Although the Sudanese decision to jail a British schoolteacher might not be the most, I dunno, sexy thing to write about, I'm going to give my take on it.
Something like a thousand Sudanese Muslims protested, of all things, the Sudanese tribunal's not to kill this schoolteacher. Imagine that, a thousand strong mad that a woman wasn't KILLED for mistakenly naming a freakin' teddy bear Mohammed at the urging of her students. And she's the one who's being accused of polluting the childrens' minds. Huh? Shouldn't the mob be after the kids for naming the damned bear Mohammed? Wait, I probably shouldn't write that, that might be next on the mob's agenda.
I like to consider myself both liberal and religious, which, for some on both the left and the right, might seem like socio-political anathema, but I digress. My religious values inform my thoughts on policy decisions, but I think that it's limited to the extent that it comports with, say, my economic thoughts and my understand of the American legal system at large. The reason, if you have to know it, is that I believe God gave me a freakin' brain for a (or, to) reason. Ignoring what makes sense, for me, is akin to ignoring something that Jesus guy said, you know?
The reason that I went into that discussion is this: I feel very frustrated by the Sudanese situation. Muslims and Muslim countries gave us great things like algebra, our numbering system, and great advances in mathematics. Like everyone else, Arab and Muslims generally are very bright, thinking people, contrary to what the popular conservative media would tell you. So, this insanity blows my mind. I've been told by some servicemen and women who've come back from abroad that Muslim extremism is more about cultural hegemony that religious ferver: there are powerful Muslim clerics out there who demand that you believe as they do. Poor people, some of whom, if given the choice would not be Muslim, are forced to comply and aid, even to the point of violence.
I wonder if that's the case here. If it is, I sincerely hope that there is a counter-extremism revolution, one that can comprehend both faith and reason.
With all that said, I worry about the United States falling into a comparable Christian-extremism. That, my friends, will be discussed sometime later.
Discussion in the comments thread, as usual.
Friday, November 30, 2007
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4 comments:
This whole issue furthers my argument that religion makes people stupid and ignorant. Not a person, but a people as a whole.
I believe this world have witnessed Christian Extremism on several accounts; The protestant persecution toward Catholics, the Spanish Inquisition, the Jews being expelled from England and Russia, etc. and I do believe we are doomed to repeat them.
Exept this time around we have the second coming of the Crusades. As I recall, it didnt seem to work out for either religion.
To see thousands of people on the street cry for blood is insane. Over a stuffed animal no less. Nobody cried for blood when OJ killed 2 people or when a mother drowns 6 kids. IN TEXAS NO LESS!
Enough of my rant, the rest of my frustrations can be seen 2 posts down.
Which is the biggest fear I have, this great Republic of ours sliding downwards toward Theocracy.
When I get a minute, probably later tonight or next week, I'm going to write about the slide toward theocracy here. It's a topic that's bugging the shit out of me.
Im looking forward to it. Its been on my mind since we invaded Iraq.....Ive got so many takes on its.
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