the most conservative Muslim group. Not everyone has sex with a different partner every day or is out to sneekily convert people to Christianity.
(Aside: Isn’t is somewhat amusing that the Leftists are constantly harping on recognizing the nuances of Those Areas Not In The West, while those areas refuse to recognize the nuances and diversity in the West?)
I am not going to say that differing and opposing groups live happily ever after with each other. No. There are some groups that absolutely hate each other. The United States do not demand that they seek to coexist. Groups can, and indeed have, established their own enclaves and ghettos. Premier examples are the Anabaptist communities in The United States (the Amish and the Hutterites).
This diversity is part of what makes us unique. It’s sometimes a bit difficult to maneuver around the many groups, but this is part of the American fabric. It is something we should all be proud of.
Feh
1. I have given up on editing Wikipedia. Too many biased people. So many arguments and egotistical and agenda-driven idiots. Wikipedia is a good source of information, but one ought to be prepared to encounter blatant bias. And, trust me, some people get so hung up on ridiculous things.
2. I have accepted that there is, quite regrettably, an unfordable political divide in The United States. We simply have to work with this fact. I hope the day comes when we will set aside our strong emotions (some of it justified…well, I’d say on our side much of it is justified, but I’m biased) and learn to agree to disagree and focus on moving forward. One of the best things I like about President George W. Bush: he does what he sees is right (most of the time), not what’s popular.
3. Recently, my heart has sank when I have seen people continue living under oppression – women, political opponents, outspoken people, gays, non-dominant religions. We have it to good here in the West. But I see little chance of change elsewhere: there is so much that should be done, but nothing we can do. Ever more reason for our bright beacon of hope and freedom to continue to shine.
4. Rose O’Donnell is an idiot. Radical Christianity as threatening as radical Islam? Well, she has a point. Those horrid Christians, you know, they’ll…they’ll pray for you! *shudder* I think Romeo13 explained it well (in the comments of “Video: Rosie Sez ‘radical Christianity’ is just as ‘threatening’ as radical Islam” by Ian of Hot Air):
Lets see…. Christians would shame her….
fundamental Moslems would Stone her to death…
What part of that doesn’t she understand?
5. It’s times like these I take a deep breath, thank God I live in The United States, and realize that despite the many idiots out there I know many awesome people – thanks to the blogosphere (and this includes commenters as well as bloggers)!
Romney: Censure Harvard! Again!
I like Romney. He flat-out said that he would not provide or approve any services whatsoever by the State of Massachusetts for Khatami. Good call! And it takes a spine to take such a stance and tell it to the world.
Now I request Governor Mitt Romney to stand up for the sacred principles of The Republic and condemn Harvard University for remaining silent on Khatami’s remarks. (He has already condemned Harvard for inviting Khatami.)
Khatami: Execute gays; Harvard: *crickets chirping*
I unreservedly and severely condemn Harvard University and the John F. Kennedy School of Government for hosting Hojjat-ol-Eslam wa-l-Muslimin Mohammed Khatami. There are simply no reasons to justify this invitation whatsoever. I cannot believe they invited him to speak at their university.
They say that there are some political differences between The United States and Iran. In that case, The United States had only political differences with Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao, and Saddam Hussein. Why did Harvard not ask these prominent and world-shaping politicians to speak at their university?
And on this occasion Khatami endorsed Iran’s policy of executing homosexuals.
These two men were executed:
And I find Harvard’s silence after Khatami’s remarks to be absolutely abominable, reprehensible, and unacceptable. Evidently, they feel no need to condemn Khatami and his endorsement of Iran’s bloody policy of executing gays, adultresses, journalists, human rights activists, and outspoken critics, not to mention heretics (which would include Baha’is and heretical Shiites).
Right now my blood is boiling. Feh. Harvard University is henceforth scum in my eyes.
(Story, information, and pictures from “Khatami advocates killing gays” by John of Average Gay Joe, “Harvard sits silent while Khatami defends executing gays” by Allahpundit of Hot Air, and “At Harvard, Khatami justifies Killing Gay People” by Michael of Gay Orbit.)
