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So what do you guys think about the "Teddy Bear" incident?
I was arguing the other day about how it would be good if some prominent Muslims made a big show about disagreeing with each other and got some press coverage of this. I was thinking at the time of what happened to the muslims who thought the war on Iraq was a good idea (yes, there were some), until it all went pear shaped. My point was that it would be good for relations between Muslims and non-muslims (in the UK for example) if the retreat into tribalism on all sides could be broken by it being shown that there was disagreement amongst Muslims and that they were shown as people who think for themselves rather than chest-beating fanatics. I must add, as clarification, that this is the way many (and I hasten to add not me) see Muslims because British muslims appear, at least in the media, to always side with the chest-beaters, or at least sympathise with them, rather than ever be on the side of Britain or America. Before I get all the arguments I got last time, this is nothing to do with who is right or who is wrong, but just that it is unhealthy for a single group to all hold the same view because it causes others in the UK to argue that the British Muslims are not supporting their country, which can further lead to a tribalistic backlash.
And now we have a gift. This "Teddy Bear" incident in Sudan could do a lot to mend any damage to relations between British Muslims and non-muslims. British muslims have been vociferous in condemning the action of the Sudanese courts, and well done to all of them for this. I think this does two things: it enables the British non-muslims to see that the British muslims are reasonable human beings and also it has enabled British muslims to be both righteous and openly supportive of the British response in opposition to the clerics in a muslim state. This could not have worked out better if had have been planned... any conspiracy theories about?
Submitted on Fri, 2007-11-30 22:26
Disturbing
It is a very disturbing story. I'm glad to hear of condemnation from any quarter as the entire event baffles the mind.
The reporting of it was interesting
Well done for pointing out the condemnation of UK Muslims for this incident Englishman. I think our perception of UK Muslims' view is more a matter of the way it is reported though. Look at the way the incident itself was reported. On 30 November Channel 4 News pointed out that the much filmed protest was orchestrated and in any case involved a very small group of people. The reporter had wandered through a market place asking ordinary Sudanese for their opinion. Most of them were completely ignorant of the incident. Many of those that know about it thought that she should be released or not have been arrested at all. ITV news the same night reported a popular clamour for her execution - giving UK audiences a completely different and apparently inaccurate view of the Sudanese. The point? Beware of what you read in the papers/see on the news! A bear called Jesus?
Mind you, you don't meet that many Teddy Bears called Jesus. Or people called Jesus, come to that, except in Spain and Mexico. In India, everyone and everything is called after the gods. Mazda matches are called after Ahura Mazda, god of the Zoroastrians, whose property was light and fire. Some Hindu businessman heard that Jesus (pbuh) was the Light of the World, and came out with Jesus Christ Matches. Collectors item now, no doubt. Amazing that the Sudanese can turn a blind eye to genocide, but get fired up over a misnamed toy. Bit like the Christians who cannot tolerate homosexuality, but can overlook paedophile priests and the use of weapons of mass destruction - by our side, that is.
Jesus (pbuh) had a word for it: Strain at a gnat and swallow a camel. Richard~
My personal feeling is that they like to punish women over there. She did something wrong, and is from the UK. What other reason do they need to count out some lashes? from a new blog I like
1. American press seems to make much of the fact that "hundreds" of Sudanese came out to protest the verdict and demand a harsher sentence. CNN went so far as to show this as a "divide" between British and Sudanese Muslims on the question of blasphemy.
The Arab press dismissed this showing as minimal. On this point, Arabs win, apparently the Americans don't have any idea how dreadfully easy it is in most Arab countries to get hundreds of people to show up to a demonstration the government wants to see (and let's face it, the government wanted this demonstration). The government's regular hired goons are probably in the hundreds, just call them up and it's done. Or head to the mosque, tell a friendly imam and have him send some folks out. Did anyone talk to these people to make sure they even knew what they were protesting in any level of detail beyond "death to those who insult our Prophet"? Hang out in most Arab capitals, and you figure schemes like this out pretty quickly. There is a divide between Western Muslims and those who grew up elsewhere to some extent, but this is not a good example to show it.
http://muslimlawprof.org/ 
An arab "win?"
...apparently the Americans don't have any idea how dreadfully easy it is in most Arab countries to get hundreds of people to show up to a demonstration the government wants to see (and let's face it, the government wanted this demonstration).
I disagree. I think most Americans fully understand how easy it is to get hundereds of people to show up at a demonstration and wave weapons and call for beheadings. Not only do they understand how easily the people can be manipulated, it scares the hell out of them. Why the author thinks the Arabs "win" by doing so is a mystery to me. What they've "won" in their demonstration: 1. Perpetuated a stereotype in the west that Islam is irrational, violent, and intolerant of diversity of thought. 2. Reinforced the perception that Muslims are so irrational they cannot be trusted to negotiate---so don't bother. 3. When the west (as exemplified by the good intentions of a schoolteacher) tries to help, any real or merely perceived offense will be met with violence and condemnation. Sudan has been very skillful in manipulation of Islam to control their people, prevent foreign interference, and achieve political goals. That's quite a victory. Boring and enraging Liberals since 2004 Post new comment |
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