Shafiq

Shafiq

79p

630 comments posted · 0 followers · following 0

14 years ago @ KABOBfest - Al-Azhar Supports Isra... · 1 reply · +2 points

This is a demented mindset...there are other tragedies in the world and everything does not compare to Gaza.

I'd like to disagree. The reason why the Palestinians' situation is so vehemently publicised by its supporters is because of the tendency by major Western nations to disregard their suffering and blame it on the Palestinians themselves. You'd never see congress passing a resolution espousing the Sri Lankans' right to self-defence, while making no mention of its treatment of ordinary Tamils.

It's also well known now that many politicians are pressured into supporting Israel for fear of a financial and political backlash by pro-Israel American Jews for the Democrats and Evangelical Christians for the Republicans. But these two groups together make up less than half of the American voting population. The rest of the country either doesn't care (and would like the US to stay out of it altogether) or would like a more balanced approach.

It's also ridiculous to say that Ron Paul enjoys little support. He enjoys support not only from Republicans but from Democrat leaning voters too, and his views have become mainstream.

Your last paragraph, I agree with - the US is a democracy that gives its citizens more rights than even the most enlightened European nations. And this is coming from a European.

14 years ago @ KABOBfest - Al-Azhar Supports Isra... · 1 reply · +1 points

Yes, I'm sure smuggling because you desperately need food and medicine that's not allowed to be imported, is exactly like crack dealing.

The situation the Gazans are in is not in any way their fault. To try and blame them is despicable.

14 years ago @ KABOBfest - Al-Azhar Supports Isra... · 8 replies · +1 points

And that's where the similarity ends. One is an well-intentioned taskforce whereas the other attempts to limit personal freedoms (regardless of any connotations it may have).

When you have a blockade and there are no exports, then the line between legal and illegal is blurred. The Gazans smuggle because they need to - the only other option for them would be to live horrid lives on basic food rations and none of the amenities demanded by life in a 21st century world,

14 years ago @ KABOBfest - Al-Azhar Supports Isra... · 10 replies · +1 points

You didn't make that comparison and even if you did, it wouldn't hold. One publicly admonished one of its students for wearing something (remember the uproar in Brazil about the girl who wore a low-cut dress?) Telling her it's un-Islamic is perfectly fine - ordering her to take it off isn't.

Smuggling through the tunnels is ILLEGAL. Gazans risk smuggling through the tunnels because there is a lot of money to be made at it: risk and reward, its basically like free market entrepreneurship except its illegal - its illegal capitalism - like the cocaine industry.

Do you think ordinary Gazans would risk smuggling goods through tunnels if they didn't desperately need them? Yes. Everyone knows this.


So you know that Gazans are desperate and smuggle out of necessity, but you think its fine that they have to resort to this behaviour? (btw, I've never come across smuggling being called illegal - do you have any sources?)

14 years ago @ KABOBfest - Al-Azhar Supports Isra... · 12 replies · +1 points

Wrong! As long as this isn't an attempt to undermine academic freedom (which I doubt is the case), then there is no problem.

You just don't see the difference between setting up a task-force to ensure people don't get radicalised and building a wall to imprison people, do you? Do you think ordinary Gazans would risk smuggling goods through tunnels if they didn't desperately need them?

14 years ago @ KABOBfest - Al-Azhar Supports Isra... · 8 replies · +2 points

If you include non-Arab, Sunni clerics, then yes, many have. As for Arab clerics, I don't know.

I get the feeling that you're hostile to Sunni Arab terrorism, which is justified, but I also noticed that you're quiet on the actions of Shia Arabs (and non-Arabs) in the country. I'm pretty sure the atrocities flowed both ways.

14 years ago @ KABOBfest - Al-Azhar Supports Isra... · 1 reply · +1 points

Actually, modern Jihadism took root in attempts to overthrow the various Egyptian dictatorships throughout the 20th century. The thing is, that they're not very good in areas with law and order - they thrive on lawlessness, which is why they're in Iraq, Somalia, Yemen, North Waziristan and Afghanistan.

14 years ago @ KABOBfest - Al-Azhar Supports Isra... · 1 reply · 0 points

It's obvious that Arab nationalism is a joke and has always been that way. Apart from brief flickers of Arab 'unity', you're constantly at each others' throats. But I don't see how the constant accusations of hypocrisy (most of which are true) are relevant. You've made your point, it's either been addressed by the people you are accusing, or ignored.

14 years ago @ KABOBfest - Al-Azhar Supports Isra... · 2 replies · 0 points

Woah, calm down Mojo.

Do you really think that hypocrisy is confined to the Arab world? (I'm speaking in my capacity as a non-Arab here). Why only point out apparent Arab hypocrisy, which by the way, I don't think is anywhere near the levels you imply. I'm pretty sure there were Arabs out there who did denounce the Saudi Fatwa - it does take quite a big leap of logic to deduce that Kabobers implicitly support the Fatwa because they haven't denounced it.

As for your Starbucks in Egypt example, could it be because there's a state with functioning and stable institutions in Egypt, whereas Iraq isn't that fortunate? If you get rid of a government without an effective replacement plan, then its obvious the country is going to fall to bits. Just look at New Orleans in the immediate aftermath of Katrina.

14 years ago @ KABOBfest - Santa vs. Israeli Sold... · 0 replies · +2 points

Sorry I don't have time to respond in more detail but I think we've both come to the conclusion we aren't ever going to agree on this one, anyway :)

Yes, I agree. That seems to happen quite often, doesn't it?